New York City Like a Local
When you’ve gorged on the most popular attractions and want to take a deeper dive into the city’s cultural and culinary treasures—those beloved spots old and new that locals often cite as the reason they could never ditch their closet-size bedroom in a railroad apartment with three other roommates for the ‘burbs—check out the itinerary below.
Day 1: Manhattan
Midtown is full of tourist attractions, but there are also a lot of locals who live and work here and plenty of gems to enchant them.
Morning
The Morgan Library & Museum echoes old New York elegance and houses an impressive collection of historic books and papers. I like to pair a visit to the warm grandiose library in the east room with contemplation time in the Rose Reading Room in the New York Public Library Main Branch, where students and writers can be found typing and studying under soaring ceilings with grandiose frescoes.
Afternoon
Continue the old-school vibes over lunch across the street at Gabriel Kreuther (reservations recommended), which offers a relative bargain for their lunch prix fixe of decadent French- and Swiss-inspired dishes. It’s the kind of meal that could double as an early dinner.
Evening
Head west for a play at beloved downtown theater Soho Rep’s new home inside of Playwrights Horizons or at the ultra-intimate Ars Nova. Your most direct path west to either theater will take you through 42nd Street and Times Square, respectively. Navigate it like a local by walking especially fast.
Day 2: The Village
Long gone are the bohemian days of the Village, but simple pleasures can still be found.
Morning
Begin at the fish-and-chips shop A Salt and Battery, which has us natives swearing it’s better than many places we’ve been to in London. A deep-fried candy bar is the way to end your meal before wandering east to browse at neighborhood favorite Three Lives & Company, which sells reasonably priced autographed first editions and hosts quirky release events like a Murakami Midnight Madness, which featured local sake and trivia to celebrate the acclaimed Japanese novelist’s new book.
Afternoon
If browsing makes you hungry, head south to sample a wide variety of funk at Murray’s Cheese Shop, skip straight to an epic omakase at Sushi Nakazawa, or enjoy an equally monumental dry-aged burger at Minetta Tavern that sets the standard for luxe burgers. Reservations are required for the latter two.
Evening
After dinner take in a show at the Comedy Cellar, where big-name acts are a regular surprise and late shows facilitate both a leisurely dinner and comics at their most freewheeling. End with a nightcap at the cozy cocktail den Little Branch.
Day 3: Harlem
Morning
Bus tours with an obligatory stop at the Apollo are the popular choice for most first-time visitors, but to really get a feel for the neighborhood, you must explore on foot. Begin up at the Hamilton Grange National Memorial to glimpse the neighborhood’s stately past before meandering south through the park and then over to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for pulled pork and fried green tomatoes.
Afternoon
If you want to wash it all down with craft beer, mead, or cider, stroll a couple of blocks down Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard to Harlem Hops. Weave through the brownstone-lined side streets for a quieter slice of local life, or straight down the boulevard where longtime residents socialize on corners. Stop at Harlem Wine
Gallery, one of the neighborhood’s most charming shops to browse and hear about the owner’s favorite small vineyards.
Evening
Book ahead for dinner at Red Rooster, for star chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Swedish-influenced take on Southern classics and a convivial atmosphere that often features
local musicians. If it’s a Friday or Saturday, end your evening with a set of bebop jazz at the BYOB Bill’s Place.
Day 4: Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick
Morning
Bushwick has changed a lot, but if you want to trace a throughline from its grittier past to artists’ haven, start at The Bushwick Collective, gazing at the preserved graffiti murals that line Troutman Street.
Afternoon
Grab a few tacos at the working tortilla factory Tortilleria Mexicana Los Hermanos. Seating space is carved out of the warehouse area and gives a glimpse of the neighborhood’s industrial past. Head next to Kings County Brewers Collective for an expertly balanced but potent IPA before wandering northwest into Williamsburg. If you’re up for another beer, Grimm Artisanal Ales is a worthy spot on your way. Walk across Metropolitan Avenue to take in a variety of shops, including indie comic shop Desert Island. Continue on to The City Reliquary to view a treasure trove of New York relics, the kind you might find in an old townie’s cluttered living room.
Evening
When you’re ready for dinner, prepare for another time warp at Bamonte’s, where tuxedo-clad waiters will serve you heaping plates of pastas and parms in a delightfully outdated dining room. Step into the present to end the evening with a modern classical concert at National Sawdust.
Day 5: East Village and Lower East Side
Morning
Begin your day at Ukrainian café Veselka with a plate of pierogi like the Eastern European immigrants who once lived in the neighborhood might have done. This East Village institution is packed later in the day, making it ideal for an early stop.
Afternoon
Next hit up two of the area’s prominent galleries, Perrotin and Sperone Westwater, which get some of the biggest shows outside of Chelsea. When you’ve worked up an appetite again, head to the Clinton Street Baking Co., which makes addictively tasty pancakes but is mobbed during the day, for breakfast for dinner.
Evening
Alan Cumming’s eponymous Club Cumming is an ideal next stop to mingle with residents and catch no-cover cabaret shows from some of downtown’s brightest stars. For a contrast in energies, wind down your evening at the laid-back Belgian beer bar Burp Castle, where loud patrons get shushed, and contemplate the week you’ve had over a tripel or lambic.
- Explore the City: Navigate by neighborhood or by activity with color-coded maps, or follow a self-guided neighborhood walk
- See the Sights: Dive into culture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or stroll down sun-dappled paths in Central Park before dinner and a Broadway show
- Get a Taste of the City: From cutting-edge fine dining to a slice from a beloved pizzeria, New York has something for every palate
- Bars and Nightlife: Jazz clubs, beer gardens, cocktail lounges, world-class theater, and parties that don’t end before dawn: New York is truly the city that never sleeps
- Trusted Advice: Native New Yorker and journalist Christopher Kompanek shows you his hometown
- Strategic Itineraries: Make the most of your trip with ideas for foodies, culture-seekers, families traveling with kids, and more
- Full-Color Photos and Detailed Maps so you can explore on your own
- Handy Tools: Background information on history and culture, plus an easy-to-read foldout map to use on the go
Exploring the rest of the Empire State? Check out Moon New York State or Moon Hudson Valley & the Catskills.
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