It’s my six month anniversary with NYC today and my love affair with this city is stronger than ever, even when I’m a frozen nugget. Y’all are always asking me for recommendations for places in the city. I’m not ready just yet to make a whole travel itinerary, but I do love sharing the places I’ve tried every couple of months. This volume is filled with good brunch and great art museums because cold weather = museum weather. This time I’ll be including how much I spent at each place including tip. I usually get a drink and an entree, but sometimes end up splitting more dishes with friends. Grab a snack and get caught up with all the things I’ve been up to in the city. You can also see my running list for all things NYC here along with a Google Map with everything tagged.
The Food
Best for Brunch
Two Hands – Tribeca – $22
Two Hands is a great spot for a casual brunch. I got the Acai bowl and a latte. Super simple and delicious. The location in Tribeca is spacious and they’ll sit your party even if everyone isn’t there yet.
The Butcher’s Daughter – NoLita – $20
The Butcher’s Daughter is the place you want to go if you want to feel even just a little bit like you’re being a healthy goddess. The NoLita location is tiny so if you have a party greater than three I would venture over to the West Village location. It’s a little slice of California in the heart of Manhattan and I loved it. The French Toast was tasty and you know I loved the latte.
Happy Bowls – Astor Place – $12
I really love Acai bowls but they can be super expensive. Luckily, the one I got from Happy Bowls was absolutely delicious and incredibly filling. This spot is dangerous for me because it’s so dang close to the Crunch Bowery location. Every time I get a great Saturday morning workout in, I am so tempted to stop in here and get a bowl.
Pardon My French – East Village – $24
I really, really, really want to give PMF the full 5 stars, but it’s really annoying that they are CASH ONLY. I mean we are in 2019 and I can’t swipe my credit card with ease? Luckily, their french toast and add on boozy brunch makes it worth it. I opted for the coffee + tea option, but if you’re feeling like mimosas then this is gonna be the place for you. It’s super cute too!
The Bagel Pub – Crown Heights – $8
I still dream about this bagel sandwich sometimes. Avocado, bacon, cheese, and egg on a plain bagel is the ultimate breakfast. The Bagel Pub is a small spot situated in the Crown Heights area which is pretty close to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. I highly highly highly recommend.
Five Leaves – Greenpoint – $30
Five Leaves is a cute, homey spot in the Greenpoint neighborhood. I was feeling savory this Saturday and opted for the egg platter. The mushrooms were odd looking, I’m not going to lie. But, everything tasted superb. It’s definitely a solid option if you find yourself in this Polish neighborhood.
Jacob’s Pickles – Upper West Side – $26
JACOB’S PICKLES. HOLY COW. I’m from the South and I am very familiar with the concept of Southern comfort food. Literally, everyone recommended Jacob’s Pickles for the UWS and I can’t believe that it actually lived up to the hype. Splitting the big plates was the move too! We tried the Cooper Platter and the Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes and they were divine!!
The Wild Son – Meatpacking – $24
The Wild Son is a cute little spot near Chelsea Market and the Whitney Museum. The Buttermilk Pancakes with berries were incredible. I mean soft, rich yet light, and the perfect consistency. They were the type of pancakes that felt simple enough that you could eat them every day. Oh gosh, you have to go try these. They are delicious.
Studio @ The Freehand Hotel – Flatiron – $20
This space is reallllllllllllllly cute and the food tastes fantastic. It’s perfect for a working meal and there are plenty of seats. It’s a very chill environment and okay priced considering it’s in a hotel. I loved chilling here all day and working on this blog post. The waitress was nice and super attentive but also let us work in peace. The music could be better though so make sure to bring your headphones.
Best for Lunch/Dinner
Westville – DUMBO – $14
Westville is an incredible spot if you have a larger party with a bunch of different taste buds. They have some healthy options and some not so healthy options. I opted for the grilled cheese and it was delicious. I could also appreciate how much food you got for a relatively low price tag. This is situated right in the heart of DUMBO and when the weather is warm, they have an incredible outdoor patio that looks like perfection.
Sadelle’s – SoHo – $5
Sadelle’s is technically a brunch spot, but it also makes an incredible afternoon snack if you order to go. The bagels are pretty tiny and a little expensive considering, but they are very good. It’s situated on the northern limits of SoHo and worth a stop for a sit-down meal too. The wait can get incredibly long though, so be warned.
Good Stock – Midtown – $9
I went to the Good Stock location in the Urbanspace Vanderbilt space on a Friday night and it was a nice spot for a chilled out dinner meet up. It’s pretty crowded usually with the Midtown professional scene, especially around happy hour. There’s also a location in the West Village that looks super cute. I got a yummy bowl of Chicken Noodle and a grilled cheese to match it. Super delicious and a great quick lunch option if you’re sightseeing near Grand Central and Bryant Park.
