Our Travel Guide to New York City

New York is one of our favorite cities. Wether it is to dine, shop, or explore, we love visiting Manhattan and there’s always something new to see or do! We know the city can be tough to navigate – or just tough to narrow down what you want to do there – so we rounded up our favorites! Here is the IBT girls’ travel guide to New York City detailing it all:

Where to Stay

The Time New York: Modernity, service, and proximity to Times Square make The Time a favorite place to stay. Read more about why we love it here.

Gramercy Park Hotel: This property is old-school luxe. It’s a bit moody & dark in the best of ways and full of old Victorian charm. Bonus: guests are allowed access to the coveted Gramercy Park during their stay.

The Muse Kimpton Hotel: We love Kimpton hotels for their beautiful and affordable accommodations. This one is no different. Plus, it’s midtown location makes every attraction easily accessible.

Where to Eat

Light Bites and Treats

Cha Cha Matcha: You’ve probably spotted this NYC gem on instagram thanks to it’s pale pink and green storefront. The aesthetically pleasing coffee shop is known for everything Matcha. From green tea lattes to green banana bread and froyo, this cute stop is best for the Matcha lovers.

Momofuku Milk Bar: This is worth a visit for the famous Milk Bar cake truffles. Do yourself a favor and order a dozen of the birthday cake flavor. And maybe an extra dozen too, because you will want to stash them in your suitcase.

Union Fare Bakery: This hip restaurant is great for dining too, but we recommend visiting it primarily for the incomparable butter croissants. These oozing with different creams from oreo to funfetti. Your sweet tooth with thank you.

Pick-A-Bagel: You can’t go to New York City and not enjoy a traditional bagel breakfast. Pick-A-Bagel is not only home to some wondrous NYC buns and shmears but also salad and sandwich options. Great for a quick meal any day.

Dining

Tipsy Parson: A must for brunch. Tipsy Parson serves up, you guessed it, an assortment of cocktails and mimosas. But also, a whole variety of delicious, both light and savory breakfast fare. We’ll never regret the biscuit breakfast. Plus, a variety of flavored mimosas.

ABC Cocina: The renowned interior designer’s paradise is also home to two incredible dining options. Go for the ABC kitchen for a tapas style lunch or dinner that will light up your tastebuds.

Emporio: Emporio is always our first stop when we come into town. We love a good Italian meal and the pizzas and pastas here are unbeatable.

The Catch: This trendy restaurant brings in the likes of Mariah Carey. Don’t that fool you into thinking its stuffy or bougey. It serves up incredible fare that ranges from sushi to steak and tapas in between. The atmosphere and drink menu are also not to be missed.

What to Do

Photo via Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images

The Freedom Tower and 9/11 Museum: If you haven’t yet visited the 9/11 memorial and museum, we greatly encourage it. You will leave with a heavy heart but also a greater sense of what happened on that fateful day and how the country came together afterwards.

Bryant Park: During winter, Bryant Park boasts an awesome market and ice rink that’s (slightly) less busy than that of Rockefeller center. Walk around the pop-up shops, get some hot cocoa and a pastry, and enjoy the great atmosphere!

Chelsea Market and Unique: Chelsea Market is home to countless food stands and shops that will satisfy if you’re looking for a snack while you walk through. Walk from end to end perusing and taste testing. Then, duck into Unique, a showroom full of local artisans selling incredible products from refurbished vintage jewelry to handmade leather goods.

The High Line: After visiting Chelsea Market, head for the High Line and walk off your snacks/meal. We love wandering down above ground path where there is plenty of art, landscape, and real estate to check out.

Rockefeller Center: If you’re visiting during the winter, Rockefeller is a can’t-miss. The big beautiful Christmas tree and ice-rink are everything you picture and more – which also means the tourists will be aplenty. Stop by to take it in and head to the Top of the Rock for some spectacular city views.

Shopping in Soho: Soho is one of our favorite Manhattan neighborhoods. Beyond the yummy food, the shopping make it worth a visit. Home to less ritzy (and less touristy) boutiques than 5th Avenue, and one of our faves Aritzia, its one of our favorite stops to shop in the city.

Ride Bikes across the Brooklyn Bridge: If you have enough time in Manhattan and its a beautiful day, head to Brooklyn via bikes. Riding over the bridge is both beautiful and fun.

Photo via Barefoot Blonde

Central Park: We can’t leave this one off the list! Central park is beautiful no matter when you visit New York City. The sheer size of it guarantees you can explore a new part of the park every time you visit!