Things To Do
David's Café
Delicious spot in the East Village that's perfect for lunch/brunch and is the current home of our favorite NYC burger, The Burger Queen Deluxe, which is basically a gourmet Big Mac.
Bubby's
Home to the best pancakes in NYC, and maybe the world, Bubby's is one of our favorite brunch spots! Obnoxiously, they do not take reservations before 4pm on the weekend, but if your party is on the smaller side it's definitely worth the try/wait to get in!
Il Mattone
You have to have some classic New York pizza while in town! Though it's hard to land on a favorite, Il Mattone is one of our favorite spots for a classic New York slice downtown. There isn't seating, so grab your slice and eat it on the curb like a local ;)
Fried Dumpling
One of the best things about NYC is it's high-low culture and sneaky deals. These 5/$1.25 dumplings, located at a window counter in an alley in Chinatown, are an absolute steal and delicious mid-day snack.
Mei Lai Wah
What's a baked bun, you ask? Not sure, technically, but it's one of the most interesting, surprising, and delicious snacks we've had while strolling around Chinatown. The Pineapple Bun w/ Roast Pork is their speciality and the flavor combo is insane (and only $2.30!).
Bar Italia
One of our favorite Italian spots in the city and where we had our first date (and about 100 espresso martinis)! If you are in the mood to explore and head uptown it is a lovely spot for an afternoon bite.
Emmett's on Grove
Adorable spot and the most delicious (thin!) pizza with really fun toppings. It's in the always lovely West Village and just a 7 min walk from our Saturday night venue, so could be the perfect place for a pre party bite!
Bar Room at the Beekman
Beautiful, cozy bar in the Beekman Hotel that has lush decor and sumptuous cocktails. On Saturdays they host a Jazz Brunch here with a delicious menu, as well!
Laissez Faire
Since Friday wraps on the earlier side (for NYC folk), we wanted to share a rec for after-hours fun in the neighborhood in the event people are still mobile after eating their weight in pasta. Laissez Faire is a "high end, bespoke cocktail lounge" and dance club located in the basement of the Beekman Hotel and it is chicer than chic.
The Museum at FIT
If you love fashion this museum is a must-see! The exhibitions always have a great theme and showcase an extremely well-curated selection of archival pieces. Bonus is that it's FREE and you can just walk in!
The Hole
Art Galleries are all over NYC and some of our favorite places to wander in on a free weekend! The Hole is one of the best for "artist discovery" as it showcases a broad range of unique, mostly colorful, and somewhat eccentric, artists. The Bowery location is perfectly located across the street from the iconic Bowery Hotel, which is a must-stop for a pre or post dinner drink.
Coming Soon
Located on Orchard Street, which remains one of New York City's coolest and most interesting blocks, Coming Soon is a lovely shop that has art and decor and so many other things! A wonderful place to find unique gifts or items for your home.
Flying Solo
New York has EVERYTHING when it comes to shopping, so we wanted to share some shops that feature lesser-known emerging designers. Flying Solo has an amazing assortment of niche brands and is on a beautiful soho block, so you can check out the names you know while in the hood, too!
Café Forgot
As The Cut puts it, "If you want to buy something wonderfully weird and one-of-a-kind, swing by Café Forgot." This new-ish cult boutique situated in the artsy Lower East Side offers one-of-a-kind pieces and small-run, unique designs from under-the-radar design talent.
Dauphinette
Dauphinette is slowly becoming one of my (Christina here, sorry it's womenswear ONLY at the moment) favorite brands. The shop, located in the West Village near our Saturday event, is absolutely worth stopping by even just to peruse! Designer Olivia Cheng creates true works of art and you will absolutely find something special in her shop!