Our recent trip to NYC turned into the culinary & vintage tour of our dreams, along with checking out a few parks & museums - here’s where we went.

Keep in mind: two of my favourite evenings were nights we didn’t plan, events we discovered by wandering around & stumbling upon them. That’s the part I miss most about being there - the sense of potential & how wholeheartedly people devote themselves to art & beautiful experiences.

Brooklyn

This is where we stayed, a gorgeous loft that was the perfect home base for our adventures. It was about a block from a subway station & surrounded by fantastic restaurants, plus our host was absolutely lovely.

EAT

Rosalu Diner - classic diner food, perfect for when you’ve imbibed a bit too much the night before.

Brooklyn Kolache - quick + easy little buns of deliciousness with great coffee & a peaceful back patio.

Clementine Bakery - this became our go-to spot most mornings, & the last place we grabbed cold beverages from before we headed for the airport. Everything we had here was fantastic (I’m still thinking about the BLAT + Matcha Lemonade).

Sey Coffee - this place is the perfect spot to recover after a few hours of treasure hunting (it’s near the biggest thrift store in NYC + a few others) & the decor is deeply soothing.

Black Seed Bagel - there are a few locations; we stopped in the one at the Ace Hotel on our way into Manhattan one morning + it was fantastic.

Colonia Verde - this spot was one of my favourites that we went to the whole trip; it’ll be one we visit every time we go. The architecture + decor is breathtaking & I’ll be dreaming of their food for years.

Luke’s Lobster - truffle butter lobster rolls in Brooklyn Bridge park - need I say more?

The Butcher’s Daughter - fresh + satisfying food surrounded by beautiful treasures.

TimeOut Market - a collection of some of the most delicious dishes in NYC, this food market has something for everyone.

Taqueria Al Pastor - we stopped in here after Grimms one night, a delicious way to wrap up the evening.

Threes Brewing - a huge selection of local craft beer + eats with a huge, green-filled back patio.

Grimm Artisanal Ales - delicious witchy potions + a great atmosphere, this was on the top of my list before we went & we’ll definitely go back next time.

Strangeways - everything about this spot was amazing, especially the folks working there. The cocktails are a treat - the first thing I tried to recreate when we got home was the Purple Reign (I haven’t figured it out… yet).

EXPLORE

Brooklyn Bridge Park - we spent a lot of time wandering around here taking in the sites (& photos). One evening we even came across a free movie night on the waterfront!

Brooklyn Bridge - walk over the bridge into Manhattan! We did it at night when you can see all the lights, & although we went the wrong way (from Manhattan into Brooklyn) it was still amazing.

Brooklyn Flea Market - this was marvellous! So many treasures it blew my mind.

L-Train Vintage - there are a few locations (including one a few blocks from our Airbnb) + the Urban Jungle location on Knickerbocker is the biggest thrift store in NYC.

Seven Wonders Collective - I went to the one on Grand Street & lost my mind over the 1920s silk slips & all the other impeccably curated vintage marvels.

Brooklyn Flea - a highlight of the trip for me, this weekly outdoor market in DUMBO was absolutely filled with treasures & inspiration.

There are vintage + thrift stores everywhere you look around here; I can’t wait to go back & explore even more.

East Village

Other than Brooklyn, this is where we spent most of our time - when we go back we’ll be our likely stay here.

EAT

Katz’s Delicatessen - my mouth still waters when I think about their Rueben! It’s huge, so definitely share it. I’d get it to go & find a park nearby.

Veselka - we went here twice it was so good. Try the sauerkraut + mushroom pierogi & the cabbage roll smothered in mushroom gravy.

Please Don’t Tell - a beautiful speakeasy with dreamy cocktails. Fun fact: this was the first time I’d ever used a rotary phone & I had no clue what I was doing.

11th Street Bar - the NYC Liverpool supporters club, we watched a couple of games here - including the one where they won 9-0!!!

Momofuku Noodle Bar - one of our favourite meals on the trip! The ramen is what food dreams are made of.

Milk Bar - sweet treats in happy colours that make me feel like a kid again.

Ten Bells NYC - great atmosphere & even better happy hour ($1 oysters + $18 wine carafes).

EXPLORE

Credo Beauty - I picked up a few new staples from here + the folks working were so helpful.

Azaleas - exquisite lingerie with a good size range.

Cure Thrift - I would’ve brought home everything if I could; the collection of clothing & furniture was spectacular.

Strand Book Store - 4 floors of books!!!! It was amazing & we only made it through the first floor.

Tompkins Square Park - a sweet spot for hanging out + grounding.

SOHO

EAT

Jack’s Wife Freda - light + fresh yet filling, they make one of the best chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Bar Pitti - they have a special menu, only in Italian, with the most delicious truffle pasta you can possibly imagine - we have our friend Lara to thank for sharing this gem.

Frenchette - we only stopped in for a glass of wine, but I’d love to go back for a full meal

EXPLORE

Walk! We wandered Chinatown + Little Italy, made our way over to FDNY Ladder 8 (the Ghostbusters fire station) & spent some time in Washington Square Park.

Midtown

EAT

The Halal Guys - a food cart on West 53rd, bring cash & ask for extra garlic sauce + more napkins than you think you’ll need. Grab it + a bottle of wine & head to Central Park for a picnic!

LODI - the decor! the food! the bar! It was all spectacular. They freshly stone mill their flour for their homemade bread every day & it was like nothing I’ve ever tasted.

Refinery Rooftop - beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline + has a chill atmosphere.

EXPLORE

Central Park - we came here every couple of days; it was an oasis in the centre of chaos. My favourite night of the whole trip was having a picnic (The Halal Guys & wine) while here while listening to live music.

MoMA - plan for at least half a day here; it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Broadway - we saw Drunk Shakespeare + got to be in the play! It was an experience we’ll never forget.

Grand Central Station - it was absolutely awe-inspiring.

Times Square - the lights at night + amount of people kinda broke my nervous system, but it was cool to see it.

Bryant Park - where we escaped to after Times Square.

Rockefeller Plaza - play in the fountains! Take in the architecture!

Honestly, just walk around & take in the architecture here. It’s breathtaking. But avoid 5th Avenue at 5:00 on a weekday (terrifying).

Bonus

EAT

BierWax - a craft beer bar that only plays classic vinyl with a great atmosphere. Pick up tacos from the food trucks nearby & hang out for awhile!

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza - this became our go-to spot for ordering in (like when our flight got in late or we were too tired to move). They’re famous for their Artichoke pizza, but my favourite was the meatball + Isaac’s was the pepperoni.

Leo’s Bagels - delicious + perfect for grabbing before the Staten Island Ferry, but know what you want before you go in to order - it’s a little chaotic

EXPLORE

Tattoo - I got a piece from Dani Ebro that I can’t stop smiling about, while Isaac got a work of art from Juan Daniel

Staten Island Ferry - a free ferry that takes you right by the Statue of Liberty.

Sports - we saw a Yankees game & it was so. much. fun!

This list is inspired by my dear friend Lara, who sent us her NYC favourites list (organized by neighbourhood) before we left. As always, her recommendations were impeccable & lots made it onto this one.