Mackenzie's Manhattan Guide

For women in their 30's, mostly.

I am frequently asked by friends and strangers what I’d recommend they do in NYC. Usually I respond with a long message back, but as these inquiries have grown in numbers, I feel I should have one post I can send people to over-and-over again.

Ultimately, this is a list for women in their 30s and beyond. I have absolutely no idea where you should go if you want to stay up all night (is it still House of Yes?) But I can give you recommendations for several piano bars.

BTW this list is meant for tourists, not locals— though I hope everyone finds something new-to-them here :) I’m not sending a tourist to 1st ave to get my favorite escargot or up to my neighborhood (Morningside Heights) for the best happy hour deal— so we’re sticking with areas people are most likely to visit.

If I give something a little * it’s because I think it’s a must if you’ve never been to New York City before. I’ll update this with somewhat regularity to keep it fresh.

Here is where I think you should go for a SUPER $PECIAL dinner:

• Monkey Bar* (American) (Midtown East)

• The Waverly Inn (American) (WV)

• Le Coucou (French) (Soho)

• Marea (Seafood-forward Italian) (if you have a reason to be in Lincoln Center get the crab pasta and sit at the bar)

• Gramercy Tavern (American— their burger is extremely famous, but they also have a very solid tasting menu.)

• Joomak (Korean Tasting Menu, 27 seats) (WV)

I’m dying to go to Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi— if you are an adventurous eater, this is where i’d suggest trying to get a hard-to-get reservation.

Here is where I think you should go for a standard date:

• Hanoi House (Northern Vietnamese) (LES— go here before or after Book Club Bar!)

• Thai Diner (also good for brunch) (Soho)*

• Au Cheval (American— great burger) (Soho)*

• L’Artusi (Italian worth the hype)* (WV)

• Boucherie (french) (WV)

• Amelie Wine Bar (french) (WV)

• La Goulue (classic and kind of stuffy french, but I love.) (UES)

• Hoexters (CHIC! American) (UES)

• Cafe Buon Gusto (Italian) (UES)

• Thep Thai (UES)

• Albadawi (Palestinian) (UES)

• Bayon Cambodian Restaurant (UES)

I do not understand the hype for Via Carota it actually baffles me, and yes Polo Bar is really great if you’re looking for 7/10 food and a 10/10 experience and you can somehow get a reservation that isn’t at 5:00pm. As long as you eat the fried olives at the bar first.

If you’ve been to NYC a million times, consider heading over to Astoria to have dinner at Taverna Kyclades for incredible Greek food.

For a Ladies Who Lunch Moment:

• Pastis (French— get the mussels— then visit the Chelsea galleries…)*

• Balthazar (a French institution— once I saw Amal and Anna Wintour gossiping here… also good for dinner)*

• Cafe Cluny (Honestly kind of mediocre American food, but I’ve seen SOOO many celebrities here including Glenn Close, Will Farrell, Sarah Bareilles and Brooke Shields a hundred times) (WV)

• Seamores (American) (GREAT burger + fries!) (lots of locations)

• Buvette (French) (WV) (expect to wait it’s a tiny spot, but so cute— no chance on weekends.)

• Parla (Italian, amazing pizza) (UWS)

• Via Quadronno (Casual casual Italian— go after the Met) (UES)

• The Mark Hotel (American— get the fries) (UES)

• Rintintin (American) (Soho)

I don’t like brunch, but I think 75% of these have an omelet you can order.

Easy & Inexpensive Options:

• Bahn Mi Saigon (I like the #1) (Sohoish)

• Milano Market (UES/UWS)

• Pi Bakerie (Soho)

• Maman (the iced tahini latte is really good….) (get the Katie Sandwich) (located literally everywhere)*

• Pho Bang (Chinatown)

• Butterfield Market (get stuff to picnic in Central Park or get Froyo) (UES)

• Cafe Himalaya (LES) (cheap dinner option)

• Golden Diner (LES) (WEEKDAY ONLY LINE ON WEEKEND INSANE!!!!)

Dim Sum:

• Tim Ho Wan (East Village)

• House of Joy (classic rolling cart dim sum— expect to wait a little bit and potentially sit with strangers, but it’s worth it) (Chinatown)*

The best pizza is the pizza with the highest rating closest to you and the best bagels are the same queen. Do not hop on a subway for a bagel or a slice of pizza.

