Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
The two gents that run the place, Joe and Guy, are friends of mine. They make some of the highest quality coffee in the entirety of NYC and I know in time they will be discovered by some big shot magazine and they will make it big time. Ask them to help you out and they will pull from a shelf of small batch, craft bags of beans from all over the world to make your drink specifically to your tastes. If you plan on ever getting a cup of coffee in the city, this is where you need to go. An easy ten minute walk from the apartment and 1 block from the 116th subway stop. Ps. they have some awesome donuts and chocolate.
Shuteye Coffee
137 W 116th StThe two gents that run the place, Joe and Guy, are friends of mine. They make some of the highest quality coffee in the entirety of NYC and I know in time they will be discovered by some big shot magazine and they will make it big time. Ask them to help you out and they will pull from a shelf of small batch, craft bags of beans from all over the world to make your drink specifically to your tastes. If you plan on ever getting a cup of coffee in the city, this is where you need to go. An easy ten minute walk from the apartment and 1 block from the 116th subway stop. Ps. they have some awesome donuts and chocolate.
Some of the best pizza in NYC is right down the block. Matteo and Elena are the owners, are there in person every day, and make state of the art, flavorful, authentic Neapolitan Pizza. They source the best flour and tomatoes from Italy, use only the freshest cheeses, and everything is cooked in a 2 tons, 1000F wood fired oven, built and shipped from Naples. The vibe is honest and very homelike. Take a quick minute walk over and try it yourself.
63 locals recommend
Sottocasa Pizzeria
227 Malcolm X BlvdSome of the best pizza in NYC is right down the block. Matteo and Elena are the owners, are there in person every day, and make state of the art, flavorful, authentic Neapolitan Pizza. They source the best flour and tomatoes from Italy, use only the freshest cheeses, and everything is cooked in a 2 tons, 1000F wood fired oven, built and shipped from Naples. The vibe is honest and very homelike. Take a quick minute walk over and try it yourself.
If you want a hookup for an exclusive experience, this is my first suggestion, mainly because I can guarantee that you will be personally taken care of ;). Come by, have a few cocktails or have some lunch (the lobster roll and the chicken and waffle sandwich are amazing).
Also best brunch in Harlem! Bottomless mimosas and often a fun dance party with live music on the weekends.
69 locals recommend
Row House
2128 Frederick Douglass BlvdIf you want a hookup for an exclusive experience, this is my first suggestion, mainly because I can guarantee that you will be personally taken care of ;). Come by, have a few cocktails or have some lunch (the lobster roll and the chicken and waffle sandwich are amazing).
Also best brunch in Harlem! Bottomless mimosas and often a fun dance party with live music on the weekends.
For you sushi lovers out there, this is the place to satisfy your cravings. Some places have pretty boring, typical rolls that you could easily get at a Whole Foods. However, Watawa offers some pretty crazy, over-the-top, OMG rolls. I recommend trying a few things a la carte (The obsession roll with deep fried soft shell crab is to die for!) Its super affordable and only a 20 minute ride out to Astoria on the subway from Times Square.
75 locals recommend
Watawa Sushi
33-10 Ditmars BlvdFor you sushi lovers out there, this is the place to satisfy your cravings. Some places have pretty boring, typical rolls that you could easily get at a Whole Foods. However, Watawa offers some pretty crazy, over-the-top, OMG rolls. I recommend trying a few things a la carte (The obsession roll with deep fried soft shell crab is to die for!) Its super affordable and only a 20 minute ride out to Astoria on the subway from Times Square.
Everything here is super hip, tasty, and the portions are HUGE. Often described as a happy chaos filled "Chinese Thanksgiving", everything is served family style. The food here is mouth watering, puckering with Szechuan spice and peppercorn and has some great options for anyone with dietary restrictions (Vegetarian, Vegan, etc). Drinks are fly too but I suggest trying one of their signature tea blends. Get the Steak Tartare Lettuce cups, Matcha Green Tea Noodles, any or ALL of the veggie sides, and the Thrice cooked bacon rice cakes. This place is awesome.
179 locals recommend
Mission
171 E BroadwayEverything here is super hip, tasty, and the portions are HUGE. Often described as a happy chaos filled "Chinese Thanksgiving", everything is served family style. The food here is mouth watering, puckering with Szechuan spice and peppercorn and has some great options for anyone with dietary restrictions (Vegetarian, Vegan, etc). Drinks are fly too but I suggest trying one of their signature tea blends. Get the Steak Tartare Lettuce cups, Matcha Green Tea Noodles, any or ALL of the veggie sides, and the Thrice cooked bacon rice cakes. This place is awesome.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is the notorious nightclub underneath celebrity chef Marcus Samuelson's famous Harlem restaurant Red Rooster. If you want to go dancing, have some cheap drinks, and listen to some DJs, this is a good bet for having a good time with a decent sized crowd.
117 locals recommend
Ginny's Supper Club
310 Malcolm X BlvdThis is the notorious nightclub underneath celebrity chef Marcus Samuelson's famous Harlem restaurant Red Rooster. If you want to go dancing, have some cheap drinks, and listen to some DJs, this is a good bet for having a good time with a decent sized crowd.
