Guidebook for New York
Shopping
one of my favorite local joints --- AWESOME PIZZA! Ask for Reggie and mention that Michael sent you --- you'll get VIP treatment!
26 locals recommend
L'asso
192 Mott Streetone of my favorite local joints --- AWESOME PIZZA! Ask for Reggie and mention that Michael sent you --- you'll get VIP treatment!
one of the best department stores in NYC ... bring your wallet because you'll need it!
491 locals recommend
Bloomingdale's
Lexington Avenueone of the best department stores in NYC ... bring your wallet because you'll need it!
local bookstore and cafe ... check their website for special readings and book signings!
98 locals recommend
Goods for the Study Mulberry
234 Mulberry Stlocal bookstore and cafe ... check their website for special readings and book signings!
a quintessential SoHo experience ... spend an afternoon looking for the perfect book and enjoy a treat from their cafe/bar.
42 locals recommend
Housing Works Used Book Cafe
126 Crosby Sta quintessential SoHo experience ... spend an afternoon looking for the perfect book and enjoy a treat from their cafe/bar.
Food Scene
La Esquina - SoHo
114 Kenmare Stamazing tacos and a super kool underground restaurant / bar !
amazing brunch, lunch, dinner or cocktails and oysters in the secret back bar!
119 locals recommend
Cafe Select
212 Lafayette Stamazing brunch, lunch, dinner or cocktails and oysters in the secret back bar!
one of personal favorites for brunch, lunch or dinner ... Israel meets South Africa. ask for Dean & Maya and mentioned that Michael sent you!
131 locals recommend
Jack's Wife Freda
226 Lafayette Stone of personal favorites for brunch, lunch or dinner ... Israel meets South Africa. ask for Dean & Maya and mentioned that Michael sent you!
delicious Italian cuisine in a casual, European setting ... ask for Nico!
73 locals recommend
Epistrophy
200 Mott Stdelicious Italian cuisine in a casual, European setting ... ask for Nico!
The Butcher's Daughter
19 Kenmare Stnew juice bar & vegan restaurant --- SUPER HEALTHY!
Little Fox Cafe
awesome coffee, sandwiches and pastries + WIFI and beer/wine too!
one of finest brasseries in NYC ... the steak frites will change your life!
274 locals recommend
Balthazar
80 Spring Stone of finest brasseries in NYC ... the steak frites will change your life!
delicious cuban menu --- the grilled corn is a must and the slow-cooked pork entree melts in your mouth!
218 locals recommend
Café Habana
17 Prince Stdelicious cuban menu --- the grilled corn is a must and the slow-cooked pork entree melts in your mouth!
Spring Natural
98 Kenmare Storganic breakfast, lunch & dinner ... a neighborhood classic!
a neighborhood hangout for breakfast, lunch dinner ... casual American menu
82 locals recommend
The Grey Dog
244 Mulberry Sta neighborhood hangout for breakfast, lunch dinner ... casual American menu
Balaboosta
611 Hudson Stone of the best new restaurants in NoLiTa --- GO, GO GO!
delicious Thai cuisine ... sneak downstairs to the hidden bar/restaurant for cocktails & tapas!
98 locals recommend
Lovely Day
196 Elizabeth Stdelicious Thai cuisine ... sneak downstairs to the hidden bar/restaurant for cocktails & tapas!
one of the best Italian restaurants in NYC ... fine dining upstairs and casual, romantic seating downstairs. the chocolate cake with dried cherries will have you dreaming for days!
50 locals recommend
Peasant
194 Elizabeth Stone of the best Italian restaurants in NYC ... fine dining upstairs and casual, romantic seating downstairs. the chocolate cake with dried cherries will have you dreaming for days!
a french-moroccan inspired cafe that serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner ... always a wild scene full of locals, artists & celebrities.
219 locals recommend
Cafe Gitane
242 Mott Sta french-moroccan inspired cafe that serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner ... always a wild scene full of locals, artists & celebrities.
Crosby Street Hotel
79 Crosby Stthey have an afternoon tea service in the garden!
delicious cuisine and major people-watching spot ... dress to impress!
59 locals recommend
Sant Ambroeus
267 Lafayette Stdelicious cuisine and major people-watching spot ... dress to impress!
La Colombe Coffee Roasters
270 Lafayette Stawesome coffee to stay or to go!
one of the first (and best) pizza joints in NYC cooked in a coal oven! order it TO GO and eat in DeSalvio Playground or have one delivered to the Spring Lounge!
