If you know me even a little bit, you know that I am obsessed with new york. I talk about it an obnoxious amount and name drop it like no other, but I can’t help it!! Yes, I know it sounds pretentious when I talk about my favourite places in soho, and no I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. :p
I wanted to share some of my favourite spots in the city in today’s post. Just like in my toronto post, these aren’t necessarily places I’d say you have to visit if you’re there for say a three day weekend or something, but if you have time to really explore the city, I definitely recommend these spots.
Also, just in case anyone is wondering how I was able to spend a decent amount of time in nyc over the last few years, I’ll tell ya. I feel like Instagram/online life is so full of smoke and mirrors and you always see people in these amazing places and you’re like how the hell are they traveling all the time? They must have so much money! I’m always big on total transparency, so here’s how I’ve managed to spend a few months in this crazy expensive city: a good friend of mine lived there and she is absolutely amazing and invited me to visit literally whenever I wanted. I did a few 10 day (ish) trips visiting her, but I would also stay at her place when she traveled, so I got to do a couple of month long stays while she was away.
There is NO WAY I could afford to just travel to nyc and stay for five weeks if I was paying for accommodations, but thanks to Chelsea my lifelong dream of spending lots of time in new york came true. She moved recently, so my free ticket is gone, so now it’s up to me to figure out a way to be able to live there. (suggestions are very welcome!!).
Oh and my last trip to new york was for a week in September when I went with my friends for my 30th. We stayed in air bnbs and it was v pricey. But one of the best trips of my life.
Anyways, here are some of the places I absolutely love starting with, of course, coffee shops.
COFFEE SHOPS
Maman. Their Tribeca location might be my favourite place in the whole city.
Joe and the Juice. It’s a chain, but I love it, especially the soho location.
Bluestone Lane cafe. Upper East Side location.
Toby’s Estate. West village location
The Elk
Spreadhouse
Devocion (Brooklyn)
PARKS
Central Park. My favourite place in the park is Sheep’s Meadow.
Bryant Park. Might actually be my favourite park. It’s just one city block, but I’m obsessed.
Washington Square Park
Bushwick Inlet Park (Brooklyn). Come here for amazing views of Manhattan.
SNACKS
Cha Cha Matcha
Milk Bar. Locations around nyc, but my favourite is the Upper West Side location. Get the truffles!! and the Klossies..and the cereal milk ice cream. At this location they also do cake walks on weekends and give away a free cake!
The End Brooklyn. Home of the unicorn latte!!!!
Ample Hills Creamery (ice cream!)
Van Leeuwen. Their earl grey ice cream is THE best ice cream I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something.
The Bagel Store (Brooklyn). This is where you’ll find the famous rainbow bagels!
$1 dollar pizza spots
FOOD
By Chloe. It’s like a vegan Shake Shack. Their chocolate chip cookies are the best I’ve ever had.
Momofuko. I’ve actually only been to the one in toronto, but I can vouch that it’s amazing.
The Butcher’s Daughter
Bluestone Lane restaurant
Cantina rooftop
STORES
ABC Carpet and Home
Trader Joe’s. Okay not unique to nyc, but just the best.
PLACES
Le Bain. The Standard hotel’s rooftop bar overlooking the Hudson
New York Pilates. My favourite workout studio of all time. Can’t choose between the Bowery and soho locations, they’re both so amazing. My dream is to go to one of their Tulum retreats.
Colombia campus. So beautiful, and I love the Joe Coffee in the library
1 Hotel Brooklyn. I kiiind of want to leave them off the list because I had such bad service, but it’s too beautiful to not include. Check out the cafe, hang out in the lobby, or make a res for the rooftop pool.
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
There are so many more places I love, but these are some of my favourites. My favourite thing of all in new york is to just walk around. Every neighbourhood is so amazing and unique, and it’s just the best place in the world!!