Guidebook for New York

Helen
Guidebook for New York

Food Scene

This is considered one of the best places for a true NYC Brunch and one of my favorites. This is the place chef's like to go.
99 locals recommend
Prune
54 E 1st St
99 locals recommend
This is considered one of the best places for a true NYC Brunch and one of my favorites. This is the place chef's like to go.
A place to just sit and relax with your friends, Spiegel is the restaurant for you, especially if you like coffee. With an extensive variety of coffee options to balance out the international menu of entrées and more, it’s a great place for an early riser to visit. They offer items such as fresh pressed juices, grilled shell steak, waffles, homemade granola, baked feta and a grilled Portobello sandwich.
12 locals recommend
Spiegel
26 1st Ave.
12 locals recommend
A place to just sit and relax with your friends, Spiegel is the restaurant for you, especially if you like coffee. With an extensive variety of coffee options to balance out the international menu of entrées and more, it’s a great place for an early riser to visit. They offer items such as fresh pressed juices, grilled shell steak, waffles, homemade granola, baked feta and a grilled Portobello sandwich.
Great mexican food
38 locals recommend
La Caverna
122 Rivington St
38 locals recommend
Great mexican food
Fresh take on Seafood.
57 locals recommend
Upstate
95 1st Ave.
57 locals recommend
Fresh take on Seafood.
This is a must! The pastrami is to die for! This is an expensive sandwich but you will remember it forever. it also so large you can split it easily with someone. When you go to the counter to order, ask for a sample. They are happy to give you one.
690 locals recommend
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St
690 locals recommend
This is a must! The pastrami is to die for! This is an expensive sandwich but you will remember it forever. it also so large you can split it easily with someone. When you go to the counter to order, ask for a sample. They are happy to give you one.
The best lox and smoke fish plates.
181 locals recommend
Russ & Daughters Cafe
127 Orchard St
181 locals recommend
The best lox and smoke fish plates.
Go pick up some lox and bagels from this iconic store to enjoy back at the apartment. They will happily give you samples to taste of the lox before you purchase. I love the irish lox and always indulge in the whitefish salad.
251 locals recommend
Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St
251 locals recommend
Go pick up some lox and bagels from this iconic store to enjoy back at the apartment. They will happily give you samples to taste of the lox before you purchase. I love the irish lox and always indulge in the whitefish salad.
A great for people watching. Nice selection of wines. Perfect for a rainy afternoon with friends.
9 locals recommend
Ruffian
125 E 7th St
9 locals recommend
A great for people watching. Nice selection of wines. Perfect for a rainy afternoon with friends.
Awesome little place serving up some delicious Mexican food! Definitely get a Tortas and the chilaquiles. We love both the carnitas and huevo con chorizo Tortas.
Miscelanea NY
63 E 4th St
Awesome little place serving up some delicious Mexican food! Definitely get a Tortas and the chilaquiles. We love both the carnitas and huevo con chorizo Tortas.
Best. Ramen. Ever. The vibe here is fantastic, the servers have a fun call and response game in Japanese and the tables are mostly community style.
226 locals recommend
Ippudo NY
65 4th Ave
226 locals recommend
Best. Ramen. Ever. The vibe here is fantastic, the servers have a fun call and response game in Japanese and the tables are mostly community style.
This is Southern comfort food done right. I've been here twice-the first time it was busy and the second, a calm week day afternoon. Great cocktails too.
268 locals recommend
Sweet Chick
178 Ludlow St
268 locals recommend
This is Southern comfort food done right. I've been here twice-the first time it was busy and the second, a calm week day afternoon. Great cocktails too.
Really amazing spaghetti, where I highly recommend the chitarra and the salmone & asparagi.
14 locals recommend
Spaghetti Incident
231 Eldridge St
14 locals recommend
Really amazing spaghetti, where I highly recommend the chitarra and the salmone & asparagi.
The banana and chocolate chip bread pudding are my favorite. But they also are known for the cupcakes.
64 locals recommend
Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington St
64 locals recommend
The banana and chocolate chip bread pudding are my favorite. But they also are known for the cupcakes.
This is a classic traditional italian Pastry that has been here for a century. The have amazing pastries and a huge selection of cheesecakes. There is a cafe were you can order everything by the slice. It is open late so it makes a great place to stop by for an indulgence after a day of sightseeing.
93 locals recommend
Veniero's
342 E 11th St
93 locals recommend
This is a classic traditional italian Pastry that has been here for a century. The have amazing pastries and a huge selection of cheesecakes. There is a cafe were you can order everything by the slice. It is open late so it makes a great place to stop by for an indulgence after a day of sightseeing.
Knishes are a NYC classic and this is one of the last places still making them by hand. Great for a cheap fast meal.
24 locals recommend
Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery
137 E Houston St
24 locals recommend
Knishes are a NYC classic and this is one of the last places still making them by hand. Great for a cheap fast meal.
Best for when you need to satisfy a sweet tooth. Great selection of cakes and ice cream.
7 locals recommend
Sugar Cafe
200 Allen St
7 locals recommend
Best for when you need to satisfy a sweet tooth. Great selection of cakes and ice cream.
Small coffee bar with great lattes.
The Lazy Llama Coffee Bar
72 E 1st St
Small coffee bar with great lattes.
Abraço has standing room for roughly six people, and no seating except for a wooden table and bench outside. It needs nothing more, because Abraço is a pilgrimage site for many local self-proclaimed coffee snobs, for people who search far and wide for coffee like they had during their semesters in Venice.
127 locals recommend
Abraço
81 E 7th St
127 locals recommend
Abraço has standing room for roughly six people, and no seating except for a wooden table and bench outside. It needs nothing more, because Abraço is a pilgrimage site for many local self-proclaimed coffee snobs, for people who search far and wide for coffee like they had during their semesters in Venice.
Amid the hustle and bustle of New York’s Lower East Side is a marketplace on Essex Street with a bustle of its own. The 75-year-old Essex Street Market was built to clear away the streets and sidewalks that had become crowded with vendors and merchants. Today, it is a crossroads of history and culture, comprising a diverse array of stands, shops, and restaurants. Stop by for a meal, grocery shopping or a glimpse of old NYC.
341 locals recommend
Essex Market
88 Essex St
341 locals recommend
Amid the hustle and bustle of New York’s Lower East Side is a marketplace on Essex Street with a bustle of its own. The 75-year-old Essex Street Market was built to clear away the streets and sidewalks that had become crowded with vendors and merchants. Today, it is a crossroads of history and culture, comprising a diverse array of stands, shops, and restaurants. Stop by for a meal, grocery shopping or a glimpse of old NYC.
A long-time staple of the East Village, Veselka is famous for its breakfast specials, no-frills attitude and the fact that they’ve been serving up traditional Ukrainian food for over 50 years. Consistent in its quality, service and ingredients, this restaurant is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of the few places to cook authentic Ukrainian cuisine, customer favorites include:blintzes served with sour cream and apple sauce, egg and kielbasa on a puffy roll and blueberry pierogi.
235 locals recommend
Veselka
144 2nd Ave
235 locals recommend
A long-time staple of the East Village, Veselka is famous for its breakfast specials, no-frills attitude and the fact that they’ve been serving up traditional Ukrainian food for over 50 years. Consistent in its quality, service and ingredients, this restaurant is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. One of the few places to cook authentic Ukrainian cuisine, customer favorites include:blintzes served with sour cream and apple sauce, egg and kielbasa on a puffy roll and blueberry pierogi.
This is the service NYers use when they want to eat in. With hundreds of restaurant to choose from, you will find something for your budget and taste. You can use their website. seamless.com or download their app.
Seamless
1065 6th Ave
This is the service NYers use when they want to eat in. With hundreds of restaurant to choose from, you will find something for your budget and taste. You can use their website. seamless.com or download their app.
Hungry carnivores salivate at the thought of steak from Peter Luger. The iconic steak house, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, just a short trip over the bridge and well worth visiting. It is not cheap but if you are a steak lover who wants to splurge, this is the place.
503 locals recommend
Peter Luger Steak House
178 Broadway
503 locals recommend
Hungry carnivores salivate at the thought of steak from Peter Luger. The iconic steak house, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, just a short trip over the bridge and well worth visiting. It is not cheap but if you are a steak lover who wants to splurge, this is the place.
One If By Land, Two If By Sea is a candlelit dining establishment today, but it didn’t always have such a romantic past. It was once a silent movie theater, and before that, it served as Aaron Burr’s carriage house.
17 locals recommend
One if by Land, Two if by Sea
17 Barrow St
17 locals recommend
One If By Land, Two If By Sea is a candlelit dining establishment today, but it didn’t always have such a romantic past. It was once a silent movie theater, and before that, it served as Aaron Burr’s carriage house.
It’s always the 1950s at Trailer Park Lounge. Festooned with kitsch, fairy lights, and photos of Elvis Presley impersonators, why not run away to a simpler time of post-war optimism and Bobby-soxers? Chow down big plates of backyard home cooking, like beef burgers, mac and cheese, and nachos, and wash them down with a pitcher of margarita or memory-obscuring cocktails, such as Jim Bob’s IQ.
10 locals recommend
Trailer Park Lounge
271 W 23rd St
10 locals recommend
It’s always the 1950s at Trailer Park Lounge. Festooned with kitsch, fairy lights, and photos of Elvis Presley impersonators, why not run away to a simpler time of post-war optimism and Bobby-soxers? Chow down big plates of backyard home cooking, like beef burgers, mac and cheese, and nachos, and wash them down with a pitcher of margarita or memory-obscuring cocktails, such as Jim Bob’s IQ.