149 locals recommend
Lombardi's
32 Spring Stone of the first (and best) pizza joints in NYC cooked in a coal oven! order it TO GO and eat in DeSalvio Playground or have one delivered to the Spring Lounge!
one of the most delicious burgers you'll ever eat anywhere ... ask for it medium - rare with Cheddar and Bacon if you're feelin' dangerous!
44 locals recommend
Back Forty West
70 Prince Stone of the most delicious burgers you'll ever eat anywhere ... ask for it medium - rare with Cheddar and Bacon if you're feelin' dangerous!
Gemma
335 Bowerypeople - watching, outdoor dining and wonderful Italian food on the Bowery!
a NYC classic ... order a Reuben sandwich and sit in the booth where the famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally" takes place!
690 locals recommend
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston Sta NYC classic ... order a Reuben sandwich and sit in the booth where the famous scene from "When Harry Met Sally" takes place!
expect long waits, but this Chinese food like you've never had before ... have a drink nearby and give them your cell number!
179 locals recommend
Mission
171 E Broadwayexpect long waits, but this Chinese food like you've never had before ... have a drink nearby and give them your cell number!
amazing guacamole & delicious jalapeno margaritas for brunch, lunch or dinner!
222 locals recommend
Barrio Chino
253 Broome Stamazing guacamole & delicious jalapeno margaritas for brunch, lunch or dinner!
one of the finest new restaurants in NYC ... delicious brunch menu as well!
64 locals recommend
PUBLIC
210 Elizabeth Streetone of the finest new restaurants in NYC ... delicious brunch menu as well!
Tacombi
267 Elizabeth Sthave a groovy time ordering tacos from the VW BUS all day and night!
one of the best Maine Lobster Rolls you'll find in NYC with free chocolate pudding for dessert and a private garden for romantic dining!
175 locals recommend
The Mermaid Inn
570 Amsterdam Aveone of the best Maine Lobster Rolls you'll find in NYC with free chocolate pudding for dessert and a private garden for romantic dining!
Delicious wood-fired pizzas and pastas in a gorgeous covered greenhouse garden. Ask for Shorty.
16 locals recommend
August Restaurant
791 Lexington AveDelicious wood-fired pizzas and pastas in a gorgeous covered greenhouse garden. Ask for Shorty.
the original "Sex & the City" cupcake shop is much more famous, but still makes the best cupcakes in town!
401 locals recommend
Magnolia Bakery
401 Bleecker Stthe original "Sex & the City" cupcake shop is much more famous, but still makes the best cupcakes in town!
a piece of Europe in the West Village ... delicious Italian foods for brunch, lunch or dinner and major people watching!
86 locals recommend
Morandi
211 Waverly Pla piece of Europe in the West Village ... delicious Italian foods for brunch, lunch or dinner and major people watching!
awesome tacos ... the fried chicken or the pork belly will blow your mind. Ask for Sebastian.
18 locals recommend
Diablo Royale
awesome tacos ... the fried chicken or the pork belly will blow your mind. Ask for Sebastian.
take a 20-minute walk over the Williamsburg Bridge and enjoy one of the best steaks you'll ever eat .... start with the Shrimp Cocktail!
503 locals recommend
Peter Luger Steak House
178 Broadwaytake a 20-minute walk over the Williamsburg Bridge and enjoy one of the best steaks you'll ever eat .... start with the Shrimp Cocktail!
one of NYC's best farm-to-table restaurant ... brunch lines can be long, but are well worth the wait so GO EARLY!
99 locals recommend
Prune
54 E 1st Stone of NYC's best farm-to-table restaurant ... brunch lines can be long, but are well worth the wait so GO EARLY!
awesome farm-to-table, mostly organic beef and vegetables. see Danny at the bar on weekends.
193 locals recommend
The Fat Radish
17 Orchard Stawesome farm-to-table, mostly organic beef and vegetables. see Danny at the bar on weekends.
awesome New Orleans style sandwiches in a low-key setting ... the Oyster Po'Boy rocks! and the beignets!!!
97 locals recommend
Cheeky Sandwiches
88 Orchard Stawesome New Orleans style sandwiches in a low-key setting ... the Oyster Po'Boy rocks! and the beignets!!!
stroll down a dark alley and find this wonderful culinary oasis of casual american farm-to-table dining (also where my gal and I had our first date)!
