Tips for New York anyone?

[Kick Ass Minton]

I've developed a little tour guide PDF that I give to friends who come to visit which details a few of the touristy spots followed by some restaurant, bar and walking route recommendations. PM me with your email and happy to send over

 

[CHAPPERS]

New York peeps! My friend and her boyf are taking her 18 year old brother for his birthday in NY and they are stuck for things to do, any recommendations? They are stuck fro Knicks tickets apart from up in the gods. Is there anything really COOL to do for an 18 year old?

Thanks in advance.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

New York peeps! My friend and her boyf are taking her 18 year old brother for his birthday in NY and they are stuck for things to do, any recommendations? They are stuck fro Knicks tickets apart from up in the gods. Is there anything really COOL to do for an 18 year old?

Thanks in advance.

Rent him a hooker?

 

[trueblue]

Good value hotel (by NY standards).. the Wall Street Inn. And Top of the Rock is better than the Empire State for views, not least because you'll get the Empire State Building in all your photos from up there. Time it for sunset...

 

[Kick Ass Minton]

unless you have a fake driving licence or passport then he wont be drinking in NYC - pretty strict on the alcohol front over here... although probably get away with it in a restaurant

Madison Sq Garden is worth a visit - even in the rafters... the Knicks however are average at best so dont expect a home win !

look into NJ Nets tickets as well or New Jersey Devils NHL tickets - pretty easy to get to those arenas as well and the Devils are a pretty good team

Hit the touristy sights for sure

 

[Kick Ass Minton]

Good value hotel (by NY standards).. the Wall Street Inn. And Top of the Rock is better than the Empire State for views, not least because you'll get the Empire State Building in all your photos from up there. Time it for sunset...

and there is never a queue for tickets or to get up to the top

 

[jcdenton08]

We love New York and went twice last year - it's an incredible place and easily my favourite city in the world.

First of all, buy yourself the 'Brits Guide to New York' (Amazon - £7.39) - they also do one for Florida - this book is the GOD of all guide books for Brits abroad. Specific 'Brit Tips' are worth the price alone.

Secondly, pack lots of warm clothing. It is so easy to forget or underestimate how frickin freezing the city gets - not just at night - bring vests/thermals and wear a hat, you won't regret it when you're freezing your bollocks off hailing a cab.

Thirdly, 'Dinosaur' BBQ and Grill is one of the best rib houses in the city and very affordable - they do something like 40 imported and 20 domestic ales (20 of these on draft) and do the best ribs I've ever had - put Texas to shame. The problem is it's in Harlem and more than a little nawty around there, so go during daylight hours - the subway is about five minutes walk (you can also take in the Blues Brothers sites while you're there)

The best stand up comedy night we went to out of several was Stand Up NY - excellent comics, affordable and some celebrity guests stopped by to test material. Genuine place with more locals than tours. You'll be approached more than once around Times Sq by various places - Stand Up NY is the best around.

DON'T go to Hard Rock Cafe etc - very expensive and poor quality. You prob already know this. There is a fantastic take away pizza place - Patzeria Pizza W 46th St opposite 'In The Heights' - absolutely superb. Be prepared to wait though - it's the size of a broom cupboard and all the actors tend to have lunch there.

While we're on the subject of actors, if you're planning on taking in a show - be sure to check out the TKTS booth in Times Sq, half price tickets for a lot of the shows including most of the big ones - but queues are big and start two hours before opening. Even cheaper are student standby tickets direct from the theatres and some shows do 'ticket lotteries' before each show, where names are drawn for very cheap ($20 rather than $120) tickets for each performance - there are only 10-20 per show though and hundreds of people can turn up.

 

[jcdenton08]

Oh - and the Rockefeller centre is a better experience than the Empire State Building (both are cheaper when you book online and print off your own ticket) - and if you're going to the Statue of Liberty be sure to PRE BOOK your tickets as these sell out ridiculously early

 

[jcdenton08]

Oh, and we always stay at the Casablanca Hotel - easily the best and most central hotel in the city. You can see Times Square from your bedroom window (unless you have a back room) - and it is #1 of 420 hotels in New York City on Tripadvisor

 

[jcdenton08]

And Top of the Rock is better than the Empire State for views, not least because you'll get the Empire State Building in all your photos from up there. Time it for sunset...

Couldn't agree more - you can also book to go twice in one day (sunrise and sunset) which works out about the same as going up once - well worth the 'effort')

 

[trueblue]

This place does a great 'burger and only a little stroll from all the main sites.

