City Guide: New York

New York is my favorite city par excellence

I have had the chance to visit it extensively many times.

Whether it's the humid heat of summer or the Christmas lights, this city has so much to offer in all seasons.

Here I will give you a presentation by district.

Downtown / Tribeca

A center of commerce and finance, Downtown lives to the rhythm of its symbol, Wall Street.

At the southern tip stands the Statue of Liberty. It is outlined in the axis of the One World Trade Center tower, whose glass spire culminates at 541 m on the site of Ground Zero.

At his feet, Reflecting Absence uses the site with two pools representing the footprints of the twin towers.

Their perimeter is engraved with the list of names of the victims of the 2001 attacks.

A little further on the site, the 9/11 Memorial Museum, with its many rooms, like a labyrinth.

We walk around with photos, debris and objects belonging to the victims in the background.

To the north, Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal St), where you will find industrial buildings transformed into lofts and chic restaurants.

TO DO

• To see the sunset over Manhattan for 25 minutes aboard the Staten Island Ferry (4 South Street)

• For 1$, one can discover his fate on a scroll of the temple at MAHAYANA (133 Canal Street) .

I did this personally on one of my trips at least 4 years ago

• Unmissable shopping stop: Century 21 (22 Cortland St), the brand supermarket. You can find sales on major brands ranging from 40 to 70%

I always take advantage of my stops in New York to buy new Levi's jeans.

Used to jeans costing around 100 euros when I lived in France, how can I say that jeans at 30$ are clearly worth the detour 😉

• Stroll through Battery Park: ideal for a picnic, facing Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty

SOHO/ GREENWICH VILLAGE / CHELSEA

Located along the Hudson, these neighborhoods became the darling of artists and intellectuals in the 1950s.

Soho is full of showrooms and restaurants.

Around Washington Square, " The Villagee”, is home to a large gay community

In Chelsea, there are many contemporary art galleries.

Must-see: The High Line, located along an old railway line that connects the Meatpacking District to 34 St.

It has become one of New Yorkers' favorite walks, with views of the Hudson and artist installations.

TO DO

• Evening at the Comedy Cellar : if your level of English is good, you will have a good laugh in this club which saw the start of the greatest American comedians (117, McDougal St)

• Is it aperitif time? Enjoy Basque tapas at TXIKITO (240, 9th Ave)

• Swimming pool, DJ, the perfect rooftop at STANDARD (848 Washington St)

• Stroll along the alleys of the Chelsea Market, a bobo market including a Japanese chef for sushi on demand, soup bar, Italian caterer, etc.

CHINATOWN / NOLITA / LOWER EAST SIDE / EAST VILLAGE

With the successive waves of immigrants, strolling along these neighborhoods, we take a real tour of the world of cultures

Further north, East Village is home to many young and trendy bars and restaurants.

TO DO

• A very popular brunch address: at Prune (54 E 1 st)

• Fancy a good snack? Fresh donuts from Doughnut Plant (379 Grand St) will delight you. There is something for everyone: filled with crème brûlée, matcha, carrot cake or even in square shape

TIMES SQUARE / THEATER DISTRICT / ROCKFELLER CENTER

In the heart of the theater district, with its thousands of illuminated billboards, it is THE place to be for any tourist in New York.

A true nerve centre of the theatre district, it is ideally visited at night, to soak up the atmosphere and the lights.

Further north, Rockfeller Center is a true showcase of Art Deco.

Another must-see: its summit, the Top of the Rock, embrace the whole Big Apple.

Not far from there, the MOMA, which houses the world's richest permanent collection of modern and contemporary art.

TO DO

• Entertainment lovers, take advantage of the opportunity to treat yourself to a seat at a musical. There are all kinds, you will be spoiled for choice

There is not a time that I have not been to New York or seen a show. It is my little pleasure that I give myself every time.

• As mentioned above, go up to the Top of the Rock (30 Rockfeller Plaza) for a spectacular view of the city. Choose this summit over the Empire State Building.

