Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
Great neighborhood gastropub known for its meats. Chicken liver toast and burger are fantastic.
264 locals recommend
The Spotted Dog
1154 1st Ave.Great neighborhood gastropub known for its meats. Chicken liver toast and burger are fantastic.
The $1.50 oyster happy hour from 4-6pm here on weekdays cannot be beat. There are other oyster happy hours in the neighborhood but the quality of the oysters comes nowhere close.
80 locals recommend
Jeffrey's Grocery
172 Waverly PlThe $1.50 oyster happy hour from 4-6pm here on weekdays cannot be beat. There are other oyster happy hours in the neighborhood but the quality of the oysters comes nowhere close.
Bakery franchise from Paris with a location in the West Village. Baguettes here are the best in NYC.
152 locals recommend
Maison Kayser
1294 3rd AveBakery franchise from Paris with a location in the West Village. Baguettes here are the best in NYC.
Extremely friendly local neighborhood wine store. Great curation on affordable range wines.
7 locals recommend
Sea Grape Wine Shop
512 Hudson StExtremely friendly local neighborhood wine store. Great curation on affordable range wines.
The best coffee shop in the neighborhood just happens to be directly under the apartment. Their food is pretty wonderful too.
34 locals recommend
THE ELK
128 Charles StThe best coffee shop in the neighborhood just happens to be directly under the apartment. Their food is pretty wonderful too.
One of our absolute favorite restaurants in the entire city—Kiki's is basic Greek dishes done perfectly and at an affordable price. Do not miss the saganaki, moussaka, grilled octopus, or lemon potatoes.
320 locals recommend
Kiki's
130 Division StreetOne of our absolute favorite restaurants in the entire city—Kiki's is basic Greek dishes done perfectly and at an affordable price. Do not miss the saganaki, moussaka, grilled octopus, or lemon potatoes.
Offspring of Cafe China in Midtown, this is the place to go for super authentic, extremely fresh and flavorful Shanghainese and other regional Chinese dishes. The romantic 1930s like interior is also a plus.
9 locals recommend
China Blue
59 West 37th StreetOffspring of Cafe China in Midtown, this is the place to go for super authentic, extremely fresh and flavorful Shanghainese and other regional Chinese dishes. The romantic 1930s like interior is also a plus.
100% legit ew Orleans, hole in the wall sandwich counter. Best sandwich in the city — fried chicken on a buttermilk biscuit with meat gravy and pickled coleslaw.
97 locals recommend
Cheeky Sandwiches
88 Orchard St100% legit ew Orleans, hole in the wall sandwich counter. Best sandwich in the city — fried chicken on a buttermilk biscuit with meat gravy and pickled coleslaw.
Murray's Cheese Bar
28-30 Jackson Avenue Legendary cheese shop of the West Village
Our favorite Italian restaurant in the whole city, over in the East Village. Best dishes are the Rigatoni with sweet fennel and spicy sausage, peas and tomato cream OR the Pappardelle with braised rabbit, fresh thyme and green olives.
55 locals recommend
Lavagna
545 E 5th StOur favorite Italian restaurant in the whole city, over in the East Village. Best dishes are the Rigatoni with sweet fennel and spicy sausage, peas and tomato cream OR the Pappardelle with braised rabbit, fresh thyme and green olives.
Insanely good fusion of Szechuan and New York tastes, actually born in San Francisco. If you do not like taste profiles that explode like fireworks, including salty and savory, do not go here.
179 locals recommend
Mission
171 E BroadwayInsanely good fusion of Szechuan and New York tastes, actually born in San Francisco. If you do not like taste profiles that explode like fireworks, including salty and savory, do not go here.
This French/Moroccan cafe in NoLita (SoHo) sits on a quiet side street away the bustle of Broadway and is a fantastic lunch or brunch spot long popular with the fashion set. Highlights include the baked eggs, merguez sausage, avocado toast, and the famous couscous tower.
219 locals recommend
Cafe Gitane
242 Mott StThis French/Moroccan cafe in NoLita (SoHo) sits on a quiet side street away the bustle of Broadway and is a fantastic lunch or brunch spot long popular with the fashion set. Highlights include the baked eggs, merguez sausage, avocado toast, and the famous couscous tower.
Drinks & Nightlife
Nighttime corner speakeasy with arguably best cocktails in the city, founded by the late Sasha Petraske. Sunday through Thursday they have a live jazz quintet. My favorite drink is off the menu, the 'El Guapo'. Just look for the bouncer at the unmarked steel door on the corner. If there's a line it usually goes fast but be smart and go on a weekday when it's cooler anyway.
