Hi guys!
Last week I finally was back in New York, after 2 years! The last time I went there is just before COVID hit, in February 2020, with two girlfriends. When it hit the news this November that we could go back (you couldn't travel from Europe to the US before), my mum and I booked our tickets some time after that! And how amazing it was to be back in the city where I made a lot of good memories when I lived there for 5 months in 2018!
It was so nice to just see the differences the city has went through, but also the small things that were still the same. And the best part was that I could just walk around without feeling lost at all. I would say it felt really good to be back.
We stayed at the Citizen M hotel in Bowery, which is an amazing location with some great neighbourhoods, like Soho, Noho, Little Italy, Nolita & the Lower Eastside. It was the best location ever and we had an amazing view over the city, when in our room. The hotel also had a nice rooftop bar and a nice lobby area where you could just sit, eat and have a drink! When we walked out of the hotel, it just was a 5-minute walk to some amazing breakfast spots and some nice shops. I really like the 'new' breakfast place (it wasn't there a couple of years ago) "Bluestone Lane" and I had the best avocado toast there, actually had it a few times that week, oops. It was also another short walk to Soho, and be in one of the prettiest areas NY has to offer, in my opinion. I would really recommend this hotel and this area. It's also close to the Williamsburg bridge, what brings you to one of my other favorite areas: Williamsburg. It's a totally different vibe than Manhattan and much quiter and in my opinion more hip. You can stroll around there and take the ferry to Manhattan, after you enjoyed the incredible view over the skyline, truely breathtaking.
On my Instagram: I'll make some guides where you can see some different recommendations to go, eat and drink and a lot more. I also made some stories and you can still check these by clicking on my story highlight. And of course keep an eye on my account to see a lot more nice content, coming as posts. The NY content is not done at all, no worries :)
I'll already made a short guide here for a week-trip to NYC and mention all the things we did this trip:
Day 1:
Flight BRU-JFK
Arrived at hotel: installed and unpacked everything
We walked around in the neighbourhood: visited some local bookstores
We had dinner in Little Italy and had a nice pizza!
And we enjoyed the hot weather and the sunset
We went to sleep early (jetlag is hitting)
Day 2:
Woke up early and got to enjoy the view out of our bed
Had an (early) breakfast at The Butcher's Daughter
Strolled around in the neigbourhood
Spotted Gigi on her morning walk
Got a cookie from Levain Bakery, had to try this one
Walked to Washington Square Park
Got a jummy Starbucks drink, to keep us fresh (it was 33° wow)
Bought some lunch at the Wholefoods Supermarket (and enjoyed watching the satisfying layout haha) - on Columbus Circle
Had a picknick in Central Park and walked around there (mostly in the shadows because we were melting)
On this hot day, we went to the MET Museum and enjoyed two fashion exhibits
We walked around in UES and got an ice cream @Van Leeuwen, mjam
Got some Shake Shack and a drink at the rooftop bar of the hotel
Day 3:
Had breakfast at our new fave spot: Bluestone Lane
Walked around in Soho and did some shopping
Went to The Strand Bookstore and looked into some nice books
Strolled around to the Flatiron (which was in construction so you couldn't see anything haha)
We went to the NY Public Library, which is next to Bryant park and The Grand Central Station. After that we did some shopping in the area
We had a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery and went onto Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller, which has a very nice view of the city
We had a salad from Sweetgreen and ate it in our room, while watching some no brainer tv
Day 4:
We had a nice bagel from Black Seed for breakfast, mjum!
Then we walked down to Battery park and got a nice view on lady Liberty
We went into another nice bookstore
We also went to take a look at the 9/11 Memorial and went into The Oculus, a very nice architectural building
Then we went to Brooklyn and had a nice lunch at Cecconi's in Dumbo
We took a nice walk next to the water, with a view on the the skyline of Manhattan
Another great tip is to go to the top floor of the Timeout Foodmarket, you'll get a nice view there!
We walked the Brooklyn Bridge back to Midtown-Manhattan
We went back to the hotel to put back all our shopping wins of that day
After, we got to a local shop with some nice musthaves and we had some nice taco's @Tacombi, another recommendation!
Day 5:
We had another great breakfast at Bluestone Lane
We decided to go to Williamsburg for the morning, we strolled around and went to the waterfront where you have an amazing view on the skyline of Manhattan
Took the ferry back to Manhattan and went to Hudson Yards
We did some shopping at the shopping center and had an amazing lunch at the (new) Spain foodmarket there
Then we had a piece of cake sitting next to the Vessel, with a nice view
We went to the relatively new viewing point 'Summit one'. It was a very special experience, with difference rooms and views, very impressive!
Did some more shopping
Had a quick dinner before going to the broadway show 'Potus', which was very funny!
Day 6:
Had a very nice yoghurt as breakfast at Jack's Wife Freda
Walked around and went to a nice magazine shop, of course I had to buy some
We walked to the Meatpacking District, which is also one of my favorite areas
Went to the Chelsea Market and strolled around
Had some amazing pizza from Artichoke as lunch
Walked around some more to Little Island, which is also a new and green project on Manhattan
Then we walked the highline to Hudson Yards and I went on another viewing point: The Edge. I could see the residence I stayed at when I lived here from up there, so that was a nice view!
We had some nice dinner from Chipotle and a drink at the rooftop of our hotel, again :)
Day 7:
We had another nice bagle as breakfast and just strolled around
We started to pack our suitcases, which was a challenge with al the gifts we got
Then we got our last dinner of the week at Gelso & Grand, which is a nice Italian restaurant and we ended the night with some nice cookies from Levain Bakery, delivered by an amazing friend that's living in the city!
Day 8:
We had a relaxing morning and walked around in the neigbourhood
We went to The Fotografiska Museum, which had nice photo exhibits and after we got an iced tea from Ralph's Coffee Bar
We flew back from EWR to BRU and arrived early in the morning! Home sweet home!
Don't forget to check out all the tips & to do's on my Instagram! Enjoy!