Things To Do
Tarrytown Main Street
Check out the shops and restaurants on and around Main Street! We have a few recos below, but route to "Tarrytown Music Hall" and you'll be in the thick of things.
Sleepy Hollow
Yes, it's a real town! 10-15 min drive from Tarrytown
Lyndhurst Mansion
For our history buffs and architecture fans. One of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions that sits on its own 67-acre park beside the Hudson River. Less than a 10 min drive from both hotels! Tickets are only sold through their website and are limited per day so book in advance
Mint Premium Foods
Great all day food spot. For our NC friends, this gives us Root Cellar vibes
Sweet Grass Grill
Cute little restaurant on Main, can attest it's a great lunch spot!
Horsefeathers
Charming old timey spot with a fab drinks menu
Bridge View Tavern
Great spot for some daytime beers & bar food
RiverMarket Bar and Kitchen
Lunch & dinner spot down closer to the water. One of the bigger restaurants in town, so great if you're trying to plan something with a large group
Walk or Bike the Tappan Zee Bridge
Walk or rent bikes along the pedestrian path of the Tappan Zee bridge (recently renamed the Governor Mario Cuomo bridge for googling purposes, but locals still call it Tappan Zee)
NYC Itinerary (First Timers)
Day 1 - Hit all the must-see spots for first timers! - Central Park: Route to Bethesda Fountain and walk the mall/terrace area. Wander around there and you'll stumble on other spots like the boathouse. If you're a big walker, make your way up north to the reservoir - The Met: Right on the park & most iconic NYC museum. Roof has a great view! - Broadway Show: A MUST if you haven't been! Reco Wicked for first timers & families. You'll also inevitably hit Times Square going to/from the show - Food: Google "The Infatuation Theater District" for good dinner spots before the show Day 2 - Make your way downtown for famous NYC neighborhoods, eating, & shopping! - Greenwich Village Food Tour: I still remember this from when I was a kid! Great way to get a sense of the west side and sample famous food - Love the water & walking? Hit the West Side Highway! Best place to walk in the city. Walk west (route "Drift In") til you hit the water - Love shopping & city exploring? Head to Soho and Nolita
NYC PLACES TO STAY (FIRST TIMERS)
- Midtown Manhattan: Walking distance or quick car rides to all the "classic" popular NYC destinations (aka Day 1 of itinerary). This will also be easiest to get to Tarrytown if you're planning on taking the train from Grand Central - Soho: Lots of good hotel options and a great location if you're more into shopping/want to see more of downtown Manhattan
NYC Itinerary (Returning Visitors)
Day 1 - Walk around a new area: Reco West Side Highway, Nolita, and/or Seaport (FiDi) - Dinner in west village: L'Artusi & Palma are my top picks. They book a month in advance but you can often walk in and get bar seats at L'Artusi if you're early. Other (realistic) recos: Anton's, Shuka, Pinto Garden, Rosemary's - See a comedy show: Comedy Cellar is by far the best. They have multiple locations; our fav is Black Fat Pussycat. Do a later show (9 PM+) for best comedians. Book a month+ in advance - Nightcap at La Lanterna Day 2 - Get a bagel or Daily Provisions: Bagels... Tompkins Square, Black Seed, Baz, Murray's. Daily Provisions has the best breakfast in the city: breakfast sandwich with wake-up sauce & a cruller - Brooklyn day: Dumbo for water views, and/or Williamsburg for cool rooftops and fun bars - Dinner: Paulie Gee's (A+ pizza). If you're sick of Italian, grab Asian food on the east side of Manhattan - Chinese (The Bao, Hwa Yuan, Han Dynasty) or Thai (Lovely Day, Thai Diner)
BEST OF NYC, FOOD & DRINK
"Best Of" the city according to the Shook-Baker household - Best bagel: Everything bagel with garlic & chive CC at Absolute Bagels. But that's very far uptown, so we tell most people to go to Tompkins Square Bagels - Best pizza: Paulie Gee's, Joe & Pat's, John's on Bleecker - Best place to grab a beer: Blind Tiger, Talea, Tom & Jerry's, McSorley's, Pete's Tavern - Best cocktail spot: Soho Grand, Dante, Bar Belly, Back Room, Westlight rooftop, Katana Kitten, The Campbell - Best Italian: L'Artusi, Palma, Emilio's Ballato, Charlie Bird, Via Carota - Best Asian: The Bao (Chinese), Ippudo (Japanese, ramen), Thai Diner (Thai) - Best restaurants not yet mentioned: Minetta Tavern, Pastis, Kiki's, La Contenta, Musket Room - Best tacos: Los Tacos No. 1 - Best burger: Au Cheval, Gotham Burger Social Club, Minetta Tavern - Best dessert: Little Cupcake Bakeshop, Levain - Best places we've yet to go to: 4 Charles, Torrisi, Don Angie, Misi, Scarr's Pizza, Lucali, L'Industrie
BEST OF NYC, PLACES & THINGS
"Best Of" the city according to the Shook-Baker household - Best place to walk: West Side Highway, Central Park, Brooklyn Heights Promenade - Best museum: 9/11 Memorial & Museum, The Met, The Whitney - Best live music: Jazz bars in WV (Village Vanguard, Mezzrow), scene-y jazz/live music bars around WV (Django, Arthur's Tavern), Brooklyn Bowl, Le Poisson Rouge - Best concert venue: Forest Hills - Best comedy show: Comedy Cellar - Best place to shop: Soho, Nolita, 5th Ave in Flatiron area (mix of normal + window shopping), Madison Ave in Midtown area (more window shopping) - Best place to thrift shop: Bushwick (L train vintage & surrounding stores) - Best place to buy a book: McNally Jackson, The Strand - Best place to read a book: Elizabeth Street Garden, NYPL Bryant Park, Arthouse Hotel, West Side Highway