Updated august 2023 (for a weekend or a long weekend)
New York City is a great location for a long weekend! There are top sites, attracting many tourists, that you don’t want to miss. This post focuses on the other locations that may attract fewer people, but are still worth it ! This is how we like to spend our weekends in NYC between drinks, food, sightseeing, and shopping.
The must-do in NYC
This is not the focus of this post, but if this is your first time in NYC you should prioritize the following places. You will easily find more informations online or on different travel guide books:
- Brooklyn Bridge at sunset. Nice view of the sun setting behind Manhattan. You can picnic at Bridge Park or eat at Timeout.
- Museums. So much choice, pick your favorite topic !
- The High Line. There can be lot of traffic up there, avoid crowded hours.
- Statue of Liberty, from the Staten Island Ferry.
- Central park.
- Top of the Rock.
- A Broadway show. If you are not confident about your english level, go for a Disney show. If you feel more comfortable, try one of the many other shows (Hamilton is one of our favorite). And if you are more adventurous, go to a limited time off-broadway production.
Our Best “Hikes”
There is no real hike in NYC but we very often walking at least 30km/18Miles per day. Walking from one place to an other enables us to discover the different neighborhoods. By doing that we can feel the different cities inside the city. The map below shows 2 hikes we love, including some interesting stops.
From South Manhattan to Time Square – via the Hudson river (about 8km/5miles)
In NYC we often end up going from South Manhattan to Time Square and the other way around.
In this itinerary, we start early from the very south and go along the Hudson. We stop around Irish Hunger Memorial for a coffee at Laughing Man (Hugh Jackman’s fair trade coffee brand/foundation) or Bluestone lane coffee that we drink on our way north. We go up to Spring Street and go east in SoHo for a quick stop at Dominique Ansel bakery for a Cronut (or any other of their delicious pastries). We go back west on the Hudson river to eat our breakfast and continue north to Little Island. From little Island if the Highline is not too crowded we take the Highline, otherwise, we just use the 10th avenue up to the Vessel. We then head to Time square. If you need a refreshment we highly recommend heading to the Rockefeller center and stop at Other Half Brewing.
The same itinerary is also great in the afternoon before sunset, but the Highline is often packed at this time. All the walk along the Hudson River from south Manhattan to Little Island is nice with picnic areas, fountains, and restrooms.
Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge (about 9.5km/6Miles)
The Brooklyn area around Brooklyn Bridge is certainly one of the best places to walk. In this itinerary, we use the two most iconic bridges that you see in a lot of movies.
We start in Manhattan at Supermoon Bakehouse, this is the perfect place to buy a picnic or a breakfast. We then go south to Manhattan Bridge. We use the west side of the bridge to have a view over Brooklyn Bridge. At the end of Brooklyn bridge, we go southwest to the Brooklyn Height Promenade. We then go north to Jane’s Carousel and Bridge Park. This area is full of restaurants with nice areas to rest. We then use Brooklyn Bridge to finish at Pier 17 or Pier 15.
Our Best Drinks
Other Half Brewing (UNTAPPD: 4.23)
We highly recommend Other Half Brewing. This is one of the best breweries for double IPAs. We tried a lot of their beers and have never been disappointed. They have 3 locations in NYC or around (Link here). We present 2 of them below:
The first location is a taproom at the Rockefeller center on the 48th. They also sometime have an outdoor area close to the Nintendo store on the Rockefeller Plaza with some tables where they serve cans. This is the perfect spot for a picnic or a break (families and dogs are welcome at the beer garden, they also serve soft drinks).
The second location is at Domino Park. This is a nice small park close to Williamsburg Bridge. You can order takeaway pizza from the pizzeria just close by.
Torch & Crown Brewing (UNTAPPD: 3.93)
Located close to SoHo this is a great location to end your day. The beers are interesting and the food menu is great. The other advantage is that we can book a table on Resy. Always a good point to be sure that you will have a table on time after a long walking day. (Link here)
This summer they opened a nice Beer Garden on Union Square, the place to be if your are an Arsenal fan when there is a game ! Check their Facebook for more informations about the openings as it depends on the weather or events.