60 locals recommend
Freeman Alley
Freeman Alleystroll down a dark alley and find this wonderful culinary oasis of casual american farm-to-table dining (also where my gal and I had our first date)!
Essentials
organic produce, grass-fed meats, amazing cheese selection and fresh bakery!
1895 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston Storganic produce, grass-fed meats, amazing cheese selection and fresh bakery!
Ceci Cela Patisserie
14 Delancey Stbest baguette in NYC!
Di Palo's
200 Grand Stdelicious Italian meats, cheeses, olives & fresh pasta!
24/7 pharmacy with groceries, toiletries and pretty much anything you need all hours of the day or night!
455 locals recommend
Duane Reade
110 Newark Ave24/7 pharmacy with groceries, toiletries and pretty much anything you need all hours of the day or night!
Everything Else
Equinox SoHo
69 Prince Stone of the best gyms in NYC!
Drinks & Nightlife
delicious specialty cocktails, great music and even a garden brunch on weekends!
59 locals recommend
Mulberry Project
149 Mulberry Streetdelicious specialty cocktails, great music and even a garden brunch on weekends!
classic SoHo dive bar with free bagels and cream cheese on weekends!
66 locals recommend
Spring Lounge
48 Spring Stclassic SoHo dive bar with free bagels and cream cheese on weekends!
speciality cocktails, celebrity sightings and small bites make this a popular spot!
76 locals recommend
The Bowery Hotel
335 Boweryspeciality cocktails, celebrity sightings and small bites make this a popular spot!
go underground and dance the night away to "The Twist" and other oldies ... cheap cocktails and always an interesting crowd from all over the world!
56 locals recommend
Home Sweet Home
131 Chrystie Stgo underground and dance the night away to "The Twist" and other oldies ... cheap cocktails and always an interesting crowd from all over the world!
delicious specialty cocktails in a laid - back setting ... live music and DJs depending on the night!
21 locals recommend
Experimental Cocktail Club
191 Chrystie Stdelicious specialty cocktails in a laid - back setting ... live music and DJs depending on the night!
one of the first hidden speakeasies in NYC, still one of my favorites and now in a larger location near Madison Square Park. ask for Theo.
26 locals recommend
Milk and Honey
30 E 23rd Stone of the first hidden speakeasies in NYC, still one of my favorites and now in a larger location near Madison Square Park. ask for Theo.
Park South Hotel
124 E 28th Stgreat rooftop cocktails and small plates. ask for Will the bartender.
seasonal boat bar open May - Sept ... enjoy amazing views, drinks and casual american foods by the Hudson River ... go at Sunset!
141 locals recommend
Frying Pan
207 12th Aveseasonal boat bar open May - Sept ... enjoy amazing views, drinks and casual american foods by the Hudson River ... go at Sunset!
Arts & Culture
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Streetif you only go to one museum, this is a must!
arthouse cinema with the best US independent & foreign films!
184 locals recommend
Fulton Street Art Gallery
116 John Starthouse cinema with the best US independent & foreign films!
arthouse cinema playing new independent, foreign and classic revivals in SoHo
81 locals recommend
Film Forum
209 W Houston Starthouse cinema playing new independent, foreign and classic revivals in SoHo
one of the best live music spots downtown ... many bands started at the Mercury including the Strokes & Pete Yorn!
95 locals recommend
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston Stone of the best live music spots downtown ... many bands started at the Mercury including the Strokes & Pete Yorn!
If it's not playing at the Angelika, Film Forum or the IFC Center, you'll find it at the Landmark Sunshine ... one of the best spots for independent and foreign cinema!
246 locals recommend
Sunshine Cinema
If it's not playing at the Angelika, Film Forum or the IFC Center, you'll find it at the Landmark Sunshine ... one of the best spots for independent and foreign cinema!
some of NYC's finest singer / songwriters play hourly most nights at Rockwood for little to no cover. go late for jazz and funk bands like my friends The Gold Magnolias ... get ready to DANCE!!!
226 locals recommend
Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen Stsome of NYC's finest singer / songwriters play hourly most nights at Rockwood for little to no cover. go late for jazz and funk bands like my friends The Gold Magnolias ... get ready to DANCE!!!