5 Napkin Burger, 2315 Broadway

 

[trueblue]

Oh, and we always stay at the Casablanca Hotel - easily the best and most central hotel in the city. You can see Times Square from your bedroom window (unless you have a back room) - and it is #1 of 420 hotels in New York City on Tripadvisor

Not disagreeing with this at all - I'm sure it's great and definitely the place to be if you want to be right in the heart of the action. If you don't mind being a little further out, the Financial District is definitely worth a look though.. you get good value for your money in terms of the size of the rooms and the Express Subway 4 runs up to the SE corner of Central Park in very little time. It's also fun spending a couple of hours walking north taking in Greenwich Village, Flatiron Building, Times Square etc on the way.

 

[jcdenton08]

Not disagreeing with this at all - I'm sure it's great and definitely the place to be if you want to be right in the heart of the action. If you don't mind being a little further out, the Financial District is definitely worth a look though.. you get good value for your money in terms of the size of the rooms and the Express Subway 4 runs up to the SE corner of Central Park in very little time. It's also fun spending a couple of hours walking north taking in Greenwich Village, Flatiron Building, Times Square etc on the way.

Agree - it's nice to get away from the 'action' (hard in Manhattan full stop) and if staying very centrally if you're not careful you could miss out on some great sights. The best thing about the Casablanca is although it's pricey, it won't break the bank - and you can go out shopping, pop back for a free coffee/sandwich/cookie whatever in 'Rick's Bar', then head straight back out again. There is a lot of walking in NYC, and if you don't pace yourself you'll be f***ed within two days - if you're out of the way it can be harder to get that hour rest and recharge before you hit the town on a night...

Would also like to add Birdland Jazz Club (Charlie Parker's place) to the list -but don't eat there, the food is appalling. About $6 bottle so not too bad by NYC standards for a club either - you get some real jazz legends in there!

Rick's bar:

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Try the deep-fried Mars bars here ...

A Salt & Battery Home

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

The problem is it's in Harlem and more than a little nawty around there, so go during daylight hours - the subway is about five minutes walk (you can also take in the Blues Brothers sites while you're there)

Harlem’s actually calmed down quite a bit these days – still a few dodgy areas but quite a lot has been gentrified by the yuppies moving in. Certainly safe during the day if you want to wander by the Apollo Theatre.

Lot of folks queue up for burgers at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Garden – at least a 20 minute wait and very overrated. Plenty of better options – “Time Out” New York has a pretty good food section.

A plug for my local bar on the Upper East Side – David Copperfields, really good selection of beers and snacks and lots of nurses from the local hospitals at Lennox Hill.

http://www.davidcopperfields.com/

Be prepared for a wide variety of prices for beers, any where from 4 to 10 bucks a pint depending on location and happy hour etc. Jimmy’s Corner just off Times Square is worth a trip – cheap beers for mid town and always an interesting mix of clientele. Make sure you leave the guy / gal serving you a tip so you don’t look like a cheap Brit. If you go to one of the main sporting venues like MSG you’ll probably be asked for ID and limited to 2 beers per customer.

 

[Springal]

Good point re: tipping. We were totally oblivious to the fact you were meant to 'tip' for someone to take the top off a bottle of Corona and nearly got thrown out of a bar after our 4th for not doing so

 

[Kick Ass Minton]

I need to get myself up to the UES - normally ride through it on my weekend rides around town but will stop off next time for a beer.

I second Lyndhurst 14 in that you better leave at least $1 per drink tip if you want to be served again in any bar.

Island Burgers & Shakes in hells kitchen is worth checking out - wierd and wacky combinations

 

[trueblue]

There is a lot of walking in NYC, and if you don't pace yourself you'll be f***ed within two days - if you're out of the way it can be harder to get that hour rest and recharge before you hit the town on a night...

That's true. You do need to plan on staying out the whole day if you're way downtown which can be a disadvantage.

Another thing that was really good fun to do on a recent trip was hire bikes at Columbus Circle (SW corner of Central Park) and ride around it.... great way to see the MASSIVE place. Never been able to get further north than the Boating Lake walking!

 

[Kick Ass Minton]

If money is no object then give Peter Lugers Steakhouse a try - its under the williamsburg bridge in brooklyn. Cash only joint (Maffia central) - food is amazing, service is not - expect to be bullied into buying copious amounts of wine

 

[Kick Ass Minton]

That's true. You do need to plan on staying out the whole day if you're way downtown which can be a disadvantage.

Another thing that was really good fun to do on a recent trip was hire bikes at Columbus Circle (SW corner of Central Park) and ride around it.... great way to see the MASSIVE place. Never been able to get further north than the Boating Lake walking!

You may run into me on route - ride all the way up the west side to the GW bridge - great views and suprisingly peaceful up there.