Delicious mexican food at a great price. Amazing breakfast burritos, delicious and crazy spicy enchiladas suizas all for great prices and super nice staff.
13 locals recommend
Downtown Bakery
69 1st Ave.
13 locals recommend
Delicious mexican food at a great price. Amazing breakfast burritos, delicious and crazy spicy enchiladas suizas all for great prices and super nice staff.
Cornerstone Café may be one of the best deals in the East Village. Perhaps it’s because the restaurant is cash only. Open for brunch on weekends, Cornerstone Café is a typical local café. A local hangout for people in the East Village, the café has a wide-ranging menu of solid choices that can accommodate any kind of diner. Cornerstone serves up standard options like steak and eggs, eggs benedict, turkey burgers, pancakes and a multitude of sides. In addition, they have a wide selections of wines and spirits to go along with reasonably priced meals.
32 locals recommend
Cornerstone Cafe
32 locals recommend
Cornerstone Café may be one of the best deals in the East Village. Perhaps it’s because the restaurant is cash only. Open for brunch on weekends, Cornerstone Café is a typical local café. A local hangout for people in the East Village, the café has a wide-ranging menu of solid choices that can accommodate any kind of diner. Cornerstone serves up standard options like steak and eggs, eggs benedict, turkey burgers, pancakes and a multitude of sides. In addition, they have a wide selections of wines and spirits to go along with reasonably priced meals.
The “options are endless” at this East Village shop turning out “fresh, fluffy” hand-rolled bagels and cream-cheese; the weekend brings some lines, but at least the “stacked” sandwiches will fill you up for the whole day.
202 locals recommend
Tompkins Square Bagels
165 Avenue A
202 locals recommend
The “options are endless” at this East Village shop turning out “fresh, fluffy” hand-rolled bagels and cream-cheese; the weekend brings some lines, but at least the “stacked” sandwiches will fill you up for the whole day.
Really great breakfast selection plus you get free banana bread. Love the decor and atmosphere!
67 locals recommend
Gemma
335 Bowery
67 locals recommend
Really great breakfast selection plus you get free banana bread. Love the decor and atmosphere!
A great Deal!This Australian pie shop does some nice vegetarian and meat pies for lunch and dinner options but for mornings that demand a little extra, there's an egg, bean, and bacon variation. It's rich and creamy with a little smoke and so good!
12 locals recommend
Tuck Shop
12 locals recommend
A great Deal!This Australian pie shop does some nice vegetarian and meat pies for lunch and dinner options but for mornings that demand a little extra, there's an egg, bean, and bacon variation. It's rich and creamy with a little smoke and so good!
Originally a food truck, Mudspot is the bricks-and-mortar homebase that fans can seek out for a great breakfast experience. A great spot in the warmer seasons, Mudspot boasts a café for takeout, a restaurant for sitting in, and a garden to soak up the rays while dining. A large menu with a little something for everyone, this spot is sure to satisfy not only your food cravings, but also your caffeine needs, as it brews some of the best coffee the city has to offer.
131 locals recommend
MUD SPOT
307 E 9th St
131 locals recommend
Originally a food truck, Mudspot is the bricks-and-mortar homebase that fans can seek out for a great breakfast experience. A great spot in the warmer seasons, Mudspot boasts a café for takeout, a restaurant for sitting in, and a garden to soak up the rays while dining. A large menu with a little something for everyone, this spot is sure to satisfy not only your food cravings, but also your caffeine needs, as it brews some of the best coffee the city has to offer.
Café Orlin, a longtime staple of the East Village, is known for its mix of American and Middle Eastern food. With lovely outdoor seating areas that give you a spectacular view of the East Village, diners can enjoy brunch while people watching, taking in the sun and enjoying the views. With plenty of gluten-free and other allergy friendly options, there’s something for everyone. There are no reservations for brunch, so diners should get there early to choose from great options such as eggs blackstone, wood-stone salmon, hummus, tabouleh and more.
89 locals recommend
Cafe Orlin
89 locals recommend
Café Orlin, a longtime staple of the East Village, is known for its mix of American and Middle Eastern food. With lovely outdoor seating areas that give you a spectacular view of the East Village, diners can enjoy brunch while people watching, taking in the sun and enjoying the views. With plenty of gluten-free and other allergy friendly options, there’s something for everyone. There are no reservations for brunch, so diners should get there early to choose from great options such as eggs blackstone, wood-stone salmon, hummus, tabouleh and more.
An all-American restaurant, Ten Degrees Bistro serves up a mighty fare of traditional brunch options that will satisfy the hungriest of customers. With big portions and a diverse menu it might be a good idea for the table to order some different options and share with one another in order to taste everything. The location is on the smaller side, so getting there on the early side is a good idea. Favorites of regulars are avocado toast, homemade Belgian waffles with your choice of toppings, blueberry buttermilk pancakes and eggs benedict.