This is my place. Dimly lit cocktail bar of the highest pedigree. The best secret only people uptown know. Text me if you're coming and I'll make certain you have an awesome time. Theres even a good chance I'll be making your drinks for you. Come in, sit down, tell me what you like to drink, what your vibe is for the evening, what you hate, and I will make the perfect drink for you. Your friends will be jealous, I promise you. Grab an uber and come and see me.
30 locals recommend
Lion Lion
332 E 116th StThis is my place. Dimly lit cocktail bar of the highest pedigree. The best secret only people uptown know. Text me if you're coming and I'll make certain you have an awesome time. Theres even a good chance I'll be making your drinks for you. Come in, sit down, tell me what you like to drink, what your vibe is for the evening, what you hate, and I will make the perfect drink for you. Your friends will be jealous, I promise you. Grab an uber and come and see me.
If you ever go downtown and want to keep the party going until 4am, this is the place to go. Rated as one of the best bars in the world, Employees Only will give you an unforgettable night. Sexy cocktails and gourmet food served very late. If you stick around until 3:30am at the bar you are in for a very special treat...
Regardless, go and have a blast. Text me your are going and I'll get you on a list. These are some of my best friends. ;)
256 locals recommend
Employees Only
510 Hudson StIf you ever go downtown and want to keep the party going until 4am, this is the place to go. Rated as one of the best bars in the world, Employees Only will give you an unforgettable night. Sexy cocktails and gourmet food served very late. If you stick around until 3:30am at the bar you are in for a very special treat...
Regardless, go and have a blast. Text me your are going and I'll get you on a list. These are some of my best friends. ;)
This is one of my personal favorite cocktail bars to go to in the city. The staff is well trained and so polite and will make you some incredible cocktails. Every drink is inspired by a spice (Some as common as Turmeric or Hibiscus, and others very obscure and interesting like Puxuri and Moringa Leaves.) Try a drink out or two. Nico de Soto, the bar director was telling me of his dreams to have the first Michelin rated cocktail bar. I believe he could do it with Mace.
For a place downtown it is never over-crowded which is a huge plus.
40 locals recommend
Mace
35 West 8th StreetThis is one of my personal favorite cocktail bars to go to in the city. The staff is well trained and so polite and will make you some incredible cocktails. Every drink is inspired by a spice (Some as common as Turmeric or Hibiscus, and others very obscure and interesting like Puxuri and Moringa Leaves.) Try a drink out or two. Nico de Soto, the bar director was telling me of his dreams to have the first Michelin rated cocktail bar. I believe he could do it with Mace.
For a place downtown it is never over-crowded which is a huge plus.
Oysters, absinthe, and cocktails.
It is far out in Brooklyn, but I've had some of my most wonderful evenings out with dear friends here. I can't praise this place high enough.
522 locals recommend
Maison Premiere
298 Bedford AveOysters, absinthe, and cocktails.
It is far out in Brooklyn, but I've had some of my most wonderful evenings out with dear friends here. I can't praise this place high enough.
On your way back uptown from a night of drinking and need something good to eat? Stop here on the way up for one last drink and some late night food until 3am. The bacon mac n cheese and the wings are delicious and you can get really great cocktails and craft beer as well.
The brunch here is super good too, but prepare for it to be PACKED.
200 locals recommend
The Penrose
1590 2nd AveOn your way back uptown from a night of drinking and need something good to eat? Stop here on the way up for one last drink and some late night food until 3am. The bacon mac n cheese and the wings are delicious and you can get really great cocktails and craft beer as well.
The brunch here is super good too, but prepare for it to be PACKED.
Sightseeing
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. Its beautiful and really worth the walk. Honestly much more interesting than most of the touristy areas...
2323 locals recommend
The High Line Park
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. Its beautiful and really worth the walk. Honestly much more interesting than most of the touristy areas...
Arts & Culture
Have an intimate dinner with a cozy, secretive 1920s vibe and live jazz at The Heath.
Afterwards, head upstairs and attend Sleep No More. The tickets are pricey but are WORTH IT. The less you know about it the better...its an experience...
After Sleep No More, head to the rooftop of the hotel and sip classic cocktails on the garden patio of Gallow Green.
This is an entire evenings worth of activities in one place. Even more if you include the High Line for a walk at sunset, and is attached to the hotel! Buy tickets and get a reservation in advance!
80 locals recommend
The McKittrick Hotel
530 W 27th StHave an intimate dinner with a cozy, secretive 1920s vibe and live jazz at The Heath.
Afterwards, head upstairs and attend Sleep No More. The tickets are pricey but are WORTH IT. The less you know about it the better...its an experience...
After Sleep No More, head to the rooftop of the hotel and sip classic cocktails on the garden patio of Gallow Green.
This is an entire evenings worth of activities in one place. Even more if you include the High Line for a walk at sunset, and is attached to the hotel! Buy tickets and get a reservation in advance!
Essentials
It is 3 blocks away and really does have everything you will need....
541 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
100 W 125th StIt is 3 blocks away and really does have everything you will need....
Entertainment & Activities
Its only a few blocks away and you can see a movie in the city while saving some money. Also its a cinema experience seeing certain films in Harlem. $7 tickets before noon!
157 locals recommend
AMC Magic Johnson Harlem 9
2309 Frederick Douglass BlvdIts only a few blocks away and you can see a movie in the city while saving some money. Also its a cinema experience seeing certain films in Harlem. $7 tickets before noon!