New York City where one visit is never enough. When you’ve ticked off all the ‘must-see’ sights it’s time to go beyond the tourist hot spots. Here are some of my favorite things to do and see. This is a city constantly on the move but the list below contains some perennial favorites that survive the test of time. In no particular order …
Don’t Tell Mama amazingly talented singing waiters and bar staff. My preference is the piano bar but you also have the choice of a restaurant or cabaret . W46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue.
Brooklyn Bridge Why not walk one way and catch the ferry back to Wall Street. Under the bridge check out the coal oven pizzas at Juliana’s at 19th Old Fulton Street and the Best Ice Cream on Front Street.
Chelsea Market & High-Line Park It’s great to see the old overhead rail structure re-made into a park and Chelsea market the local residential area are worth exploring
Chelsea Harbour Line When your feet need a rest head to Pier 62 and join the Around Manhattan Architecture tour. In 2 hours 45 minutes you’ll circumnavigate the entire island of Manhattan and be introduced to the history and architectural highlights of each of the Boroughs.
Red Rooster Harlem Perfect place for Sunday brunch with great music and traditional southern style food. Work off the meal with a stroll around the neighbourhood which has been undergoing a renaissance with many of the traditional brownstones being restored. 125th & Lennox Avenue
The Met Cloisters Located on 4 acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattans Fort Tryon Park this museum is dedicated to the art, architecture and gardens of Medieval Europe.
The Frick Housed in one of NYC’s few remaining Gilded mansions this relatively small museum is rich in Old Masters and European sculptures.. You’ll find works by Bellini, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Goya and Whistler.
Russ & Daughters Cafe Known for its ‘haimishness’ which is a Yiddish word expressing warmth, comfort, authenticity, conviviality and lack of pretence is a perfect place to eat at any time of the day.
Greenwich Village with Context Travel join a local walking tour with one of the guides from Context Travel. They specialize in local tours for ‘the intellectually curious traveller’. The guides are full of knowledge and great local anecdotes.
Weekend Brunch Try SOHO or West Village. The hot spots change but Sunday brunch remains the most important meal of the weekend. An accompanying glass of champagne is de rigueur.
Tenement Museum An 1863 preserved tenement brings to life the stories of the immigrants who made this city what it is today. 97 & 103 Orchard Street, Lower East Side
Off-Broadway With seats to the hit shows becoming more and more expensive why not try your luck at spotting the next big thing at one of the Off-Broadway theatres.
McCorleys Old Ale House Decisions on what to drink made easy. They only serve two kinds of Ale – light or dark. With sawdust on the floor this is NYC’s oldest continually operated saloon. Everyone from Abe Lincoln to John Lennon have ventured in.
And there’s more. NYC is the home of cocktails and there’s no shortage of bars to choose from to watch these cocktail artists at work. Up for a challenge, visit a Speakeasy if you can find the secret entrance. Please Don’t Tell is entered via a phone box at 113 St Mark’s Place or visit Angel’s Share at 8 Stuyvesant Street in the East Village. Stuyvesant Street is one of the oldest streets in NYC borough of Manhattan often used in movie shoots depicting ‘old New York’. If jazz is your thing then NYC is the place to be with a number of excellent jazz clubs including the Blue Note Jazz Club, West Village.
