I get a lot of mails and questions of friends who want to know what the best things are to do in NYC/Brooklyn. I’m definitely not an expert but I do have some suggestions that will make your trip a lot different from the average NYC tourist trip.
- Where to stay? Use Airbnb and find something in Lower East Side, they have great breakfast places like 88 Orchard (great American pancakes with Blue berries);
- If you’re wondering what tourist guide to buy: purchase the NFT (Not for tourist) Guide of NYC (also for iPhone), I got the book once as a present from one of the editors and I now recommend to everyone (which ruins a bit the idea of the guide ;);
- Go out of Manhattan and look up different subcultures using Walking Around: Hipster bars in Williamsburg to Greek bakeries (there’s one good right at the corner) in Astoria or get deep in Brooklyn with the Malaysian cuisine (I ate here twice, it was good and very reasonable priced);
- Also in love with curries? Don’t mind low-key places? Mingus and I used to go here sometimes twice a day, meet cabbies and in the good times Occupy fellows (near Financial District), take the naan bread with vegetables OH and milk tea;
- Friday nights are the best at Miss Favela (Williamsburg), grab a good Mojito and dance your way into the Samba (live music!) with Brazilians living in NYC;
- Before you do your samba, one block away is Cariño, they serve the best Mexican food ever, and the staff rocks big time.
- Monday nights are always the best in Apotheke, we threw our TSAS Pre party there, the people are great, and the atmosphere is the best (they rebuild a complete old Pharmacy from Austria), it’s expensive but it’s hidden in the midst of China town. Please go on Mondays: they play live jazz at ten;
- I always lived with architects around me back in Delft, they’re pleasant people: good taste for fashion and style, if you happen to have time check out what’s going on in Storefront for Art and Architecture, last time I went to see my friends of Plus Pool interviewing Bjarke Ingels (cool guy, and awesome architect);
- Drink good coffee here (Near Washington Square).
- Drink good coffee and buy/read good books here (Soho) - good music too;
- Meet New Yorkers and experience the city like you never did, thanks to Gidsy that’s damn easy now;
The most important thing is: give your trip a purpose, make appointments, meet people and breathe.
I’ll try to add more when they pop up in my mind! Please put your suggestions in the comments.
