3 Day Guide to New York City
I get messages all the time from people visiting New York, asking where to visit and places to eat. And after five years of living here, I definitely have a list of places, but to make it easier, I’ve decided to write out a 3-day trip plan for visiting NYC. I won't cover every single thing you could possibly do (because you'd need an entire month to do everything) but some of the best highlights are in here, as well as a few off-the-tourist-path spots. These are just suggestions, If you really want to visit somewhere, do it! It's your trip! But here's my suggested plan:
Day 1
Central Park
Spend the morning strolling through the best parts of Central Park. Enter at West 72nd street and walk to the center for the Bethesda terrace & fountain, and then make your way either up through the Ramble to Belvedere castle for a less crowds and more nature, or down The Mall to the Gapstow bridge for classic ‘Central Park’ views.
The Plaza Hotel
Once you get hungry, make your way back to 59th St and go below the hotel into the Plaza Food Hall for lunch. There are tons of great counters to eat at in here, and if you wind your way to the back, they have a whole section dedicated to Eloise at the Plaza!
Top of the Rock
Most people would assume the best city view is atop the Empire State Building, right? Not quite. The problem with that is that the 'classic' NY skyline includes the Empire State, and you can't see it if you're standing on it. Instead, head to the observation deck atop the Rockefeller building for a MUCH better view!
The Frick Collection
Dinner
When you're ready to grab dinner, here are a few recommendations around the Upper East Side!
Bouqeria - A favorite of young hip New Yorkers, Bouqueria has locations all around the city and serves incredible Spanish tapas and sangria
Souvlaki - Authentic Greek food at afforadble prices, and such a beautiful restaurant. Make sure you get a reservation for this one!
The Smith - Modern American fare in a chic industrial setting. Another NY local favorite with multiple locations.
Flex Mussels -
Caffe Buon Gusto
Day 2
Ground Zero and the 9/11 Museum
In my opinion, this is one of the most important things to do if you're coming to New York. The memorial pools are a beautiful remembrance of such a tragic day in our history, and the museum is truly an impactful experience. There's one section that lays out the days events minute by minute and has videos, photos, sound recordings, and objects from the day, and is very important, especially for those similar to my age, who may have been alive for September 11th, but don't fully remember it. Plan about 2-3 hours in this museum, and my tip is to buy tickets ahead, and go right when they open in the morning!
Lunch at Shake Shack in Madison Square Park - Flatiron District
After that, take the N or R trains up to 23rd St and have lunch at the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park! It's frequented by tourists and New Yorkers alike, and is so fun on a beautiful day!
If it's raining, a few other good places in Flatiron include Dig Inn, Live Bait, or visit Eataly! (and Dough Doughnuts on 19th St is my weakness)
After lunch, you can walk around and see the Flatiron Building, Union Square Park, and this area of 5th Avenue has great shopping! (I used to work in the J.Crew Flagship on 5th and 17th!)
The Highline and Chelsea Market
After you're finished exploring Flatiron, walk straight west and you'll find Chelsea Market at 9th Ave and 16th St. Inside, there's an array of food shops, bookstores, boutiques, and my favorite, the artists and flea market. Spend an hour browsing around!
Afterward, The Highline is just outside at 18th St and 10th Ave. The Highline is a 1.5 mile park that was created from an old above-ground train track that used to ship meat back and forth across Chelsea and Meatpacking. Today, it has gorgeous views of the city and the Hudson river, and is a great place for a little green escape. You can walk it up all the way to Hudson Yards at 36th street!
Dinner
Cookshop - One of my favorites, Cookshop serves fresh, simple, seasonal food that is always delicious.
Seamores - A must for seafood lovers, Seamore’s has a very minimal permanent menu and instead offers several catch-of-the-day options with whatever sauces the chef decides. Always fresh and always amazing!
OCabanon - French classics in a relaxed and rustic setting. No better place to unwind in after a long day of running around the city
Day 3
A Classic NYC Brunch
New Yorkers are known for brunching. Almost every day of the week you'll find cafe's packed with locals at 10 AM eating avocado toast with a mimosa in one hand. And we like it that way! Join the club at one of my favorite spots:
Explore Soho and Chinatown
There's so many places to go and see around Soho! It's most famous for shopping, of course, but you can go see what's on display at the New Museum, grab a macaron at Laduree, and take in all the gorgeous steel fire escapes and iron buildings in the area.
When you're getting hungry, walk over to Chinatown and grab a quick bite at my favorite place in New York, Vanessa's Dumplings. It's a tiny hole in the wall that only accepts cash, but $5 will get you the best bubble tea in Manhattan and a plate of fresh dumplings!
Staten Island Ferry
Once you're full on dumplings, take the 1 train down to South Seaport and hop on the Staten Island Ferry. It's free to ride back and forth, and has a great view of the skyline and Statue of Liberty, especially if you get a spot outside on the upper deck!
If you still have time, walk up the west side and check out Battery Park! It's a cute area, and strolling along the water in the early evening is so peaceful.
Dinner and Washington Square Park
Take that same 1 train back up to Christopher St and grab a bite at a local restaurant before heading to Washington Sq Park and admiring the arch lit up at night! Especially in the summer, this park is full of locals, street performers, and tourists alike. There are a million restaurants in that area, but here are a few recommendations:
Olio e Piu - fantastic italian food in a warm and cozy downtown restaurnt
Dante
Claudette
The Boil -
Jane -
And that's a full three days in The City That Never Sleeps! If you have any personal recommendations or questions, leave them in the comments down below or feel free to email me at audra.koch@southernnyorker.com!
xoxo,
Audra
