NYC Guide
Whether you’re visiting NYC for the first time, or for the 10th time, I’ve compiled my ultimate 4 days in NYC guide. It’s a four-day NYC itinerary of my favorite neighborhoods, restaurants, shops and wine bars to soak up all of the big city vibes.
Day 1: Touristing in UES & Midtown
Start with brunch in a church at Bluestone Lane cafe — it’s cute, and they make excellent coffee.
Browse the Met Museum & Rooftop’s iconic art & pick up a souvenir mug in the museum store.
Gossip Girl fan? Catch a glimpse of Nate Archibald’s townhouse at 4 E 74th St.
Grab a cup of Ralph’s Coffee and a bag of coffee beans to take home.
Take a walk through Central Park (enter at 72nd & 5th), and check out Bethesda Fountain, The Mall, and Wollman Rock for the best views.
Shop Kate Spade’s special-edition NYC collection, including their cute metro card wallet on 5th Ave.
Check out iconic Rockefeller Center and catch the sunset above the city at Top of the Rock (this is my favorite view of NYC as you look straight at the Empire State Building).
End with dinner in K-Town at Soju House for some of my favorite Korean BBQ in the city. Heads up - cash or Amex only.
Day 2: Soho Shopping & West Village
Start with a cronut (#famous) from Dominique Ansel and coffee at hype-cafe Aimé Leon Dore.
Shop your way around Soho. I recommend Brooklyn-based DS&Durga for perfumes with incredibly creative (and specific!) scent memories, smelling the New York City candle at Diptyque, stopping by New York or Nowhere (NYON) for aesthetic NYC merch (their tote is a great alternative to the New Yorker tote), shopping and relaxing in Saturdays NYC cafe/store/backyard, and heading to Bloomingdale’s Soho because, well, it’s Bloomy’s (and there’s a restroom on the top floor!). And if you want to visit any luxury stores, I highly recommend Prada Soho because of it’s architectural store design (there’s a skate ramp inside).
Take a break with some creative softserve at Softside.
Head over to the West Village for an afternoon aperitif at Dante West Village’s martini happy hour everyday 3-5pm ($10 martinis — get the Dirty one, it comes with a ceremony tableside and tastes amazing).
Stop by Magnolia Bakery’s original location (Sex and the City, anyone?) for banana pudding.
End your night at Prince Street Pizza with the best slice of pepperoni in Manhattan (I said what I said).
Day 3: Bagels, Books & Lower East Side
Grab coffee at Leon’s Bagels and get in line for the viral Pop Up Bagels next door (if the line is too long, Leon’s also makes a great bagel sandwich).
Enjoy your bagels in Washington Square Park with a side of the most quirky people watching in the whole city. Think sidwalk poets, bird ladies, street musicians, painters, skate boarders, a piano man.
Head to the Strand, NYC’s most iconic book store and the last remaining one on historic “book row”.
Make your way to the Lower East Side, stopping by Economy Candy for vintage nostalgia, and Supermoon Bakehouse for delicious filled croissants.
Go vintage & indie shopping on the Lower East Side. My personal favorites include Laams, Sweet Pickle Books, Susan Alexandra for high-end beaded NYC bags, and Coming Soon for unique design & homeware pieces.
Round your evening out at Casetta wine bar, one of my favorite natural wine bars in the city for its cute french bistro design, chill vibes, and delicious small plates (everything comes with baguette, which is fabulous).
Day 4: Brooklyn & Dinner with a View
Start with a croissant from La Bicyclette Bakery in Williamsburg
Shop around Williamsburg. I recommend Mociun and Mogutable for homeware, Seven Wonders Collective for thrifting, and McNally Jackson for books.
Stop for coffee at one of my all-time fave coffee shops, Devoción (they roast on site and their space has an amazing skylight).
Relax in Domino Sugar Park.
Grab a second coffee and beans at Partners Coffee.
Get a welded bracelet (and optional nyc charms) at Catbird.
Head to the North Williamsburg ferry stop to take the ferry to Dumbo — and snap a picture because the skyline view is insane here.
Once in Dumbo, head to Empire Stores for another insane view of lower Manhattan on West Elm’s rooftop.
Grab a pie (a pizza pie) from Juliana’s Pizza for a late lunch — but save room because dinner is going to be fabulous.
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge (the entrance is here) to Manhattan financial district.
Dinner at Manhatta - it’s $$$, but the views are amazing on the top floor of this skyscraper, the food is amazing, and the drinks are amazing. Well worth the splurge if you’re looking for fine dining. Highly recommend making a reservation.
Drinks at Overstory - this rooftop literally made my jaw drop with its heated outdoor seats (like, the actual seat is heated) and intimate indoor room above the clouds. Seating is very limited, so try to make a rez in advance.
If you’re staying longer, have already visited a lot of these spots, or plan to try other neighborhoods, then you can find my full Google Maps list for NYC here!
♡ Chantal