9 locals recommend
Ten Degrees Bistro
131 Avenue A
9 locals recommend
An all-American restaurant, Ten Degrees Bistro serves up a mighty fare of traditional brunch options that will satisfy the hungriest of customers. With big portions and a diverse menu it might be a good idea for the table to order some different options and share with one another in order to taste everything. The location is on the smaller side, so getting there on the early side is a good idea. Favorites of regulars are avocado toast, homemade Belgian waffles with your choice of toppings, blueberry buttermilk pancakes and eggs benedict.
With its sleek look and funky flair all around, this restaurant is sure to impress both in environment and on the menu. For the last seven years this casual American restaurant has been serving up unique plates and creative drinks. Chef and owner Joe Dobias has been on a number of television cooking shows, such as Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay. Dobias does not let his celebrity chef status get to his head, as he still maintains strict vigilance over the menu to ensure the highest quality. Menu items to check out are the salted snow peas, deviled eggs, the mother trucker, brisket hash and chicken biscuit.
Joe & MissesDoe
45 East 1st Street
With its sleek look and funky flair all around, this restaurant is sure to impress both in environment and on the menu. For the last seven years this casual American restaurant has been serving up unique plates and creative drinks. Chef and owner Joe Dobias has been on a number of television cooking shows, such as Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay. Dobias does not let his celebrity chef status get to his head, as he still maintains strict vigilance over the menu to ensure the highest quality. Menu items to check out are the salted snow peas, deviled eggs, the mother trucker, brisket hash and chicken biscuit.
Open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, The Wren does not accept reservations, so be sure to get there early to get a seat at this popular spot. An intimate setting with a great view of the street, this elegant menu has a classic feel. Popular items from guests include the potato rosti, the full Irish breakfast, bulghur wheat pancakes and the smashed avocado with a soft boiled egg.
65 locals recommend
The Wren
344 Bowery
65 locals recommend
Open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, The Wren does not accept reservations, so be sure to get there early to get a seat at this popular spot. An intimate setting with a great view of the street, this elegant menu has a classic feel. Popular items from guests include the potato rosti, the full Irish breakfast, bulghur wheat pancakes and the smashed avocado with a soft boiled egg.
On one side of this gloriously tacky Ukrainian dive, a brightly lit diner caters to senior citizen locals and NYU students pulling all-nighters over coffee. Next door, a kitschy bar and restaurant serves the same greasy, delicious food to a lively crowd of post-collegiate punks on their way to or from the clubs.
16 locals recommend
Odessa
119 Avenue A
16 locals recommend
On one side of this gloriously tacky Ukrainian dive, a brightly lit diner caters to senior citizen locals and NYU students pulling all-nighters over coffee. Next door, a kitschy bar and restaurant serves the same greasy, delicious food to a lively crowd of post-collegiate punks on their way to or from the clubs.
This East Village soup-dumpling kitchen is as much traditionalist as innovator: Its standard XLB consistently exhibit masterful technique, with thin but sturdy skins, clean-tasting soup, and tender meat, while more-daring menu options conceal flavor bombs like hot chile, or a bracing blast of wasabi that penetrates the porkiness. Dumplings are a beloved staple of any NYers comfort food list.
29 locals recommend
The Barrel
10 Stuyvesant St
29 locals recommend
This East Village soup-dumpling kitchen is as much traditionalist as innovator: Its standard XLB consistently exhibit masterful technique, with thin but sturdy skins, clean-tasting soup, and tender meat, while more-daring menu options conceal flavor bombs like hot chile, or a bracing blast of wasabi that penetrates the porkiness. Dumplings are a beloved staple of any NYers comfort food list.
Super Taste Restaurant is bare bones even by Chinatown-soup-shop standards. The place’s draw: a chef making noodles by hand. The dough is stretched out and turned ritualistically; strands get plopped immediately into boiling woks. The specialty here is hand-pulled noodle soup. On the non-soup side, the steamed dumplings are knockouts. Steamed dumplings, $3; hand-pulled noodle soup with beef, $4.50 Cash Only YOU WILL NOT HAVE A BETTER MEAL FOR LESS MONEY!!
13 locals recommend
Super Taste
26 Eldridge St
13 locals recommend
Super Taste Restaurant is bare bones even by Chinatown-soup-shop standards. The place’s draw: a chef making noodles by hand. The dough is stretched out and turned ritualistically; strands get plopped immediately into boiling woks. The specialty here is hand-pulled noodle soup. On the non-soup side, the steamed dumplings are knockouts. Steamed dumplings, $3; hand-pulled noodle soup with beef, $4.50 Cash Only YOU WILL NOT HAVE A BETTER MEAL FOR LESS MONEY!!

