New York is one of those cities where you can plan every second of your itinerary and still end up discovering your favourite moments entirely by accident. We spent a week in the city that never sleeps and while some of these recommendations were planned, others came entirely by surprise, asking locals, waiting staff and strangers for their favourite spots.
This was not my first time in the Big Apple, but what I love most about New York is that no matter how many times you visit, you still manage to find somewhere new to surprise you. If you're planning a trip and want to know which restaurants, bars and experiences are genuinely worth your time right now, these are the reservations I suggest you make before you arrive!
1. Watch a Broadway show
© Matthew MurphyNo trip to NYC is complete without a visit to a Broadway show and there are some incredible ones to choose from at the moment. From classics like Hamilton, Harry Potter and Lion King, to newer excitements such as Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Maybe Happy Ending and The Great Gatsby, there's a show to meet all tastes.
This visit, I enjoyed an incredible performance of Hadestown – and having seen quite a few shows on Broadway through the years, I can honestly say it's a very different experience to a West End Show.
It's weird because, of course, the shows are very similar, but the audiences are on another level entirely, and it completely changes the experience as a visitor. I saw SIX on Broadway before I saw it at the West End and couldn't believe the difference! Let's just say our American neighbours know how to raise the roof - and it's a perfect way to get a full cultural immersion. And be sure to enjoy a walk through the lights of Times Square after the show. It's a night that will take some coming down from.
2. Guardian at the W: the place for fancy rooftop cocktails
Stunning images of rooftop cocktails on Instagram lured me to Guardian at the W and I'm delighted to confirm that the reality of sundowners at this Union Square location is every bit as special as the hype led me to believe. Views that literally take your breath away of Manhattan's most iconic buildings at Golden Hour - a pink sky slowly turning deep blue, the city's skyscrapers lighting up before your eyes.
The vibe is very cool, Sex and the City, New York as you want it to be, and it's simply something you must book if you're heading to the city this summer. I assume the retractable roof means it's suitable for all seasons, but sitting outside as the sun goes down on a warm evening is an experience not to miss. The cocktails were delicious, we found service to be exceptional, and we dined on bar bites of roasted cauliflower and tuna tartare tacos. It was a night to remember. If you can, book a table right on the edge of the terrace.
3. Shukette: a hidden gem serving up creative flavours
This unassuming restaurant on a quiet corner in Chelsea called Shukette is a hidden culinary delight. Only the line outside belies what a treat this eatery is, and it's an evening you won't forget.
Once inside, there's a choice of seating: up at the bar for the full high-octane experience, or one of the side booths around the room where things are a little quieter. The creation of Chef Ayesha Nurdjaja, this is Middle Eastern food at its best and most creative, with such clever and unexpected flavour combinations that you find yourself marvelling at the concepts.
We loved the Shukette Cherries, served with cilantro, serrano and lime, along with a literal Pea Party to dip our flatbread into. The shrimp sizzled, and the lamb kebab melted in your mouth. Not to mention the cocktails. It's a busy, buzzy night.
4. Jade Rabbit: a new rooftop destination in Midtown
© ERIC MEDSKERA new rooftop in Midtown, the entrance to Jade Rabbit leaves you feeling a little unsure as to where you're going - the rooftop is on top of the Kimpton Era Midtown New York hotel, but you must find a secret lobby to make your way up to Jade Rabbit. But once the elevator doors open and you step inside this izakaya & cocktail bar, you realise you've found a cool spot, and it feels all the better for the fact that it's hidden away!
The sun sets behind the office buildings, and there's a clear view of the Empire State as you sip cocktails and dine on sushi, sashimi, maki rolls and bao buns. The Toasted Old Fashioned and the watermelon Gochujang Margarita get the thumbs up from us.
5. Sensory Immersion at Edge at Hudson Yards: where to get your best photos
Edge at Hudson's Yards, was already one of my top tourist destinations in the Big Apple - a cool part of town just off the High Line, with incredible, Instagram-worthy views from its position 100 stories in the sky. But since my last visit, it's transformed and is no longer only an iconic viewing deck to rival the Empire State Building (the deck hangs off the edge of the skyscraper and a glass floor allows you to literally dangle above the busy New York streets below, which adds a whole other dimension too!).
