There's one thing I'm really good at, and that's planning trips. I'm a master of conducting research on food, seeing which landmarks to visit, and making all the accommodations. Trust me, I do it with the most utmost amount of detail. I wanted to share my recommendations and let you know what I'll be doing in NY.
Food:
- Blossom du Jour: 100% vegan restaurant.
- Maison Kayser: This was highly recommended by my friend and I believe they're really famous in NY. Come for their baked goods, a simple breakfast, or a nice cup of coffee.
- Levain Bakery: 4 words, BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.
- Shake Shack: I finally knew what love was after I had my first bite.
- Doughnut Plant: NY is famous for their doughnuts, and trust me, this place will not be a disappointment.
- Artichoke Basille's Pizza: The best slice of artichoke pizza in NY that you can get.
- Baohaus: This is the restaurant that FOB Eddie Huang started. Get the best baos here!
- Brooklyn Bagel: Get your NY bagel fix here.
- Bagels Schmear: Highly recommend the Salmon Lox Bagel.
- Wisefish Poke: Fresh quality fish in the Meatpacking District.
- Raclette: You know that video of melting cheese all over the internet? This is the restaurant that you can find it in.
- Magnolia Bakery: The best banana pudding I've ever had.
- Sprinkles Cupcakes: Hmm, excited to see if this place is better than Magnolia.
- Dominque Ansel Bakery: The place that started the famous cronuts.
- Kimchi Taco Truck: Some Korean Mexican food, yes please!
- Mexican Radio: Vegetarian Mexican food.
- Halal Guys: Honestly the best chicken and rice that you can find.
- Laduree: Macarons all the way from Paris.
- Waffles and Dinges: You can find the yellow truck sprawled out in NY. Come here for light and fluffy waffles.
- Joe's Shanghai: The East Coast equivalence to Din Tai Fung.
- Eileen's Special Cheesecake: Most reviewed cheesecake shop on Yelp.
- Friedman's: A great brunch place, but get ready for the wait.
- Xi'an Famous Foods: I remember watching about this restaurant on Anthony Bourdain's show. The noodles are so fresh here, and has a really nice spiciness to it.
- Bocca di Bacco: Hands down the best Italian food I've ever had.
- Paris Baguette: Chain bakery from Korea, come here for some cheap baked goods.
Things to do and not do:
- Don't be scared to take the public transportation: It's actually not that bad...
- NEVER TAKE THE TAXI! There's a reason why you have two legs, use them!
- Watch a broadway show: I watched The Phantom of the Opera.
- Take The Ride: This is a bus tour, and it was so much fun! It's hilarious and you get to see all the major landmarks in NY.
- Stay out late: Yes be safe, but NY is always full of people that I never felt endangered.
- Don't go to chain restaurants! Eat like a local and see which restaurants are popular in that neighbourhood.
- Take loads of photos!
Places to visit:
- Time's Square: Of course the #1 tourist place in the world.
- Visit the Financial District: The buildings are so rustic and beautiful. Check out the Charging Bull as well.
- World Trade Center
- 9/11 Memorial: It's incredible to stand in the area where history was made.
- Museum of Modern Art: It's free on Friday during certain hours!
- Grand Central Terminal: There's a Shake Shack and Magnolia Bakery in the terminal.
- Rockefeller Center: Get the whole view of NY from here. I would choose this view over the Empire State Building.
- Soho District
- Central Park: Come here for a nice stroll or visit the beautiful nature that NY has to offer.
- Sheep Meadow: Inside Central Park, but come here for a nice picnic.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art: xoxo, Gossip Girl.
- Bryant Park
- Madison Square Park
- Flatiron District
- Union Square
- Washington Square Park
- The High Line
- Battery Park
- The Statue of Liberty
I'll add more things after I visit here in August. Until then, stay tuned for next post! I added some of my favourite photos from my NY trip in Feb at the bottom.
Cheers,
Joy
