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Unmissable big city bustle in one of the world’s greatest urban landscapes
American author E.B. White once quipped about this city of eight million inhabitants: “New York provides not only a continuing excitation but also a spectacle that is continuing.” And while he may have said this nearly a century ago, his words still ring true to this day. The City that Never Sleeps is in constant motion – yes, even at 3am – and while the surface may be always transforming, its heart never really changes. Spend a day seeing the sites in Manhattan and another day wandering the heart of global hipsterism in Brooklyn. There’s no better time to take a bite out of this pulsating metropolis.
Hot right now . . .
David Farley, our resident expert, offers his top tips on the hottest places to eat, drink and stay this season.
Eat
Restaurateur Danny Meyer’s latest hit is Manahatta [sic], located 60 floors above lower Manhattan. The fixed-price three-course Gallic-accented dinner is only rivalled by the view. Try to nab a corner table overlooking the East River where you can get a view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
28 Liberty St.; 00 1 212 230 5788
Credit:
Emily Andrews
Drink
Katana Kitten, which has been attracting the stylish crowd since its recent opening, brings some Tokyo-style cocktail craftsmanship to New York’s West Village thanks to expert mixologist Masahiro Urushido. Try the sisho-infused G&T.
531 Hudson St.; 00 1 212 243 3000
Credit:
ALEX KIKIS/ALEX KIKIS
Stay
The Hoxton’s first hotel opening in the United States. It’s on the site of a former factory in Williamsburg and is crowned with a rooftop bar. Bedrooms carry the brand’s trademark minimalist design and are decorated with local touches.
Double rooms from $159 (£125). 97 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn; 00 1 718 215 7100
48 hours in . . . New York
Day one
MORNING
Hit Central Park (59th St. to 110th St.) for an early-morning stroll through this 843-acre-sized patch of greenery that looks like it was carved out of the urban landscape. The park, designed by genius landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, is a great spot to feel submerged in nature, far from the bustle of the big city.
Try to emerge from the park on the south-east corner. That way you’re only a small stroll from one of the best modern art museums in the United States (if not the world): The Museum of Modern Art (11 W. 53rd St.; 00 1 212 708 9400). The museum, best known as MoMa, has a vast collection of work by late-19th and 20th century artistic visionaries, including Van Gogh, Rousseau, Picasso, Dali, Mondrian, Warhol, Monet, Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Jasper Johns and Warhol. The best way to tackle MoMa is to take the lift to the top floor and work your way down (the most memorable works are on the top two floors).
Credit:
This content is subject to copyright./Allan Tannenbaum
If all that art gawking builds up an appetite, lunch is just a 10-minute walk to one of the New York-iest restaurants in New York history. Welcome to The Grill (99 E. 52nd St; 00 1 212 375 9001), where you can have a three-martini lunch in a mid-century Philip Johnson-designed dining room. The menu is classic New York City with lobster à la Newberg, pheasant Claireborne, and spring chicken à la queen getting top billing. The adjoining space, The Pool, is a great spot for a cocktail.
Credit:
© Artem Vorobiev 2015/Copyright Artem Vorobiev
AFTERNOON
Walk off that Big Apple meal with an amble down the High Line (Gansevoort and Washington Sts.), a long stretch of once-abandoned elevated railroad track on Manhattan’s westside (from 34th St. to the Meatpacking District) that was converted into an aerial park. It has become an instant Big Apple institution, wowing visitors and locals with its cool design that incorporates much of the natural surrounding. Start at the top of the High Line on W. 34th St. and then work your way down. That way you’ll be deposited right into the atmospheric Meatpacking District.
Since the High Line spills out into the Meatpacking District and the West Village, take a breather at Té Company (163 W. 10th St.), where you can sip hard-to-find oolong teas from Taiwan and nibble on snacks made by chef Frederico Ribeiro whose logged time at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants.
Late
When the stomach starts rumbling again, head east: Hanoi House (119 St. Marks Pl.; 00 1 212 995 5010), located in the East Village, is the best Vietnamese spot in the city. First timers should not miss the deeply complex beef-spiked pho.
Have a nightcap at The 18th Room (134 Ninth Ave.; 00 1 646 559 1671), a speakeasy in nearby Chelsea disguised as a take-out coffee place. Once inside, sip classic cocktails in a 1920s ambience and be glad the 18th Amendment, which started Prohibition, is long gone.
Day two
MORNING
Spend part of day two exploring Brooklyn. Get there by strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the most iconic spans in North America. The 271-ft-tall neo-gothic arches are certainly the bridge’s trademark, but ambling along the elevated pedestrian walkway is a must for any visitor.
Once off the bridge, walk through leafy, historic Brooklyn Heights, especially the promenade above the river that offers stunning views of the downtown Manhattan skyline. And then, point yourself toward Hometown Bar-B-Que (454 Van Brunt St; 001 347 294 4644) in Red Hook, where local pit master Billy Durney, who learned the tricks of the trade in Texas, grills the best barbecued meat this side of the Mason-Dixon line. Order the ultra-tender brisket.
