A Weekend in New York City
Oh New York. Where to even begin? This city has my heart. The energy, the design, the history, the people. All of it. Keep reading for how R and I spent our latest 2 days in New York City.
You can also check out our previous itineraries here and here.
Where We Stayed (and Almost Stayed)
We booked our stay at Arlo Midtown, which is a boutique hotel in Manhattan. It was a great location. We walked most places from the hotel. (Disclaimer: We walked A LOT. R and I love to walk in cities. When we were in Chicago, we would sometimes just go for random walks to take it all in. If you don’t love to walk as much, you may want to reassess your mode of transportation.)
The hotel staff was friendly and helpful, the rooms were clean, and the lounge areas were designed incredibly well. We are always impressed with the use and design of small spaces and the hotel room was done exceptionally well. We ate in the lounge the first night and the food was amazing. (I’d highly recommend the Chicken Parmesan.) There is a coffee shop in the lobby that had really good coffee. If you know us, you know we can be picky and choosy about our coffee.
Another option we had considered was The Marlton Hotel. Our friends stayed there and recommended it. The hotel also was mentioned in a conversation we were having with local residents while eating at a restaurant. Being the travel procrastinators that we are… by the time that we sat down to book the hotel, it was sold out.
What We Did
Day 1:
Central Park
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Little Owl
High Line
Day 1 was a beautiful day and we wandered through Times Square up to Central Park. We had been to Central Park on previous trips but this time we went farther into the park than before. The music, art, and blooming trees all made for quite a magical setting. A friend had recommended The Loeb Boathouse and, although there weren’t any reservations available, I was still interested in checking it out. We debated grabbing drinks on the deck or renting a boat. We rented the boat for an hour and had a lovely time on the lake (once we figured out how exactly to row the boat).
We then walked to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was hesitant to go inside on such a beautiful day. Once we got indoors, all of those reservations were quickly diminished. The exhibition of In America: A Lexicon of Fashion was very interesting. Of course, I loved seeing the Pendleton & Hudson Bay stripe on a couple of the mannequins. We also viewed some amazing pottery and ceramics. We could not leave without seeing some impressionist artwork, which was ultimately and will always be, my favorite.
We had to force ourselves to leave in order to make our dinner reservations at Little Owl. We took a cab down to West Village to the restaurant and then walked back to our hotel via The High Line.
Day 2:
High Line
Chelsea Market
9/11 Memorial
Brooklyn Bridge (sort of)
The Standard Grill
Bryant Park
Day 2 was another gorgeous day in the city. We grabbed our coffee and headed to the High Line. Saturday definitely seemed to bring in more crowds. We hopped off at Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District and wandered through. I lost R to Lobster Place but quickly found him. It was worth the stop.
We then headed to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. We purchased tickets online and entered the museum. As we expected, this was an emotional visit that was not without tears for all that the families and first responders endured. There was a reverent feeling throughout the visit. The exhibit also showed the incredible resilience and strength of our nation and this exceptional city.
We sat outside for a bit and then walked over to the The Brooklyn Bridge. We quickly decided it was a no-go due to the sheer number of people crossing it. It is a beautiful bridge and I wish we would have planned better and visited at a less congested time.
Walking back into the Meatpacking District (it’s not that close), we tried to find a restaurant for a late lunch/early dinner. It should be noted (in case you also eat at strange hours on trips) that several restaurants were not serving food from 4:00-5:00pm. After several attempts, we stumbled upon The Standard Grill and were able to sit in the cafe. We ordered drinks and food at the bar and sat at one of the cafe tables. The setting was beautiful and a perfect (and much needed) stop. The food was fantastic! Although we didn’t have time to shop around, when we stepped out of the restaurant and started walking again, several stores drew my attention for next time.
Having definitely met our walking quota (or so our feet were telling us), we hopped in a cab to go back to the hotel to recharge. We then walked to Bryant Park to meet cousins for drinks. We knew it would be fun because they always have great suggestions! We ordered drinks and snacks at The Porch. Other activities available for families included a putting green and carousel. Bryant Park Grill and Cafe is another food and drink option within the park. The park feels like an oasis from hustle of the sidewalks that border it.