Parks & Nature

Go for the view of the Statue of Liberty.
353 locals recommend
Battery Park
353 locals recommend
Go for the view of the Statue of Liberty.
The East Village is home to the greatest concentration of community gardens in the United States, all of which were hard-won by activists. My favorite,Parque de Tranquilidad is exactly what its name suggests, a place of total tranquility that seems removed even from the East Village. If not for the buildings surrounding it, it would be easy to place the small park in the Catskills, and however tiny it might be, it’s easy to lose yourself in.
Jutta Neumann New York Inc
355 E 4th St
The East Village is home to the greatest concentration of community gardens in the United States, all of which were hard-won by activists. My favorite,Parque de Tranquilidad is exactly what its name suggests, a place of total tranquility that seems removed even from the East Village. If not for the buildings surrounding it, it would be easy to place the small park in the Catskills, and however tiny it might be, it’s easy to lose yourself in.
At first glance, the area around Tompkins Square Park seems like the quintessential New York City neighborhood, with its lively restaurant scene and trendy shops. But it’s was not always this way. Sitting at the heart of East Village, Tompkins Square Park was once home to those on the margins of society—outcasts, immigrants, and homeless alike gathered at this center (and before that, a haunt for artists like Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe). Now it is lovely park with hidden secrets,like the Hare Krishna Tree. On a warm day , bring lunch and enjoy the local scene.
538 locals recommend
Tompkins Square Park
East 10th Street
538 locals recommend
At first glance, the area around Tompkins Square Park seems like the quintessential New York City neighborhood, with its lively restaurant scene and trendy shops. But it’s was not always this way. Sitting at the heart of East Village, Tompkins Square Park was once home to those on the margins of society—outcasts, immigrants, and homeless alike gathered at this center (and before that, a haunt for artists like Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe). Now it is lovely park with hidden secrets,like the Hare Krishna Tree. On a warm day , bring lunch and enjoy the local scene.
If you want a break from the city and not leave Manhattan, this is where I would go. With gorgeous views of the Hudson, this park at the top of Manhattan is one f my favorites. While there stop by the Cloisters Museum.
40 locals recommend
Fort Tryon Park Trust
741 Fort Washington Ave
40 locals recommend
If you want a break from the city and not leave Manhattan, this is where I would go. With gorgeous views of the Hudson, this park at the top of Manhattan is one f my favorites. While there stop by the Cloisters Museum.

Arts & Culture

You get a real sense of how it was to live in the tenements, and what challenges the residents faced as immigrants.
603 locals recommend
Tenement Museum
103 Orchard St
603 locals recommend
You get a real sense of how it was to live in the tenements, and what challenges the residents faced as immigrants.
Visiting this museum might be the best way to learn the essence of East Village. (Short of assimilating into an artist’s squat or chaining yourself to a tree in a community garden!) The museum is housed in well-known C-Squat, which was sold by the government to a non-profit for $1 in 2002, and now is being turned into a low-income co-op for the squatters who live there. The museum itself showcases New York’s recent history of protests, grassroots movements, and environmental activism.
13 locals recommend
Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS)
155 Loisaida Ave
13 locals recommend
Visiting this museum might be the best way to learn the essence of East Village. (Short of assimilating into an artist’s squat or chaining yourself to a tree in a community garden!) The museum is housed in well-known C-Squat, which was sold by the government to a non-profit for $1 in 2002, and now is being turned into a low-income co-op for the squatters who live there. The museum itself showcases New York’s recent history of protests, grassroots movements, and environmental activism.
The Met Cloisters, located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, is the branch of the Museum dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe. It is a lovely castle that houses all things medieval. It is not too large that you can't see everything in a couple of hours.Then step outside to enjoy the surrounding park. As this is a MET museum, the admission is a donation so give only what you can afford.
707 locals recommend
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin Dr
707 locals recommend
The Met Cloisters, located on four acres overlooking the Hudson River in northern Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, is the branch of the Museum dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe. It is a lovely castle that houses all things medieval. It is not too large that you can't see everything in a couple of hours.Then step outside to enjoy the surrounding park. As this is a MET museum, the admission is a donation so give only what you can afford.
Discover the 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue, a breath-taking National Historic Landmark located on New York City's Lower East Side. The Museum at Eldridge street offers an intimate, authentic portal to the past for people of all backgrounds. Step into the footsteps of the synagogue's immigrant founders. Explore digital displays. Discover how the immigrant experience transformed and continues to transform communities today. On Mondays, the admission fee is waived and it is "pay what you want".
12 locals recommend
Museum at Eldridge Street
12 Eldridge St
12 locals recommend
Discover the 1887 Eldridge Street Synagogue, a breath-taking National Historic Landmark located on New York City's Lower East Side. The Museum at Eldridge street offers an intimate, authentic portal to the past for people of all backgrounds. Step into the footsteps of the synagogue's immigrant founders. Explore digital displays. Discover how the immigrant experience transformed and continues to transform communities today. On Mondays, the admission fee is waived and it is "pay what you want".

