Top Ten Places to Eat, Drink, and Live Like a New Yorker During Your Visit

New York City can be overwhelming whether you’re here for one day, two weeks, or a whole month. The endless choices of where to go and what to do are part of what makes the city so fantastic but, sometimes, it’s nice to know where you can go to enjoy life like a regular New Yorker. Here’s a list of choices that are affordable, fun, and where New Yorkers actually go to relax and enjoy their city.

10. Crif Dogs – America is all about their hot dogs, and if you want to taste the best hot dogs, Crif Dogs is the place to go. Located on Manhattan’s lower east side, you’ll see all walks of New York city life come into this tiny restaurant to indulge in some of the best cheap food in town. You can get a basic hot dog or be experimental and get one of their specialty hot dogs covered in cheese, or sautéed onions, and even wrapped in bacon. 113 Saint Mark’s Place New York 10009

9. Tom and Jerry’s – if you’re looking for a great neighborhood pub Tom and Jerry’s should be your first stop. It’s bigger than most pubs but still maintains an incredible homey and welcoming feeling. The clientele is varied and the staff is friendly and the drink selection has something for everyone. 288 Elizabeth Street New York 10012

8. Ara Wine Bar – there are tons of wine bars to choose from in New York and Ara Wine Bar is one of the best. Located in the Meatpacking District tucked away between restaurants, Ara is a great place to go for a low key evening of small plates and a great wine selection. 24 9^th Avenue  at 13^th Street New York 10014

7. Emporio – New York is full of Italian restaurants and the options are endless, but if you’re looking for authentic Italian cuisine that’s not only delicious but affordable, Emporio is the place to go. The pizzas are great to share with friends and their wine list and cocktails offer some of the best selections in the city for affordable dining. 231 Mott Street New York 10012

6. Peels – if you’re looking for New Yorkers on the weekend it’s pretty certain most of them will be at brunch on Sunday and one of the best brunch places is Peel’s located in downtown Manhattan’s East Village. The menu is southern inspired and the eggs are always amazing. 325 Bowery at East 2^nd Street New York 10003

5. Merc Bar – located in New York’s Soho neighborhood this bar is tucked away and close to invisible if you don’t know it’s there. But make your way through their simple looking red door and you’ll find it’s packed with New Yorkers looking to unwind after a hard day of work and play. The cocktails are excellent and they have a great happy hour. 151 Mercer Street New York 10012

4. Hill Country BBQ – if you’re looking for an all American meal and good time then look no further than Hill Country BBQ. The restaurant is every New Yorker’s favorite place to go get real Texas barbeque and the atmosphere is perfect for a good time with your friends or to meet new friendly people. 30 West 26^th Street New York 10010

3. Ten Bells – this wine bar is not only one of the best in the city but it’s full of expats to make New York feel a bit more like home. The bartenders are friendly and the wine selection is full of options from small producers in Europe and Morocco. A definite must visit for anyone looking for the friendliness of people who know what it’s like to be in New York as a newcomer. 247 Broome Street New York 10002

2. Employees Only – New York is known for its wonderful selection of speakeasy cocktail bars and one of the best ones by far is Employees Only. Located in New York’s West Village this bar has some of the best cocktails in Manhattan with expert bartenders making sure that every cocktail you drink is an unforgettable experience. 510 Hudson Street New York 10014

1. Brooklyn – if all else fails and you’re looking for where all the New Yorkers go, look no further than Brooklyn. New York’s favorite borough is full of restaurants, bars, boutiques, parks, and cultural activities with options for everyone. Some of New York’s best food can be found in the varying neighborhoods and visiting Brooklyn is a perfect excuse to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and see the real beauty of New York City.

Emporio – Rustic Italian in Soho

With all the restaurant choices in all the varying neighborhoods of New York City a restaurant has to be pretty special for you to keep coming back. There’s always that new place you can try, or that new chef everyone is talking about, or that amazing cocktail that’s only available at that one place in Nolita, or Brooklyn, or what have you. The likelihood of going back to one place in any consistent way is actually quite difficult for most New Yorkers.  So when you find that place that you love, that feels like everything you want in a restaurant or bar, you cherish it. And that place for me and some select friends is Emporio.

Located deep in the heart of Soho it’s a rustic Italian restaurant with no pretensions and amazing food. It’s always busy but never overcrowded and the staff is friendly and accommodating to everyone who comes in. The menu, focused on pizza and pasta, has enough variety to please many palettes without being overwhelming and each dish is perfectly balanced in flavor. Having tried both the pizza and pasta there I can say that it is always a difficult decision as to which one I should order, but either way, I am never disappointed. The pastas are homemade and better than anything you could make yourself at home and the pizzas are true Italian style with thin crust and simple flavorful ingredients.

And while I love their food, I kinda love their bar even more (surprise!). They have a lavender and tequila cocktail that takes me to my happy place. You know that place where the cocktail is so good you feel like you’re on vacation in the south of France and as long someone keeps giving you more of what’s in that glass, the real world doesn’t actually exist and everything and everyone you’ve ever loved and everything you’ve ever wanted could potentially walk through the door at that very minute.

Yeah, that kinda of happy place. Pure cocktail bliss. I have no idea what’s in it beyond tequila and lavender bitters but it’s refreshing and yet still strong, sweet but still bitter…seriously, one of the best cocktails in the city – and you know I’m trying them all.

