I went to New York during Labor Day weekend and even though I’ve been so many times, whenever I go I try to hit a few restaurants and bars that I’ve never been to! It seems like every minute a new, awesome spot pops up in the city…so I thought I’d share some of my classic go-tos when visiting the Big Apple, as well as some of the new eclectic and exciting places I got the chance to try during my last trip.
1) Coffee…First things first
There are probably as many coffee shops in New York as there are people. The city that never sleeps clearly survives off caffeine…! I’m a matcha lover and always appreciate a nice trip to MatchaBar in Soho or Cha Cha Matcha in Nolita. The NYC coffee spots that I’ve always wanted to check out are Happy Bones and Coffee Project.
2) Brunch….Obviously
BRUNCH: The most important meal of the day. Why, you may ask? Because it tastes really, really good. That’s why. Pancakes, Avocado Toast, Poached Eggs, maybe a Mimosa? Hair of the dog, am I right… Brunch is my favorite meal and some of my all time favorite brunch spots are in New York City. A favorite of mine is Sadelle’s, because I’m a nice Jewish girl and love bagels & lox as much as the next. On my recent trip I got the Avo Toast at Good Thanks NYC. The bread is so fluffy and oh, is it thick. It’s an awesome little spot on the East Side with great coffee and a cool, artsy atmosphere. Worth a go, definitely.
3) Italian….Duh
Everyone knows that New York has amazing Italian food. There’s also a bajillion (yes, I know bajillion is not a word) Italian Restaurants in NYC. So how the F#%$ do you choose?! Well, the easiest thing to do is look in the areas you want to go to. During this trip, I went to two different Italian places that I loved: Sant Ambroeus, in Soho and San Marzano in East Village. Sant Ambroeus is an awesome date spot with incredible food and has many locations throughout the city. It’s a bit pricier, whereas San Marzano is very reasonable and a great lunch spot. Both were beyond yummy. On the list for my next trip to NYC are: Lil’ Frankies, Misi, and Carbone.
4) Sushi…Do you even know me?
I’ve never been to Japan but I am a firm believer that LA has the best sushi. Though, I have enjoyed some good sushi in NYC. I’ve had great experiences at Nobu, Sushi Seki, Sushi of Gari, and younger, more recent spots like Domodomo or Kazunori. My favorite sushi experience I’ve had in the city was at Sushi on Jones – an outdoor, 12-item, 30-min Omakase bar, with only 6 seats. It’s only open certain times so be sure to check before you head over. It’s definitely a place you go to eat, not catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. It was something I had never experienced before and truly appreciated. If you’re an adventurous eater, you should definitely check it out!
5) Happy Hour…If it’s past 4 pm, it’s clearly time for a drink
Let’s be real, there are so many bars in New York. I’ve been to a decent amount of cool rooftop bars with panoramic views of the city, like Mr. Purple and The Standard rooftop, but I really wanted somewhere new and different. I found the most perfect little place for drinks and bites in Soho, called Sel Rrose. It’s definitely one of my favorite spots I’ve been to thus far. The oysters were amazing and they had great happy hour specials. The drinks were beautiful and just as tasty. I absolutely will be back.
6) Dessert…Let’s Make Sugar Great Again
If you haven’t heard of Milk Bar…serious question: Do you live under a rock?! Momofuku’s Milk Bar chain is one of a kind – soaking milk in cinnamon sugary cereal, then processing it into a Froyo topped with more sugary cereal…GENIUS. What could be better? Not only is the cereal milk Froyo insanity, but the cookies and crack pie are ridiculous and something everyone needs to try at least once.
I hope you get the chance to experience these places and love them as much as I did! Feel free to DM or contact me with any questions.
Xxxxxx, Emily