Drinks & Nightlife

If you love slam poetry you must go to the Nuyorican, one of the last remaining places dedicated to poetry in Manhattan. Even if you don’t, give the Nuyorican a try anyway. Their team of in-house poets is the most inspiring, thoughtful, witty, even hilarious in the city. It is a fun time and you will wondering why you never did this before.
83 locals recommend
Nuyorican Poet's Cafe
236 E 3rd St
83 locals recommend
If you love slam poetry you must go to the Nuyorican, one of the last remaining places dedicated to poetry in Manhattan. Even if you don’t, give the Nuyorican a try anyway. Their team of in-house poets is the most inspiring, thoughtful, witty, even hilarious in the city. It is a fun time and you will wondering why you never did this before.
Constantly voted the best cocktails in NYC. It is a great place to start an evening out.
203 locals recommend
Death & Company
433 E 6th St
203 locals recommend
Constantly voted the best cocktails in NYC. It is a great place to start an evening out.
Since 1880, the White Horse Tavern has remained a fixture in Greenwich Village. While the cost of living has gone up, the White Horse Tavern still maintains its “working class vibe.” It’s old and a bit run-down, but iconic nonetheless. Expect standard pub grub like burgers and sandwiches, including the grilled cheese, which is excellent.
58 locals recommend
White Horse Tavern
567 Hudson Street
58 locals recommend
Since 1880, the White Horse Tavern has remained a fixture in Greenwich Village. While the cost of living has gone up, the White Horse Tavern still maintains its “working class vibe.” It’s old and a bit run-down, but iconic nonetheless. Expect standard pub grub like burgers and sandwiches, including the grilled cheese, which is excellent.
Escape down an early 20th century rabbit hole of great authors and artists at this legendary speakeasy. It still oozes 1920s glamour and the friendly staff make you feel you’re a regular the minute you step inside. Forget your worries, feast on oysters and steak, and party like it’s 1929 with a gin cocktail. It is a bit difficult to find given that it has no sign, a remnant of its beginning as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
20 locals recommend
Chumley's
86 Bedford St
20 locals recommend
Escape down an early 20th century rabbit hole of great authors and artists at this legendary speakeasy. It still oozes 1920s glamour and the friendly staff make you feel you’re a regular the minute you step inside. Forget your worries, feast on oysters and steak, and party like it’s 1929 with a gin cocktail. It is a bit difficult to find given that it has no sign, a remnant of its beginning as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
McSorley’s Old Ale House offers two drinks: McSorley’s Dark Ale and McSorley’s Light Ale. Despite their lack of variety, or perhaps because of it, the bar has thrived throughout the years, managing to keep fairly low prices. Visit McSorley’s on a weekday afternoon, before crowds of tourists pour in to visit “the oldest bar in New York” . It’s been kept much the same as it was when it was opened in the mid-1800s by the Irish immigrant “Old John” McSorley; you can even eat the same meal of cheese, crackers, and raw onions. Pair that with a light and a dark beer — $5.50 for two — and sit in the front table by the pay phone (pick it up when it rings).
142 locals recommend
McSorley's Old Ale House
15 E 7th St
142 locals recommend
McSorley’s Old Ale House offers two drinks: McSorley’s Dark Ale and McSorley’s Light Ale. Despite their lack of variety, or perhaps because of it, the bar has thrived throughout the years, managing to keep fairly low prices. Visit McSorley’s on a weekday afternoon, before crowds of tourists pour in to visit “the oldest bar in New York” . It’s been kept much the same as it was when it was opened in the mid-1800s by the Irish immigrant “Old John” McSorley; you can even eat the same meal of cheese, crackers, and raw onions. Pair that with a light and a dark beer — $5.50 for two — and sit in the front table by the pay phone (pick it up when it rings).
For when you just have to dance.
107 locals recommend
Webster Hall
125 E 11th St
107 locals recommend
For when you just have to dance.
