New York City Trip reccomendations

[Hilltopper39]

Okay, my wife and I are traveling to New York City the first week of January for 5 nights to celebrate our anniversary and we need some tips from people who really know their way around the city! Anything helps, restaurants for dinner, breakfast, lunch. Sights to see, not to see, things to do not to do. We have tickets to see Memphis, but does anyone have any good shows to recommend maybe off Broadway? Anything cool to not to miss during the winter months? The only thing we really have planned right now is seeing Memphis Saturday night, and hopefully doing Scott's Pizza tour sometime, so help my plan my trip!

[SharkTums]

Make sure to do Scott's Tour! If you're worried about the weather and will be around on a Sunday I believe that's the day he does a bus based tour rather than walking.

 

As a former resident and current tourist I would also recommend the following:

 

- Top of the Rock

- Ice Skating at either Rockefeller or Central Park

- Make a Muppet at FAO Scwartz

- Eat in China Town

- Eat in Little Italy (ask Scott for a bakery recommendation after his tour)

- If you want to do a trendy Times Square restaurant go for Bond 45, Larry's recommendation and super yummy!

- Walk through Central Park

- Museum of Natural History

 

Do you have a good hotel, that is also VERY important. And don't be afraid of the Subway and Walking...by far the two best modes of transport in the city.

[Hilltopper39]

^Thanks for all of the tips Elissa! Some of those were on our tentative list and others I had never thought about! We are staying at the Affinia Dumont on the corner of 34th and Lexington, we were told by some other friends that it is a decent property in a pretty good location.

 

Any recommendation on what Scott's Pizza tour to do ? The website lists several different tours, and I'm not opposed to walking that sounds more fun anyways!

 

Anymore restaurant recommendations are more than welcome, Bond 45 looks cool though. Thanks for everything again.

[SharkTums]

^Did I mention that hotel?!?!?

 

That's our *GO TO* hotel in NYC!! Where we stayed in March, and where we always try to stay! Great location for walking and for the subway!

 

The only 'official' tour we did was the Bus Tour on Sundays. It was amazing. The one we did this summer was a private tour but similar to the Crosstown Tour. You really can't go wrong with Scott, so just choose which one sounds the most interesting to you. Just keep in mind that walking in January could involve snow, ice, and coldness!

 

If you like Indian food at all go to 6th St between 1st and 2nd avenue for a ton of awesome places.

[ginzo]

For dining I found Minetta Tavern to be very good. And not insanely priced considering the quality of the food (they have a Michelin star).

[Hilltopper39]

Thanks, that restaurant looks great. Eating somewhere with a Michelin Star has always been on my "to do" list but I never wanted to spend the kind of cash required to do so, but The Minetta Tavern looks pretty reasonable.

 

Elissa, I don't remember you mentioning that hotel on here anywhere but it's ironic we ended up staying at the same place you recommend! Do you remember any good deli's or cafe's in that neighborhood close to the hotel?

[ginzo]

^It's a small place. So, reserve way in advance. Also, try the Black Label Burger. It's absurdly good.

[Hilltopper39]

I was going to look into making reservations today!

[larrygator]

Uniqlo is a new clothing (from Japan) that people are raving about and there is one on 34th street between 5th and 6th (I don't shop, so I wouldn't know).

 

Serendipity 3 is a nice place to stop after dinner for their signature "frozen hot chocolate"

 

The one thing I always recommend against is the Intrepid Air & Space Museum, it's just not interesting. I prefer Top of the Rock for tourists over the Empire State Building.

 

I usually recommend that out-of-towners take a train to the Village and stroll around the Bleecker street area, some nice little cafes and bars and great for people watching and taking in unique shops.

Take time to walk through Grand Central Station, but not during rush hour, it's a beautiful structure.

Check out Macy's, if for no other reason than to ride their antique "wooden" escalators.

 

Close to your hotel is a overlooked Mexican restaurant called El Parador Cafe (34th between 1st and 2nd).

 

If you want an unlimited eating experience you'll never forget try the Brazilian Rodizio called Plataforma Churrascaria on 49th street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Expensive but decadent, not quite romantic for an anniversary trip though.

 

Always keep your wallet secure (preferably in your front pocket), winter time is busy season for pickpockets.

Don't ever stop in the middle of busy sidewalk during rush hour (stop along the side of a building).

 

I'll add more suggestions as i think of them.

[Hilltopper39]

Thanks Larry, all of those restaurants looks great. And I never would have thought about the pickpocket thing, you might have saved me a huge headache and a lot of money!