*Queue Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z & Alicia Keys*

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I thought I’d share my NYC travel guide with you all. If you keep up with me, you’d know by now that I fucking love a good NYC weekend trip. It’s my favorite city in the world and I always have a beyond amazing time every time I visit. Each trip is completely different from the last, and I head back home already wanting to go back.

Below I listed some of my favorite restaurants, bars, and must-do’s the next time you find yourself in the Big Apple.

Touristy Things

I typically don’t do all of these things when I’m in town because I’ve already done them so many times. But, there’s something about walking through Times Square that gets me every time.

1. Chelsea Market
2. The High Line
3. Gansevoort Market
4. Central Park
5. Times Square
6. Walk down Fifth Avenue
7. 9/11 Memorial
8. Washington Square Park
9. Guggenheim Museum
10. The MET
11. The MoMA
12. SoHo Shopping
13. Walk Brooklyn Bridge
14. Ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty (confession: throughout all these trips I’ve never once been to the Statue of Liberty… don’t tell anyone)
15. Hudson Yards/ The Vessel
16. Rockefeller Center (ice skating!)
17. Grand Central Station
18. Empire State Building
19. Flatiron Building
20. Chinatown

Brunch

Obviously including this here- you guys know I’m a big brunch girl.

1. Hotel Chantelle
2. Catch
3. Magic Hour Rooftop
4. Sarabeth’s
5. Essex

Always open to new recommendations!

Restaurants

1. Beauty & Essex (might be my favorite restaurant)
2. Vandal
3. Tao
4. Jack’s Wife Freda
5. Rubirosa
6. Covina
7. Catch- get the “HIT ME” dessert, trust me.
8. Momofuku
9. Dante NYC
10. Jane
11. Lil’ Frankie’s
12. 5 Napkin Burger
13. Black Tap
14. Bar Pitti

Bars

1. Brass Monkey (oh, the memories)
2. Public Rooftop
3. Mr. Purple (my literal favorite place in the world- Ok I’m dramatic)
4. Le Bain
5. Refinery Rooftop
6. Magic Hour
7. Make Believe
8. Bounce Sporting Cub
9. 13th Step Bar & Grill (chill)
10. Tanner and Smith
11. PHD
12. Monarch Rooftop
13. The Back Room (speakeasy)
14. Common Ground
15. City Vineyards
16. Gitano Room
17. Jimmy at The James

Random Things That Don’t Fit Into My Categories

1. CHIP NYC
2. Levain Bakery
3. Magnolia Bakery
4. Smorgasburg food market (seasonal)
5. KITH Treats
6. Watch a show on Broadway
7. Visit Times Square at night
8. Museum of Sex
9. Rosé Mansion
10. ARTECHOUSE
11. Eataly NYC

That’s my list of things to do, restaurants to eat in, and favorite bars to pour one up for the good times. I ~obviously don’t know everything about the city considering I don’t live there, but these are places I’ve stumbled upon throughout my many trips there.

Take the subway as much as you can to save money (Uber rides rack up very quickly) and hop in at least one yellow cab. I like flying into La Guardia (it’s closer), but see what airline deals you find. Pack warm clothes if you’re visiting in the winter (and make sure to not leave your gloves/beanie inside a cab!), and pack very light clothes if you’re visiting in the Summer. NYC summers get just as hot as Miami summers, except you walk everywhere and basically overheat in the subway stations. Lastly: comfortable shoes are key– trust me.

New York is always a good time and the memories you make on a trip to the city will stay with you forever. I heavily identify as an I love NY t-shirt.

Much love from your favorite city girl,

Nicki G.

Here are some pictures of me, my best friends, and random people we befriended during our Sunday Funday. New York is a special place, man.