NYC

Living in the NYC area, I have come to be obsessed with the restaurants and bar scene. That’s why I made this little map to help out with the culinary exploration. Explore the places I’ve been, want to go to, and plan to return to with this map of the best food and drinks in the city.

This page is a work in progress and will continuously be updated.

Want a more detailed guide?

Explore New York City day-by-day. This guide is divided by areas of New York City (listed north to south) and gives a complete day of activities – what to do, what to see, and most importantly, where to eat.

Uptown

Try to get some celebrity sightings while enjoying brunch at Isabella’s.
You can walk or bike Central Park, but end up at Belvedere Castle, est. 1919.
Grab a coffee and macaroon at Macaron Cafe (625 Madison Ave.).
Get drinks with a view of the marina at the Boat Basin (79th St on the Hudson), a bar/restaurant that makes you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation.

Midtown

Empire State Building (of course)
See the world’s largest store – Macy’s Herald Square – and other shopping in this tourist destination.
Explore Times Square
See a Broadway Show – you can visit box offices and ask what leftover tickets they have available. Plum Benefits also gives great discounts if your company participates.
Have dinner nearby on Restaurant Row at Becco (Lidia’s Italian restaurant).

Union Square

Shop the Union Square area to drop – every store is available without as many tourists as their midtown counterparts.
Eat the world’s best mac n cheese at Beecher’s – a homemade cheese shop with an excellent restaurant in the basement called “The Cellar.”
Finish with dessert at Max Brenner – famous for their chocolate, hot chocolate, chocolate martinis, etc…

Chelsea/Meatpacking

Go shopping in Chelsea Markets.
Skip the traffic and take a walk on the High Line to get a unique view of the city in this outdoor park/pathway.
Enjoy some fine Mexican food at Dos Caminos Meatpacking – don’t gorget to try a cactus margarita.
After dinner, grab a drink at 675 Bar (675 Hudson St.) which is in the basement of Dos Caminos (you’ll need to go outside to get to the regular entrance).

The Village

Have lunch in the East Village at Little Muenster – it will be the best grilled cheese you ever have.
Have a beer at No Fun – don’t be deceived, it’s actually a lot of fun.
Walk Washington Square Park and take a pic in front of the famous arch.
Laugh out loud at EastVille Comedy Club – if you sign up for emails ahead of time, you’ll score some free tickets.
If you’re in the mood for fine Mexican, have dinner at Tio Pepe (168 W. 4th) in the garden.
Have a beer float (yes, that’s a beer float) at the Half Pint (76 West 3rd).

Financial District

Check out the 9/11 Memorial and fountains. You must get tickets a few blocks away at 20 Vesey St. (they’re free, but you need them for entry). Then head down to ground zero (entry on Albany and Greenwich St.).
From here, explore Lower Manhattan by passing through nearby Zuccotti Park and scolding at the last few Occupy Wall Street protesters outside of Trinity Church. Head south down Broadway, passing Wall Street on your left, and end up in front of the Charging Bull for a touristy photo op. If you’re in the mood for some history, check out the National Museum of the American Indian which has free admission.
Stroll through Battery Park and get a view of the Statue of Liberty and enter historic Castle Garden. Ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are also available.
Head east towards infamous Stone Street and get lunch and a drink at Adrienne’s Pizza Bar – the REAL best pizza in New York. (Note: open on weekdays only.)
South Street Seaport is nearby, with indoor shops and an excellent view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Grab a drink at the Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club (89 South St.), a beach treat during the summer.
From there, walk up Fulton Street and check out the nearby shops. If you’re hungry for dinner, finish the night at Il Brigante for excellent authentic Italian.