Moving to Manhattan? Here’s a list of
Our Favorite Manhattan Attractions,
Hot Spots, and Restaurants
- Jack’s Wife Freda (116 8th Ave): This all-day café is Instagram brunch heaven—think ambient lighting, Farmhouse style decor, and bentwood Vienna chairs. Celebrity spotting is common here – and Coyote Ugly actress Piper Perabo is a part owner.
- Eulalie (239 W Broadway, New York): A throwback to old-fashioned hospitality. Reservations at this French restaurant are handwritten, cell phones are tucked away, flash photography is a no-no, and best of all, servers won’t rush you out after 90 minutes.
- Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Multicultural musical performances lakeside in Central Park (nearest Harlem side), this event draws thousands of attendees each summer.
- Whitney Museum of American Art (99 Gansevoort St): The forefront of American modern and contemporary art, with works by Warhol, Hopper, and O’Keefe. Round the visit off with a walk along the High Line.
- Christmas Market Walking Tour (10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY): Holiday markets are a wintertime essential in New York, and you’ve got plenty to choose from—Union Square, Columbus Circle, and Bryant Park all host their own festive markets. Want to learn what makes each one special? Join a
Christmas market walking tour. Some tours even include a visit to iconic Manhattan locations from classic Christmas movies. - Broadway: You can’t live in, or visit New York City and not experience Broadway. It’s both a profession and a place—a theater genre presented in 41 theaters (mostly in Midtown) and a major boulevard stretching the length of Manhattan. Be prepared to fall in love with New York all over again.
- Lavitta’s Creole (218 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York): Chef Jimmy Thomas brings a 1940s barbershop back to life as a Creole restaurant. Schooled in Creole cooking by his mom and grandmother, Jimmy serves up crawfish cakes, wild shrimp po’ boys, and beignets. With just 32 seats, it’s all about that intimate dining experience.
- The Honey Well -Craft cocktails & bar bites are offered in a low-lit, subterranean setting with a cozy vibe.
- Central Park’s Menorah Lighting (Grand Army Plaza): Along with a ceremony in Brooklyn, this is one of New York’s largest Menorah Lighting. The public lighting happens next to the Pulitzer Fountain, near Central Park, and takes place every night of Hanukkah along with live music and Chassidic dancing.
- Empire State Building (20 W 34th St, New York): The Empire State Building was the first building in the world with more than 100 floors. It’s famous for its Art Deco architecture, height, and observation decks, which attract around four million visitors annually.
- VeganHood (2100 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York): Living by the motto “Veganized, Not Compromised,” VeganHood is rumored to serve the city’s best vegan fried chicken. Give it a try and see if all the hype is legit.
- MARC179 (179 W Broadway, New York): This restaurant-slash-passion project by renowned chef Marc Murphy is open just three days a month. The $75 four-course menu changes monthly, so you can expect fresh, seasonal ingredients and an updated wine list.
- GhostbustersFirehouse Company (14 N Moore St, New York): The iconic “Ghostbusters Fire Station,” is a fully functional firehouse and home to NYC’s Hook & Ladder Company 8. A must-see for any Ghostbuster fan.
- Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave): More than just a food hall, Chelsea Market has become one of NYC’s top attractions, attracting 6 million visitors annually. If navigating the food vendors becomes too much, unwind at the newly opened listening bar within the venue.
- Times Square (Junction of Broadway, 7th Ave, and 42nd St, New York): Heart of the Broadway Theater District and one of the busiest pedestrian zones on the planet where 330,000 pedestrians pass through daily. With hundreds of glowing billboards, it’s so bright that astronauts can see it from space.
- Ophelia (3 Mitchell Pl, 26th floor, New York): Located at the top of the Beekman Tower, this cocktail lounge has adorned its 360° greenhouse terrace with vintage glamour touches: think flapper hats, century-old tarot cards, and a red velour couch.
- Columbia University’s Baker Field Athletic Complex: 17,000 seat football stadium
- Artechouse NYC (439 W 15th St): A gallery from the future that blends art, technology, and science, to present abstract digital art compositions to interactive installations. Recent exhibitions were on Afro-surrealism and artificial imagination.
- Sugar Monk (2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York): A candle-lit cocktail lounge serving up a high-end drink menu in an art-filled space.
- Rockettes Christmas Spectacular Show (1260 6th Ave, New York, NY): Year after year, the Rockettes deliver a festive show at Radio City Music Hall filled with sky-high kicks, show-stopping costumes, and choreography so in sync, even the toughest critic will be impressed.
