Guidebook for New York
Food Scene
BEST. GREENS. EVER. Black-owned. Shrimp & grits are to die for. Specialty cocktails.
98 locals recommend
BLVD Bistro NY
2149 Frederick Douglass BlvdBEST. GREENS. EVER. Black-owned. Shrimp & grits are to die for. Specialty cocktails.
Juices, smoothies, and vegetarian Caribbean take-out and patties. Local and minority-owned, friendly service, reasonable prices and delicious!
11 locals recommend
Jahlookova
51 E 125th StJuices, smoothies, and vegetarian Caribbean take-out and patties. Local and minority-owned, friendly service, reasonable prices and delicious!
Levain Bakery - Harlem
2167 Frederick Douglass BlvdThe cookies are massive and to die for!
Gets crowded at times with freelancers and students, but lots of seating and chill ambiance.
145 locals recommend
Manhattanville Coffee
142 Edgecombe AveGets crowded at times with freelancers and students, but lots of seating and chill ambiance.
Creative artisanal ice cream and waffles at this Black-owned local small business with rotating specialty flavors of the month.
22 locals recommend
Mikey Likes It Ice Cream
199 Avenue ACreative artisanal ice cream and waffles at this Black-owned local small business with rotating specialty flavors of the month.
Prince St. Pizza
27 Prince StForget Artichoke, THIS is the best pizza in New York City.
Pretty much the best ice cream you'll ever have. Crazy good extensive vegan options. Honeycomb is a must have!
313 locals recommend
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream
620 Manhattan AvePretty much the best ice cream you'll ever have. Crazy good extensive vegan options. Honeycomb is a must have!
The Edge Harlem
101 Edgecombe AveNeighborhood spot with bomb brunch options
Drinks & Nightlife
Live jazz Thu & Sun nights at this brownstone basement spot. Cash only bar with mini bottles, local charm, no frills and home cooked soul food available some nights.
19 locals recommend
American Legion Post 398
248 W 132nd StLive jazz Thu & Sun nights at this brownstone basement spot. Cash only bar with mini bottles, local charm, no frills and home cooked soul food available some nights.
Latin nights to jazz, this place is good for dancing, drinks and jumping nightlife.
50 locals recommend
Harlem Nights
2361 Adam Clayton Powell Jr BlvdLatin nights to jazz, this place is good for dancing, drinks and jumping nightlife.
Ginny's Supper Club
310 Malcolm X BlvdWhen DJ Moma is spinning, the music is great!
Thursday nights here host an incredible open-mic hip-hop show. Starts and ends late, but best vibes in the city. $5 cover.
73 locals recommend
Arlene Grocery
95 Stanton StThursday nights here host an incredible open-mic hip-hop show. Starts and ends late, but best vibes in the city. $5 cover.
Themed parties are held here - most require a costume and the door fee is hefty ($40+), but if you check out their website and plan ahead you can free RSVP before 11 or buy tickets for $20.
552 locals recommend
House of Yes
2 Wyckoff AvenueThemed parties are held here - most require a costume and the door fee is hefty ($40+), but if you check out their website and plan ahead you can free RSVP before 11 or buy tickets for $20.
This rooftop club gets crazy on the weekends, but an epic dance party can be found here Wednesday nights with a chill crowd, good music and, of course, the infamous hot tub.
221 locals recommend
Le Bain
848 Washington StThis rooftop club gets crazy on the weekends, but an epic dance party can be found here Wednesday nights with a chill crowd, good music and, of course, the infamous hot tub.
Get fancy and head to the roof of the Standard for elegant ambiance and gorgeous views.
41 locals recommend
Boom Boom Room
848 Washington StGet fancy and head to the roof of the Standard for elegant ambiance and gorgeous views.
Arts & Culture
Incredibly curated gift shop and free exhibits.
186 locals recommend
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X BlvdIncredibly curated gift shop and free exhibits.
$7 admission to experience amazing local and world-famous modern art by Black artists.
239 locals recommend
The Studio Museum in Harlem
144 West 125th Street$7 admission to experience amazing local and world-famous modern art by Black artists.
Donation-based, but you have to pay for the planetarium - though it's worth it!
1623 locals recommend
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park WestDonation-based, but you have to pay for the planetarium - though it's worth it!
This branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe, set in a former monastery.
707 locals recommend
The Met Cloisters
99 Margaret Corbin DrThis branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is dedicated to the art, architecture, and gardens of medieval Europe, set in a former monastery.
Parks & Nature
Central Park West
Central Park WestIconic, expansive, and completely worth the hype.
Small, simple park with ample room to lay on the grass. Basketball courts, playgrounds and lots of paths and stairs to wander.
142 locals recommend
St. Nicholas Park
Saint Nicholas TerraceSmall, simple park with ample room to lay on the grass. Basketball courts, playgrounds and lots of paths and stairs to wander.
Cozy little park packed full of lush greenery, right in the middle of the West Village.
10 locals recommend
Jefferson Market Garden
10 Greenwich AveCozy little park packed full of lush greenery, right in the middle of the West Village.
A 250 acre botanical garden with rotating live music, artist features and other events.
341 locals recommend
New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern BlvdA 250 acre botanical garden with rotating live music, artist features and other events.
Essentials
Toiletries, snacks, household supplies and a pharmacy. Closes by 10pm
224 locals recommend
Duane Reade
3387 BroadwayToiletries, snacks, household supplies and a pharmacy. Closes by 10pm
Decent sized grocery store for all the basics at fair prices. Produce and meat aren't the greatest.
347 locals recommend
Key Food Supermarkets
1769 2nd AveDecent sized grocery store for all the basics at fair prices. Produce and meat aren't the greatest.
Sightseeing
Top of the Rock
30 Rockefeller PlazaTruly incredible view of NYC. Go at night!
Thee most incredible view of the NYC cityscape. Breathtaking at night but equally lovely on a sunny day.
407 locals recommend
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
Pierrepont PlaceThee most incredible view of the NYC cityscape. Breathtaking at night but equally lovely on a sunny day.
You'll recognize the arches from countless films, but this park is a poppin place to chill on a sunny day and people watch (thought it's mostly NYU students)
946 locals recommend
Washington Square Park
Washington SquareYou'll recognize the arches from countless films, but this park is a poppin place to chill on a sunny day and people watch (thought it's mostly NYU students)
While not cheap by any means, this restaurant, located in the Plaza Hotel, has breathtaking ambiance. If you don't stay for high tea, it's at least worth a walk through.
6 locals recommend
The Palm Court
768 5th AveWhile not cheap by any means, this restaurant, located in the Plaza Hotel, has breathtaking ambiance. If you don't stay for high tea, it's at least worth a walk through.
Shopping
Eclectic mini-mall full of local artisanal jewelry, handbags, clothing and more.
Artists & Fleas SoHo
490 BroadwayEclectic mini-mall full of local artisanal jewelry, handbags, clothing and more.
Hipster central with an awesome selection of new and used books.
207 locals recommend
The Strand Bookstore
828 BroadwayHipster central with an awesome selection of new and used books.
MoMA Design Store
44 W 53rd StCute, quirky, sleek and unique gifts for everyone on your list.