If you’re eager to take advantage of the loosened travel restrictions, then keep on reading for my guide to a quick New York City trip! For those of you who don’t know, I lived in NYC for five years (2014-2019), and I hadn’t been back since September 2019. As soon as travel restrictions were lifted for fully vaccinated Canadians, I immediately booked a round trip to the Big Apple. I went from August 20th to the 24th which was the perfect amount of time. This won’t be a guide for first time visitors, but rather a walk through of what I did as someone who has seen and done all the touristy things.
Day 1
I flew into LGA which is my personal favourite airport. It is quick to get through, and you can either take a bus into the city, or order an Uber which is quite affordable. Despite waking up at 3am to catch a 5:45am flight, I was awake with excitement. Even though I hadn’t been back to New York in two years, everything still felt familiar. My friends who I was staying with lived on 28th St, therefore we decided to walk around the area since there was a lot to do in the neighbourhood.
First things first, sweetgreen. Now, before you roll your eyes at me for buying a $14 salad, try their Chicken Pesto Parm, and then thank me for changing your life. Once my belly was full, we walked down to 14th St to go to the Union Square Farmer’s Market. This was something that actually had changed since the last time I was there. It had grown a lot, and had many new food stands. Despite Covid 19 still being present, there were many food samples to try!
Later on that evening, my friends and I went to Da Umberto’s on 17th St. Truly, this was the best Italian food I have ever had in my life. I had the Truffle Ravioli which left me speechless. If you go here, definitely try that, as well as the polipo (grilled octopus), and the burrata.
Day 2
Day 2 in New York City was spent doing some more exploring. We first went to Battery Park which is my favourite area in Manhattan. I went to school in FiDi, therefore Downtown has a special place in my heart. From there, we walked up to Church St and got brunch at Tribeca’s Kitchen. I had never been to this restaurant before, but it quickly got ranked in my top 10. My friend John and I were both torn on the same two dishes (the burger, and the house cured roast beef), so we decided to split the two! The staff there were so friendly, and the food was mouth watering. They had outdoor individual tents set up which not only were safe with Covid restrictions, but added such charm to the atmosphere.
I know I said this wouldn’t be a guide to NYC, but regardless of if you are going for your tenth time or first, you have to walk through Soho… which is exactly what we did after brunch. Don’t take the subway to Canal or Prince St. I recommend starting in lower Manhattan and walking up West Broadway, not Broadway. That way, you walk through Tribeca and avoid a lot of the tourist crowds. Once you hit Broome St, make a right and walk up to Broadway, and you will find yourself in shopping heaven.
In the evening, we went to Refinery Rooftop Bar. Not only is the vibe great, but the drinks were fantastic! Ask for the Luster, but substitute gin for True Vodka (you can either get this as a cocktail or as a shot).
Day 3
On my third day there, Hurricane Henri hit NYC, so we were forced to spend the entire day inside. Don’t worry, many games were played, and lots of food was eaten.
Day 4
Day four, I only had half the day there since my flight was in the afternoon. It happened to be one of my best friend’s birthdays, so we went to my absolute favourite breakfast spot in the entire city… Bubby’s! Regardless of if you prefer savoury breakfasts over sweet, you need to order their blueberry pancakes. Just typing about it is making me hungry again.
Well that was the gist of my short but sweet trip to NYC. My heart was so full (as was my belly), and it made my itch to go back so much stronger. Again, this trip was mostly to see my friends, therefore this guide might not be for those looking for the typical tourist attractions to see and do. If you want that, let me know and I’d be happy to recommend what to do for a first time visitor. If you’re looking for another guide, click here to read Cassandra’s guide to Prince Edward County.
I love New York City so much, and there is always so much to experience. I already booked my trip to go again at the end of October, and I am counting down the days. Let me know if you’ve been to any of the places listed above, or if you have other recommendations!
