The Best of New York City in a Weekend

Growing up in Connecticut, only two hours from New York City, I never realized that New York City was a place people dreamt of moving to or planning their yearly vacation to visit. I’d come across fellow travelers and residents abroad who had never been to the United States but seen New York City featured in movies and hoped one day to visit. Fast forward to three years without a day or weekend trip into the city due to the pandemic and now I was sharing in that same feeling…take me back to the city!

Whether this is your first time visiting or you’re too many to count times visiting…NYC truly has something for everyone. This trip was planned mostly around catching up on our food favorites we had missed out on over the past few years as well as walking around and taking in the city vibes. I’ve compiled my favorite eats, drinks, places to stay and things to do from this visit as well as those prior to help make planning a trip to the city a little easier for you.

Where To Stay In New York City

There is absolutely no shortage in options of hotels in the city, truly something for all budgets. If it is your first time visiting the city and you want to be near the “main attractions” you may find it best to stay in midtown.

On my more recent visits to New York City, including this last one, I have stayed in the Financial District otherwise known as FiDi. While it is not an ideal location to walk to the attractions of Midtown, I have found it very easy to grab a cab to get to anywhere I wanted to visit or for those more familiar and comfortable with public transportation, there is always the subway system. I really like FiDi because it is a little quieter and less crowded both during the day and at night and is still close to other big attractions including the Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Wall Street, Battery Park, Seaport and Statue of Liberty.

-The Fitzpatrick Manhattan

A four-star hotel located in Midtown Manhattan (Midtown East), bringing comfortable and modern amenities to the 91 rooms and suites. I found the rooms beautifully decorated and most importantly clean. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive upon arrival as well as throughout the stay with any additional questions or needs. The location is more than desirable, located on 57th and Lexington. For those looking to be able to walk to many attractions, this hotel was perfectly located to Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Broadway shows, Times Square and a little further but doable is Bryant Park, Empire State Building and Grand Central Station.

-Belvedere Hotel

Located in Midtown Manhattan (Midtown West), this larger hotel consisting of 335 rooms brings a 1920s Art Deco accommodation to the city. The hotel is located on W 48th between 8th and 9th avenue making it another centrally located option like The Fitzpatrick Manhattan. All the same big attractions can be reached by walking.

-The Beekman A Thompson Hotel

Wow, this hotel was simply stunning! The Beekman is a historic hotel located in the heart of Manhattan’s Financial District. The gorgeous décor immediately had me in awe as I entered the lobby. The website describes the design and décor as 19th century with an ambiance of the 21st century. It truly felt like a modern take on vintage décor with the rugs, lights, mismatched textures in furniture, the wallpaper and all the little accents. Once checked in, we headed towards the main atrium to find the elevators. I was really excited to see the atrium as it was and still is, one of the hotels most iconic features. We stayed on the 6th floor, down a winding hallway which was actually perfect because the room was so quiet…. I’ve never stayed in the city and not heard the “city sounds” of car horns and sirens. The room was immaculate and beautifully decorated. The hotel also features a restaurant and bar/lounge that was extremely busy each night…which explains why the concierge recommended we make reservations even just for a casual cocktail.

-Hyatt Centric Wall Street

I stayed at this hotel when it was formerly known as Andaz Wall Street but during the pandemic the hotel closed and rebranded itself as Hyatt Centric Wall Street. The hotel renovated during this time to reflect the brand shift and features a contemporary design in common areas as well as the rooms with pops of color and art. The room was one of the largest hotel rooms I have stayed in while visiting the city and I never splurge for a large room since I don’t spend much time in it, thus I was pleasantly surprised!

