It’s been two months since my last New York City digest post and so I guess my plan is to do this every two months. Really it just gives me time to accumulate enough things to talk about. So, get a large cup of coffee and get ready for your daily dose of New York City livin’. I’ve also decided to combine all of the places I talk about in my monthly guides in a comprehensive list. If you’re looking for a quick guide to some fun places to try while you’re in the city you can check them out here.
I’ve split the sections up again, but this time I won’t be ranking them, just adding some reviews of the places and giving notes on the best times to visit or other things to know. If you know of any places I should try or that you want me to try and review, leave it down below in the comments. I’m really digging the city exploring vibes I’m bringing to the blog and social media.
The Food
Best For Brunch
Le Pain Quotidien – TriBeCa
This was the perfect place to grab a late lunch with Michelle and there is free WiFi so we just made it a whole blogging and Youtube day. Le Pain is an international destination and the food just tastes like quality. A good spot for a working lunch and there are locations all over the city. The one in TriBeCa is super spacious and has the cutest neon sign.
Creamline – Chelsea
Creamline has the best. PANCAKES. of. your. life. I promise you that. This gem is nestled in the middle of Chelsea Market. If you head there early in the morning on a Saturday, you can try these puppies out and then take a nice stroll down the High Line to work it off.
Mom’s Kitchen & Bar – Hell’s Kitchen
If you’re around the Hell’s Kitchen area or looking for a meal before a Broadway show, Mom’s is the place for you. Kayla and I met here for the first time and it is a super cute family friendly spot in an area known for the incredible night life. The location of this spot was super unexpected, but the neighborhood was so chill on the easy Sunday morning that we went.
Citizens of Chelsea – Chelsea/Gramercy
Citizens of Chelsea is your foodie best friend’s dream. There are two locations, Chelsea and Gramercy. The Chelsea location is super close to an entrance to the High Line. However, do not go here in prime brunch time because there will be a wait, a super long one. Michelle and I waited an hour to be seated here but the food was worth it. SO DANG GOOD. And the Aussie host was super cute, too. LOL.
Juliette – Williamsburg
Juliette is a Williamsburg gem and was incredibly easy to access from the Ferry Terminal on the East River Line. The ferry cost as much as a subway ride and is much cleaner and will give you the prettiest views of the city. The french toast was incredible, but my friends and I all ordered different things and they were all magically delicious!
Jack’s Wife Freda – SoHo
Jack’s Wife Freda is a cheeky little spot on the edge of SoHo and the Lower East Side. I ordered the Rose Water Waffle and it was delish. The waffle was super fluffy, the greek yogurt and fruit were perfectly complimented by the honey syrup. There was a short wait when we went at 10:30am. The cute pictures you can get with SoHo as your backdrop are also a must.
EJ’s Luncheonette – Upper East Side
If you’re looking for a spot that the locals love, you have to check out EJ’s Luncheonette. I mean this is some super tasty food. The old time feel of this Diner was everything I wanted after a few months of trendy modern spots with high price tags. They give you so much food and the prices are more than reasonable for the location.. just a few short blocks from The Met. I’d really love to come back here and enjoy a milkshake at the bar.
Best for Coffee
Brooklyn Roasting Company – DUMBO
The Brooklyn Roasting Company is kind of a hidden away spot in DUMBO and was pretty spacious and a great switch up from the tiny little coffee shops that litter the Manhattan streets. There were plenty of picnic tables for a long day of work on a Sunday. I actually wasn’t there for long enough to really see if they had free WiFi, but there was a cute matcha shop attached to it so that’s something.
FEED – DUMBO
FEED is a good spot for a quick pick me up when you’re around exploring the DUMBO area. This was in the perfect spot for a shoot that I had early on a Sunday morning. It’s pretty small so not the kind of place to try and get a ton of work done in. The coffee was smooth and the shop that it’s connected to is super cute too.
Birch Coffee – Flatiron
I swear I thought I mentioned this place in my last digest, but it wasn’t here so I felt like I should mention my favorite neighborhood spot. Birch has multiple locations across the city but my favorite is the one that’s close to Madison Square Park, however this location doesn’t have WiFi. This place has such a warm vibe especially in the winter. The nook in the back of the shop is lined with books and is a good place to buckle down and read.
Plaza Food Hall – Epicerie Boulud – Midtown
I had a ton of coffee the past two months I guess. The Plaza Food Hall is a cool underground market spot that you can access from the Main Lobby [hey, don’t we all need an excuse to waltz through there?] or from the back entrance on the side of the hotel. The coffee at Epicerie Boulud was yummy and the croissant was out of this world. Look at how happy I am with that beautiful masterpiece!
Handcraft Coffee – Upper East Side
Handcraft Coffee is a coffee shop on the Upper East Side that is right by the 4/6 Subway Station on 77th and Lexington. It’s that Instagram worthy shop with the big COFFEE light up sign. It really doesn’t look like it would be the kind of place smack dab in the middle of the UES, but I’m glad that it’s so easily accessible from my East Side apartment. This will be my go to spot whenever I’m headed to the Met or Central Park for a shoot.