Fun little treats if you are in the area, but don’t travel to them because there are many place to get delicious treats in NYC:

• Librae Bakery (East Village)

• Mango Mango dessert lab (dessert after Hanoi House!) (East Village)

• Fabrique Bakery (Chelsea)

• Orwashers (UES/UWS)

• William Greenberg (black and white cookies!) (UES)

• Levain (not my favorite cookie, but famous and worth trying) (everywhere) *

• BonBon (swedish candy, the best stuff is their pre-packaged store-brand sour candies) (UES)

• Sweet Moment (WORTH TRAVELING FOR THEIR SHAVED ICE CAKE OMFGGGG GO HERE!!!!!) (Chinatown)

• Double Crispy Bakery (egg tart) (Chinatown)

• Lady M (multiple locations)

Coffee & Other Caffines etc:

• The Chai Spot (go here to hang mid-week) (Nolita)

• I’Milky (boba tea) (Chinatown)

• Lê Phin (Vietnamese coffee omg it’s so good!) (EV)

• Alimama tea (get the mochi donuts) (Chinatown)

• Patisserie Vanessa (desserts/pastries are also gorgeous) (UES)

If you must go to Ralph’s (I won’t be a hater they have great Arnold Palmer), go on a weekday/mid-day. And make sure to check out the RL flagship across the street. It’s GORGEOUS! A great place for a work meeting tbh.

Pre/Post Theater Options that are actually very very great and that is why this list is so short.

• Quality Bistro $$$ (Midtown East)

• Frena $$$ (Hell’s Kitchen)

• Mermaid Inn $$ (Times Square)

• Canes $ (Times Square)

For a nice drink…. because otherwise I don’t want to come :(

• The Nines (Piano bar that takes reservations!) (East Village)

• Dear Irving’s (multiple locations)

• Bemelman’s Bar @ The Carlyle (Piano bar that doesn’t take reservations, iconic institution) (UES)

• Melody’s (your backup plan if Bemelman’s is too busy…) (UES)

• Portrait Bar (Flatiron… it’s giving Polo Bar without being too exclusive.)

• The Hotel Chelsea (I don’t love their food, but the drinks are great and it’s a total vibe.)

• Dante (WV)

• BIBLIOTEQUE (Soho) (bookstore wine bar— make a reservation! This place is FABULOUS!)

I’m so sorry I cannot tell you where to party anywhere but my old neighborhood (UES) in which case go to Ethyls for Go-Go Dancers, Brandy’s for a sing-along piano bar (very casual) or Iggy’s for EXTREMELY CASUAL karaoke.

I love a Museum and i’ve been to many….

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (closed Wednesdays, Mondays are the best day to go— member’s entrance has shorter lines and anyone can buy a ticket there— there is also a FREE playroom for children here) (UES)* GO RIGHT TO THE 3RD FLOOR!

• The Whitney (Chelsea)*

• MoMA (Midtown East)*

• Museum of Natural History (good for elementary aged kids and husbands who hate art) (UWS)*

• Museum of the City of New York (AMAZING if you’ve done the rest) (UES)

• El Museo del Barrio (Latinx art, low cost of admission + they give you free entrance to the above ^^ if you go— a 2 for 1 deal!) (get tacos at El Aguila for lunch omfg)

• The Frick (the line may be insane as this just re-opened, go on a week day— also fairly certain they don’t allow kids)

• Neue Galerie (not kid friendly, but they have the most amazing Viennese Cafe, again best on a week day and you can make dinner reservations)

• Leslie Lohman Museum of Art (GAY ART! in Soho!)

• The Drawing Center (FREE! Soho!)

• The Guggenheim (UES) if the current exhibit interests you— as it’s really a one-exhibit museum and that can be expensive.

If you’ve been to NYC many, many times, I recommend checking out the New York Botanical Gardens. They have a Van Gogh exhibit this summer that should be fabulous. Also consider the Met Cloisters.

…or go to a gallery!

