My Favorite Places in New York City
This post may need a heavy disclaimer: I am NOT a New Yorker. I would never pretend to know what’s trending in the city at any given moment, but I do my best to branch out from the Times Square hubbub. I wouldn’t consider myself to be the hippest person in the city by a mile, but my NYC faves come from my heart. If you’re interested in things I’ve done and loved, keep reading. Although, keep in mind, I’m over 30, I live in suburban Pennsylvania, and I still need an app to navigate the subway system!
That being said, I really love New York City. You simply can’t beat the easy access to absolutely everything. Anything you can possibly dream of is just down the block or a short subway trip away from you at any moment. NYC is a fantastic weekend trip for east coasters like myself, but you can easily find enough to do in a week or even monthlong stay. The beauty of it, and maybe the frustrating part for some, is that you’ll never be able to see and do it all. The second you think you’ve found the best thing, something even better opens. Here is my list of New York City spots that I just can’t stay away from!
New York Botanical Garden
I first visited the NYBG when they were having a Yayoi Kusama exhibit back in 2021. Kusama is one of my favorite contemporary artists, and I was particularly taken with her Infinity Rooms when they took up residency in Washington DC. The NYBG is a stunning property with every type of flower, foliage, and exotic plant you could ever imagine. It’s located in The Bronx, so if you’re staying on Manhattan it’s pretty much a whole day trip, but if you love plants it’s an absolute must see!
Aura Photographs at Magic Jewelry
Back in 2018 my friend Rachel and I got our auras photographed at Magic Jewelry. My photo showed a deep indigo blob with a little hint of green in one corner. I can’t remember exactly what the reader told me it meant, but I thought it was so cool to have this little ephemeral signature of “my aura” at the time. Then, a few years later I was curious to try again, so I gathered my friends Emily and Caelan and we went to get my second round.
The second time, my aura was still that deep blue with a little bit of purple sprinkled in! How cool that my aura was consistent even 3 years apart, with only a small shift in the colors?! Since I went with different friends on different occasions, I couldn’t compare their past auras, but each friend of mine had a unique blend of colors! Even if you don’t typically buy into that kind of stuff, it’s so fun to get your photos done with friends and see how it suits them! I think for my next trip, I’ll see if I can go 3 for 3!
Aire Ancient Baths
This is probably my most favorite item on this list – Aire is such a lovely experience. When you book your appointment, you choose a spa package, and each of them includes entry to the baths. The bath house is dimly lit and has gorgeous rustic brick walls and an industrial feel. They have a variety of pools for relaxing and floating at various temperatures, including a whirlpool, a cold plunge, and a salt experience. They also have a steam room, salt scrubs, and delicious water infusions to drink! Their massages are fantastic as well, I can’t wait to go back!
Katz’s Deli
Katz’s Deli is a New York City staple. Is it full of tourists? Absolutely. Expensive? Yes, my last sandwich there ran me $27 and I’m sure it’s gone up since then. But is it worth it? Also yes. I think everyone that spends any reasonable amount of time in NYC needs to visit Katz’s at least once. It’s one of those places that is famous for staying true to itself, and in today’s world that is admittedly kind of rare.
These sandwiches aren’t viral or of-the-moment, Katz’s has been doing their thing since 1888 and they’re damn good at it. You get what you get at Katz’s and they don’t make concessions for you. It’s loud, it’s crowded, the employees are a little grouchy, and you better not misplace your ticket! You simply must go, and when you do, have a pastrami sandwich for me!
Broadway Shows
Every once in a while a show comes around that you’ve just gotta see, and which show really depends on the person. Maybe for you it’s Hamilton, The Phantom of The Opera, or SIX. The beauty of Broadway is that there’s something for everyone, even for people who hate musicals! I’m a little picky about musicals myself, as I prefer plays that just so happen to feature singing, as opposed to a show like Hamilton that is 99% music.
That being said, I’ve never once been disappointed in a show I’ve seen on Broadway! I’ve seen Waitress, Chicago, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge, and The Drowsy Chaperone and they were all fantastic. I’m dying to see Oh, Mary! with Cole Escola, and I’m a little ashamed to admit I still haven’t seen a single adaptation of Wicked! The best part is that there’s always next time 🤩
Shopping & Eating
Since there’s always something new to do, I keep a running list of stores and restaurants in my “starred places” section of Google Maps. Over the years we’ve found some real gems, and occasionally that list ebbs and flows since some businesses close and others spread into other locations outside of the 5 boroughs. Here are a few places that I’m always willing to revisit when bopping around the city:
NYC Shopping
- Catbird – jewelry
- The Ripped Bodice – books
- Fishs Eddy – plates and fun souvenirs
- Franca NYC – ceramics
- Mociun – fine jewelry
- Brooklyn General Store – yarn and other goodies
- Bite Lip Lab – custom lipsticks
- Baggu – totes and handbags
NYC Food
- Joe’s Home of Soup Dumplings – xiao long bao and other traditional dishes from Shanghai
- Rubirosa – pizza and pasta
- Russ and Daughters – bagels and deli favorites
- Magnolia Bakery – famous banana pudding and cupcakes (they have since branched out to DC and other locations!)
- Gelso & Grand – italian classics
- Supermoon Bakehouse – croissants with unique flavors
- Angelina Paris – famous french hot chocolate (just as good as it was in Paris!)
- Eileen’s Special Cheesecake – every flavor of cheesecake
- Dominique Ansel Bakery – beautiful pastries and “the cronut”
- Chelsea Market – endless food options!
What are your favorite places in NYC?
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