Where To Eat/Drink In New York City

Breakfast/Lunch/Brunch

Leo’s Bagels is all things a NYC bagel should be! I stumbled upon this gem the first time staying in the Financial District and knew it had to be good by the line wrapping around the sidewalk. Leo’s bagels pride themselves on making bagels the old-fashioned way by hand-rolling and boiling every bagel and only making small batches to ensure quality and freshness! The menu offers varieties of bagels, cream cheese spreads, smoked fish toppings, breakfast sandwiches, deli sandwiches on bagels and other essential breakfast and lunch items. I loved both the cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese and the Hanover Hangover breakfast sandwich…the crispy potato latke took this sandwich to another level!! Don’t miss a stop at Leo’s Bagels.

The Smith Restaurant is a great option for brunch, lunch or dinner with multiple locations throughout the city. I personally have only had the weekend brunch… but would highly recommend stopping! My first visit was at the Midtown location while my most recent visit was to the NoMad location. Both experiences were great although I found the NoMad location to be a little quieter…the restaurants are large so the noise can definitely carry. My personal recommendations are the Bloody Marry, Mac & Cheese starter, Omelet, Benedict Johnny, and Shrimp & Grits…I saw the Buttermilk Pancakes with blueberry compote and lemon mascarpone on the menu and plan to try those in the future! The brunch menu also includes hearty lunch items such as soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers. An added bonus is the locations take reservations which is less common for brunch in the city, so you don’t have to wait!

Baz Bagel will make you think you’ve stepped into another decade with its retro décor featuring palm tree wallpaper, leather booths and barstool seating at the counter. This quant establishment is open for breakfast and lunch and is best known for the hand-rolled, kettled boiled and baked bagels. The menu is inspired by the family’s history of being half Jewish and half Italian, offering latkes, matzoh ball soup and smoked fish in addition to the bagels. If it goes without saying…I recommend trying a bagel!

Bubby’s came recommended by quite a few friends and fellow New Yorkers for its weekend brunch of fluffy pancakes! While I haven’t had the chance to eat here yet, the pictures of the stacks of pancakes along with the reviews and recommendations have placed it high on my list! I look forward to experiencing all the hype.

Dinner

Harry’s is a classic steakhouse located in the heart of the Financial District at Hanover Square. This restaurant location is in the basement of the India House Building and is popular for a midday business lunch amongst those on Wall Street or for a fun night out for dinner and cocktails. Harry’s offers a moody ambiance with dim lighting, leather chairs and booths, plethora of wood décor and walls decorated in bottles. While I knew the food would be good, I was surprised at just how good it was! We had the buffalo mozzarella with tomato and basil as a starter, the blackened swordfish steak while Kevin had the dry aged bone-in rib eye as our mains and hash brown potatoes and madeira mushrooms as family style sides. We topped off the night with the warm cookie & cream skillet with vanilla ice cream for dessert which was amazing!!

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar is hands down my favorite spot for pizza and an absolute must visit while in the city! I’d be lying if I said I haven’t planned trips with the only true intention of eating the pizza. It is located on Stone Street in the Financial District with indoor and outdoor eating. I wish I could recommend a handful of items, but I’ve never deterred from the Old-Fashioned pepperoni pizza. The pepperoni is piled high, and the pizza manages to be soft yet crispy at the same time. I have seen others order the meatballs and I thought those looked great and will definitely try them next time!

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse has multiple locations in the city and while I haven’t visited in over 5 years, my husband still raves about this being one of the top five steaks he’s ever had. The restaurant was simplistic and sophisticated with the floor to ceiling windows. It is definitely on the pricey side so a great option if you’re looking to celebrate something special! We shared the porterhouse for two with a side of mashed potatoes and sautéed mushrooms.

Trattoria Trecolori is my go-to option when I’m visiting the city for one day to see a Broadway show because it is centrally located in the Theater District. This is a family-owned restaurant, operating for over 25 years serving classic Italian dishes. I’ve dined here quite a few times and can recommend the caprese, fettuccine alfredo, spaghetti alla carbonara, lasagna Bolognese and homemade tiramisu.

