NEW YORK, USA— As part of the organization’s Get Local NYC initiative, NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, invites locals and visitors alike to Manhattan Like a New Yorker.
No trip to New York City would be complete without seeing the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Seeing a Broadway show, shopping on 34th Street, Madison Avenue, or in Soho, and exploring the High Line are all must-do activities in Manhattan.
Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
But there’s so much more to Manhattan than any top 10 list could ever convey. Enjoy dim sum in Chinatown, cappuccino and cannoli in Little Italy or Ukrainian food on the Lower East Side. Take a ferry to Governors Island or the tram to Roosevelt Island. Look for Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night at the Museum of Modern Art, Madame X at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and T. rex at the American Museum of Natural History.
Discover the mysteries of Grand Central Terminal and go jewelry shopping in the Diamond District. Ride the SeaGlass Carousel downtown and pay your respects to Alexander Hamilton. Uptown, explore African American culture and history in Harlem before heading to Washington Heights for Dominican food and the famed unicorn tapestries at The Met Cloisters.
Train Stations, Manhattan, NYC . Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
“Manhattan is a one-of-a-kind, old-meets-new destination, unlike anywhere else in the world,” said Maria Torres-Springer, NYC Deputy Mayor for Economic & Workforce Development. “Locals and visitors alike could explore Manhattan time and time again and continue to discover new and unique multicultural experiences. From our precious small businesses to our iconic attractions and unrivaled arts and dining scenes, there is truly something for everyone in this borough of endless possibilities.”
“You could live here your entire life and never run out of things to do in Manhattan, this is not only the financial, cultural and entertainment capital of the world, but it’s also indisputably one of the world’s best travel destinations. From theater and the arts to shopping and restaurants, from high tea at 4pm to dancing until 4am, from rich history to cutting-edge tech, from yoga in Central Park to rooftop bars, Manhattan offers endlessly unique ways to experience NYC like a New Yorker,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon.
The Oculus. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
LOWER MANHATTAN
In 1624, Dutch seafarers established a trading post on the southern edge of what the native Lenape people called Manahatta. Two years later the colony of New Amsterdam was founded. In 1664, the British took over and renamed it New York. Today the City’s oldest neighborhood is a global hub for finance, layered with historic sites as well as contemporary attractions.
The Battery, a waterfront park at the southern tip of Manhattan, offers stunning views of New York Harbor. Take a ride on the SeaGlass Carousel and then take your pick of boat rides. The Staten Island Ferry is free and offers a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as it crosses the harbor. To visit Liberty Island, where the statue is located, and Ellis Island, home to the National Museum of Immigration, you must buy a ticket from Statue City Cruises. (The same boat stops at both sites.)
Nearby is the World Trade Center complex. Head up to the One World Observatory on the 102nd floor of One World Trade for a bird’s-eye view of Lower Manhattan. Then spend some time at the 9/11 Memorial, which pays tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the terror attacks that unfolded on September 11, 2001.
Two reflecting pools occupy the footprints of the twin towers that were destroyed that day. Bronze parapets around the pools bear the names of those who died. Amid the memorial’s many trees, be sure to look for the Survivor Tree. It was grown from an 8-foot stump found in the wreckage of the fallen buildings.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum (180 Greenwich St.) tells the story of the construction, destruction and rebuilding of the World Trade Center through photos, videos and artifacts. A wall of blue squares symbolizing the color of the sky on 9/11 bears this quote from Virgil: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”
The Trade Center complex also includes the Oculus, a striking structure designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava. The Oculus serves as a transit hub for 12 subway lines and the PATH train to New Jersey, but its interior ribbed white wings also offer a great backdrop for selfies.
CHINATOWN AND LITTLE ITALY
Take the R train to Canal Street and head to Mott Street. This is the center of Chinatown, offering souvenir shops, sidewalk vendors and restaurants galore. Get an egg tart at Golden Steamer, seafood at Ping’s, dim sum at the Nom Wah Tea Parlor or the house specialty at Peking Duck House. For shopping, visit Ting’s Gift Shop, Yunhong Chopsticks and Ten Ren Tea.
