RealGM

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Stannis wrote:I'll be in NYC for the first time next month for 3-4 nights. Any recommendations? OG bars / clubs I should check out?

I like Italian restaurants and sandwich places too.

I usually stay at Hilton Branded hotels. I'm looking at hotels below Central Park between 57th and 48th street. Is this a good spot? I prefer to walk as much as possible versus taking public transit/ubers everywhere.

Any tourist spots/traps I should 100% avoid?

I'm still doing my own research, but thought I'd ask around here.

I was just going to focus on areas east and south of Central Park.

I'm only a part time back and forth visitor to NYC as I unwind some property my folks owned so I'm not way up to date, only brief forays but:

You'll absolutely want to use mass transit as there's a lot to see in Manhattan, and even if you are an avid walker, it's just much easier to use the subways, at least at times.

NYC also has ferries that are as cheap as the subway and a nice way to see the city from the east river, between Manhattan and Queens/Brooklyn

The Staten Island ferry is free, with a great view of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Probably entire trip back and forth would take up about 40 minutes, if that.

There are a quite a few pizza and Italian restaurants to recommend, I'll leave that to others.

You can go to Times Square if you insist, but that's really touristy and annoying. Plus, everywhere to eat that is close to it is overpriced and generally you can do better elsewhere.

Top of the Rock in Rockerfeller Center is a really nice view of Central Park/Uptown and isn't THAT much $, plus close to where you are.

The "Edge" is like West 30th, Hudson Yards, effectively 10th avenue. It's a platform outside on like the 100th floor of a building. Great views, if you like that sort of thing.

Even though it seems gay and touristy, the Circle line tour around Manhattan by boat is good in that the views are great and you get a history/culture lesson about the city. West 40th ish is where the boat leaves from.

Stop by MSG on 34th between 7th and 8th but taking a quick look at the refurbished Penn Station Moynihan Station which was created out of the old massive post office between 8th and 9th avenue is kind of cool, if you are there anyway.


I'll let others come in with other obvious stuff.

everything interesting is in brooklyn and queens. especially food. gen z has started calling manhattan "work island" which is sadly true. within manhattan though i'd probably kick it around chinatown and/or the lower east side

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Stannis wrote:

rajajackal wrote:everything interesting is in brooklyn and queens. especially food. gen z has started calling manhattan "work island" which is sadly true. within manhattan though i'd probably kick it around chinatown and/or the lower east side

Yeah. That's what I was afraid of. I heard Manhattan is very "corporate" now. But LES is still good vibes.

Any place in particular you like in Brooklyn + Queens?

the restaurant scene will be mostly nestled in north brooklyn (williamsburg, greenpoint, bushwick, bed stuy). they all touch each other so it isn't tough to make a route of it. there's stuff in park slope too, but i personally hate the people over there (stuck up rich white neoliberals). in queens you'll want to do more of a cultural cuisine based tour - greek food in astoria, filipino food in woodside, irish pubs in sunnyside, a cluster of interesting south/eastern asian food in jackson heights, downtown flushing for chinese/taiwanese

Stannis do you like Caribbean food?

Check out Williamsburg Brooklyn.

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Are there still nyc pizza tours? I recall that was a thing

Stannis wrote:

MrDollarBills wrote:Stannis do you like Caribbean food?

Never tried it, but wouldn't hurt to try .

Culpeppers on Nostrand. Get yourself some delicious Bajan food to go

Best NYC deli Katz's Delicatessen https://katzsdelicatessen.com/

Family liked the edge observation deck, I can’t stand the see through portion of it.

We like walking in Central Park when it’s not too cold.

Jamaica Lirr Station

One tourist trap I would recommend: So I've been living away from the East Coast for over a decade now and took my daughter to see the Statue of Liberty on our last trip back. It was something I never would have done when I visited NYC regularly and found it totally worth it if you happen to have some days with decent temperatures. The island she's on is nicely done, great views of the City and harbor, and people from every corner of the world. It felt like the place I imagine this country to be on my most optimistic days. The boat price isn't crazy (we departed from NJ). Plus, she's an impressive statue up close! We didn't go up, which I don't have any regrets about.

If it's super cold, probably not worth it or bundle up good because that wind's gonna whip.

Would not recommend: Times Square sucks. Every time I went there I've said "God, why am I here?"

Based on where you’re staying I’d say Marea and Massara. Yes, the names are similar. Marea has this squid dish I dream about.. Lucali if you’re trying to spend some money on great pizza too.

The city has a lot of different things to do but the one thing I always recommend is taking a round trip ride on Ferry from lower manhattan to Staten Island in the evening. Its great views of lower manhattan and the statue of liberty lit up. Its a relatively quick ride too.

Then if you want another great view of the city go to the top of the empire state building. That is a bit more expensive but the view is top notch.

Last but not least go to at least a few museums. Honestly I recommend doing that whenever you travel, but NY has a lot of good ones.

Also as a out of towner come with a budget for uber and download the app and set it up before you come. Even if you drive here you may not want to move your car if you find a good parking spot, and a lot of out towners either get confused in the subway or tired from all the stairs and walking that goes hand in hand with using the train.

I visited NY from Australia last year, we stayed at The Belvedere Hotel, location was AMAZING. Went to MSG to see NY v SAS, did the Empire State right to the top, did the ferry to Lady Liberty, did a Broadway show, did Cental Park horse carriage tour, it goes on and on. We always get a pass for the hop on / off bus wherever we go. The 9/11 memorial is one of the most impactful places i've ever been to.

Katz deli
Junior’s cheesecake
Prince street pizza

Rocafeller center
Broadway show
The edge on one world trade tower
Etc etc

I was outside of the US for 5 years, come back to NY and find it very dirty and stinky.

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