• Lévy Gorvy Dayan (UES)

• Salon 94 (UES)

• Gagosian (UES)

• or bop around 23rd-25th + 10th in Chelsea— there are SO many (and they are free obviously!)

Broadway shows to see (I have seen 21 shows currently on Broadway, these are the ones that have blown me away:)

• Maybe Happy Ending (kid friendly)

• Real Women Have Curves (this show is EVERYTHING!)

• Oh! Mary

• Death Becomes Her

• Wicked* (perfect first show for a kid)

• John Proctor is the Villain

• The Outsiders

• Gypsy****** (I think this is the PERFECT first Broadway show for a non-child! Audra McDonald is an icon and this is an iconic Broadway show.)

Other shows on my list that I intend to see over the next few months: A Portrait of Dorian Gray, Buena Vista Social Club, Purpose

For less expensive shows, checkout what is going on at the New World Stage. I also strongly recommend booking tickets through TodayTix for good deals.

Bookstores to Visit:

• McNally Jackson (all around the city, great translated collection)

• Book Club Bar (get a drink!!) (EV)

• Three Lives & Co (WV)

• Yu & Me Books (Chinatown)

• Book Culture (Morningside Heights)

• Sweet Pickle Books (used bookstore) (LES)

There are also TONS of great bookstores in other boroughs, so if you have a reason to go to the Bronx, go to Lit Bar, in Queens I recommend The World’s Borough Bookstore and in Brooklyn you have Liz’s Book Bar, The Ripped Bodice and Books are Magic.

Want to do a little SHOPPINNNNG!!!!

• Grand Bazaar for fabulous vintage finds and home decor (UWS on Sundays)

• Elizabeth Street in Nolita for shopping! They have Sézane, Never Fully Dressed (which is size inclusive), Clare V, Persol, Gorjana and a ton of other stores. This is a great central place to start your boppin’ around Soho without being tooooooo mall-ish!

• In the West Village if you are fancy checkout Lingua Franca and Dôen.

• The Niche Shop, Designer Revival & Gentleman’s Resale for some secondhand shopping (all on the same street in the UES!)

• The LES also has good vintage shops, you can start by checking out ECDYSIS and just look up “vintage shops near me” at that point… huge price ranges. There is also a Sandy Liang there which is so chic.

The best vintage shopping is in Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, but that isn’t really my forte as I do most of my shopping uptown or secondhand online.

Hotels I know someone who recommends or I’ve been to their bar or MAYBE I’ve stayed there at one point:

If you’re rich:

• The Whitby (My top choice for fancy picks!) (Midtown East)

• The Mark (UES)

• The Plaza Hotel (Midtown East)*

• Fouquets (Tribeca)

• Baccarat Hotel (Midtown— AMAZING BAR!!)

• Warren Street Hotel (Tribeca)

If you’re splurging:

• The Standard (East Village)

• The Hotel Chelsea (My top choice— I LOVE THIS HOTEL!!!) (Chelsea)

• The Bowery (Bowery)

• The Beekman Hotel (FiDi)

• PUBLIC Hotel (EV)

• The Roxy (Tribeca)

• The Ludlow (Bowery)

On a budget— truthfully none of these are anything special, but they are well-located.

• The Lexington (Midtown) (this is the only one i’ve stayed in— it’s clean and central, but otherwise is nothing special.)

• Park Central (Midtown, but close to Central Park!)

• Freehand Hotel (good with a girl group) (Flatiron)

If you’re booking with credit card points and you’re hoping to stay in a central area, I strongly recommend choosing Union Square or Columbus Circle over Times Square. Chelsea is also a good option. I strongly recommend avoiding Times Square and Herald Square.

Specific kid friendly recommendations:

• Children’s Museum of Manhattan (UWS)

• The MET playroom (UES)

• Central Park Pyramids (UES)

• Central Park Zoo (UES)

• Chelsea Waterside Playground (Chelsea)

My son is not yet 2, so I cannot speak too much about this quite yet + hope to have more information in the future. I’d recommend staying close to Central Park so you can do tons of picnics and playground visits.

If you enjoyed this, please leave a comment! If you are a NYC mom with older kids, please leave a recommendation.

Love you! Have fun!

Mack

(This is temporarily free, but I will be putting this behind a paywall eventually!)