New York City is a top holiday destination for thousands of tourists. This fascinating metropolis is a great place for entertainment, shopping, tasting foods and drinks from all over the world. This article will help you realize how to navigate the streets while shopping and visiting the main attractions in a few days.
1. Dinner in One of the Best Cheap Restaurants in New York
There is delicious variety of dining options in New York. This city has something for everyone – spicy Mexican food, authentic Italian pizza, Japanese cuisine, Indian specialties, etc. Visiting ethnic restaurants is the coolest experience in a Big Apple city. If you are wondering where to eat in Manhattan here is a review of few restaurants that serve a variety of dishes and nice selection of wines or beers.
Max Brenner’s chocolate bar is one of the iconic places for chocolate obsessed people. The bar is located on Union Square. It is a part of a world-famous chain of cafés. The restaurant is specialized in serving hot chocolate, milkshakes, chocolate pizza and other sweets. The interior and chocolate scented environment really set the mood. This home of the chocolate culture in the heart of Manhattan is a must-see. The most intriguing décor elements of the location are chocolate-making machines and pipes with a delicious substance running all across the bar. This place really looks like a chocolate factory.
The cups and mugs in Max Brenner’s chocolate bar also feature sexy design. Espresso and cappuccino are served in a ceramic Kangaroo cup with 2 chocolate bars, which melt from the steam of the coffee. During the drinking ceremony the melting chocolate is flowing into the coffee. There are specially shaped mugs for hot chocolate and milkshakes.
For the most adventurous visitors, Max Brenner coffee offers chocolate Chunks pizza as well as chocolate-filled syringes. You can also taste Brenner burgers, waffles, crepes, melting chocolate heart cakes and many more.
When leaving this New York attraction, you can buy special gifts for your friends from the retail shop. There you can find handmade Max Brenner chocolate varieties, chocolate scented pencils and other collectibles.
Sake bar Hagi is a great place to snack in Manhattan. It is a pretty cool restaurant with lots of drinks. It is located on Broadway, in the center of the theater district. The Japanese restaurant is on 152 49th Street. They offer authentic Japanese dishes at reasonable prices. It serves a selection of Japanese draft beers that complement the delicious food. Here are some prices from dinner menu: Miso soup – $1.50; Vegie Spring Roll – $6; Sapporo draft beer – $ 4; Pork Don – $9. They provide a tip guide that helps the foreigners to leave extra money for the service. Tip varies between 15 and 20 %. For example if the total sum is $43, the tip would be $6.45-$8.6.
Sake bar Hagi Ramen Takumi Japanese restaurant is another place where you can taste exotic Asian food at cheap prices. It is located on 1 University Pl. just in front of the New York University campus. This place is for those whose preferences tend towards seafood or meat specialties. Prices are more than reasonable: a sushi set with soft cheese Philadelphia is $6. A Curry&Gyoza dish costs $14.95.
Pret A- Manger quick service eatery is a food chain that offers handmade dishes based on natural ingredients. You can get a Chicken Ceaser salad, Chicken and Avocado salad, or Tuna salad for a very reasonable price. The healthy menu can be grabbed to go or eaten there. You can find a Pret –a-manger restaurant on almost 40 locations in New York City.
The Rosa Mexicano restaurant is very charming place to taste authentic Mexican food in New York. It is on 61 Columbus Avenue between 62th and 63th St. Start with Guacamole freshly prepared table-side in a traditional lava-rock mortar and make a choice between medium and very spicy taste. The price for two persons is $21. Starters cost between 3 and $12, while ceviche varies between $11 – $17. Enchiladas, taco and tortillas are served up too.
There is a choice of 7 types of the famous cocktail Margarita available at prices between $12-$18.. This drink tastes so wonderful at the end of an exciting day in New York. The Rosa Mexicano restaurant is famous not only with the excellent food but also with the interior featuring cascading water walls. This restaurant has become a must stop location for tourists addicted to Mexican food.
El Cantinero is a nice place to test Mexican food featuring typical spices and flavors. Their lunch and To-go-menu is really affordable. Prices or appetizers such as nachos, guacamole and quesadillas vary from $7 to $9. Soups are priced between $4 and $10 depending on products.
If you order a main course for lunch, you will get a drink for free – for example a glass of sangria, soda, coffee or tea. The lunch menu includes combination of 2 delicious dishes at a price of $12. You can mix burrito and enchilada, taco& enchilada, taco&burrito. Fajitas are considered a house`s specialties. If you fancy a combination of marinated pieces of meat, chicken or shrimps with vegetables, tortillas, yellow rise, guacamole, and sour cream, then opt for this plate.
Dinner menu is richer but as expected more expensive than lunch offers. Some of the plates are almost 40 percent more costly, others – 30 percent. For example, El Cantinero salad costs $9 at lunch but $12 at dinner. Monday nights there is a special offer – to pay $12 per person and eat all you can in a special dinner room.
