NYC|| Up and coming adventures in the Big Apple
So its finally here... the moment we have all been waiting for (well mainly me). It honestly feels like I have had to wait the entire year for this trip (I booked in back in March) but it is finally here. So on the evening of the 28th November, myself and my better half will be jetting off on our Virgin Atlantic flight to the big beautiful apple! I'll admit now I am a bit apprehensive that we chose to visit right before the president elections. I am hoping all the Trump protests have died down a bit for when we arrive, as we actually do want to visit the famous Towers, hopefully it wont put too much of a downer on our trip.
Anyways enough about Trump! I am here to give you a quick little guide on where we have chosen to stay, and a few of the things scheduled on our list of where we want to go whilst there.
Location: Location is something that is very important to us, we both want to be centre of the action so have decided to opt for staying near Times Square. I have had mixed reviews on this location, but we thought as this was going to be a special trip we wanted to experience true NYC buzz!
'Hotel New York Marriott Marquis' is the 4 star hotel we have opted for, it is certainly no secret that The Marriott chain is my new favourite, and if our hotel in Vienna was anything to go by we know this one in NYC is going to be just as amazing! It is also located on Broadway which to me makes it all that more special!! I am so excited already.
The unique design of the hotel is something which immediately caught our eye, and then we read what the hotel had to offer and as soon as I knew it my fingers had already clicked on the book now button! Then there is the sensational view of the busy city outside.
This hotel as you can see above is huge! There is a whopping 1957 hotel rooms, so meeting other travellers certainly wont be a problem I think you can agree? Another thing that attracted us to this hotel is the fact that everything is right on your doorstep including SHOPPING! The hotel is just minutes from the Fifth Avenue shops (something really high up on my list!). It also has a fantastic rooftop restaurant and lounge, with views which overlook the city another amazing feature of the hotel. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, you have a few other foodie options like American cusinie at 'Crossroads American Kitchen and Bar' or 'Broadway Lounge' which serve some of the best cocktails and refreshments in the city (located on the 8th floor).
If you are a fitness fanatic, they also have you covered, with a 4,000 ft fitness centre which also overlooks Time Square!
Then we have the rooms themselves...
All rooms are luxuriously decorated and feature all the latest gadgets you will need to make your stay enjoyable and most importantly comfortable, including spacious seating areas, an LCD TV, king sized beds and gorgeous marble bathrooms. If you are lucky enough some rooms also offer panoramic views of the city skyline!
All of this obviously comes at a bit of a price though, room rates start from around £280 per night for the very basic room and can obviously go well into their thousands for the suites and penthouse rooms.
Anyways enough about Trump! I am here to give you a quick little guide on where we have chosen to stay, and a few of the things scheduled on our list of where we want to go whilst there.
Hotel....
Okay so to me this is one of the important parts of our planning. You must all know by now just how much I love a good 5 star hotel stay. We really researched our hotels in New York for this trip and came to the conclusion that this time we didn't care for the 5 star life as there was SO much else we wanted to spend our hard on dollar on! So we have opted for a very good 4 star instead, it was a hard choice as there were just SO many amazing hotels in the area. Location: Location is something that is very important to us, we both want to be centre of the action so have decided to opt for staying near Times Square. I have had mixed reviews on this location, but we thought as this was going to be a special trip we wanted to experience true NYC buzz!
'Hotel New York Marriott Marquis' is the 4 star hotel we have opted for, it is certainly no secret that The Marriott chain is my new favourite, and if our hotel in Vienna was anything to go by we know this one in NYC is going to be just as amazing! It is also located on Broadway which to me makes it all that more special!! I am so excited already.
The unique design of the hotel is something which immediately caught our eye, and then we read what the hotel had to offer and as soon as I knew it my fingers had already clicked on the book now button! Then there is the sensational view of the busy city outside.
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| Photo Credit: ibnhotels |
If you are a fitness fanatic, they also have you covered, with a 4,000 ft fitness centre which also overlooks Time Square!
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| Photo Credit: Marriott Website |
All rooms are luxuriously decorated and feature all the latest gadgets you will need to make your stay enjoyable and most importantly comfortable, including spacious seating areas, an LCD TV, king sized beds and gorgeous marble bathrooms. If you are lucky enough some rooms also offer panoramic views of the city skyline!
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| Photo Credit: Marriott website |
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| Photo Credit: booked.net |
The Sights
You may remember my post from a few months back I wrote a guide to the cities sights in June (part 1, found here) and also back in September (part 2, found here). I basically had already listed on those posts the main landmarks and sights I wanted to see during my visit. I also included some information on how to reach the places via the subway. Please give them both a read if you haven't done so already.
The Restaurants....
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| Photo Credit: Harper's Bazar |
1. 'Statue of Liberty Crown Cafe'
Nearest landmark: The Statue of Liberty
Price: ££
This cafe/restaurant is a massive hit with the tourists who visit The Statue of Liberty, it is located adjacent to the statue on the Island of Liberty. If you are looking for fine dining or are wanting a long sit down meal, this place probably isn't for you. Most people who eat here are tourists looking to get a quick bite to eat, so bear that in mind it will always be over crowded!