Mother of Pearl is the modern Tiki Bar with a space that’s aerielike and bright. On warm days, the cheery front room opens wide to Avenue A, with sheer curtains and hardy-banana plants lining the entrance. Take a seat at a flowery banquette or post up at the tiled bar atop a bar stool modeled after Polynesian sculpture, and ask head bartender Jane Danger for a Shark Eye cocktail ($15) — it blends passion fruit with Maraschino and bourbon and is poured over pebble ice into a shark-shaped glass. To finish, Danger dashes cherry-red tiki bitters into the drink and lets them dribble down the side of the shark’s “mouth,”. Enjoy!!
33 locals recommend
Mother of Pearl
33 locals recommend
Mother of Pearl is the modern Tiki Bar with a space that’s aerielike and bright. On warm days, the cheery front room opens wide to Avenue A, with sheer curtains and hardy-banana plants lining the entrance. Take a seat at a flowery banquette or post up at the tiled bar atop a bar stool modeled after Polynesian sculpture, and ask head bartender Jane Danger for a Shark Eye cocktail ($15) — it blends passion fruit with Maraschino and bourbon and is poured over pebble ice into a shark-shaped glass. To finish, Danger dashes cherry-red tiki bitters into the drink and lets them dribble down the side of the shark’s “mouth,”. Enjoy!!
This sliver of a bar seems fashioned for close encounters, from the velvety dark-blue banquettes to the mirrored back bar that allows for covert touch-ups while waiting for your date to arrive. But the most obvious nod to intimacy are the call buttons at every table, guaranteeing that you won’t be disturbed unless you want to be.
The Bennett
134 W Broadway
This sliver of a bar seems fashioned for close encounters, from the velvety dark-blue banquettes to the mirrored back bar that allows for covert touch-ups while waiting for your date to arrive. But the most obvious nod to intimacy are the call buttons at every table, guaranteeing that you won’t be disturbed unless you want to be.
http://www.vsparties.com/ Pop-up hip-hop parties aren’t new to the city but The VS Saturday-night parties offer a more universal concept. Promoter Clarence Fruster launched the roving series with DJs ranging from big names like Talib Kweli to locals like Austin Millz spinning hour-long “versus” sets — think Beyoncé versus Rihanna, Drake versus Meek Mill, and old-school Bad Boy versus Roc-A-Fella — that elicit plenty of grinding and “yaaas’s” of approval from the crowd. A $15 to $30 cover charge gets partygoers an hour’s worth of an open bar sponsored by top-shelf liquors like 1800 Tequila and Ciroc. Last one I went to Kanye West stopped by for a set.
28 locals recommend
The VSPOT
156 5th Ave
28 locals recommend
http://www.vsparties.com/ Pop-up hip-hop parties aren’t new to the city but The VS Saturday-night parties offer a more universal concept. Promoter Clarence Fruster launched the roving series with DJs ranging from big names like Talib Kweli to locals like Austin Millz spinning hour-long “versus” sets — think Beyoncé versus Rihanna, Drake versus Meek Mill, and old-school Bad Boy versus Roc-A-Fella — that elicit plenty of grinding and “yaaas’s” of approval from the crowd. A $15 to $30 cover charge gets partygoers an hour’s worth of an open bar sponsored by top-shelf liquors like 1800 Tequila and Ciroc. Last one I went to Kanye West stopped by for a set.
There’s a large back room with picnic-table-like seating, and a front room with plenty of barstools and, happily, no televisions to distract your drinking companions. It’s a favorite of bartenders across the city, in part thanks to its reliable 4 a.m. close time. The food’s excellent — order the fries with curry sauce — and the booze is priced in line with the area. Plus, the beer list is long and varied, even for this craft-crazy city. Swift’s a perfect place to end the night, even if you began it there.
15 locals recommend
Swift Hibernian Lounge
34 E 4th St
15 locals recommend
There’s a large back room with picnic-table-like seating, and a front room with plenty of barstools and, happily, no televisions to distract your drinking companions. It’s a favorite of bartenders across the city, in part thanks to its reliable 4 a.m. close time. The food’s excellent — order the fries with curry sauce — and the booze is priced in line with the area. Plus, the beer list is long and varied, even for this craft-crazy city. Swift’s a perfect place to end the night, even if you began it there.

