New York - 1st time excitement!

[Legend83]

Just pulled the trigger on flights to NY for next year to treat the wife for her 40th. Will be there 4 days.

I know this city has been done to death on hear and I have good idea of some hotels to look at already - Giraffe / Hilton Motto / Kimberley (although any personal choice ideas welcome for around $300-400 per night).

We are going to do all the standard tourist bits (TOTR, 9/11, Central Park, Staten Island), but we also plan to set aside some time to enjoy some hidden gems / real NY experiences / off-the-beaten-path to-dos / great local food places.

So anyone who has been please name your favourite "non-obvious" New York thing you discovered / ate / smelled / enjoyed!

[craig1912]

Been twice and was booked during Covid, was going to stay at The New Yorker.

Highline, Beast Boat ride, Helicopter ride, Food Tour (we’ve done, Greenwich Village, China Town and little Italy), 9/11 Museum is essential.

To eat (non of these are fine dining but interesting)

La Palma Restaurant
Sylvias in Harlem
Barney Greengrass
Clarks in Brooklyn (for breakfast and then walk back over Brooklyn Bridge)

I could go on but no doubt others will be along with other ideas.

[NMNeil]

I may be wrong and it won't affect you, but book the hotel ASAP, as hotel rooms may soon be in short supply.
https://nypost.com/2022/08/25/nyc-now-using-14-hot...

[The Leaper]

Been to NY many times, but not for several years.

I always say it's great to know I'm heading to NY, and also that I'll be leaving soonish afterwards!

Best museum/gallery IMO is The Frick Museum.

Best food area: Little Italy. Small, characterful, good restaurants.

Have a meal at the top of the Rockerfeller Centre for the best view in Manhattan. Must book ahead.

Best advice: get really comfy trainers and wear them in before you go as you'll be inclined to walk most places.

R.

[nickfrog]

Really enjoyed the high line.

[castex]

You're right to be excited as it's absolutely stunning.

[yellowbentines]

Legend83 said:

So anyone who has been please name your favourite "non-obvious" New York thing you discovered / ate / smelled / enjoyed!

Brooklyn Brewery tour with 'dinner' at the taco van across the road beforehand (the brewery will let you buy food and eat in their bar as they don't serve food or at least didnt at that point) . The best burrito I've ever had, some great beers, and an opportunity to meet and chat to others on the tour.

Brooklyn Bowl - basically a dive bar/bowling but it's open really late, great vibe, and a good fun night out, felt like stepping back in time a bit!

https://www.bathtubginnyc.com/location/bathtub-gin... - a hidden speakeasy in Manhattan, very well hidden in a coffee shop and we walked past it twice.

The main non-obvious thing to do is give Times Square a complete bodyswerve. It's just their version of Leicester Square IMO, thousands of people, flashing advertisements, street performers of varying degrees of crapness, and st restaurants like TGIs.

[Gary C]

Ellis island hospital hard hat tour. When we went it was totally undeveloped and you could wander almost anywhere with the guide.

High line for a pleasant walk, also some of the old docks had some 'interesting' concrete art.

The nutters in time square.

Food, food and food.

[leyorkie]

All of the above
But prepare yourself for tipping, all the time not just when you’ve had good service
And sales tax the price you see is not always the price you pay.

Other than that it will be everything you expect and more.

[2 GKC]

River cafe for special occasion. You’ll need a jacket

[DanL]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thirded- well worth a stroll along it if the weather’s good.

[Alorotom]

I always try to get out to Coney Island both in summer and winter - it’s a world away from Manhattan and a nice reprieve for a couple of hours.

Hotels - I always stay at the downtown Conrad now and it’s excellent.

Food - I always make sure to have one meal at Majestic Deli north of Times Square between broadway and 7th on 50th

There is so much to take in (esp in 4days) though make sure you don’t have a nailed itinerary and just wing some of it to find your way. Prime example wander through NoHo / SoHo / etc.

[QJumper]

If you like burgers, there's a "secret" burger place I was told about when last there, tucked away inside the Parker Meridien hotel.

Just found a link:

https://www.businessinsider.com/burger-joint-secre...

[TC7]

We went the beginning of February that covid started appearing, bloody glad it wasn't few weeks later or id of had to scrap my plans for a bit as i proposed to my now wife at the end of Pier 40.

Fabulous view of Tribeca, Financial District, World Trade and Hudson from there, well worth a walk along that section of the west coast up from 9/11 site Then can sit with a coffee at end of the pier and take in the view as its deserted in comparison to the other park piers, hence why i chose it as my proposal place over Top of the Rock

Im sure the Hays Travel 4 night deal will suck us back in to going again at some point as it was a cracking trip.

[valiant]

Just got back from our first visit last month and you’re right to be excited as it’s simply mega!

Absolutely knackering trying to fit all the tourist sites in so comfy shoes and clothing a must and always have a bottle of water with you.

Do the Intrepid Museum and you must do the submarine so ignore the queues and do it! You get real close and personal with how life was below the waves and the guides are ex-servicemen who will stop and talk all day if you let them.

Found the Empire State experience better than the TOTR but the views are not quite as good (although that’s being picky) but we done the tour of TOTR and the guide takes you all around the Rockefeller estate pointing out a ton of stuff you’ve missed. Do one of the viewings at night to get an alternative slant.

River tour is good if you get a good guide and of course you must to Statue of Liberty and Ellis island (it’s on the same tour boat so you might as well)

Times Square is a hole so just get the obligatory photo and move on.

We stayed in the New Yorker and it was generally fine although it does seem well overdue an update but it was clean although you can wait a while for lifts (we were on the 36th floor!) but is very well placed to get to stuff.

Getting around is easy and the Subway takes your contactless card as payment à la Oyster in London (same system actually. TfL sold it to the yanks)

Be prepared for queueing to get into attractions. They’re still a bit covid aware so it’s pre booked times for attractions which are roundly ignored so everyone queues.

Oh, cannabis is now legal in NY so don’t be alarmed if a ‘weed bus’ passes you by. It’s also very expensive to do anything mainly thanks to the crappy pound but you’re only over there once aren’t you?

We loved it. It’s absolutely frenetic but it’s like walking around a movie set at times. You keep seeing things that you’ve somehow seen before but can’t quite place.

Enjoy. We’ll be back soon enough!

[Bob-iylho]

do a basketball game or ice hockey. MSG or get a train to new jersey.

[RedAndy]

visit 14 North Moore Street

[Bilkob]

There’s a couple of epic Blues bars on Bleeker Street, and if I recall, superb ‘hole in the wall’ pizza joints

[Mr Squarekins]

For the very well known attractions such as Empire SB, Statue of Liberty etc, do them first thing in the day. No queues etc.

Both open surprisingly early and you get the place almost to yourself.

[speedchick]

Me and the hubby are on countdown for our trip over there. Going in January, 3 nights in Reykjavik and onto NY for 3 nights. The hotel is mid Manhatten and himself had been working on a plan of action to get in everything we want to do (he's a list and plans type of guy!)
I have been researching myself and seen something about 'resort fees' what the heck are they and do we have to pay them?