Look for a statue of Confucius near Division Street and the Bowery, and a statue of Lin Ze Xu, who fought Britain’s opium trade in the 19th century, at Chatham Square. Learn about Buddha’s life story from a series of panels inside the Mahayana Buddhist Temple (133 Canal St.).
Just north of Chinatown lies Little Italy. Try the pizza at Rubirosa, stock up on imported goods at Di Palo’s Fine Foods and save room for dessert from Ferrara Bakery, which opened in 1892 and still serves some of the best gelato, cappuccino and cannoli anywhere. The Feast of San Gennaro takes over the neighborhood for 10 days in mid-September each year.
Little Italy. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
TRIBECA AND SOHO
Chic, glamorous and artsy: That’s the vibe in Tribeca or acronym for “Triangle below Canal Street” and Soho or south of Houston Street.
Pick from upscale Soho shops, including Alexander Wang, Balenciaga, Chanel, Céline, Burberry, Prada and Rag & Bone. For more affordable shopping, head to Broadway.
For those into the arts, check out The Earth Room, an interior earth sculpture at 141 Wooster St., and the Louis K. Meisel Gallery (141 Prince St.), which was featured in Sex and the City. See a play at The Public Theater (that’s where Hamilton premiered) or time a visit for the Tribeca Film Festival, held each June.
Other notable spots include the playground and mini-golf course at Pier 25; the fire station featured in the Ghostbusters movie (14 N. Moore St.); and the “Jenga” tower (56 Leonard St.), an architectural marvel of irregular stacks. Lombardi’s (32 Spring St.) claims to be the birthplace of pizza, while the “cronut” was born at Dominique Ansel Bakery (189 Spring St.).
In Tribeca, Locanda Verde, Frenchette, Tiny’s and the Bar Upstairs, and Walker’s are among the neighborhood’s many eating and drinking establishments.
SoHo. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
LOWER EAST SIDE AND EAST VILLAGE
Long gone are the immigrant pushcarts of the early 20th century and the graffiti and rent strikes of the late 20th century. Even the legendary punk rock club CBGB is just a memory. But there are still plenty of ways to experience the Lower East Side’s diversity, creativity and bohemian spirit.
Cultural venues include the Nuyorican Poets Café (236 E. 3rd St.), hosting poetry slams, readings, plays, workshops, salsa, jazz and more; La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club (66 E. 4th St.); the New Museum (235 Bowery) for contemporary art, and the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side for an unforgettable immersion in the neighborhood’s immigrant history.
Hang out with the locals in Tompkins Square Park, then head to St. Mark’s Place, where you’ll find Korean snacks and a K-pop shop at Oh K-Dog, used books at East Village Books, punk fashion at Search & Destroy and authentic Japanese food at Kenka.
Tattoo parlors include Daredevil Tattoo, East Side Ink and Bang Bang. For vintage clothing, check out L Train Vintage, Ritual Vintage, Buffalo Exchange, the legendary Trash & Vaudeville, Jane’s Exchange for children’s and maternity wear, and Pilgrim New York for designer vintage.
Classic eateries include Katz’s Delicatessen (205 E. Houston St.), known for massive pastrami sandwiches and the “I’ll have what she’s having” scene from the movie When Harry Met Sally; and Veselka (144 Second Ave.), serving hearty Ukrainian food like pierogi and borscht since the 1950s. Newer foodie favorites include Souvlaki GR, Spicy Village, The Bun Hut and Sidney’s Five, while popular bars range from Garfunkel’s Speakeasy and Attaboy to McSorley’s Old Ale House, a legendary Irish bar famous for refusing to allow women inside until 1970.
GREENWICH VILLAGE AND MEATPACKING DISTRICT
To reach the heart of Greenwich Village, take the A, B, C, D, E, F or M train to the West 4th Street station. Travel east to Washington Square Park, framed by a grand marble arch. Here visitors will find students from nearby New York University, buskers, skateboarders, hippies and hipsters. Travel west to Christopher Park and the Stonewall National Monument. This is where the gay rights movement began in 1969, when LGBTQ+ patrons fought back against a police raid at The Stonewall Inn.