Now the journey to the view is part of the destination, with a fully immersive multi-sensory experience that floods your brain with light, colour, sound and motion. We got to see the rooms a few days before the new adventure opened to the public and my favourite was the walk-in kaleidoscope room with mirrors surrounding you from all sides, mixing you and your surrounding reflections with views out across the city and Hudson. If it isn't already, I imagine your Instagram feed will soon be full of these photographic moments.
6. Cecconi’s Chelsea: the kind of dinner New York does best
From the second you walk into this Chelsea restaurant, there’s an ease to the place that makes you instantly relax. It’s glamorous, certainly, but not intimidatingly so. The lighting is low, the crowd is chic and the whole restaurant hums with conversation and candlelight.
But while the food was incredible, honestly, the service is what really stood out at Cecconi's. It’s exquisite from start to finish and while definitely not part of the New York elite ourselves, for that moment over dinner, we felt we were.
We dined on elegant and elevated American Italian at its best. Rich pasta dishes, delicate seafood, enormous bowls of parmesan appearing on table just when you wanted it. We liked the look of the pizzas so much we shared one to start. Then we finished the night with an espresso martini and a dessert honestly we all were reluctant to share!
7. The Ned: New York’s coolest members’ club?
There are “exclusive” places in New York that feel like they desperately want you to know how exclusive they are. The Ned, while being super exclusive, manages the opposite. It feels genuinely cool.
Located right next door to Cecconis, access to the Atrium is reserved for members or hotel guests only, which instantly gives the entire place a hidden-away feeling from the bustle of Manhattan outside. And honestly it’s worth staying at the hotel purely to experience it.
The members’ areas feel incredibly special from the moment you arrive. One minute you’re sipping cocktails quietly in the library surrounded by shelves of books and stylish people pretending not to notice each other, the next you’re wandering into the Atrium where live music fills the huge open space late into the evening.
The atmosphere is what makes it. It feels luxurious but relaxed, glamorous but somehow still intimate. Everyone looks fabulous but nobody appears to be trying too hard. It’s old-school New York energy reimagined for a younger crowd and it's great. Uncrowded, elegant but modern and chic.
And the live music is exceptional. There’s something about sitting there late at night with a cocktail listening to a live band under the glow of the Atrium lights that makes you feel like you’ve somehow wandered onto a film set.
8. City Dinner Cruise: don’t underestimate this tourist gem
I’ll be honest, I boarded the New York Bateaux Premier Plus Dinner Cruise expecting it to be one of those should-do tourist experiences but not expecting it would make my list of must-visit NYC nightspots. I certainly didn’t expect it to become one of the highlights of the entire trip - and I literally cannot put into words the magic you feel as you sail alongside Manhattan Island, with a live rendition of ‘Empire State of Mind’ playing beside you. Just writing about it now puts a huge smile on my face.
The busy Chelsea Pier atmosphere changes the moment the boat pulls away from the dock and the skyline starts unfolding around you. Suddenly New York feels cinematic, the way it does in films. The live music onboard brings the city alive and the welcome fizz gets the evening going perfectly.
Then comes the moment everyone waits for: the approach to the Statue of Liberty. Stepping out onto the deck as the boat slows beside Lady Liberty at night is an experience that beggars belief. The power of the statue, lit up behind you, as the the skyline glitters beyond, and the moon reflects off the Hudson is a moment you will remember forever. True traveller gold and photographs to treasure for life.
But while the boat trip was exceptional, what really surprised me most was the food. Usually with attractions like this, dinner is secondary to the experience, but here it’s actually genuinely delicious. Properly good steak, ribs that melted off the bone, attentive service and cocktails flowing while Manhattan twinkles outside the windows. Not bad for a Tuesday night in New York.
9. Zuma: High end, buzzy and absolutely worth it
You can tell whether a restaurant is genuinely good in New York by whether locals still go despite the prices. Zuma was packed, always a reassuring sign.