Work off your lunch by taking in more art at the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway), the second largest museum in New York City. The 1895 Beaux Arts building include works by Mark Rothko, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe and Edgar Degas.
If you’re prefer to stay outdoors, go right next door to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (990 Washington Ave., Brooklyn), where there thousands of types of flora will take you miles away from the bustle of the Big Apple. Seek out the particularly peaceful Japanese Hill and Pond Garden.
Credit:
This content is subject to copyright./Serena Rossi / EyeEm
AFTERNOON
For some post-sunset fun, head back to Manhattan. Linger for a while in Washington Square Park where bohemians and beatniks, street performers and students from nearby New York University give the place a groovy and fun vibe. On warmer days, children play in the fountain and jazz musicians thump out tunes. If the weather is not agreeable, pop into Blue Note (131 W. 3rd St.; 001 212 475 8592) where, since 1981, jazz and soul greats like Sarah Vaughn and Ray Charles, among many others, have taken the stage.
Then plant yourself at Minetta Tavern (113 MacDougal St.; 00 1 212 475 3850), a classic Big Apple spot that serves one of the best burgers and steaks in town.
Late
Afterwards, wander a few blocks north to the new 8th St. hotspot, Existing Conditions (35 W. 8th St.; 00 1 212 203 8935), an avant-garde cocktail bar from master mixologist Dave Arnold. First timers should opt for a Manhattan, which is pre-mixed, bottled and then cooled with liquid nitrogen that will change your perception of the classic drink forever.
Where to stay . . .
Luxury Living
The lavish Beekman Hotel, located way downtown, boasts spacious high-ceilinged rooms bedecked with vintage furniture and aged oak floors. Temple Court, the in-house restaurant by celeb chef Tom Colicchio, serves old-school New York fare, such as lobster Thermidor, but updated with seasonal ingredients.
Doubles from $458 (£343). 123 Nassau St.; 00 1 212 233 2300
Designer Digs
At The NoMad Hotel, French designer Jacques Garcia gives a bohemian-chic makeover to a turn-of-the-century Beaux Arts building in the Flatiron District. The 168 sumptuous rooms, two swanky bars, a vintage fireplace and a restaurant overseen by superstar chef Daniel Humm make it one of the hottest hotels in town.
Doubles from $395 (£231). 1170 Broadway New York; 00 1 212 796 1500
Budget Beauty
The 612-room Moxy Times Square is a design-friendly property with budget-conscious millennials (or those who don’t mind travelling like one) in mind. The massive rooftop bar affords fabulous views.
Doubles from $139 (£105). 485 Seventh Ave.; 00 1 212 967 6699
What to bring home . . .
Stop by the New York Transit Museum (99 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn; 00 1 718 694 1600) shop to pick up some iconic items of the New York City subway system: T-shirts of your favourite metro line, Grand Central socks, and subway-themed tote bags.
When to go . . .
New York is a year-round destination with four distinct seasons. Winter can be magical, with thick snowfalls followed by cloudless skies, but also unpredictable: one winter might regularly blanket the city in snow and the next year there will be only one giant storm. Summer is the most consistent, as the air turns sticky and humid but the warm weather brings out the fun. Spring and autumn are the optimum times to visit, highlighted by clear blue skies and a crispness to the air. October visitors will be treated to trees turning to golden red for the autumn.
Know before you go . . .
Essential information
British Consulate-General: (00 1 212 745 0200; ukinusa.fco.gov.uk), 845 3rd Avenue, New York
Emergency services: Dial 911
Tourist office: See nycgo.com, the website of NYC and Company, for extensive information on what’s on in the city and tips on where to go. Stop by to pick up maps, leaflets and other information from the Official Visitor Information Centre (00 1 212 484 1222) at at 151 W. 34th St. between Seventh Ave. and Broadway; Open Mon-Sat, 10am-10pm; Sun, 10am-9pm; Times Square between 44th and 45th Sts; daily, 8am-7pm; Southern tip of City Hall Park; Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm.
Local laws and etiquette
It is standard to tip 15-20 per cent in restaurants. Sales tax in NYC is 8.87 per cent; taxes are not included in listed shop or restaurants prices.
The basics
Currency: US dollar
Telephone code: Dial 00 1, then the three-digit number of the borough (eg, 212 for Manhattan, 718 for Brooklyn/the Bronx) for New York numbers from abroad
Time difference: New York is five hours behind London
Flight time: London to New York is approximately seven hours
Author bio
David Farley has called New York’s West Village home for the last 15 years, where he makes a habit of helping lost, google map-wielding tourists to navigate the neighbourhood’s tangle of confusing streets, trying to steer them away from tourist trap restaurants and bars.
Experience New York with The Telegraph
Telegraph Travel’s best hotels, tours, cruises and holidays in New York, tried, tested and recommended by our New York experts.
