New York

New York is at the vanguard of western art, entertainment, food trends, fashion and finance. Now, you could get cute and obscure when you compile a guide like this.

But truth be told, 55 things isn’t enough for a city like New York, which is why our list is packed shamelessly with big-hitters, from the Statue of Liberty to Central Park, Ellis Island, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Empire State, Broadway and the Brooklyn Bridge.

These things are non-negotiable if you want to do New York justice, even if you’ll be accompanied by a few thousand tourists.

Museums

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Backing onto Central on Fifth Avenue, the immense Metropolitan Museum of Art charts 5,000 years of applied and fine arts from all ends of the earth.

At the largest gallery in the United States you can chase your sense of curiosity down any number of rabbit-holes, marvelling at Sumerian cuneiform tablets, Chinese calligraphy, Classical sculpture, Egyptian mummies, Old Masters, Moorish textiles, Rococo fashion, armour worn by European monarchs, invaluable musical instruments, and that’s just to get started.

You could spend a whole day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and leave knowing that there was more to see.

But a few of the indispensible exhibits are the transposed Egyptian Temple of Dendur (15BC), Raphael’s altar painting of Madonna and Child (1504), Rembrandt’s Aristotle with a Bust of Homer (1653), Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze (1851) and van Gogh’s Self Portrait with Straw Hat (1887).

National 9/11 Memorial Museum

Sombre but necessary, the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum is on the site of the World Trade Centre.

The National September 11 Memorial is a jarring tribute to the 2,977 people killed in the attacks in 2001, as well as the six who died in the 1993 bombing.

There are twin reflecting pools here, an acre in size, marking out the exact footprints of the Twin Towers and walled with the largest man-made waterfalls in North America.

The bronze panels on parapets surrounding these pools are inscribed with the names of every person who died in the two attacks.

The Memorial Museum recalls the events of 9/11, the weeks leading up to the attack, and its aftermath, but also goes into depth on the lives of those who perished.

Among the exhibits are the monumental Last Column, fragments from the aircraft and a damaged fire truck.

The Museum of Modern Art

Some of the modern age’s most celebrated art is on show at the world-famous MoMA, one of the largest and most important museums for modern and contemporary art in the world.

The collection runs to 150,000 pieces, comprising a good many masterpieces.

Among them are The Starry Night by van Gogh, Picasso’ s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory, The Dance by Matisse, Painting 1946 by Francis Bacon and a triptych from Monet’s Water Lilies series.

This incredible reserve is matched with high-profile temporary exhibitions: The work of Degas, Jackson Pollock, Picasso, Gilbert & George, Miró has starred in solo shows in the last few years, along with many more enlightening survey shows and transformative installations.

What to eat

Pizza

The local’s pick for the best cheap meal in the city is the “dollar slice,” or a piece of pizza priced at $1 or less. While there are many fast-casual eateries dedicated to the dollar slice, the most consistent slices can be found at local chains 2 Bros. Pizza or 99¢ Fresh Pizza.

Bagel

Carb connoisseurs from around the world travel for a taste of an authentic New York bagel. Grab yours at another New York classic, Russ & Daughters. The 103-year-old appetizing shop still serves up one of the city’s best bagels and all the traditional toppings (lox, smoked fish, cream cheeses, etc.) you could want.

Hot Dog

A true New York hot dog should be crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and, ideally, secured from local institution Gray’s Papaya. The Recession Special at this famous 24-hour spot includes two franks and one soda for “when you’re hungry, or broke, or just in a hurry.” In truth, though, there’s never a wrong time to eat at Gray’s Papaya.

Where to stay

The Lowell

The Lowell, on the Upper East Side, reopened in 2017 after a three-year renovation. Its 74 rooms got a refresh, but the important touches stayed the same: wood-burning fireplaces, grisaille wallpaper in the lobby, tasseled key fobs. Nowhere in the city feels quite as refined. Every room has fresh flowers, while huge marble bathrooms have separate tub and shower areas, Frette bath robes, and custom-made products from the high-end line DDC28. Unlike big luxury chains, there’s a small scale, quiet, and personalized feeling here that’s worth the lack of extras (like a swimming pool or spa).

Baccarat Hotel

No one knew what to expect when a 252-year-old French luxury brand opened its first property, Baccarat Hotel, on West 53rd five years ago—except that there had better be at least one over-the-top chandelier. The hotel did not disappoint, but what was surprising was how wonderful its opulence felt, after all that industrial, bare-bulb and rough-hewn everything. Like a return to Champagne after years of lager. Unabashed opulence is what you get as soon as you step into the lobby, there are about 15,000 pieces of the brand’s crystal throughout, including glassware and chandeliers. Arrangements of fresh red roses everywhere add a touch of color. But even thought the hotel is a singular vision, it may be the little touches—Ladurée treats in the minibar to Baccarat tumblers in the bathroom—that make a stay special. Doubles from $895.

The Peninsula New York

Opulence greets you the minute you walk through the doors set just off of Fifth Avenue, where flower arrangements and a grand staircase serve as the lobby’s centerpiece. It’s a formal atmosphere, but not an unwelcoming one. Huge, luxurious guest rooms, a top notch spa, swimming pool, an excellent restaurant (Clement), and one of the best service staffs in NYC make for an exceptional experience. While the rooms and facilities are grand, it’s the staff’s warmth that encourages repeat visits.

Sources

https://www.thecrazytourist.com/top-25-things-to-do-in-new-york-city/

https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/readers-choice-awards-new-york-city-hotels#