hello to my fans, sorry it’s been so long since i wrote you. i’m so incredibly busy, it can be hard to remember the little people.
joking, of course, minus the busy part. october has kicked my ass and taken my name, and left me tired, sore, and kinda stinky. time for a shower.
in all the hustle and bustle of my busy life, i recently went to nyc on a whim, marking my third time in the beautiful city. still haven’t been during the summer, but that can be a 2019 goal. however, i have decided that the third time truly is the charm, and now i can claim myself a nyc expert. here are my favorites – the must sees, eats, and dos of the city.
*keep in mind, i love to do some touristy stuff the first time i go somewhere & then usually never again – if it makes this list, its either worth seeing twice or its not a tourist destination/spot you’ve heard of yet*
must see:
brooklyn bridge – this is a personal favorite of mine. take the subway into brooklyn and wander through dumbo, then cross back to manhattan by walking across the bridge. the views are unreal and when you’ve crossed, you’re not far from chinatown, soho, etc.
soho – for me, soho is everything that i love about the city. in midtown, new york feels like any other city – big, shiny buildings and crowded streets. but there’s something about the character in soho that feels so much more new york. get a cocktail, do some shopping, stop by this cute café for a cookie shot – soho can fill up an entire day.
central park – this is truly one of the most beautiful places i have ever been. from the lake to the paths to the zoo – central park has it all. plus gorgeous views of the city from wherever you are. grab a cup of coffee and wander through the park while you enjoy the perfect blend of city and nature (and people watching).
cute neighborhoods to hit:
upper westside for brownstones and pretty much everything that embodies the life i want to live
tribeca for its blend of cityscape and still so much character (brick, cobblestone streets, boutique cafés)
must eat (brunch):
rock and reilly’s – great spot in midtown, quiet and elevated. loved the smoked salmon pizza
l’amico in nomad – deeeeelicious! this place was a little loud & a little slow but that’s brunch for you. I recommend the lemon ricotta pancakes – the whipped lemon whatever it was that you put on top with the blueberry compote is absolutely heavenly
hotel chantelle in lower east side – i loved this spot for a good boozy brunch, and their smoked salmon platter is not only delicious, but also so instagram worthy. while we were there, there was a live band which was a little bit loud but absolutely phenomenal!
must eat (lunch/snack spots):
the plaza – get your boujee on and splurge a little – you only live once. caviar, champagne, tea and all the delicious finger sandwiches of your dreams in the most beautiful and elevated setting. felt like a princess.
katz deli – delicious meats in the lower east side, known for its scene in when harry met sally (see this movie, seriously) where she fakes her orgasm. and let’s be honest, the food is real-orgasm worthy.
must eat (dinner):
butter in midtown – feel like blair waldorf and the minions in this delicious spot. must get the midtown fizz cocktail & pan seared scallops
catch in meatpacking – this place is unreal. great for shareable bites, and especially for the seafood, we loved the oysters and the sushi rolls
tao – the. fucking. chilean. seabass!!!!!!!! unreal. unrealllll like if you don’t eat this you’re going to die sad. the ambiance is amazing with a very cool asian fusion theme, from the massive buddha in the middle of the room to the dark, moody lighting. also, get the saketini.
must do:
PHD rooftop – the views are incredible here so that alone makes it worthwhile. plus, if you wanna feel super inadequate you can come here and stare at all the insanely pretty people around you.
top of the rock – this is the best view in the city because you can see the empire state building in the skyline rather than being in the tower. it’s only about $35 per person to go up to the top and you can explore three tiers of views, all from the safety of enclosed glass. go at sunset, it’s amazing.
see a live show – so this could be anything from broadway to stand up, but when i went in april my best friend and i saw live with kelly and ryan, which was an amazing opportunity to see how a live show is recorded. so many great shows are recorded in nyc and they are usually free to attend, and if you dress up real cute you can be in the front row (*insert hair flip*) .
let me know if you visit any of these spots, or what your favorites are – i’ll be back again soon so if there’s anything you didn’t see on this list that you’re dying to know about, i’ll be your tester. keep your eye out for my favorites from the bahamas – i leave tomorrow! can’t wait. xox