168 locals recommend
Little Branch
20 7th Avenue SouthNighttime corner speakeasy with arguably best cocktails in the city, founded by the late Sasha Petraske. Sunday through Thursday they have a live jazz quintet. My favorite drink is off the menu, the 'El Guapo'. Just look for the bouncer at the unmarked steel door on the corner. If there's a line it usually goes fast but be smart and go on a weekday when it's cooler anyway.
Stylishly ironic dive bar with kitschy nautical theme and cheap tacos.
35 locals recommend
The Rusty Knot
425 West StStylishly ironic dive bar with kitschy nautical theme and cheap tacos.
My personal favorite when it comes to cocktail bars in the city. It's hidden through a door in the back of an art gallery. At night, just tell the bouncer you are there for "Fig. 19" the name of the place. The 'Midnight in Paris' is a chocolate cocktail that even I like, but the real fun here is ordering off the menu, taking bartender specialties.
41 locals recommend
Fig. 19
131 Chrystie StMy personal favorite when it comes to cocktail bars in the city. It's hidden through a door in the back of an art gallery. At night, just tell the bouncer you are there for "Fig. 19" the name of the place. The 'Midnight in Paris' is a chocolate cocktail that even I like, but the real fun here is ordering off the menu, taking bartender specialties.
Amazingly expensive and ostentatious lounge style bar at the top of the Standard Hotel. But if you can get by the face control at the elevator top, it is something pretty cool to see.
58 locals recommend
The Top of the Standard
848 Washington StAmazingly expensive and ostentatious lounge style bar at the top of the Standard Hotel. But if you can get by the face control at the elevator top, it is something pretty cool to see.
One of the most serious cocktail spots in the city, Death & Company has a menu that feels like a telephone book, organized by spirit. Fun small bites too. But you have to be prepared to come to the door,leave your name and come back after going somewhere else. Personally, I prefer Fig. 19 and Little Branch.
203 locals recommend
Death & Company
433 E 6th StOne of the most serious cocktail spots in the city, Death & Company has a menu that feels like a telephone book, organized by spirit. Fun small bites too. But you have to be prepared to come to the door,leave your name and come back after going somewhere else. Personally, I prefer Fig. 19 and Little Branch.
Rebirth of Sasha Petraske's legendary cocktail lounge, Milk & Honey. Relatively unmarked door with a buzzer...
102 locals recommend
Attaboy
134 Eldridge StRebirth of Sasha Petraske's legendary cocktail lounge, Milk & Honey. Relatively unmarked door with a buzzer...
Parks & Nature
Just a couple minutes from the apartment—go there in the afternoon and during sunset for a beautiful river experience.
13 locals recommend
Christopher Street Pier
393 West St Just a couple minutes from the apartment—go there in the afternoon and during sunset for a beautiful river experience.
Always abuzz with performers, dog walkers, and chess players, this is the central public space of the NYU campus area.
946 locals recommend
Washington Square Park
Washington SquareAlways abuzz with performers, dog walkers, and chess players, this is the central public space of the NYU campus area.
Sightseeing
Derelict elevated train rail turned into a pedestrian pathway and park
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
Derelict elevated train rail turned into a pedestrian pathway and park
The active hub of both the East and West Villages. There's a great farmer's market here on the weekend.
987 locals recommend
Union Square
The active hub of both the East and West Villages. There's a great farmer's market here on the weekend.
Arts & Culture
One of the four major NYC private institutional art galleries — the others being the MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the New Musuem
884 locals recommend
Salmagundi Museum of American Art
One of the four major NYC private institutional art galleries — the others being the MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the New Musuem
Essentials
Newish grocery store is like a slightly fancier version of a Whole Foods.
16 locals recommend
Mrs. Green’s Neighborhood Market - West Village
585 Hudson StNewish grocery store is like a slightly fancier version of a Whole Foods.
Same day wash and fold laundry service. There are others, but this is the most affordable and friendly. Dry cleaning also reliable but takes 2-3 days.
ABC Dry Cleaners & Laundromat
619 Hudson StSame day wash and fold laundry service. There are others, but this is the most affordable and friendly. Dry cleaning also reliable but takes 2-3 days.
Rite Aid
534 Hudson St Open 24 hours
Shopping
Marc Jacobs
403 Bleecker StreetDiane von Furstenberg
874 Washington StScotch & Soda
126 N 4th StComme Des Garçons
520 W 22nd St