NYC Itinerary
Have you ever traveled somewhere, come back and gushed over how amazingly perfect the trip was? Well that is me right now. It’s been a week since I’ve returned from New York City, and it’s a trip I’ll remember for a lifetime. Some of you have asked, so here I share my favorite spots. For anyone considering of going to New York City anytime soon, expect the unexpected. One day, I was sweating from the heat; another day, it was a heavy thunderstorm. New York summer is unpredictable!
About the current situation in New York City, masks are not required in most areas, and as long as you are aware of your surroundings, it is safe to travel. I loved every moment of it, and thankful I got to travel with my friend Jennifer.
Let’s hit it off.
Here are some great dining spots:
Hunt & Fish Club - you will fall in love with the interior. This place is every bloggers dream. Very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. I loved the service provided by the staff, and don’t get me started on the bread. We really enjoyed the crab cake, along with a a couple other appetizers. The filet mignon was made perfect to order. And have I mentioned many celebrities have enjoyed their time here? It’s a hot spot in the city.
Little Italy
Da Gennaro - the moment our Uber driver dropped us off, we immediately took our Little Italy pictures here. Instantly I felt like I was transported to Italy. We walked inside and I ordered the Lobster ravioli. The sauce had a tomato base to it and the Bomba dessert was the perfect finishing sweet touch to our first Italian meal.
Bella Ciao - this spot had some of the most authentic Italian foods Jennifer and I had. Out of the few appetizers we ordered late at night, what stood out the most were the meatballs. Venture their menu and make sure to try these. Their cheese and meat charcuterie plate was not as impressive as I expected it to be.
L’Avenue at Saks - we stumbled upon this lunch spot by accident. It is creative, artistic with a touch of fashion. You want to try one of each off the menu. The bread is some of the best I’ve had on this trip! Can you tell I’m a true European? We like our carbs. Our order consisted of the the King crab lettuce salad which was fresh and clean. Avocado and tuna salad was a pleasant surprise, and the vegan curry vegetables with tofu anyone would enjoy. I am not a vegan and I loved the complexity of flavors.
Limani - this place is a dream. I’ve got to be honest. The look and feel of it is sublime. There is a “water pool” in the middle and the all white look over the restaurant makes it even fancier. I suggest getting the Mediterranean Ceviche for the appetizer. We also got East and West Coast oysters. East Coast for the win! The grilled scallops were mouth-melting. Even though it’s known to be a seafood place, you cannot go wrong with the organic half hone-in chicken breast. It is marinated and grilled with rosemary and thyme. We were surprised.
Junior’s Cheesecake - an iconic NYC spot for the best New York cheesecake. I walked over on my last morning here and really enjoyed the key lime cheesecake. It tasted even better than the last time when I was here. The dining area is packed out, but I hear their food is also amazing.
Sightseeing:
Top of the Rock - Thursday night, after dinner, we came here. Jennifer and I specifically chose sunset time (around 7:30pm). I highly suggest buying tickets online in advance to avoid standing in lines. We got ours from www.viator.com. This spot was very special and overlooked the entire NYC from a 360 degree viewpoint. I took many of my favorite pictures and videos here.
Statue of Liberty - we also ordered tickets well in-advance from www.viator.com for a 30-minute tour. Ain’t I happy we did not choose a 2-hour tour because that day was scorching hot. The person with the physical ticket was difficult to locate. If you order your tickets from this site, I recommend coming 15 minutes earlier to find the right person and your tour guide. We did not get off the boat on either of the Islands as the lines to get back on looped all the way around. It was way too hot, so enjoying the views from a shaded area on the boat was perfect.
9/11 Memorial - on our last day, we came here. It was a special moment acknowledging what happened in our countries history. We stood there in silence and admired the people recognized at the memorial. Please don’t miss an opportunity to come out and see this beauty for yourself. It’s very special.
Ever been to New York City yourself? Drop your favorite spots and recommendations below. Would love to hear about your experience.
KK