Treats/Sweets

Ferrara NYC is a famous Italian bakery dating back to 1892 located in the Little Italy neighborhood. Whether you want to take a break from walking and enjoy something sweet or grab and go to enjoy later, Ferrara’s offers both. The impressive display of dessert offers Italian favorites such as traditional cannoli’s, chocolate cannoli’s, sfogliatella, assorted cookies, assorted biscotti, eclairs, napoleon, lobster tail, tiramisu, Italian cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, death by chocolate, strawberry tarts, lemon meringue tarts and a wide offering of gelato flavors. If you sit down for a treat, you can order a trio to get a tasting of multiple items. I personally love the tiramisu and chocolate cannoli!

Drinks

Grabbing drinks in New York City is an activity in itself! Yes of course you can grab a drink with dinner but there are so many unique spots through the city to just stop for a drink. Some locations more popular during the day for the impeccable views while others more popular at night for that going-out atmosphere. A few of my favorites listed below offer the best of both worlds!

230 Fifth is truly a mixture of everything in one location. The space offers both indoor and outdoor bars and lounges between the two floors. The 20th floor is fully enclosed with floor to ceiling windows to emphasize the city views and is popular for those wanting a lounge or club night out. The 21st floor is an open-air rooftop open year-round, with igloos and heat lamps in the winter months. The views of the empire state building are unbeatable and the 21st floor is very popular. During the day you can grab brunch, lunch, appetizer and drinks while soaking in the skyline.

Stone Street is a cobblestone street located in the heart of the Financial District bringing you great eating and drinking options day or night! Most establishments on the street offer both indoor as well as outdoor, covered options. Depending upon what you are in the mood for, Stone Street has it covered. The Dubliner brings you the classic Irish pub, The Cauldron known for the “magical mixology”, Underdog for a dimly lit cocktail bar, Route 66 Smoke House for BBQ and cold craft beer, Ulysses’ which is the first pub to open on Stone Street offering beer, wine and cocktails and Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina for endless margaritas. I could spend an entire day here!

Overstory is a new and contemporary cocktail bar in the Financial District bringing 360-degree views of the city skyline. Located on the 63rd floor, enjoy a cocktail either indoor or outdoor if weather permits. I was super excited to grab a drink here for sunset, but it quickly booked up and I had no such luck. It’s recommended to make reservations 15 days in advance, and I’d do it early in the day! Looking forward to visiting next time.

Sarabeth’s has four locations throughout Manhattan and is known for it’s stellar menu! (I’ve seen the pancakes all over Instagram). We actually just stumbled upon the Tribeca location and thought wow let’s sit outside and grab a drink and take in the beautiful weather and view of the World Trade Center. I definitely plan to try the food next time.

Things To Do In New York City

Visit an Observation Deck as the city has many options to make sure you are taking in the full skyline. While crowded specifically at sunset, I think doing at least one of the observations points is worth it because the views are incredible. I’ve only visited Top of the Rock over the years but know newer options have since been built. Each observation deck varies in price and experience. Top of the Rock, The Edge and the Empire State Building all have indoor and outdoor viewpoints, while SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is indoor only but offers interactive displays between different floors. I really enjoyed my experiences at Top of Rock and have visited both during day and at sunset/evening to experience it all. I have read great things about SUMMIT One Vanderbilt as it offers the best views of the Empire State Building, and its interactive displays give more to the experience then just views. I personally would lean towards these two as I enjoy capturing the Empire State Building in my skyline.

-Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)

-SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

-The Edge

-Empire State Building

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge and start early! I’ve seen photos of the Brooklyn Bridge during the day and to say it is crowded is an understatement. We visited at 730am on a Saturday, and it was amazing! Only crossed paths with a few early morning runners, it really allowed us to casually walk, take our time and take in all the views. We took a cab to Brooklyn and walked back to Manhattan as it was a chilly morning. Another great option is to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn and stop in DUMBO for breakfast!

Visit DUMBO “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” I personally thought it was best to grab a cab and head over and after walking around the area, walk the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan. Thew views from DUMBO overlooking the river and skyline are amazing! Plus Brooklyn is home to the best pizza and bagels so whatever time of the day you decide to visit make sure to grab a bite to eat!

