New York, commonly known as the ‘city that never sleeps’. Whether it be an early morning jaunt to a diner for breakfast or a night-time trip to the Rockefeller Center for unparalleled views of the city, there is always something to do. You’ll find an abundance of street vendors offering tasty treats at reasonable prices and trying to navigate your way around the rather complex subway is an experience to say the least.
But how do you decide exactly what to do and when? With the help of some people who recently graced the streets of New York, of course.
Usually, you’ll find that most guides to new cities will give you five, six or 10 ideas of things to do, but in true Evade style we've gone one step further! Here are the top 10 things to do in New York plus our handpicked bonus location: to help any of you budding tourists with plans to visit, make the most of your time.
1. A show at The Ambassador theatre
The Ambassador Theatre is located between Broadway and 8th avenue. It plays host to shows such as Topdog/Underdog and Chicago.
Eleanor says: “I went to see Chicago and the ushers in the aisles were shimmying and flirting with the audience, it was just fun and it felt so much like show-business. We thought our tickets were at the back but we ended up being two rows from the front. We felt like VIP’s and were treated as such. If you have the chance, go and see a show, but get your tickets as early as you can!”
Address: 219 W 49th St, New York, NY 10019, USA
2. Junior’s Cheesecake
Home to some ‘world famous cheesecake’, Junior’s is a diner-like experience with an expansive menu and a friendly, lively atmosphere.
Phoebe says: “It’s a jazzy, sexy diner. It was probably the sexiest dessert place I’ve ever been to. The slices of cheesecake were about the size of my head and that’s not an exaggeration”.
Address: 1626 Broadway @ 49th Street New York, New York 10019, USA
3. Lobster Rolls by Brooklyn bridge
If you’re tired after walking across Brooklyn Bridge, stop off at Luke’s for a meal with a view.
Phoebe says: “Brooklyn was hands down my favourite place. Sitting and eating Lobster rolls at Luke’s Lobster Shack, looking out over the river and Brooklyn Bridge was amazing. As cliché as it sounds, it felt like I was in a movie. Lobster rolls are something I’d recommend to any and everyone, they’re insane.”
Address: 11 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
4. Central Park
From Horse & carriage rides, bike rentals or a good old-fashioned stroll, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to getting around Central Park. If you have time, stop off at the famous zoo.
Phoebe says: “Central Park is beautiful! You see it on TV and stuff but that doesn’t do it any justice whatsoever. The fact that it was covered in snow made it even better, it still felt all Christmassy.”
5. Top of the Rock
If heights aren’t your thing, this probably won’t be for you. But if they are, expect beautiful views of New York Skyscrapers that will provide the perfect backdrop for a photo.
Phoebe says: “The Christmas tree outside of the Rockefeller Center was visually probably one of the nicest things in New York. Luckily, we visited two days before it was taken down. We got such a good view of the skyline at the ‘top of the rock’ and even though it was abnormally cold up there, it was an experience unlike any other.”
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, USA
6. Shake Shack
Shake Shack is a cosy fast-food joint, with big portions and an even bigger menu. They even sell dog friendly custard and biscuits… you can’t say they don’t cater to everyone.
This place is basically a glorified McDonald’s, but I loved it. I can confirm that I’ve never had a chicken burger that was as nice as Shake Shack’s. It was such a convenient place for us to go after exploring the city for the whole day and the staff were very easy on the eye too.
Address: 691 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036, USA
7. The Met Museum
The Metropolitan Museum is the largest art museum in the USA, home to more than two million pieces of art.
Phoebe says: “Everything about it is so majestic. It’s the definition of an art lovers’ dream and all it requires is a small donation. Getting to see the masterpieces up close and personal was awesome. As a Gossip Girl fan, getting to walk up the Met steps was so wonderful.”
Address: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, USA
8. 9/11 Memorial
A touching tribute to those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks.
Phoebe says: “Visiting this memorial was one of the hardest things we did. It was such an emotional experience. It’s a place I’m glad I went to but I don’t know if I’d go back. It was frightening to see the remains from parts of the Twin Towers. How could something so strong and sturdy crumble in a matter of hours? There was a dark room where projections of the victims were shown along with a short obituary. It was a learning experience for sure.”
Address: National September 11 Memorial & Museum, 180 Greenwich St, New York, NY 1007, USA
9. Brunch at Superfine
Superfine is a restaurant located in an area of Brooklyn called ‘Dumbo’. It was once a warehouse, but you certainly could never tell.
Eleanor says: “As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the sounds of a live band that were playing. We had no idea who they were but it was so welcoming. It’s not an obvious place, we had to look pretty hard to find it. The food was so tasty and purse-friendly, definitely worth the search.”
Address: 126 Front St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
10. Tour of the UN Building
An opportunity to have a guided tour of the home of many important televised political meetings.
Phoebe says: “It felt so official walking through here. We got to explore the rooms where meetings are held and we learnt what things they do to help people in underdeveloped countries which really made me appreciate all that we have.”
Address: United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY 10017, USA
Bonus:
2 Bros Pizza
What 2 Bros Pizza lacks in décor, it certainly makes up for in food.
A slice of pizza for $1 or 2 slices and a drink for $2.99? How could you say no? 2 Bros is a small pizza place which lacks heating. But with pizza that good, being cold is the least of your worries.
Address: 557 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, USA
*To make your money go further consider buying a 7 day Metrocard that allows for unlimited travel on the Subway (and it’s only $31).*
