Even though Manhattan is not massive, there is still a myriad of attractions to see; an array of activities to do; countless number of restaurants and bars and more shops than you can poke a stick at. Everyone who has been to New York has their own personal favourites. And below is a list of my favourite things to see and do in the Big Apple.

Attractions

Empire State Building – In my opinion a trip to NY is not complete without the mandatory visit to the Empire State Building. We went up on a sunny day and fortunately the weather was great. The ticket cost $20 and the audio-guide was an additional $8. The audio-guide was really good and well worth the money but don’t be afraid to haggle if you’re on a tight budget. Dennis and Sam did and they got it down to $4 each.

Statue of Liberty – Another NY must see. There is a daily limit on the number of ferry tickets to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty so book early to avoid disappointment. We weren’t too fussed so we took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry instead. It’s free and goes every half an hour. There was not a lot to do on Staten Island so we just took some photos and then caught the very next ferry back. It’s arguably the best free service in NY and we got great photos of the Manhattan skyline and Ms Liberty herself.

Central Park – Central Park is HUGE. It’s amazing that a park of this size exists in a city where space commands such a premium. Rx and I are both into jogging, so for fun, we did a lap around the Reservoir (around 2.5 kms). Apparently quite a few movies feature a Reservoir jog scene including Sex and the City. So do it for a healthy break or to brag about it to family and friends back home.

Shopping

Dean and Deluca – If you’re into food, cooking and likes to shop at David Jones Foodhall then you have to check out Dean and Deluca. They sell everything food related and their quality and range is mind-blowing. When we were there I actually spent over five minutes just staring at their meat counter and salivating over their $100 per kilo wagyu. Also, go there for the best chai latte and homemade lemonade ever and make sure you check out the Prada Store across the road.

Century 21 – THE place to go if you want cheap designer gear. Their slogan is: Fashion worth fighting for. And trust me, don’t bother going if you’re too shy to throw some elbows. The place was jam-packed all the time but the discounts were so unbelievable it was definitely worth the bruises.

Abercrombie and Fitch – This 5th Ave store is hilarious. The day we went, there was a topless male model manning the front entrance. We dubbed him Ab Guy because he had the most ripped body I have ever seen. He was like the sun, I had to squint to look at him. Inside, the store was like a nightclub. With loud music, dancers and staff whose job was to walk around and spray perfume into the air. Oh, and they sell pretty good clothes there too.

Hotels

We stayed in a hotel near Union Square called Hotel 17. To be honest it was pricey for what it was. The rooms were really small and most of them had shared bathrooms so the hallways smelt like pee. The service wasn’t great either. The guy in reception had an attitude and a high pitched voice that made him sound like Nanny Fran. Nevertheless, the location was very handy and so it was okay for what it was.

Restaurants

Ino – A tiny cafe on Bedford street in SoHo. But OH MY GOD, they had the best bruschettas I have ever tasted. A sample plate of four only cost $10. Try the Asparagus and Truffle oil, it was orgasmic.

Spice Market – This place kills Longrain or any other Asian-fusion restaurants in Sydney. It is seriously the best Asian restaurant I have ever been to. We had the most amazing cocktails, the best bottle of Alsace Riesling and the yummiest fried rice. The service was great and the decor was dark and moody (a bit like The Victoria Room in Kings Cross). And it was very reasonably priced. I highly recommend it.

Gramercy Tavern – If you want to celebrate a special occasion then Gramercy Tavern is definitely the place to go. Rx and I had our 11th months anniversary while we were in NY. It’s not exactly a round number but it was a significant milestone nonetheless. We thought it’d be a bit cheeky to tell them we were only celebrating a 11 months union so we rounded it up to a year and received free Champagne, desserts and special attention from the wait staff. It wasn’t cheap though, the three course set menu cost $86. So be prepared to folk out over $300 for dinner for two with a nice bottle of wine and tip. The restaurant has a business casual dress code so I had to buy a new outfit just to dine there. Even though our dinner was the most I have ever paid on a meal it was also the most amazing meal I’ve ever had. A fitting way to celebrate such a momentous occasion and a fitting finale to our New York Times.

There were so many other amazing bars, eateries, sights and attractions. Too many to jot down in a single blog post. However, if anyone wants advice or just chew fat and share notes I’ll be more than happy to talk to you about my second favourite city. Just hola at me.

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