Day 3:
Trademark Bar + Kitchen
Dodging Bikes
On the last day, we had just enough time for breakfast before we needed to head to the airport. The Five Boro Bike Tour event had us running across streets to the restaurant. We had a wonderful breakfast at Trademark Bar + Kitchen (and didn’t get hit by any bikes in the process of getting there or back). On our way to the airport, our cab was redirected around Manhattan. We were glad to have left extra time to get to there. In the city that never sleeps, it is always a good idea to check on events to ensure hotel availability and travel time. Now, if we can only remember that tip for next time!
Where We Ate & Drank in New York City
On the first two days we were there, we tended to have granola bars that we brought and coffee that we bought for breakfast. Although it wasn’t always our intention, we got caught up in the days’ activities and ended up skipping lunch/having a late lunch/eating an early dinner. Nonetheless, this tended to work well and we were able to splurge a bit on our main afternoon meal. I made reservations at Little Owl because a trip to New York is not complete without dinner there. For the remainder of our restaurant experiences, we were fortunate and were able to get a table without reservations.
Little Owl– Let’s start with our favorite. This was our third time eating here (in three trips) and it did not disappoint. This cozy neighborhood restaurant has such a welcoming staff and we really felt part of West Village. The setting is quaint and charming, and the food is delicious! Little Owl is on our itinerary from now until forever.
The Loeb Boathouse– Even though we weren’t able to eat at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park on this trip, this made the list. The setting is lovely and classic and it came recommended from a reliable source. Next time, I will definitely be making a reservation in advance of the actual trip.
Lobster Place– This was a great place to stop for a snack/lunch in Chelsea Market. The lobster roll was wonderful!
The Standard Grill– As I mentioned above, we really enjoyed the cafe setting at The Standard Grill in The Meatpacking District. The rigatoni was excellent as was the burger. While we ordered at the bar, we still felt taken care of with water brought to our table and an attentive staff.
The Porch– The setting of The Porch at Bryant Park was so lovely and relaxing. It was the perfect evening spring spot. The chips and guacamole were a perfect snack!
Trademark Bar + Kitchen– As we entered Trademark, we could not stop commenting on all of the finishes. The lighting, the floors, the walls. It was all beautiful and timeless. Again, the waitstaff was friendly and attentive. The avocado toast was not only delicious but (fitting for the setting) very pretty.
Arlo Nearly Nineth Bar + Lounge– This list wouldn’t be complete without our first dinner at our hotel. After a long day of travel, it was nice to be able to sit by the fire in comfortable chairs while eating. The food was amazing and the perfect ending to our day. We both agreed that even if we weren’t staying at the Arlo Midtown, we would definitely come for a drink and dinner at the bar.
What I Wore in New York City
DISCLOSURE: From this moment forward, the following links/photos are affiliate links/photos, meaning that if you click and purchase, I may receive some compensation. Thank you!
The most important thing you can pack (in my opinion) is comfortable walking shoes. In a city of high fashion, there is also a strong undercurrent of anything goes. And, for me, comfortable shoes are it. I wore my running shoes most of the time. I did (unnecessarily) change into black booties for Bryant Park. I also packed a light winter jacket but didn’t need it much in late April/early May. Jeans, shirts, and sweaters worked great for me. What I packed (or similar) are linked below. Just click on the photos to be taken to the affiliate site.
Books We (Could Have) Read
We were busy during the day and exhausted at night. But, I love Rules of Civility for a 1930s NYC historical fiction reference.
The Curious Gardner is a cute children’s book that could definitely relate/be referring to the High Line.
I also own Big Love Cooking which is a really great cookbook (and a fun read) from the chef at Little Owl.
Get the Look
I’ve tried to round up similar items to some of the beautiful design features we experienced throughout New York. They aren’t exact but I think they give the overall feel. You will want to check the items for dimensions and purposes for your spaces.
Happy Travels!
