Today I am talking all the things NYC from the best birthday surprise my mama ever gave me! We have been talking about going on a girls trip for years, but with Ro so little I just couldn’t leave him.  Now that he is three I finally knew I could let him hang with his aunt & daddy for a few days and he would be A-okay! (Btw he was better than okay -I only got FaceTime love the first day and by the second day he couldn’t even find the time to talk to mommy he was having so much fun! {yes, I was slightly broken hearted}) Okay, so momlife aside… this trip was a complete whirlwind, but I wouldn’t imagine tackling New York any differently! We were there for 4 days and we did.not.stop! I’ll share all the yummy places we ate, the delicious coffee we drank, & all the things we did! Let’s do it!

Eats & Drinks

Ellen’s Stardust Diner: This was our fist stop off the plane because we were starving and it was close to our hotel.  It’s a really neat place to eat if you love Broadway! All of the servers rotate singing songs all day long- anything from broadway classics to Taylor Swift.  The food was pretty good for diner food but comes in HUGE portions so you could definitely share. I would say this is a classic NYC stop to eat & compared to most places in the city the food was affordable!

Aria Italian & Wine Bar: This was a cute little Italian restaurant tucked into the Hell’s Kitchen Neighborhood.  The food and wine did not disappoint. I got the spicy shrimp pasta – SO GOOD!  {Tip} It is small (&crowded like all NYC restaurants come to find out) so I recommend going early to not feel so claustrophobic.  We went for an early dinner around 4:30 and we had the places almost to ourselves!

Bill’s Bar & Burgers: We ate dinner here after visiting the Rockefeller Center.  It was good bar food/ burgers and this was by far the most reasonably priced place we ate so, if you are on a budget I would recommend hitting this place up if you are near The Rock.

Bryant Park Grill: *A FAVORITE!* We went here for brunch and it was incredible! We sat in the enclosed outdoor area so you could still see all of Bryant Park.  I ordered the Mediterranean Breakfast & mom got the Smoked Salmon Scramble – both were so delicious! We also got the wild hibiscus flower, a sparkling wine cocktail, that was equally delicious! I would absolutely make sure I went back here if I was in New York again!

Fish & Hunt Club NYC: *A FAVORITE!* Okay, so when you walk into this place there is a black curtain right at the door, it feels a little sketch at first BUT it closes out all the light and there are lights coming from the ceiling that look like million little stars, you completely transport to another place! We shared a steak & added truffle crab oscar on top -it was seriously the best steak we have both ever eaten! All the sides are al a carte and big enough for a family of four to share – we got the brussel sprouts and they were insanely good!   {Tip} This was the most upscale (&expensive) place we ate by far and although there is no dress code I definitely wouldn’t wear jeans.

Magnolia Bakery:  Mom just had to go here! It is in the Rockefeller so if you have a sweet tooth stop by when you are near there. If you get nothing else- Get the banana pudding. You are welcome.

Joe & the Juice:  We stopped in here on our way to Central Park.  It was pricey for a small juice IMO but it was really good (but again probably a NY thing).  They had so many different options and I wanted to try like 10 of them! They had a eclectic, kind of hipster atmosphere too!

Felix Roasting Co: *A FAVORITE!* If you like coffee, or even if you don’t you MUST go here and try the Roasted Smore Coffee, like you HAVE to! After you order, ask the barista to let you know when they roast & smoke the marshmallows so you can watch- it is a whole experience! Mom and I both wished we had gone here sooner in the trip because we would have come back multiple times.  The decor is also very dreamy & it is a large space so you don’t feel crowded at all.  It for sure a hidden gem that should not be missed! {Note: It’s close to Grand Central Station so you can pop in there too!}

Starbucks Roastery Reserve: *A FAVORITE!* Okay, by now you can tell we LOVED eating (&drinking) our way through New York! This Starbucks was our favorite place though – we actually went here 3 times in the 4 day we were there! They have a delicious breakfast, lunch, & dinner menu and of course, tons of specialty coffee drinks you can only get here! The two mornings we went, we both got the most delicious avocado toast – if you know me, you know I know my avocado toast! – it was by far my mom and I’s favorite avocado toast we have ever had! We also got pastries that were quite delish too but if you only get one food item, make it the avocado toast! For coffee- you must try the Whiskey Barrel Aged Cold Brew… like absolutely must! I added nothing to it, just drank it black and it was heavenly! We also went back one night before dinner to their bar upstairs that serves alcoholic drinks using Starbucks coffee or Teavana Teas. I got the Roastery Old Fashioned – it was SO strong! If you like a strong drink, then go for it! If not, my mom got the Brandy Corretto & that was way more delicious in my opinion!