It was also at Emporio that Erik and I discovered the wine La Caudrina Moscato d’Asti, a moscato from Italy that is the perfect finish to any meal. It’s not too expensive by the bottle and it’s a really solid dessert wine. For those who know me, I am kind of obsessed with all things muscat and moscato. I take it very seriously, so trust me on this one and if you happen to go to Emporio order the bottle (they don’t sell it by the glass), get one of their many lovely desserts and thank me later.

All in all, if you’re looking for a restaurant and bar where real New Yorkers go to relax and indulge in good food and drink, Emporio is a great choice, and my first choice on a Friday after a long week of work.

Emporio

231 Mott Street (between Prince and Spring)

Closest Subway: N, R Prince Street or 6 at Spring Street

The Traveling Subconscious

My subconscious is in the mood to travel and it is not messing around.

For the past week I have had various deep nightly dreams of traveling. Not uncommon for someone like me, and certainly not surprising with my job being back in the “office” category and no longer in the fabulous “Take the TGV and  travel to all fabulous places on someone else’s credit card” category. And it seems this unfortunate shift in my reality has caused my subconscious to panic and create completely new travel adventures for me while I’m sleeping. Now, not to be ungrateful or anything, but it’s kind of making things worse. Because now, not only do I want and need to travel, but I want to duplicate all the fabulous and ridiculous scenarios my subconscious is creating.

One dream involved 4am tapas and a Spanish lesson with a sexy bartender (shocking) in Barcelona while drinking the best sangria I have ever tasted in my life (probably because I made it up in my own head). Another dream involved driving through the Italian country side and finding an abandoned house and vineyard that was in perfect condition, of which I took complete advantage of and nobody kicked me out or asked for rent. Then, all of  my friends magically were available and in Italy to come over for a dinner party.

My latest dream was the strangest by far. In the dream I went back to Lyon and brought my sister with me for various adventures and shenanigans. Well…technically.  Somehow in the dream “we” as a unit did not have adventures. Because I lost her. Yes, I lost my sister. In Lyon. My fully grown and perfectly capable adult sister. Lost her. And instead of panicking I ordered more alcohol, made out with a sexy Frenchman (again, shocking), and kept telling people she’d find me eventually and it would be best to stay in one place (read my favorite restaurant) so as to not cause more problems. And then I went back to my Frenchman and my food.

See what I mean? My subconscious means business.

So what is a girl to do? I’ve tried various manipulative ploys to book another work trip, but my boss is too smart for me. I am only now just recovering from the financial carnage of a summer in Paris, and Air France and British Airways refuse to let me fly for free.

It seems I am left with nothing but my imagination and night time adventures for the time being. All the more motivation to make some life changes, write the stories my heart needs to tell, and build the life I want full of 4am tapas, Italian villas, and sexy Frenchmen. Hey, at least I have goals.

Vacation, Vacation, Vacation…But Where?

I’m debating a bit of a vacation. A celebration of my turning 30, all by myself in a random location.

Well, actually, let me rephrase – I am debating taking advantage of the many perks of my job and booking a week with one of our partner establishments for free for my week off in August before I come back to NYC. It’s actually just a coincidence that I’m turning 30 about a week later. But that’s an even better reason to take advantage right? I owe it to myself to celebrate entering a new decade with a free vacation, do I not?

The deal would be language lessons for 3-4 hours a day plus related cultural activities, tours, etc, in a fabulous location and the only thing I have to pay for is my train ticket and any additional food and beverages not included. It would be silly not to take advantage right? I mean, I have a week to kill, why not treat myself on someone else’s dime?

Currently I am debating between the following locations:

Vichy, France

The island of Elba (Italy)

Sorrento, Italy

Vichy is calling my name because it involves a spa package. I would have one week of language lessons plus 5 spa treatments and accommodations – all on the house.

Elba is calling my name because it is a gorgeous island off the coast of Italy. I would have language lessons in the morning, activities if I choose in the afternoon, hotel accommodations, plus lots of relaxing beach reading and cocktail drinking time. Also, it’s the island where Napoleon was exiled so bonus points for it actually relating to my studies.

Finally, there’s Sorrento, a lovely little beach town on it’s own and more importantly the gateway to the Amalfi Coast, which I have wanted to visit for years. Combine that with language lessons, accommodations, and free activities and I’m sold.

So what’s my problem? I can’t decide which one to do! I know, I know, life is SO hard. But it really is a dilemma. I’m leaning towards Italy because I’ve actually never been, and I speak absolutely zero Italian, so the language lessons would be fun and beneficial. I’ve spent so much time in France it seems silly to use free room and board in a country I’ve seen quite a bit of and where I would essentially be taking advanced French lessons. I’m worried that after the bliss of the spa treatments wear off, it wouldn’t feel much like a vacation since my entire summer consists of courses in French. But I’ve never been to Vichy…and there’s massages and facials involved…that’s a pretty hard sell for someone like me.

So if I look past the free spa treatments should I choose Elba or Sorrento? Seriously, Italian island or amazing Italian mainland coastline? Elba is probably the best bet since it will cost me less to get there (in theory) but I’m still not sure which way to go. If anyone has been to Elba or Sorrento I’d love feedback on how they were and why I should go. In a perfect world, I would go to both but I only have one week to work with and I have to decide soon so I can get it all arranged before I leave for France.

Regardless, with this week tacked on to the end of my summer to celebrate not only turning 30 but getting my Masters, I believe I will be coming back to NYC truly refreshed and reinvigorated ready to take on the world.

Until I need my next vacation of course.