New York, New York what a magical place. Between the hustle and bustle and people everywhere there is always something to do in this fun city. Since it is so densely populated it may take you a while to get to your destination, especially when it feels like -25 like it was for me last weekend. Even with all of the people and walking, I don’t think that city could ever get old. I love how in and around the city there is always so much going on. I think Houston has a lot of good restaurants, but wow does New York. One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is try new restaurants and bars, and I don’t think you could ever go to the same place twice in New York because there are so many options. When I went this past weekend for fashion week again I stayed for 3 nights and 4 days. I feel like that is the perfect amount of time to experience the city or go for a quick long weekend. This was my 3rd time to go to New York and I got to explore and try some of the places I have been meaning to try. Take a look below for some of my favorite restaurants/bars and activities I did. Then check out my other travel guides featuring Philadelphia, Napa/Sonoma and Houston.

To Eat/Drink

• Sarabeth’s – This is such a cute little brunch place. I had been wanting to try this place out for a while because of the huge menu selection and the great reviews I heard. Brunch is probably my favorite meal, and I love spending hours enjoying a great coffee and a nice breakfast. They had great bloody mary’s and amazing dishes with eggs too. We went to the Central Park location which was way too cute!
• Bergdorf Cafe – An iconic place to visit while in New York. Bergdorf’s is the most unique department store and the architecture in this building is so beautiful. At the top is the cafe where you can come for tea or a glass of wine and some cheese like I did. A great picture perfect setting too.
• Employees Only – I had to go to a speakeasy while in town. Such a great place with great people watching. It is pretty small in here and we waited outside until it opened. Then we just set up at the bar and ordered an amazing cocktail. I must say that the Amelia was pretty spectacular.
• The Standard Hotel – This hotel is decked out in great decor with even better bars. We had a drink upstairs and then went to the Boom Boom Room which had spectacular views of the city. They also have a beer garden and rooftop bar as well that would be a perfect setting during the summer.
• Mercer Kitchen – A great place to go with your girlfriends for a fun drink. This restaurant is a happening place and reservations are good to have. I had a pizza which was very yummy! The exposed brick and atmosphere is a great place for a group dinner.
• The Spotted Pig – If you are in the West Village this is a little gastro pub with some great munchies. They do not take reservations so you might have to wait a while. Their bar area is a great scene and you never know who you will run into here. They are known for their hamburgers and there is pig decor everywhere in the restaurant.
• Jack’s Wife Freda – This is a cute little place that is great for brunch or a quick bite to eat. It is very cozy inside and their drinks and salads are fabulous. It is a little neighborhood place that is great after a long day of shopping. When I went here Jonah Hill was sitting behind me, so that just tells you it is a cool place!

To Do

• Walk down 5th Avenue – This is very touristy, but you have to do this at least once when you are in New York. It is neat to see all of the high end stores that have been around for so many years and the architecture is amazing. Yes, I took a photo by Tiffany’s too!
• Have Tea at the Plaza – I had always wanted to do this after reading about Eloise. This hotel and the area where tea is served is unlike any other place I have been to. The marble columns, chandeliers and ceilings were amazing. The dessert here is just as good as the tea and is such a great New York experience.
• Central Park – Another must do while visiting New York. This park is so huge that even going to a little bit of it seems like you have been walking forever. It is so pretty with all of the buildings behind you and you feel like you are in a completely different area for a bit. When I was there there was ice skating and a lot of the ponds were frozen. I can only imagine how pretty it looks on an autumn or spring day.
• Grab Macarons at Laduree – I had to do this while I was here in New York. I have never been to Paris, so this was the closest thing. It is so pretty inside and if you have time I would recommend eating in their cafe as well. Such great food and an afternoon worth spending at.
• See a Broadway Show – The most amazing shows start right here on Broadway. I have seen 2 shows now here in New York and have been completely amazed. There are so many out there and each one will leave you cheering in awe and even jamming sometimes in your seat. There are still so many I would like to see. Next time I will for sure be seeing another one.
• Walk around SoHo/West Village – Both of these areas are so cute and have great little shops and cafes. I found a very cool vintage shop as well as a bakery that I loved. The buildings alone are great to look at and it is much more quiet in this area. This was by far my favorite thing to do.

If you have any questions or want more recommendations about anything I did in New York, feel free to email me. Hope everyone has a great weekend 🙂