The energy hits you immediately as you walk in. The huge dining room buzzes with conversation, cocktails and waiters weaving through the restaurant carrying immaculate sushi platters that help you figure out exactly what you want to order, quickly!
The food is every bit as good as the hype. We treated ourselves to the omakaze experience and all I can say is, if you do the same, don't eat anything before you go! The food just keeps coming and coming, and you cannot turn any of it down! The black cod melts in your mouth, the sushi is exceptional. But what Zuma really gets right is pacing. Dinner here feels exciting from beginning to end. The drinks list is equally exciting, from cocktails, to sake on ice, to a wine list to die for. It’s a special night, with a price tag to match, but you won’t regret a celebration at Zuma.
10. Obvio: where downtown Manhattan goes for a very good night out
There’s a confidence to Obvio that you notice almost immediately. Hidden away in NoMad, it manages to feel both glamorous and relaxed at the same time.
Created by Juan Santa Cruz, the founder behind Casa Cruz, the space has a distinctly international feel to it, richly textured interiors (including giraffe-print walls), golden lighting, tropical cocktails arriving at tables while disco pulses through the room.
The crowd was exactly what you’d hope for from a downtown Manhattan hotspot: fashion people, creatives, chic groups in the candlelight, DJs building the atmosphere from their inbuilt hole-in-the-wall. The cocktails are excellent, particularly the Tamarind Mezcalita and the food more substantial than you might expect - beautifully presented small plates, fresh ceviche, tuna tartare tacos and flatbreads.
As the night went on, the music got louder and doors here stay open late! It's the sort of night New York does better than anywhere else
11. The Standard Grill at The Standard, High Line: a calm corner of downtown Manhattan
© ERIC MEDSKERAfter a few days in New York, you begin to realise just how loud the city is. The constant movement, the sirens, the packed restaurants where you practically have to lipread across the table by 8pm. Which is partly why dinner at The Standard Grill at The Standard, High Line felt like such a treat.
Situated beneath The Standard hotel alongside the High Line, the restaurant occupies one of the best spots downtown. The High Line itself is one of New York’s great success stories, a former elevated railway line transformed into a beautifully landscaped walkway winding above the streets of Manhattan. And the area surrounding it is a true destination. Samantha, from Sex and the City, had an apartment just doors away from the Standard Hotel.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous. As you walk in, there’s an airy white café space before the room opens out into the main dining area with its barrel-vaulted ceilings, warm lighting and huge banquettes. I can absolutely imagine this place coming alive in summer, when the terraces fill up and the Meatpacking District spills out into long warm evenings and late-night cocktails.
But honestly, visiting on a quieter evening in Spring turned out to be a hidden blessing. After the pace of the city outside, the calmer atmosphere felt incredibly welcome, and the service was exceptional from start to finish.
Every dish we tried was excellent, from the seafood ceviche to the pan-seared sea scollops. The location makes it an ideal stop within a downtown itinerary too. You can walk the High Line beforehand, head towards Little Island afterwards, or wander into the West Village for cocktails later in the evening. Very New York, very cool and exactly the sort of place you end up recommending to everyone when you get home.
12. Sunset cocktails at The Fleur Room: New York at golden hour
For sunset drinks in New York, it’s very hard to beat The Fleur Room. Perched on the 35th floor of the Moxy Chelsea, this glass-encased rooftop has views sweeping right across the skyline from the Empire State Building all the way downtown towards the Statue of Liberty. Arriving just before sunset means you get the city at its absolute best.
The atmosphere early in the evening is surprisingly relaxed too, especially compared to some of the city’s more chaotic rooftop bars. We went for happy hour and their their mini martinis are worth a sample.
The interiors are fun and Insta-worthy, enormous disco balls, floral touches that nod to the hotel’s position in the flower district.
As the evening goes on the atmosphere elevates, DJs crank up the music and I’m sure the crowd gets younger and louder. We left for dinner but it could be a fun return at the end of the night, if you’re fancying a night cap and a dance before turning in for the night.