Best for Coffee
Seven Grams Caffe – Flatiron
A part of me wants to keep Seven Grams a big secret and have it just be my spot. But, I also want them to do so well so that they stick around the neighborhood. I love grabbing a cup of joe from here and sitting on my laptop for hours. The WiFi is free, the baristas are so nice, and the Chocolate Banana Bread is incredible. I definitely recommend that you pop in here for a little mid-day break.
Toby’s Estate Coffee – Flatiron
I pop into this cute little spot when I’m in the area. They have such a cute space and a good selection of pastries if you go in the morning. There’s a cute little book shop in the back. Unfortunately, this spot is closed until April 30, 2019. But, once it reopens, I will resume my pop-ins probably for iced coffee.
Little Zelda – Crown Heights
Little Zelda is the cutest spot!! It’s pretty close to The Bagel Pub so I’d pop in here for your coffee. Michelle says it tastes better here. This feels very much like a local spot. They have cute chairs on the patio that you can sit and have a quick chat. This neighborhood is so close to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and is definitely worth a quick stroll through. V. cute and very local.
Ludlow Coffee Supply – Lower East Side
Ludlow Coffee Supply is a gem in the heart of the Lower East Side. It’s pretty spacious but was also filled to the brim with locals chatting and getting work done on the Sunday afternoon I was passing through. It’s also just a few steps away from the cutest mural that you’ve probably seen on Instagram at this point. The coffee was good and the baristas were lively. It’s a cool spot with a lot of good energy.
La Colombe Coffee Roasters – Bowery
La Colombe coffee is simple and the Bowery location was a cool layout. There are a bunch of very small tables which makes it the perfect place to meet someone for a quick meeting. I wasn’t in here for long, but it’s right around the corner from my gym and it’ll be going on my imaginary post-gym coffee place list.
Smile To Go – Flatiron
Smile To Go is a small cafe located in the Freehand Hotel. This place is so cute and there is plenty of seating and free WiFi from the hotel. They had some incredible looking dishes to choose from for lunch and breakfast, but I opted for the latte and it was delicious.
Best for Sweet Treats
Peter Pan Donuts – Greenpoint
Peter Pan Donuts is a must visit if you find yourself exploring around the Greenpoint neighborhood. I’d love to sit in for a little bit and people watch! I love this part of Greenpoint because it feels very residential. You feel like you’re surrounded by culture just walking up and down the main drag. This spot is cash only too and I highly recommend the Red Velvet donut if they have it when you go! SO GOOD.
The Sights
The Frick Collection
The Frick Collection isn’t talked about that much, but it is such a good museum. I am actually super impressed with the quality of the gallery. You can’t take photos or video in the art galleries, but it makes it feel so intimate and less like a museum. It really feels like you’re strolling through someone’s home. There are beautiful Dega and Monet paintings. NYU students get in for free!
Grand Central
Grand Central is one of the major hubs for transit in and out of the city. You can catch an Amtrak, the subway, and the Metro-North lines. There are also some incredible restaurants and fantastic photo opportunities. I’ve been through here a couple of times now and it still feels a little magical every time.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is a must see. They have some incredible permanent collections and the exhibits that rotate through are always really great too. It’s situated right in the heart of Midtown so is perfect if it’s a rainy day and you’re staying in the middle of Manhattan. There’s also a cool sculpture garden that’s great for some fresh air in the middle of your day of art appreciation.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Greenpoint is an incredibly cute neighborhood that’s a quick walk from the L train and Williamsburg. It’s a historically Polish neighborhood and I’m sure the food is incredibly authentic. I’d recommend stopping by Burson and Reynolds which is the cutest little shop on the main street. There’s also a wall of fun murals that you can check out too.
The Oculus
The Oculus is a subway station fused with a mall with some staple NYC restaurants and cafes sprinkled in. They currently have some fun wall installations along the courtyard. But, the architectural layout of the Oculus is just cool to look at and of course photograph. You’ll also be incredibly close to One World Trade Center and some of the other must-see attractions in the Financial District.
The Whitney Museum of American Art
If you’re visiting NYC before March 31, 2019, you must go to The Whitney and see the Andy Warhol exhibit. I mean sprint there right after you get off the train/plane/bus etc. It’s an incredible mix of his most popular POP art and his earlier sketches and dynamic last pieces. He really did not care about what people thought about him and you can feel that throughout the whole gallery.
Two thousand words later and I’ve recapped two more months of living in my favorite city. I can’t believe it’s already been 6 months since I’ve moved here. There’s still so much more to explore in this city and I can’t wait to keep bringing y’all along and recapping it on the blog. Cheers to more brunch, always. But, of course, coffee first.
Keep on keepin’ on,
