True Colours: Travel Guide: New York City

I fell in love with New York City when we visited in November. It was a place that I wasn't expecting to love, being so big and so busy, but I fell in love with the neighborhoods and the restaurants and the whole experience & here is my travel guide for the city. Obviously this is such a small part of New York City.... but it's a start.

How to Get Around

We walked a lot in NYC, even though the blocks are big, we could take so much more of it in that way. When we needed to go longer distances we caught cabs. I've heard great things about their subway system, we just never really used it.

Places to Stay

Our hotel in NYC was amazing and I'd totally recommend it. It was a good price point for a nice hotel, which can be very rare in the city.

70 Park Avenue Hotel

This Kimpton hotel was fabulous. Great decor, pretty large rooms and a great location in Midtown, but over on Park Avenue so out of the way a bit from the crowds. It was a block from Grand Central, 5 minute walk to both the Chrysler building and Empire State Building and very central to either go uptown or downtown.

Places to Eat

We had some pretty amazing meals in New York. I had done some research before we left as to where we wanted to make reservations for dinner and they turned out to be great.

Boqueria
This place was amazing and one of the best meals of our trip. It's a Spanish tapas restaurant in a little tiny but fabulous space in the Flat Iron district (also have a Soho location). Amazing food!

Pastis
The famous French restaurant made famous on Sex and the City was a spot not to miss. I love my French food and this place was very very good.

Mesa Grill
Bobby Flay's NYC restaurant was one we were looking forward to, and while the food wasn't quite our style, it was very good quality none the less. The thing that took the cake here (no pun intended) was the coconut cake we ended with for dessert, seriously amazing.

NYC Pizza
We had our fair share of pizza slices in New York and wow, was it good.

Magnolia Bakery
This famous bakery did not disappoint. Grab a cupcake and enjoy an afternoon treat.

Places to See

New York City has so much to offer, so here are just some of my favorite things we did.

Central Park

We only saw a tiny slice of the huge Central Park, but it's such a landmark to not miss.

Empire State Building

While I think this was overpriced and crowded, I think you have to do it at least once for the sweeping views of Manhattan.

Times Square

While my least favorite area of NYC, I still think it's worth seeing.

The Met and the Guggenheim

2 museums you shouldn't pass up, even if you just walk by the exteriors.

Bryant Park & NY Public Library

This little park near the Library is fun spot to sit down and watch people or have lunch and look at the buildings around you.

Rockafeller Center

You have to see this landmark location as well as the buildings around it like Radio City Music Hall.

Grand Central Station

This gorgeous old train station is a must to walk through. It's history and heritage set it apart.

World Trade Centers Site: Ground Zero

While we didn't go through the museum here, we did get a chance to walk the area and see the new Freedom Towers being built. Definitely a spot to take in and do some contemplating.

Battery City Park

This waterfront esplanade was cool to walk down. Check out the views of the Statue of Liberty from here.

Brooklyn Bridge

While a very long walk and very crowded, this is a cool part of New York and so iconic.

Walk around the West Village

One of my favorite areas of NYC, spend an afternoon walking around this area.

Where to Shop

NYC has some of the best shopping in the world. They have many of the European high street stores, all the American stores and the very high end couture stores as well. You really have everything you want here.

Favorite Areas
There were a few areas of NYC that I really loved. They were areas that made it feel not so much like a sprawling city, but little nooks in the chaos.

DUMBO in Brooklyn
I loved this warehouse turned lofts area of Brooklyn right over the Brooklyn Bridge. It was cool and calm but still right in the city.
Stay tuned for this area as a {Favorite Place} tomorrow.

Flat Iron District
The first area we explored and I loved it right away. I loved this area, while still right in the city proper, it felt like a little neighborhood with little parks and shops and restaurants.