Sightseeing

St. Mark’s Place is punk’s geographical embodiment. If it’s funky, sassy, and usually pretty cheap, it’s probably for sale on St. Marks Place, which is the alternate name for 8th Street between Third Avenue and Avenue A. The strip between Third and Second avenues, however, is a permanent street market with countless T-shirt stands, tattoo parlors, and boho jewelry storefronts. Beyond endless sunglasses and hat stands, here used-record and rock-memorabilia collectors can have a field day exploring.
111 locals recommend
Saint Marks Place
Saint Marks Place
111 locals recommend
St. Mark’s Place is punk’s geographical embodiment. If it’s funky, sassy, and usually pretty cheap, it’s probably for sale on St. Marks Place, which is the alternate name for 8th Street between Third Avenue and Avenue A. The strip between Third and Second avenues, however, is a permanent street market with countless T-shirt stands, tattoo parlors, and boho jewelry storefronts. Beyond endless sunglasses and hat stands, here used-record and rock-memorabilia collectors can have a field day exploring.

Shopping

Feel slightly less guilty about indulging your shopping cravings at Sustainable NYC, a beautiful shop across from Tompkins Square that stocks local organic, re-purposed, biodegradable, and Fair Trade cosmetics, clothes, home goods, and gifts. The best thing about Sustainable might be the fact that they carry six flavors of the celebrated vegan ice cream from Lula’s Sweet Apothecary a few blocks away.
14 locals recommend
Sustainable NYC
139 Avenue A
14 locals recommend
Feel slightly less guilty about indulging your shopping cravings at Sustainable NYC, a beautiful shop across from Tompkins Square that stocks local organic, re-purposed, biodegradable, and Fair Trade cosmetics, clothes, home goods, and gifts. The best thing about Sustainable might be the fact that they carry six flavors of the celebrated vegan ice cream from Lula’s Sweet Apothecary a few blocks away.
If you love coffee, this store is a must. Super delicious aroma right when you enter the shop brings me back here monthly. They have a huge array of barrels of various varietals and blends in both full caffeine strength and also in decaf coffees
68 locals recommend
Porto Rico Importing
201 Bleecker St
68 locals recommend
If you love coffee, this store is a must. Super delicious aroma right when you enter the shop brings me back here monthly. They have a huge array of barrels of various varietals and blends in both full caffeine strength and also in decaf coffees
The bargains aren’t what they used to be in the Historic Orchard Street Shopping District, which basically runs from Houston to Canal along Allen, Orchard, and Ludlow streets, spreading outward along both sides of Delancey Street. There are a handful of old-fashioned lingerie (really girdle), leather goods, shoes, linens, and fabrics on the bolt shops. But the street today is mostly a hipster haunt, filled with art galleries, designer-owned tiny boutiques, craft beer emporiums and lots of bars and restaurants.
17 locals recommend
Orchard Street
Orchard Street
17 locals recommend
The bargains aren’t what they used to be in the Historic Orchard Street Shopping District, which basically runs from Houston to Canal along Allen, Orchard, and Ludlow streets, spreading outward along both sides of Delancey Street. There are a handful of old-fashioned lingerie (really girdle), leather goods, shoes, linens, and fabrics on the bolt shops. But the street today is mostly a hipster haunt, filled with art galleries, designer-owned tiny boutiques, craft beer emporiums and lots of bars and restaurants.
Don’t expect to find the bargain of a lifetime on Chinatown’s crowded streets, but there’s always great browsing. The fish and herbal markets along Canal, Mott, Mulberry, and Elizabeth streets are fun for their bustle and exotica—as well as for the handful of Italian joints still hanging on from the Little Italy days. Dispersed among them (especially along Canal), you’ll find a mind-boggling collection of knockoff sunglasses, handbags, fragrances, shoes, and watches. It can be a fun browse, but quality is questionable, and usually so are the sellers—and remember to bargain before busting out your wallet!
497 locals recommend
Chinatown
497 locals recommend
Don’t expect to find the bargain of a lifetime on Chinatown’s crowded streets, but there’s always great browsing. The fish and herbal markets along Canal, Mott, Mulberry, and Elizabeth streets are fun for their bustle and exotica—as well as for the handful of Italian joints still hanging on from the Little Italy days. Dispersed among them (especially along Canal), you’ll find a mind-boggling collection of knockoff sunglasses, handbags, fragrances, shoes, and watches. It can be a fun browse, but quality is questionable, and usually so are the sellers—and remember to bargain before busting out your wallet!

Essentials

I use this website for the laundry service. Use this link for $7 off your first order: https://www.delivery.com/share?code=2cc6cb
Delivery.com
55 Water Street
I use this website for the laundry service. Use this link for $7 off your first order: https://www.delivery.com/share?code=2cc6cb
Reliable grocery store with tons of options. They will deliver.
1895 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
95 E Houston St
1895 locals recommend
Reliable grocery store with tons of options. They will deliver.
This is a gourmet market with fabulous produce. With it's mix of prepared food and groceries, it is easy to pick up a quick meal here.
522 locals recommend
Union Market
240 E Houston St
522 locals recommend
This is a gourmet market with fabulous produce. With it's mix of prepared food and groceries, it is easy to pick up a quick meal here.
41 locals recommend
Rite Aid
81 1st Ave.
41 locals recommend
I have been using them for over 20 years. Always had great service and they will deliver if asked nicely.
7 locals recommend
Exquisite Cleaners
49 1st Ave.
7 locals recommend
I have been using them for over 20 years. Always had great service and they will deliver if asked nicely.