New Yorkers like to say they could spend a lifetime here and still barely scratch the surface of what the city has to offer. Its ever-evolving neighbourhoods, expanding green spaces, and constantly updating culinary scene certainly make that true. That being said, you can cover quite a bit of ground over just a few days. This 48 hour New York guide shows you how to hit up some of the city’s legendary landmarks, explore its world-famous museums, enjoy memorable meals, and experience both uptown glamour and downtown cool — all in a single weekend.
FRIDAY: EVENING
The Manner
First things first, check into your hotel and test out the robe and slippers. As for which hotel that is depends on which NYC landmark you want as a neighbour. If Central Park perks up your interest, look to Midtown and either the Park Lane New York or Aman New York — each a peaceful sanctuary in the middle of Manhattan.
Moving downtown, Modernhaus in Soho is the place to be if you consider NYC’s chicest shopping district a landmark in its own right. Staying at either The Bowery or The Ludlow places you on the Lower East Side, near the neighborhood’s buzzy restaurants and bars. On Manhattan’s southernmost tip, Casa Cipriani New York is set inside the iconic Beaux-Arts Battery Maritime Building, which means you’ll have views of Lady Liberty herself and can easily hop on a ferry to Governors or Ellis island.
Once you’ve unpacked and taken a peek at the minibar, head to the West Village for a quintessential New York night. Grab dinner at The Commerce Inn, which serves up seasonal American eats, then take a post-meal meander around the neighbourhood to people-watch.
SATURDAY: MORNING
Kick off the day with a stroll through Central Park and — if the weather permits — a row too. The Central Park Boathouse has rentals as well as a casual café where you can get coffee to go. Another great destination within the park is The Mall and Literary Walk, located mid-park at 66th Street. This elm-lined promenade gets its name from all the literary statues you’ll spot as you amble along.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, exit the park on the east side and head to Jojo for brunch. Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s restaurant, Nougatine by Jean-Georges, is set in an Upper East Side townhouse and feels like you’ve been invited to your bougiest friend’s place for a sunny side-up frittata and crispy potatoes.
SATURDAY: AFTERNOON
The Guggenheim
If you’re still fully caffeinated from brunch, you’re in prime position for museum hopping at some of NYC’s top cultural institutions. Museum Mile, which runs from 82nd Street to 110th Street on the Upper East Side, is nearby. Head to the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Guggenheim for modern art, design-devoted Cooper Hewitt, and El Museo del Barrio, a cultural center for Latino art. If you need to refuel along the way, grab a pastry or glass of wine at Cooper Hewitt’s Tarallucci e Vino café and snag a seat on the terrace, a refreshing splash of green amid the urban sprawl.
SATURDAY: EVENING
Stick to the Upper East Side and make your way to Bemelmans, the legendary bar that’s hosted socialites, movie stars, artists and oligarchs since 1947. Sip a martini and admire the whimsical murals by Ludwig Bemelman, the beloved illustrator behind the Madeline series of children’s books and the bar’s namesake.
For dinner, make your way down to Midtown (don’t let anyone tell you it’s not cool — you just have to know where to go) and prepare for an opulent 1920s-inspired night. First up, a dim-sum feast at Hutong; an art deco-style restaurant where you can order a flaming duck tableside (you’ll need to book for this in advance). Then it’s off to The Jazz Club at Aman New York (reservations also required) for live music and a nightcap or two.
SUNDAY: MORNING
Soho House New York
Because Saturday was all about uptown, make Sunday a downtown day. Start with a stroll along the High Line — the elevated, art-filled park that runs along Manhattan’s West Side. Head south toward the Meatpacking District, where members can stop in at Soho House New York for brunch. Otherwise, make your way to Buvette, roughly a 15-minute walk from the southernmost point of the High Line. At this impossibly charming French bistro, order croque-monsieurs alongside chocolate and almond croissants and freshly-squeezed orange juice.
SUNDAY: AFTERNOON
For one-of-a-kind souvenirs, devote the afternoon to treasure hunting in NYC’s dazzling downtown vintage shops. Find Fendi baguette bags, Chanel cardigans and Dior denim at Treasures of NYC, which is itself a looker with its checkerboard flooring and cheetah-print couch. What Goes Around Comes Around is another staple on the designer vintage scene, while Metropolis Vintage stocks loads of retro tees, and Mr. Throwback is the place for 1980s and 1990s sports attire. Need a book for your travels home? Housing Works Bookstore has gently used reads, and its profits go towards life-saving services for those living with HIV and AIDS. Afterwards, head to Katz’s Delicatessen for a meal as iconic as the concert tee you just scored. The tee may be from the 1980s, but Katz’s dates all the way back to the 1880s — feasting on a gargantuan pastrami sandwich and potato latkes here has been a true New York rite of passage since then.
SUNDAY: EVENING
Sundays are made for dinner and a show. You could go uptown to Broadway, or discover the next big thing before it lands on the Great White Way by heading to the East Village’s Public Theater. Hair, A Chorus Line, and Hamilton all got their start here. Grab an old fashioned or Manhattan at on-site Joe’s Pub before the show. Nearby, Soothr is a top spot for Thai. Try the karee pu noodles with lump crab in egg-curry sauce, and pork-and-shrimp-stuffed Soothr jeeb dumplings to get one more massive hit of NYC flavour before heading home.
GOOD TO KNOW
Transport Top-notch public transportation makes getting around a breeze (the saying ‘the city that never sleeps’ applies to the subway, too). A single subway ride costs $2.90, and the turnstile readers accept tap payments from most contactless credit and debit cards. Of course, Uber and those famous yellow taxis are available, too.
When to go You really can’t visit at the wrong time. Winter in the city is cold, but you’ll find discounts on some Broadway shows. Museums and other tourist spots get crowded in the summer, but restaurants and bars beloved by locals tend to clear out, as many New Yorkers beat the heat outside the city. Autumn may be the most universally loved time to visit, with kaleidoscopic colours in Central Park and temperatures that only require a light jacket and scarf.
What to buy Along with all those vintage treasures, fill your suitcase with stationery supplies from Goods for the Study in the West Village and Nolita; dainty gold stacking rings at Catbird in Soho, Rockefeller Center, and Williamsburg; decoupage trays and other decorative objects at John Derian in the East Village; and a ceramic version of the iconic, blue ‘We are happy to serve you’ NYC coffee cups at the MoMA Design Store in Midtown and Soho.
Good to know New Yorkers are actually nice… honest. But nothing sets them off faster than someone who crowds the doorway on the subway. Step all the way in, grab a seat or a hold of the pole, and enjoy the ride.
Craving good jazz and gargantuan pastrami sandwiches? Check out our full collection of boutique hotels in New York City