by Claire Star & Nicole Jordan
American Museum of Natural History (one of the largest museums in the world)
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (iconic and beautiful)
Bloomingdale’s (the original store)
Book Culture (great selection of books, gifts, and housewares)
Cafe Jax (quiet spot to work with Stumptown and downstairs seating)
Carl Schurz Park (pretty park along the East River)
Central Park Conservatory Garden
Chelsea Market
Cooper Hewitt Design Museum (Smithsonian design museum, free on Sat. night)
Eataly
Ess-a-Bagel (the greatest bagels of all time)
Flatiron Building
Grand Central (famous train station with constellation ceiling)
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (track in Central Park for walking and running)
Juliano Gourmet Coffee ($1 coffee and friendly folks)
Levain Bakery (home of giant delicious cookies, prepare for a line)
Mille-Feuille Bakery Cafe (best almond croissants)
New York Public Library
Om Nails and Spa (really friendly nail salon)
Oslo Coffee Company (some of our favorite coffee in NYC)
Petite Shell (rugelach and coffee)
Roosevelt Island (take the tram for a picnic in Four Freedoms Park)
Shake Shack (very good burgers, fries, and milkshakes, all over town)
Shakespeare and Co (books and coffee)
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Steven Alan Outpost (pretty clothes, jewelry, and shoes)
Strawberry Fields (in honor of John Lennon)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (admission is by donation, see the summer rooftop installations)
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (free museum with fashion exhibits)
The Museum of Modern Art
The Plaza (setting of my childhood favorite movie Home Alone II)
Toby’s Estate Coffee (NYC coffee shop attached to a bookstore)
Tudor City Gardens (a beautiful, quiet garden in view of the UN)
Union Square Farmer’s Market (local food, drink, and more)
Zabar’s (my favorite grocery store)
Use our Google map for all our NYC Guide locations in one place, including their websites and addresses.
What are your favorite spots in Upper Manhattan and Midtown? Did we forget anything? Comment below!
// Photos by Claire Star
Tags: by Claire, by Nicole, Left Coast Other Left NYC Guide, New York, Travel