Rum House: We stayed at Hotel Edison and this little bar was in our hotel.  It’s a piano bar with a cozy atmosphere. The drinks were fairly affordable compared to the other places we visited. I had the mojito, bc you can’t go to a place called Rum house and not, right? It was basic, but delish.

Things To Do

Walk Times Square (Day & Night): Our hotel was right off Times Square {side note: if loud noises until 2:30am might bother you – do not stay anywhere near Times Square. You have been warned.} We walked there every single day and night.  I loved how different it looked at night with all of the lights! It was most definitely way more crowded at night but the people watching there is one in a million. While you are there pop into the Disney store- it’s 2 stories, has life size figurines, and if you go with the kiddos they will have some fun exploring all the different Disney sections they have.

Bike Rentals in Central Park: *A FAVORITE!* Central Park was beautiful! I am so glad we decided to ride bikes there. We did the small loop btw- there are two different loops and the other loop is 7 miles (I think)- I didn’t realize how huge it was until we got there!  When you rent the bikes, you will be hounded to do the bike taxis instead, but we absolutely loved going at our own pace and exploring as we wanted so I would save the money and just rent your own bike.  There were also street dancers/acrobatics there doing a performance – they def pushed you for tips but they truly were incredible and had such a fun energy!  I would absolutely do this every time I was in New York, but next time I would plan a picnic lunch to just sit & take in the sights and people.

Broadway Shows: We went and saw the Waitress & Mean Girls.  The Waitress was by far my favorite! Jordin Sparks killed it! I laughed, I cried – it was just so much better than I expected!  I honestly felt bad for Mean Girls because we saw it after the Waitress and it was just no comparison.  Don’t get me wrong, it was a cute show, but if you only go see one of these- definitely go with The Waitress! {Tip} Don’t buy Broadway tickets online! Go to the TKTS booth in Times Square to buy them the day before or day of a show.  You get them for SO much cheaper & the seats were way better than the show we spent more money online for.

Walk the High Line & Visit Chelsea Market: *A FAVORITE!* The high line is a must go! It’s an elevated walking trail that runs 1.5 miles through Chelsea.  We hopped on it from the Chelsea Market then walked all the way to the Vessel (which I definitely want to do next time but we ran out of time- you have to get tickets and we didn’t know that).  Along the High Line you see the city from above, beautiful murals, plants, lots of trees, and gorgeous architecture! I originally thought I might want to do a run along it, but it was far too crowded for that! You would probably have to go early in the morning if you wanted to run along it and honestly, my chicken butt would not be running in the dark in NYC solo soo… just walking it works for me! Chelsea market has a food court to grab a quick bite, a wine shop that offers complimentary tasting on certain days of the week, and lots of cute shops.  It’s worth stopping in if you need to get out of the harsh weather or you want to grab a bite to eat.

Nordstrom NYC Flagship (57th & Broadway): *Personal FAVORITE!* Seven stories of amazing!  Mom said I looked like a kid in a candy store & y’all thats exactly how I felt! My merchandising heart was in love! They had everything set up in shops, everything was immaculately organized and maintained, & all the floors were designated for specific items – like shoes! There was a whole.entire. floor. of just shoes! I cannot describe it & do it justice, you just have to stop in and see it for yourself.  They also have a coffee shop by the kids department, a bar, and a bistro.

Rockefeller Center “Top of the Rock”: My sweet Aunt bought us VIP tickets & I am so glad she did! We didn’t have to make a reservation, we got to skip the huge lines (to get in & to leave), and we got to see NYC from the most beautiful perspective! {Tip – Go at dusk so you can see the city in daylight and at night with the lights!} Rockefeller Center itself has shops, but we didn’t pop into any except the huge FAO Schwartz Store to see if we could find something for Ro.  If you come to New York with kids – go to FAO – every toy known to man must be in there, but there is also lots of life size figurines and tons of staff showing off products and letting the kids try them out.  It was much more interactive than I expected!

Alright, thats a wrap! I hope you found that helpful if you are planning a trip to the Big Apple!

If you visit any of these places let me know- I would absolutely love to hear about your trip! Also, if you have any must go places for NYC not on here, leave them in the comments below! I’m already making a list for our next trip there!

Happy Friday friends!

 

 

 

 

Girls Trip New York Nordstrom NYC Starbucks Roastery Reserve Times Square Travel