Finback Brewery Brooklyn (UNTAPPD: 4.09)
If you are in Brooklyn you can also check Finback Brewery. We went in 2021 and we liked the place. The quality of the beer is great. They don’t have any food option, but it’s a great place to chill after diner. (Link here)
Our Best Food
New York is an amazing place if you like good food. Don’t hesitate to look online for more options. For example, some restaurants in Chinatown are not very expensive and highly ranked by the Michelin Guide.
Dominique Ansel Bakery
Located in SoHo this is the place where you can find THE Cronuts. You will also have many other amazing deserts at this location, as this French pastry chef was elected best pastry chef in the world in 2017. Getting a Cronut can be difficult, so if you know when you will be going there, you should pre-order online. Every Monday at 11am they open a 2 weeks window for pre-orders on the specific pre-order website. When you arrive at the shop with a pre order, no need to wait on line, you can go straight to the cashier. If you plan a pick up at the store opening (what we usually do), they let you in before everyone, so you have time to choose if you want something else (the shop is really small and gets extremely crowded, which can be stressful). They have a patio at the back if you can’t wait to taste your Cronut.
A second one opened recently by the Flatiron: Dominique Ansel Workshop. This location doesn’t sell cronuts, but there is a selection of breakfast pastries, sandwiches (made out of their homemade laminated ficelles) and lunch combo. The DKA (Dominique Ansel brown sugar version of the Kouign-Amann) is amazing warm out of the oven. (Link here)
Supermoon Bakehouse
Located southeast of Dominique Ansel Bakery this is an amazing place for desserts, focaccias, and baguette. Their cruffins (the one Ferrero rocher flavor is just SO yummy) and double-baked croissants are amazing. We often take focaccias, desserts and a baguette for a picnic. The baguette is as good as a « French one ». (Link here)
and croissant butter
Levain Bakery
If you are looking for great cookies stop by Levain Bakery in SoHo, Upper East side, or Williamsburg Bridge. They also offer cakes by the slice, baguettes, different sorts of breads, ham and butter sandwich and a great Valrhona roll (as its name indicates, it’s a breadroll filled with some delicious french Valrhona chocolate). (Link here)
Poseidon Bakery
If you are looking for a quick, affordable, and good takeaway lunch around time square, then Poseidon Bakery on the 9th avenue (between the 44 and the 45 street) is for you. You will find there a great selection of Greek sweets and savory dishes. We love their homemade spinach pie. (Link here)
Starbucks Reserve Roastery New York
If you like coffee, or if you are around little Island we really recommend stopping by this location. The area is very well decorated, and you can smell the coffee being roasted live. You will find 3 levels: the bottom one has coffee and pastries only, on the main level you will also find breads and sandwiches, in addition to pizzas for lunch, and at the top level there is a bar serving cocktails made with coffee.
The selection of coffee is amazing, nothing to do with the average Starbucks you find at every corner. They offer an amazing selection of coffee from all around the world, you can even try a flight of espresso ! Their coffees infused with olive oil and paired with chocolate truffles or a slice of the olive oil cake is something to try. You don’t like coffee that much ? Just order a nitro almond milk mocha or the hazelnut Bianchi latte.
Go early or be ready for a busy place with limited seating. (Link here)
Pilar Cuban Eatery – Brooklyn
This Cuban place is our to go place for brunch. You can’t book a table, so arrive at the opening or be ready to wait (you can also order to go and enjoy their delicious Cuban specialties in one of the many parks around). The pressed Cuban sandwich served with plantain chips is amazing (and not small), the croquetas are also great (we have a weakness for the veggie ones), and of course the churros to finish on a sweet touch (the guava cheese pie is also an interesting option). (Link here)
with plantain chips
Shopping
If you like shopping, NYC is the place for you. You can find the most expensive fashion clothes but also all the mountain/hiking types of equipment. Most of the shops are located in SoHo or along 5th Avenue.
If you are looking for discounts and want to dedicate one day to shopping, you can take the car/bus to the Woodbury outlet. The number of brands is amazing. You will find great deals on most premium brands like Prada or Armani, and the best mountain equipment companies like The North Face, Arc’teryx, or Terrex.