It’s been six decades since Bob Dylan and other folk singers found fame in the Village, but the neighborhood is still a great place for live music with clubs like Cafe Wha?, The Bitter End, the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note. Marie’s Crisis Café is a lively piano bar, and the Cherry Lane hosts live theater.
Other places of note include the tranquil garden at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields (487 Hudson St.); White Horse Tavern (567 Hudson St.), where regular patrons included Jack Kerouac and Dylan Thomas; and 75½ Bedford St., one of the narrowest buildings in New York at less than 10 feet wide (poet Edna St. Vincent Millay lived there). Many people venture to the West Village to see the exterior shots from the TV shows Sex and the City and Friends. Full tours of movie and TV locations across New York City are available via On Location Tours.
Nearby is the entrance to the High Line, a linear park built on an elevated freight rail line 30 feet above street level. Its landscaping, art installations, historic features and ever-changing city views have made it one of the most popular attractions in New York City. The High Line runs about a mile north, to 34th Street.
Near 13th Street at Pier 55 is Little Island, a new and unique urban oasis that’s part of Hudson River Park.
Washington Square Park. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
UNION SQUARE, FLATIRON DISTRICT AND NOMAD
Union Square, the Flatiron District and Nomad are located in Manhattan’s East 20s and teens. Union Square Park hosts its lively outdoor Greenmarket on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Area retailers include Fishs Eddy home goods, ABC Carpet & Home and more.
The landmarked triangular Flatiron Building is at 175 Fifth Ave. Nearby Madison Square Park offers art installations, landscaping and the original location for Shake Shack. The area is also home to two very different museums: the Museum of Sex (Fifth Avenue and 27th Street) and the National Museum of Mathematics (11 E. 26th St.). Fotografiska NYC is a photography museum in the area worth a visit.
Murray Hill is a residential neighborhood starting in the East 20s, but a stretch of Lexington Avenue from 25th to 30th streets is called Curry Hill thanks to its cluster of South Asian restaurants, including Kailash Parbat, 99 Lexington, and Dhaba at 108 Lexington. Kalustyan’s, at 123 Lexington, is an emporium for spices and ethnic foods.
Flatiron Building. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
CHELSEA
Chelsea is home to some 200 art galleries, dozens of cafés, bars and restaurants, and unique venues for shopping, culture and just plain fun. There’s the famed David Zwirner Gallery (525 W. 19th St.); the Rubin Museum of Art (150 W. 17th St.), which is devoted to Himalayan culture; and the McKittrick Hotel, where you can have a drink at the Gallow Green rooftop garden bar and then immerse yourself in Sleep No More, a noir-ish participatory interpretation of Macbeth. Chelsea Piers has everything from ice-skating to a bowling alley; Chelsea Market is an indoor global food hall; Chelsea Flea is a market for antiques and vintage goods. Try Palestinian food at Qanoon and burgers at the kitschy Trailer Park Lounge.
Chelsea Market. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
HUDSON YARDS AND HELL’S KITCHEN
Hudson Yards is a relatively new neighborhood in the West 30s along the Hudson River. Attractions include The Shed, an arts venue; Mercado Little Spain, with food stalls and a restaurant by chef José Andrés; and Edge, an observation deck with a glass floor and walls 100 stories above street level.
Manhattan West is a recently opened development nearby, including office space, retail, dining and hotel accommodations.
Hell’s Kitchen includes the Javits Center, at 34th Street and Eleventh Avenue; the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, at Pier 86 near 46th Street, and the embarkation point for Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises at 43rd Street and Twelfth Avenue. Hell’s Kitchen also offers LGBTQ+ nightlife including multilevel nightclub The Q NYC.
Hudson Yards. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY
MIDTOWN
The Empire State Building, Times Square, Macy’s, Grand Central Terminal and Rockefeller Center: They’re all among New York’s most iconic attractions, and they’re all in Midtown Manhattan.
Time Square. Image courtesy of NYC & COMPANY