NYC Recommendations
Nov 4, 2021

Where to Stay in NYC (that’s not Times Square)

Because nothing pains a born and raised New Yorker like me more than hearing people came to NYC and stayed in Times Square (this is not to shame anyone, there is just SO much more to the city), I’ve rounded up a list of a few nice hotels in neighborhoods I actually recommend. These are all great locations, close to attractions and public transit. I’ve included lists of nearby restaurants and bars I recommend as well (make reservations). If your’re looking for ideas on things to do, check out my 3 Day Itinerary, my museum guide and Christmas guide.

Hotels

Downtown:

These hotels put you near SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, FiDi and the Village. I recommend staying here if you’re young and don’t mind being in the center of the action- restaurants, bars and nightlife.

Nine Orchard– $$$$$, pricey, but if you can afford it, it’s a lovely property atop an old fashioned converted bank. You can dine here if you don’t stay, see details below.

The Marlton Hotel– $$$

The Nolitan– $$

The Roxy– $$

Nearby restaurants & bars:

  • The Swan Room at Nine Orchard- I am begging you to get a drink here! You cannot miss it.
  • Rubirosa– cute and continuously trendy Italian restaurant in the charming yet gritty neighborhood of Nolita. Famous for their tie dye pizza.
  • Arturo’s– a less trendy and possibly more authetic Italian restaurant just below the West Village. Sometimes with live music
  • Dante- voted the best bar in the world. Two locations, one in the West Village and one in SoHo.
  • La Compagnie des vins Supernaturels– a nice wine bar
  • Twelve Chairs– middle eastern food. Gotta go for brunch!

Flatiron/ NoMad/Chelsea:

Just south of midtown these hotels are centrally located in a quite busy area of the city. Lots of restaurants & nightlife nearby, you’re sandwiched in between the Theatre District to the north and the West Village to the south. Also near the Highline, which is a must!

The Standard, $$$

Freehand Hotel, $$$ Very cool design with a fun seasonal rooftop bar & restaurant.

Arlo Hotel, $

The Hotel Chelsea, $$$

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, $$$$, it’s absolutely STUNNING. If you don’t stay here you must at least come to the bar, see below.

Nearby restaurants & bars:

  • Planta– vegan, but everyone will enjoy because it’s so good!
  • Osamil– Korean, be sure to check out their speakeasy, Osamil Upstairs for some amazing craft cocktails and a cozy library vibe
  • La Pecora Bianca or Lupetto– Italian restaurants from the same owner, just a block away from each other
  • The Bazaar by Jose Andres– a bit pricier, but very good with a stunning interior
  • Sullivan Street Bakery– nice place to grab an egg sandwich in the morning or pizza later in the day
  • Portrait Bar– an absolute must for elevated drinks. Located inside the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
  • The Lobby Bar– another must for drinks in another beautiful hotel lobby

Upper West Side:

I’ve lived on the Upper West Side my entire life, so I’m a bit bias, but I think this is where I’d want to stay if I was visiting NYC, especially with kids. You’re super close walking distance to both Central Park and Riverside Park (where many famous scenes from You’ve Got Mail were filmed), you have access to many playgrounds, the Museum of Natural History, the Children’s Museum and easy access to the rest of the city via the subway. The Upper West Side is a bit more lowkey and quaint than the other areas on this list. If walking Is your thing, you’re a scenic 25 minute walk across the park to the Met and other museums on Museum Mile, and also 25 minutes away from the Theatre District.

Hotel Belleclaire, $$$- have to check out the bakery underneath!

The Lucerne, $

The Wallace, $$- a really nice stay for the price

Nearby restaurants & bars:

  • The Wallace Lounge– inside the hotel lobby, catch a jazz show and sip a caviar martini or two. A true hidden gem in the neighborhood
  • Alice’s Tea Cup– great for kids or anyone who enjoys a tea party!
  • Shalel– a really cool underground restaurant- literally! It’s built into the natural rock that lies beneath Manhattan’s surface. Lit by candles and serving delicious Mediterranean food.
  • La Sirène– we think this is the best French restaurant in the city. I always get the goat cheese tart.
  • Bagels! My personal favorite, and #1 ranked is Absolute Bagels. It’s also on the Upper West Side, but about a 20 min walk from all these hotels and cash only, also be prepared for a long line on the weekend. Promise it’s worth it though! Here’s a full list of the best bagels on the UWS with other options.
  • Daily Provisions– love their breakfast sandwiches, heads up they get crowded on the weekends.

Upper East Side

Similar to the Upper West Side in its proximity to Central Park, a tad bit quieter. A great place to stay if you’re looking to feel a little fancy and don’t mind walking. A seldom recommended to adults but very sweet activity nearby is the Central Park Zoo.

The Lowell, $$$$ a very nice high end hotel steps from the luxury stores of Madison Avenue.

Nearby restaurants & bars:

  • The Bar Room– an American restaurant with chic decor
  • Ralph’s Coffee– not my favorite but a very trendy spot inside the Ralph Lauren store
  • Pil Pil– a Spanish tapas restaurant & wine bar, very romantic! On the non-fancy side of the Upper East Side, tons of other restaurants nearby.
  • Via Quadronno– a lifetime personal favorite of mine, very sentimental! It’s a cute little Italian restaurant with nice sidewalk seating for the warmer days
  • Cafe Sabarsky– located inside the Neue Gallerie- a museum across from the Met you should go to! Come in, sip hot cocoa and eat Viennese pastries. This place is a lesser known gem that will transport you to Europe.

Brooklyn

A note: If you’re looking for an iconic skyline view, you’re not going to get that in Manhattan. I recommend Brooklyn.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, $$$$

The William Vale, $$$

Nearby restaurants & bars:


NYC Recommendations
Nov 4, 2021

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