New to New York: Some Recommendations From a First-Timer

Ever since I was 15 years old, watching Gossip Girl every weekend during the summer and Nora Ephron movies through autumn with my besties, I’ve dreamed of New York City.

Growing up, we were lucky enough to take holidays to Europe and the British seaside. We also had a couple of special vacations to Australia, where my mum’s best friend lives, but we never ventured to America. I dreamed of a special NYC trip for my 30th birthday and set it as a personal future milestone. As I got to my late twenties, my long-standing claustrophobia and anxiety worsened, and I began to develop a fear of flying; that, coupled with the pandemic lockdown (during which my 30th birthday fell) preventing international travel, I thought I’d never see the Big Apple.

However, in a bid to take better care of myself and to stop letting my mental health prevent me from doing the things I enjoy post-pandemic, I promised myself I’d make New York happen. And so, last month I embarked on my dream trip, and it did not disappoint!

We arrived at JFK on a grey and cool day, taking a pre-booked car from the airport over to Manhattan where we got our first taste of New York’s traffic. We booked a gorgeous apartment on Airbnb and it seems we got lucky, as NYC has just changed the city rules for Airbnbs to try and encourage people back to the hotels. Under the new Local Law 18, rentals shorter than 30 days are only allowed if hosts register with the city.

It’s a personal preference, that whatever kind of vacation I take, I like an apartment so that I don’t have to eat out for every meal. I’m also the kind of person who has no restraint when it comes to a hotel buffet breakfast, so it’s a way for me to maintain some healthy-ish habits whilst away. I always feel it’s often a little more of a chill space when you have an apartment, too. Located on a lovely residential street, East 64th between Park and Lexington, this Airbnb was a fab location for getting around Manhattan.

We did a lot of touristing on this trip. Day one was wiped out by flash floods, but that was the perfect opportunity to adjust to the jet lag and make an itinerary for the remaining 10 days, which by the end, would include 165,000 steps and 72 miles of walking! So let’s break down what I think you should do as a first timer:

Indoor Spots

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): This is a good rainy day activity, you can pre-book tickets or get in quickly with your NY City Pass. There’s usually a queue, but it moves quickly so you won’t have to wait long. We got in within 15 minutes and spent an enthralling couple of hours there.

Even if modern art isn’t quite your jam, there are a few pieces which make the trip worth it. I liked the various series of photography, including one titled me which was a series of black and white photos of people with handwritten captions reading “Me”. It made me think of the present day “me” photos we take in the form of selfies and how much the art of the self portrait has changed over the past few decades. The MoMA is also home to Picasso’s The Persistence of Memory and Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

New York Public Library: Its enormous front facade, sloping steps, and grand entrance ooze historic greatness; so, it’s worth popping in if you’re in the area. Behind the library, you’ll also find Bryant Park, which I’ve included in my outdoor recommendations section below.

Grand Central Station: It’s where we first see Serena van der Woodsen from Gossip Girl, so I couldn’t not go! Aside from that, it’s also an absolutely stunning building and great for people-watching. I’d recommend going sometime in the middle of the day to avoid (and not irritate) commuting New Yorkers.

Top of the Rock: It has to be done. Many blogs, reddit posts and online articles suggested that 30 Rockefeller was a better experience than the Empire State Building as you actually get to see the Empire State from the top. This was a highlight for me. Sure, it’s super busy and a little expensive if you choose the sunset hours (which are an extra $15 per ticket), but this was another special moment for my New York City experience. The view was breathtaking, and I’ll never forget seeing this beautiful city from 70 floors up.

Outdoor Spots

Central Park: For as long as I remember, Central Park has been paramount to my New York City dreams. I love that there’s such a huge expanse of green space in such a dense city. It’s a respite from the rush of the pavement and the gridlock of the roads. Around every corner there’s a beautiful view of a building through the trees, a water feature, or a quaint little bridge. We walked through most of the park at various points on the trip, but I would recommend making your way to The Pond (southeast end), The Mall, Literary Walk, Bethesda Terrace and the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.

Bryant Park: Located behind the New York Public Library, it is surrounded by high-rise office buildings but has a beautiful view from all sides. With little coffee outlets and a couple of restaurants, it’s a great place to take five and people-watch. In winter they have a free ice rink, which they were just starting to set up when we visited.

The High Line: It is an elevated former railroad that runs along the west side of Manhattan through Chelsea and the West Village. It’s full of wildflowers, artwork and resting stops, with great views through the city grid. At the end, you’re minutes from the Little Island Observation Deck, which looks out to New Jersey.