• TV series fans, stop by the store HBO (1100 BC 5th of the Americas)

• Best brunch (in the world according to some), go to NORMA'S (119 W 56th St), located in the Parker Meridian

• Stop shopping at Macy's, receives 35,000 visitors per day and claims to be the largest department store in the world (151 W 34th St/Broadway)

• Ice skating around the Rockefeller Center tree during the holiday season (well, you can imagine it's always crowded but a unique experience)

MIDTOWN EAST / 5TH AVENUE

Between 5th Avenue and the East River, this part of the city offers a beautiful architectural stroll

It is home to the UN headquarters, Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

5th Avenue, which needs no introduction, is the street of big brand boutiques.

To name a few: Tiffany & Co, this luxury jewelry store, is a stop often offered on private excursions.

Stop in front of the windows of the Macy's, a real spectacle in all seasons

A little bonus for the end-of-year holiday season, when the decorations, lights and themes of their windows delight young and old alike.

TO DO

• Shopping if your wallet allows it of course 😉

• Take a stroll through the lobby of Grand Central, home to many films (E 42nd Street / Park Ave)

• Visit St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue, the largest Catholic cathedral in the United States

• Sit on the stairs of the New York Public Library. Adorned with two marble lions, it is a very popular place for New Yorkers (455 5th Ave / W 42nd St)

UPPER WEST SIDE

A luxurious neighborhood popular with celebrities, Lincoln Center is a temple of music, dance and theater.

From Columbus Circle to Broadway, bars and restaurants welcome night owls after shows.

From Lincoln Center, you can go for a stroll along Central Park

TO DO

• On your way to get lost in Central Park, stop at Levain Bakery, clearly the best cookies in the world (167 W 74th St)

The store is unassuming and there are no options to sit down on site, only take away, but there is clearly a before and after after tasting these nuggets 😉 Attention lovers of sweet treats!

• Many salad bars have sprung up in New York in recent years, with the pace of life of eating on the go and taking quick lunch breaks.

The Aroma Express Bar located at 169 W 72 St, offers you copious amounts of them

• During the end of year holidays, a large ice rink is installed in Central Park, many people gather there. With a unique view of the buildings, although the noise absorbed in the middle of this greenery, it is just a moment out of time.

The New York of your Christmas movies, really!

UPPER EAST SIDE

This district is crossed by three large avenues:

Museum Mile, lined with the Met, the Guggenheim and wealthy mansions.

Madison Avenue Collects the Great Fashion Designers

Park Avenue, more residential, is lined with opulent buildings guarded by doormen.

TO DO

• Always the possibility of strolling in Central Park via one of its many entrances

• Be entertained in one of the many museums present like the Met or the Guggenheim

• Window shopping at Barney's At 660 Madison Avenue, located on 7 floors, it is the showcase of prominent stylists with a huge accessories department.

Or even to Bloomingdale's (1000 3rd Ave / E 59th St).

MOVING AWAY FROM THE CITY

• Harlem, historic stronghold of New York's black community, gospel, jazz and real Southern cuisine.

Don't miss out on attending at least one gospel mass, full of singing and excitement, if you're passing through. It's definitely worth the detour!

• Brooklyn Heights

At the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge lies Brooklyn Heights, which exudes provincial charm.

The view from this side of the bridge of the New York skyline is simply magnificent.

You can cross the bridge on foot or by bike, all year round, to arrive in Brooklyn.

A superb walk in perspective although there are always a lot of people there, whatever the time of year.

• Williamsburg

      The new trendy neighborhood of recent years, still in Brooklyn.

      To escape the city's real estate boom, people have migrated to this side of the bridge

      Here Bedford Avenue vibrates with its bars and vintage shops.

      Further north, Queens is just 15 minutes from Grand Central Terminal.

• Coney Island

One of my discoveries during one of my last summer stays, the possibility of going to the beach just by taking the subway (lines D or N) from the center of New York.

In fact, in just 1 hour you can reach the Coney Island pier, its large beach and its funfair. If you have several days in the Big Apple, go for it!