- Japan Block Fair: The world’s largest Japanese food and culture festival, drawing over 500,000 attendees annually, takes place right in the heart of NYC.
- Apollo Theater (253 W 125th St, New York): This legendary venue has been the launchpad for some of the greatest Black talent since 1914. From James Brown to Lauryn Hill, the Apollo is the heartbeat of Harlem’s rich musical legacy.
- Bloomberg (731 Lexington Ave, New York): The global publisher of financial news and data calls Midtown home. Their HQ has a high-floor terrace with direct views of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.
- AIRE Ancient Baths New York (88 Franklin St, New York): A decadent spa journey through various thermal baths and steam rooms, inspired by ancient Roman, Greek, and Ottoman traditions.
- Blue Note Jazz Club – This iconic jazz club has hosted legends of the past and present. Be sure to check out their virtual concerts!
- Bill’s Place (148 W 133rd St, New York): Jazz legends play in this intimate, no-frills spot where Billie Holiday was “discovered”. Bring your own booze and enjoy a close-up experience of Harlem’s jazz scene, founded by saxophonist Bill Saxton.
- Somewhere Nowhere NYC (Renaissance New York Chelsea Hotel): A swanky two-level lounge with an open-air rooftop pool, jazz Wednesdays, and winter igloos. The drinks are pricey, but the view—430 feet above Manhattan—makes them worth every penny.
- Beefbar (105 Hudson St, New York): From exclusive beef cuts to flavorful street food, this beef-themed “clubstaurant” (founded in 2005 in Monte Carlo) arrives in New York to disrupt the city’s famous steakhouse scene.
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (45 E 42nd St, New York): Take your sightseeing to new heights with three levels of immersive, multi-sensory experiences. Far from your average observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt was born out of the Instagram age.
- Dragon Fest Manhattan: Taking over Seventh Avenue from 56th to 57th Street, Dragon Fest is the largest celebration of Chinese culture in Manhattan. Held in July, this 2024 edition welcomed Panda Day, with panda-shaped balloons to panda-themed snacks.
- Rolf’s (281 3rd Ave, New York, NY): This Bavarian pub is more known for its Christmas decorations than food. It’s absolutely over-the-top with more ornaments than you can count. But fair warning: this holiday activity might overwhelm the easily overstimulated.
- Ginny’s Supper Club (310 Malcolm X Blvd, New York): Tucked beneath The Red Rooster, Ginny’s brings the spirit of 1920s speakeasies back to life. Stop by for a lively gospel brunch on Sundays or catch a live performance happening nearly every night.
- Fifth Avenue Window Displays (5th Ave, New York, NY): Every holiday season, the luxury department stores and boutiques on Fifth Avenue roll out window displays that are so intricate and creative, they take a year to plan. Stores such as Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue,
Bloomingdale’s, and
Bergdorf Goodman get involved, transforming their storefronts into a holiday masterpiece. But note, this year,
Saks’s famous light show is on brief hiatus. - Ollin (339 E 108th St, New York): This pint-sized Mexican joint blew up on TikTok, and for good reason. The funky decor is Instagram-ready, and the menu, though small, hits the spot with tacos, chilaquiles, and tortas.
- Gotham Comedy Club (208 W 23rd St): The spot for stand-up in NYC, featuring top headliners and rising stars. The intimate setting makes each joke feel like it’s just for you.
- Comedy Cellar – One of the best comedy clubs in the country, the Comedy Cellar has hosted legendary comedians from around the world.
- New York University – Founded in 1831, this private research university is a staple of the neighborhood and contributes to the youthful, progressive vibe in so many ways. Over the years, the university has hosted a plethora of famous and significant celebrities, lawyers, and businesspeople. NYU is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the world.
- Calvin Klein (205 W 39th St, New York): Located in the Garment District, Calvin Klein’s headquarters is more than just an office – the 39th Street space also holds archives of every single Calvin Klein design ever made.
- Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York): A branch of the New York Public Library, this research library and archive is dedicated to preserving and documenting the experiences of people of African descent worldwide.
- The Django (The Roxy Hotel): A Paris-inspired, cavelike jazz venue and cocktail bar hidden beneath the Roxy Hotel. The experience is pure cinematic magic, like stepping straight into that iconic Goodfellas restaurant scene with Henry and Karen.