Freehand New York

Worth getting out of bed for

There’s always something going on in the city that never sleeps. The big-hitter museums around Central Park are just a 15-minute cab ride away, but closer still is the Museum of Sex, just a 10-minute walk away on the north side of Madison Square Park – a quickie in the gift shop is a must. For an afternoon off from museums and art galleries, pick up a good book from the Rizzoli bookstore at 1133 Broadway and head to the lush lawns of Madison Square Park. New York is a beautiful city, particularly at night when it’s all lit up, so set an evening aside to explore the streets on foot. The birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt is a few blocks south of the hotel, and just up the road is the triangular Flatiron Building; stroll across the park to view the grand exterior of the Appellate Division Courthouse, then follow the bright lights of the Empire State Building up 5th Avenue for a few back-bending minutes of ogling the 103-storey skyscraper.

Local restaurants

Authentic Italian snacking is but a few blocks away at elegant pizzeria Marta. With marble and brass countertops, feature lights hanging from the high ceilings and pristine white walls throughout, this is more upmarket than many New York eateries, and its crispy thin pizzas are leaps and bounds above the rest: watch the chefs toss and flip and cover your food in the open kitchen while you wait. Maialino’s beamed ceilings and small wooden tables make this Italian eatery feel like a little piece of Roma has moved to Gramercy Park. Chef Jason Pfeifer’s all-Italian menus offer treats for all times of day; for breakfast, try the scrambled eggs con cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper), at lunch order a a panino indiavolato (a sandwich filled with salami and chilli tapenade), then go all out with the five-course tasting menu for dinner. Set in a beautifully restored 1854 carriage house, The House has an intimate feel perfect for a romantic date-night meal. The seasonal menus are based on fresh fare rather than a set cuisine; you’ll find lasagna next to hamachi crudo and juicy burgers on their varied menu.

Local cafés

Birch puts the personal touch back into city coffee shops; they responsibly grow and roast their own beans and their barristas will even spell your name correctly on your coffee cup. They’ve scoured the city to find the finest pastries to complement your fresh-roasted brew. After working your way around the vibrant concept stores of Dover Street Market, head to the in-house Rose Bakery for a little visual downtime from the art-packed boutiques while you refuel on caffeine and freshly baked cakes.

Local bars

Well-versed cocktail drinkers will head to The NoMad Hotel’s Library Bar, where you’ll find a wealth of intriguing tomes – the drinks list is a good read, too. Be tempted by a Sherry Painkiller with pineapple, coconut and Guatemalan rum, while perusing the well-stocked shelves. The embossed metal ceiling and tiled walls of the Ampersand are just around the corner; this cool bar has a slight feel of a Twenties drinking den, but one that hiply and happily adapted to New York’s current cocktail scene. Bag a booth at Turnmill and you’re set for the night – and early morning. As a change from cocktails, order one of their draft beers or whiskeys; they also do flights if you can’t whittle down your favourites from the long list.