New York in a Nutshell

A list of the top 15 places to visit in the Big Apple.

Planning a trip can be stressful. There are so many unanswered questions: Where should I stay? What should I do? Where are the best places to eat? All of this and more can damper the excitement of traveling, especially if you’re going somewhere as daunting as New York City. But, hey, that’s why we’re here! If you’re planning on seeing the big apple, you’re in luck. We’ve complied a list of the best “to-dos” in New York City. And if you’re not currently planning a trip, maybe we can change your mind.

EAT.

It’s so hard to compile a list of places to eat when there are over 24,000 restaurants in Manhattan alone. Our list details the type of food, price range, and borough. Here are our top five picks:

• Daily Provisions: Manhattan; Brunch; American. “The Best Donut in New York City.”

They also serve a great variety of sandwiches. — $$

• Rubirosa: Manhattan; Dinner; Italian. Prepare to make a reservation. The crazy wait is only the first hit that it is crazy good. — $$$

• Uncle Boon’s: Manhattan; Dinner; Thai. Want to live like the locals? Here, you probably

won’t run into any tourists, while still enjoying great Thai food. — $$$

• Vinegar Hill House: Brooklyn; American. Charming & delicious. What more could you

ask for? Stop here before exploring Dumbo — $$

• Joe’s Pizza: Manhattan; Italian; Lunch / Dinner. Did you really go to NYC if you didn’t eat

street style pizza? Don’t forget to fold your slice. — $

DRINK.

If you’re of age, you’ll definitely want to check out the nightlife in Manhattan. Our top three picks include everything from swanky jazz bars to up-and-coming night clubs.

• Blue Note: Greenwich Village; Jazz Club. “The Jazz Capitol of the World.”

• ACME: Noho; Restaurant & Cocktail Bar. This popular bar is the inspiration behind the

podcast We Met at ACME. As the podcast suggests, ACME is great for enjoying social life.

• FREQ: Hell’s Kitchen; Nightclub. With multiple dance floors, FREQ takes clubbing to the

next level. Dance all night to hot new music from global DJ superstars.

"It's impossible to see everything in New York. Especially if you're only there for a few days. What you will see, though, you'll never forget."

SEE.

We’ve included a list of 5 of our “must-dos” ranging from popular tourist activities (The Statue of Liberty, obviously) to some more off-the-radar adventures.

• The Statue of Liberty. Self-explanatory.

• Central Park. Again, an absolute must-see.

• The Top of the Rock. See the incredible skyline from the roof of the Rockefeller Center.

And while you’re there, see Rockefeller Plaza. \

• Dumbo, Brooklyn. The charming cobblestone streets, the stunning Brooklyn Bridge, the

boutiques & restaurants. You won’t be sorry taking a trip to Dumbo. But you might be sorry

if you don’t.

• A Broadway Show. Where else in the world can you find the most highly-anticipated live

theatre performances? Hint: Nowhere.

SLEEP.

Sleep is not be the most exciting part of a trip, but you still have to plan for it. Here are our top three hotel recommendations.

• Pod 51: On-a-Budget. A 4-star hotel that won’t break the bank. — $$

• The Plaza: Luxury. One of the most iconic hotels in NYC. The Plaza has luxury living

written all over it. — $$$$

• The High Line: Charming & Rustic. Trendy with quirky rooms & a lot of coffee. — $$$

Those are our recommendations. Take them or leave them. Not matter what you do, New York is a city with excitement in the air, a vibrant portrait of life. It really is unlike any other city in the world. If you’re planning a trip to the big apple, remember this: It’s impossible to see everything in New York. Especially if you’re only there for a few days. What you will see, though, you’ll never forget.