Expect to find on their menu hot food like Burger's and Chips (average price for a burger is 12$), a selection of Pizza (around 7.95$), sandwiches, panini's and rolls (prices less than 10$'s).
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| Photo Credit: Yelp |
2. 'Oceana Restaurant'
Nearest Landmark: Times Square
Price: ££££
This restaurant is one of the more high end seafood restaurants in the area, so perfect for a family lunch or a nice evening meal for the couples. You only have to read the menu to see it is quite fancy, and they also offer private dining so again that is another big giveaway it is going to be nice. One thing to note however, is although the restaurant is in a popular part of the city it only stays open till 10pm most evenings, making this restaurant one of the the perfect pre theatre places to dine at! (They do also have their very own special Theatre menu). For more details and to reserve a table please see their website.
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| Photo Credit: Trip Advisor |
3. 'STATE Grill and Bar'
Nearest Landmark: Empire State Building
Price:£££/£
This is a great little restaurant to come to if you are planning a visit to The Empire State Building, because it is actually located in the Building itself (ground floor), so you wont even have to venture too far from it! Talk about lunch with a view... As I am sure you can imagine the restaurant is very popular, it is a sit down restaurant so it is expected that you do book yourself a table if you are visiting. The restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and offers your usual suspects normally found in an American restaurant. Here is a little pick of my favourites from their Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu's.
Breakfast: Baked Brooklyn Bagel with cream cheese $6 and smoked bacon on the side $6 and 1 daily state smoothie also $6. Total $18.
Lunch: Turkey Club Sandwich (with smoked bacon, tomato, avocado, cheddar cheese, mustard aioli with fries) $18 and a strawberry mint and lemon refresher $6.
Total $24.
Dinner: State Burger (with cabot cheddar cheese, pickles and fries) $19 with a glass of prosseco $13.
Total $32.
4. Central Park food stalls/restaurants
Nearest Landmark: Central Park
Price: Various
So this last one is a little bit different, Instead of picking a fancy restaurant which is located near the park, I thought why not give you all the foodie info from INSIDE the park instead? Sound good? So as you probably all know (and maybe have been yourselves) Central Park is HUGE! There are currently 3 main full service restaurants (sit down restaurants, with waiting staff etc) and approximately 6 food stands/stalls scattered round the park. I am going to give a you a quick round up of each one, so you get an idea of what they sell, times they are open, prices etc.. here we go!
Full Service Restaurants
1. The Loeb Boathouse Restaurant
This pretty little restaurant overlooks the boating lake, they currently have 3 food places to choose from you have the main restaurant which is open Mon-Friday for lunch and dinner which opens 12pm-9:30pm and 9:30am- 9:30pm during the weekends. They have an outdoor bar and grill which is a perfect option for a summery lunch or dinner outside, usually open from 11am-11pm during April-November (weather permitting). Or finally they also have on site a cafe which is open from 8am until 8pm daily (only open 4:30pm in Winter). So as you can see there are lots of options for eatery's round this part of the park. The Loeb Boathouse can be found near mid-park, east side between 74th and 75th Streets.
For more information please visit this website.
2. Tavern on the Green
Tavern on the Green is another popular favourite in Central Park. It can be found on west-side mid park 67th Street, in one of the more arty areas of Manhattan. This place attracts locals and tourists alike. There is loads of history surrounding the restaurant (it was built in 1870) and has been up and running since 1934, the building has undergone dramatic renovations since these times, the restaurant now days has been given a very good modern make over to fit with the current vibe of the city.
Their menu is definitely a winner as well (and not expensive either, always a bonus). I wont spoil the surprise of what they have to offer, but for their full winter menu go here. I promise you this is one restaurant not to miss!
3. Le Pain Quotidien
If you are a fan of French cuisine you must give Le Pain Quotidien a little visit on your wander round the park. This is a popular chain cafe, so you may see others around the city but this one is extra special because of where it located! Why not pop in here for a freshly baked morning pastry and a latte or treat yourself to a lovely brie baguette lunch. Whatever you decide to chose make sure it is here, the views are unbeatable (as are the prices). You can find Le Pain Quotidien at west-side mid park on 69th Street near south end.
For more details visit this website here.
Cafes, Food Stalls/Stands
The little kiosk type street stalls your find scattered round the park, are usually actually found round most street corners in the city. These are good little places to go if you are feeling a little bit peckish and don't fancy a full meal, or if you are strapped for cash or time. Most of these stalls do not have seating areas, so you will have to sit outside to eat somewhere. Park benches are usually idea hangouts for eating. (Except in the winter, you will definitely want a nice warm cosy restaurant to hide in).