9/11 Memorial and Museum is a tribute honoring and remembering those lost in the 9/11 terror attacks at the World Trade Centers, Pentagon and Pennsylvania. The memorial is located at the former site of the World Trade Centers and features two memorial pools with waterfalls and names of those being remembered inscribed in the edging of the pools. The museum invites visitors to learn the history of the 9/11 attacks through interactive technology, personal narratives and intimate artifacts. A must visit while in NYC.

Visit a park as there are many to choose from both big and small. My personal favorites are of course Central Park, Bryant Park and Battery Park.

-Central Park located between the Upper West Side and Upper East Side of Manhattan. This is a staple meeting ground for friends and family to gather amongst the greenery to relax or participate in one of the many activities available. The park has endless paths for walking, running or biking and it’s very common to come across a race while visiting. If you’re looking for other attractions in the park, consider a horse drawn carriage ride, the row boats, the central park zoo, the Belvedere castle, the Bethesda fountain, rowboats at the Loeb boathouse or one of the many bridges featured in movies over the years.

-Bryant Park located in Midtown and is popular for those looking to lounge on the grass or patio chairs and take in the charm of the park and city. The park is known for summer evening events including movies in the park and in the winter for ice-skating and the winter villages.

-Battery Park located at the southern tip of Manhattan is a waterfront park known for its harbor views, gardens, bike paths, lawns and carousel. If you are planning to take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty or staying in the Financial District, this is a great spot to stroll through.

Visit the Statue of Liberty by taking a ferry from Battery Park where you can enjoy the ground of Liberty Island, the museum and the Liberty Pedestal (with reservations).

Visit The High Line located on Manhattan’s West Side, this public park was built on an old freight rail line elevated above the streets of the city. The High Line is 1.45 miles and features greenery, plans and trees. It is a popular attraction, so I recommend visiting early if possible. Hours vary depending upon the season, Fall (October-November) 7am to 10pm, Winter (December-March) 7am to 7pm, Spring (April-May) 7am to 10pm and Summer (June-September) 7am to 11pm.

Visit the West Village to take in the charming brownstones, Carrie’s apartment from Sex in the City, Central Perk restaurant from Friends and a slice from the famous Bleecker Street Pizza. The West Village is really enchanting and a neighborhood that makes you feel like you aren’t in the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city. It also has some of the best restaurants and cute boutique shops!

See A Broadway Show! Broadway absolutely brings the most talented individuals to the stage! Buy tickets to one of the most popular long-running shows such as Phantom of the Opera or Lion King or catch something new! Depending upon the day you are visiting they have night shows or both matinee and night shows. If you don’t want to plan ahead and are open to shows you can also visit a TKTS booth which offers same day shows at discounted rates but shows will vary daily.

Visit Grand Central Terminal as this is one of NYC’s most historical landmarks. Yes…you may think of it as a transportation hub, but it offers much more through shopping, eating and a calendar of events. Personally, the architecture is what draws me in…with the beautiful cathedral ceiling, gold detailing, grand staircase, stone pillars and four-sided bronze clock. Definitely worth popping into!

Times Square is perhaps the most popular and most visited tourist destination in the city as it is the epitome of what people think New York City to be. Times Square is located in Midtown and is five blocks long, running from 42nd to 47th street. Lined with giant billboards and advertisements, this is the center of the world’s entertainment industry, and the flashing lights make this known.

Take a Class at Peloton! Nyc is a great place to try a new workout class such as Barry’s or SoulCycle but as an at home Peloton user, I couldn’t help myself but to take a live in studio class. It is not easy to grab one of these select spots amongst the thousands trying to get in but if you can it is definitely an awesome experience and the facilities are stunning!

Shopping, shopping and more shopping! The streets of the city are lined with stores whether souvenir shops, department stores, high-end designer shops or cute boutiques. There is something for every budget and every style.