Best for Lunch/Dinner
Los Tacos – Chelsea
BEST TACOS IN MANHATTAN. Don’t at me. The food is clearly made from scratch and tastes so high quality. It wasn’t too expensive and the food is filling. Also, try the flower water. It’s sweet and full of flavor; don’t worry the jugs aren’t sketchy.. just a testament to its authenticity. If you head here on a late afternoon during the week, Chelsea Market is basically empty and the line here is not long at all.
Rosemary’s – West Village
Rosemary’s was a quaint little Italian spot in the West Village {one of my favorite neighborhoods}. It was the perfect spot to end a very calm Sunday afternoon. This would be an incredible date spot or a great place to complain about your date {or lack thereof}. It’s v. cozy and slightly pricey. But, the food was GOOD.
Best for Sweet Treats
Do – West Village
Do is the 2015 Instagram viral cookie dough shop that was on everyone’s must visit list. Personally, I think this is an easy spot to visit if you’re in the Washington Square Park area. The line is always tolerable at this point and the dough is reasonable priced when looking at comparable treats that you can get in the city. Definitely not cheap, but definitely affordable for all of the students out there.
The Stackery – Bryant Park
If you’re visiting this winter, The Stackery is a must visit for a fun treat. They sell Chimney Cakes and they are so yummy. I went overboard and got the You’ll Want S’more {#doitforthegram as they say}, but the original Chimney Cake looked good all on its own and was much less expensive.
Best for Drinks
Wanderlust – Midtown East
This place is a new gem to the Upper East Side and is going to be my go to spot for a quick drink when the weather is warmer again {yes, I know we are headed straight for winter}. Slightly overpriced, but the decor and Instagram pictures you’ll get make up for it. They really nailed the Beverly Hills meet New York socialite chic vibes.
El Centro Cantina – Hell’s Kitchen
The sad thing is that I didn’t even know that this cute little spot in Hell’s Kitchen even existed. My friends and I would literally wait for 30 minutes or more for a table to order drinks. Don’t be like us, be smart. If you go around the corner from El Centro, you’ll see a brightly lit Cantina sign, go here for a quick drink and the same happy hour deals.
The Sights
Bethesda Fountain & Terrace – Central Park
This is where Blair and Chuck got married. There has also been a few music numbers filmed here too. It’s a quick walk from the entrance right by the Met on the East Side and is close to the Bow Bridge too! I’ve been over to this area twice now and love the blog photos that I’ve taken here. It’s the perfect spot for new photos and don’t be afraid to hit me up too {I think I’m pretty good, but you can see for yourself here.}
Harvest Moon Orchards – North Salem, NY
This is the spot for all your fall DREAMS. Apple trees, a pumpkin patch, and the best Apple Cider and Apple Cider donuts are all you could really ask for. You can check out the vlog to see a live action documentation of how perfect this place really is. Oh, and walk all the way up to the top fo the orchard for the best views.
Bryant Park Winter Village – Midtown East
Honestly, don’t go here on the weekend. It’s way too crowded and chances are you won’t be able to even hear yourself think. However, this is the cutest spot to visit for all the holiday feels. The shops are the cutest and so diverse in the little trinkets that you can pick up. I’m literally debating heading back here to buy a print from Melsy’s Collections. She has the chicest NYC themed illustrations.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Saks Fifth Avenue
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is an iconic sight to see. Definitely not the spot for your Christmas in NYC picture. But, I’ll tell you where to go instead later. I’m just waiting to go here at night, because during the day it’s a little anti-climactic. But, I just know that at night when the Saks show is playing in the background and the Christmas tunes are playing, it’ll be magically.
Karaoke City
Who knew doing karaoke as an adult would be 100x more fun than when you were a kid? Not me. Francesca had the brilliant idea to have her birthday party at a karaoke bar in Korea Town and my life hasn’t been the same since. 10/10 experience and I’d definitely pay to go back immediately.
Cartier Christmas Storefront
By far my favorite store front on Fifth Avenue, Cartier really pulled out all the stops for their huge bow display. The pictures we got here were incredible and I’m so glad I got a picture here with a slew of yellow taxi cabs in the background. Talk about an NYC picture!
The New York Lucce Palace Hotel Christmas Tree
This is where you need to get that picture perfect NYC at Christmas time holiday picture. All of your friends will be envious of how close you were to the Nate Archibald’s of the world. Unfortunately, there was a freakin’ gala the day that we stumbled across this masterpiece and we couldn’t get a picture in front of the tree, but we improvised and still got some cute pictures.
Holiday Brunch Tour – All Around Manhattan
Classic Harbor Line really nailed it with this one. This was an incredible afternoon setting sail around all of Manhattan. You get to see the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, the World Trade Center, and all the beautiful water side neighborhoods of the city. You can get a discount by using the GoldStar app who sent Michelle and I on this trip, and I would 100% pay for my own trip around the island in a heart beat. Oh, and did I mention the inside of the boat was heated and completely decked out in holiday swag! AMAZING.
Alrighty, that was my round up of some new spots that I’ve visited in the past two months. I hope that you enjoyed this post and if you’re a NYC local that you have some inspiration from my explorations. How many of you have always wanted to see NYC during the holidays. It’s still unreal that I get to experience it first hand as much as a I want. So crazy!
keep on keepin’ on,