The park has 6 Cafe/Food stalls they are:
1. Ballplayers' House- Serving salads, sandwiches, burgers and hot/cold drinks plus more (location: mid-park north of Heckscher Ballfields, 6th Street).
2. Dancing Crane Cafe at Central Park Zoo- See website for info. (location: 64th Street)
3. Harlem Maer Snack Bar- Serving various hot/cold snacks (location: east side from 106th to 110th Street)
4. Kerbs Boathouse Cafe- Serving all snacks (location: east side at 74th Street)
5. North Meadow Snack Bar- Serving various snacks (location: mid park at 97th Street)
6. Wollman Rink - See website for details (location: east side between 62nd and 63rd Streets)
So all of those restaurants mentioned above are located in the Manhattan area of the city (with exception to the 1st located on Liberty Island), but what about Brooklyn? Queens? The Bronx and Staten Island? I hear you ask... well obviously I cant list EVERYTHING on this post (I'd never get to America), but I will be sure to check out most of the main local eateries within each area of the city if I can. I am thinking I may have to do a separate post on that one when I get back (there's a LOT of food to get round). I may even have to a post for each borough If i end up visiting all 5- I will have to see nearer the time, I shall keep you all updated whatever happens!
So there we have just a few ideas thrown together of what I am hopefully going to be getting up to on my impending NYC trip. At the moment the only thing set in stone is where I am sleeping, so I am very much open to any recommendations and other places to add to my already long list! We fly Monday (so we are also there for the very start of December- yay) and come home Saturday 3rd, I cannot wait to update you all when I am home.
Price:£££/£
This is a great little restaurant to come to if you are planning a visit to The Empire State Building, because it is actually located in the Building itself (ground floor), so you wont even have to venture too far from it! Talk about lunch with a view... As I am sure you can imagine the restaurant is very popular, it is a sit down restaurant so it is expected that you do book yourself a table if you are visiting. The restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner and offers your usual suspects normally found in an American restaurant. Here is a little pick of my favourites from their Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner menu's.
 |
| Photo Credit: pinterest |
Lunch: Turkey Club Sandwich (with smoked bacon, tomato, avocado, cheddar cheese, mustard aioli with fries) $18 and a strawberry mint and lemon refresher $6.
Total $24.
Dinner: State Burger (with cabot cheddar cheese, pickles and fries) $19 with a glass of prosseco $13.
Total $32.
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| Photo Credit: official website |
Nearest Landmark: Central Park
Price: Various
 |
| Photo Credit: Calvert Vaux Preservation Alliance |
So this last one is a little bit different, Instead of picking a fancy restaurant which is located near the park, I thought why not give you all the foodie info from INSIDE the park instead? Sound good? So as you probably all know (and maybe have been yourselves) Central Park is HUGE! There are currently 3 main full service restaurants (sit down restaurants, with waiting staff etc) and approximately 6 food stands/stalls scattered round the park. I am going to give a you a quick round up of each one, so you get an idea of what they sell, times they are open, prices etc.. here we go!
Full Service Restaurants
1. The Loeb Boathouse Restaurant
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| Photo Credit: live picture studios |
For more information please visit this website.
2. Tavern on the Green
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| Photo Credit: The New York Times |
Their menu is definitely a winner as well (and not expensive either, always a bonus). I wont spoil the surprise of what they have to offer, but for their full winter menu go here. I promise you this is one restaurant not to miss!
3. Le Pain Quotidien
 |
| Photo Credit: Isabelle's travel blog |
For more details visit this website here.
Cafes, Food Stalls/Stands
The little kiosk type street stalls your find scattered round the park, are usually actually found round most street corners in the city. These are good little places to go if you are feeling a little bit peckish and don't fancy a full meal, or if you are strapped for cash or time. Most of these stalls do not have seating areas, so you will have to sit outside to eat somewhere. Park benches are usually idea hangouts for eating. (Except in the winter, you will definitely want a nice warm cosy restaurant to hide in).
The park has 6 Cafe/Food stalls they are:
1. Ballplayers' House- Serving salads, sandwiches, burgers and hot/cold drinks plus more (location: mid-park north of Heckscher Ballfields, 6th Street).
2. Dancing Crane Cafe at Central Park Zoo- See website for info. (location: 64th Street)
3. Harlem Maer Snack Bar- Serving various hot/cold snacks (location: east side from 106th to 110th Street)
4. Kerbs Boathouse Cafe- Serving all snacks (location: east side at 74th Street)
5. North Meadow Snack Bar- Serving various snacks (location: mid park at 97th Street)
6. Wollman Rink - See website for details (location: east side between 62nd and 63rd Streets)
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| Photo Credit: Cornelius Verwaal |
So there we have just a few ideas thrown together of what I am hopefully going to be getting up to on my impending NYC trip. At the moment the only thing set in stone is where I am sleeping, so I am very much open to any recommendations and other places to add to my already long list! We fly Monday (so we are also there for the very start of December- yay) and come home Saturday 3rd, I cannot wait to update you all when I am home.
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