The second floor of El Cantinero Mexican restaurant is available for special occasions and private parties. This Mexican restaurant is located at 86 University place.
Laduree New York pastry shop is an iconic bakery on 864 Madison Avenue, close to The Central Park. For the sweets lovers this is a real heaven. It is a magnet for tourists who prefer French delights. The price of one piece of the fabulous macaroons is $2.80.
The name says it all: Baked by Mellisa is a bakery for small art cupcakes with more than 10 locations in New York City. It is famous with beautifully designed multi-colored mini pies. If you want something extraordinary this baker can create an art cupcake arrangement or celebration box.3-Pack costs $3, 25-Pack – $20.
2. Empire State Building Observatory Tour
The Empire State Building is an iconic place in the heart of Manhattan. It was built in 1931. At the moment of being built it was the highest skyscraper in the world. Nowadays the lights of the building can be seen even in Connecticut.
The Empire State Building offers magnificent panoramic 360-degree view from the 86th and 102th floors. The 86 floor is 320 m high. Visitors can explore the buildings, streets and rivers up to 80 miles. Tourists are amazed with the majestic views of Manhattan and its neighborhood. In the north you can see the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge. Looking south you will notice Chrysler Building. The west view reveals Madison Square Garden. If you have a look on East you will be amazed by the view of the Financial district and Statue of Liberty.
A bigger observatory is located on 102th floor of Empire State Building. It is 381 m high. The best views of the Big Apple can be experienced from the top of the skyscraper. The building offers day and night tours. You will be able to admire the city that never sleeps till the 2 a.m. The ticket to the top deck of this must-see attraction costs $46. To get to the 86th floor you have to pay $27.
3. See Broadway Musical
When it comes to Broadways musicals few are as iconic as Chicago. This show is considered the biggest blockbuster and the long-running musical performance. This musical continues to reinvent itself. The wildly popular and breathtakingly fun show at Ambassador Theater is a blend of comedy, drama and vaudeville. It is a ticket to awesome evening of entertainment. This tony awarded musical still attracts the audience.
The Broadway ticket center is on Times Square. Tickets can be also purchased online.
People who often visit the city of the Big Apple are aware that soul music is the beat of New York. Going to a soul bar with live music is a must-see when you are in New York. There is an iconic place for live shows of soul and blues music in the heart of the city – Times Square. Since I stayed at Hotel Edison which was just 3 blocks from the bar, I bought tickets for me and my companions.
B.B. King Blues Club and Lucille’s Bar & Grill host great music events and one of their best is “Decade of soul”. This is an exciting musical journey back to `60s when Motown record company was founded and launched its characteristic sound. The venue is great for dancing and listening to classic soul hits. The passionate singers – Prentiss McNeil of The Drifters and Bruce “Big Daddy” Wayne were brilliant. And no one stayed in their seats when they sang. The atmosphere was unique. The audience was very enthusiastic and very pleased. The place was family friendly but most of the people were adults.
We came 5 minutes before the live performance started but we were sited on one of the best tables – just in front of the stage. We were so close to the artists! In fact, almost one third of the tables in Lucille’s Bar & Grill were available this day. A slight downside was the fact that we had to share the table with other people. Seats were dirty and filthy. During the show two of us had to clean their clothes from grease stains.
To enjoy the show you have to pay a $20 ticket. You have to spend minimum $10 per person on food and beverages. I would recommend to get a drink and cheese and fruit plate instead one of the bar`s specialties. I personally tried the traditional mac and cheese, as well salad with shrimps. I did not like the food at all, but wine as well as draft beer brewed for B.B King Club was OK.
4. New York Museums and Art Events
Some travelers want to experience something different from great shopping and fantastic restaurants. They definitely want to discover trendiest galleries and expos. They are located in SoHo, Chelsea, at Madison Avenue surroundings, and east Village – between Broadway Street and University Place.
Affordable art fair is a striking New York exhibition at the Chelsea`s Metropolitan Pavilion. Their young talents showcased their new paintings, sculptures, furniture and photographs. It is an art event for people looking to buy great pieces of art at affordable prices up to $15000. Almost 80 international and US-based galleries were presented at the 2014 Affordable art fair edition. This year the event celebrates its 15 anniversary.
After visiting the art expo you can take a walk in the Greenwich Village. There you will see a different part of the city considered a center of creativity. It is located in the area between 7 avenue and Hudson River. Greenwich Village is a home of New York University and is preferred by bohemians and artists. Here you can find affordable restaurants. The architectural style features charming brownstones.
5. High-line Project
Chelsea is a center of New York artistic lifestyle. It is famous with a High-line project –a railroad is transformed in a park. This is the perfect place to stroll around and for an adrenaline rush between buildings. In the summer this must-see attraction in New York is perfect for taking a walk along the promenade with an amazing view of the traffic and spectacular buildings.