Brooklyn Bridge: It’s busy, but it’s iconic. A gorgeous walk for a sunny day, with sweeping views down the river in both directions, you’ll get to listen to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ Empire State of Mind about 18 times from all the photo vendors along the way and capture the iconic selfie with the Brooklyn Bridge arches as a backdrop.

Domino Park: We walked across the Williamsburg Bridge over to Domino Park on our last night, scooping up more tacos from Xolo to eat at the waterfront. We sat and watched the sunset over Manhattan, and it was truly the perfect end to an amazing trip!

Things we didn’t do but I’d add for next time are: the Metropolitan Museum (I only sat on the steps, Blair Waldorf style), the Botanical Gardens, a Broadway show, and generally seeing more of Brooklyn.

Eating & Drinking

Gelso & Grand – The. Pizza. I will never forget the crispy pepperoni pizza here, nor the fettuccine Bolognese. This is authentic Italian food, with each dish prepared to perfection and packed full of flavor. XOXO founder Ikponmwosa is a regular here and always orders the shrimp to go with every dish. The location also looks flippin’ cute and is located on such a typical New York corner you can’t help but Instagram it! It’s also right in Little Italy, so if you sway away from the dessert menu here, you can find a gelato or sweet treat at a number of places around the block.

Farm to People – Our first dinner out was a collaborative pop-up dinner between Brooklyn’s Farm to People and a chef I’ve been following on Instagram for some time, Rob Li. His day job is a private chef for a billionaire in the Hamptons and he creates mouthwatering reels of his delicious looking dishes, complete with a calming voiceover that makes you wish you were a guest of his billionaire boss. Serendipitously, a couple weeks before our trip he announced this one-off dinner pop-up for the day after we arrived, which I booked instantly. We had pork belly bao buns, Thai shrimp cakes, Asian-style fish and chips and soy-braised short ribs with Japanese sweet potato puree; it was all divine. The staff at Farm to Table were also fantastic, friendly and attentive; and their usual menu looks top notch, too.

Los Tacos No. 1 – This fast food/quick serve spot is great for a meal (or snack) on the go. You choose from a menu on the wall, place your order and pay at the till, then give your ticket to one of the chefs along the counter, who serve your food within minutes. Pick a counter or bar stool to munch at, grab some napkins and experience the super tasty tacos with authentic Mexican flavors and lots of sauce. This was the perfect dinner for us before we headed to Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Rangers play hockey.

Darling – Located on the top floor of the Park Lane Hotel, this one is purely for the views. When I made our reservation, I checked the time for sunset in advance so I could book a slot that would give us the sundown and the glittering nighttime lights. I also left a note to say it was our first time in NYC and we’d appreciate a table with a good view if possible. Sure enough, the staff on the welcome desk gave us the best seat on the terrace with stunning views over Central Park. We enjoyed great service and a few tasty cocktails before tipsily wandering back to the apartment to make cheese toasties.

Ophelia – Another bar for views, on Tuesdays Ophelia has a live jazz trio from 6-9pm. Again, I noted a seating preference which was gratefully accommodated, so we whiled away a couple of hours overlooking the sparkling Upper East Side lights, sipping fizz and listening to the music. The price really does reflect the location but worth it for our special trip.

Jacob’s Pickles – This southern restaurant was my first look at just how big American portion sizes are compared to the UK! I could not believe the size of the dish I ordered (Southern Fried Chicken on pancakes with maple syrup) nor the one my partner ordered (Fried Chicken with Biscuits). It was so tasty, but left us in a food coma. We went with some friends, one of whom is a serious pickle lover and she introduced us to the “Dickel Pickle,” which is a (large) shot of George Dickel whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice. It was… an experience. But all in all, if you’re hungover, you gotta head here for brunch!

Joe’s Pizza – I’d seen Joe’s Pizza raved about on Instagram so we took a stroll down the High Line and through the West Village to pick up a slice of fabulous pepperoni pizza, which we took away to eat in the sun in Father Demo Square. A great and relatively light, on-the-go lunch as you can order by the slice.

Lady Bl ue – Our Founder Ikponmwosa took us here on our last day in the city. It’s got cool diner vibes and a big menu of tasty dishes. After 10 days of NYC food, I chose the avocado toast, but even this came with yummy roasted peppers and a balsamic glaze. Ikponmwosa’s shrimp and grits was also a great choice. I would definitely go back for the cocktails in the evening.

Levain Bakery – Everyone told me about the cookies. I got the cookies, and then I went back for more! They’re big, just the right amount of crumbly and perfectly soft and chewy. The Fall Special was packed with thick chunks of chocolate and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and I couldn’t get enough! Go get the cookies.