An expert guide to the ultimate weekend in New York
American author E.B. White once quipped about this city of eight and a half million inhabitants: "New York provides not only a continuing excitation but also a spectacle that is continuing." And while he may have said this nearly a century ago, his words still ring true to this day. Post-pandemic New York is no longer quite the City that Never Sleeps – though, as time goes on, it stays awake later and later – but it is still in constant motion. and while the surface may be always transforming, its heart never really changes. Over the course of a weekend in New York spend a day seeing the sites in Manhattan and another day wandering the heart of global hipsterism in Brooklyn for the ultimate city break.
For further New York inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, bars, shopping, attractions and free things to do.
In this guide
What's new in New York this year
Visit the Frick Collection
The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art may get the lion’s share of the art world’s attention in New York, but the Frick Collection is the sleeper hit. After shutting down in early 2020 because of the pandemic and then undergoing an extensive £257 million renovation, this Upper East side is back open in April 2025 and, for the first time ever, its second-floor exhibition space is open to the public to see works by Rembrandt, Titian, Goya and El Greco, among others.
Dine, drink and game
New Yorkers are reverting back to our childhood years by mixing food and booze with electronic shuffleboard, miniature golf, croquet, corn hole and other games. A legion of game-themed bars have swung open their doors in Manhattan, allowing locals and visitors alike to play various games while eating and drinking. Electric Shuffle features fun electric shuffleboard while sipping cocktails and eating comfort food and Xanadu is a throw-back retro-‘70s roller rink in Brooklyn’s hip Bushwick ‘hood. At the Lawn Club one can play lawn darts and corn hole, among other games; Swingers Crazy Golf is a (literal) underground miniature golf bar and restaurant. For the slightly more adventurous, there’s Live Axe, an ax-throwing bar in Tribeca (mixing booze and ax-throwing – what could go wrong?).
Try a diner for dinner
The classic American diner is an institution, albeit a dining one. But a recent New York City dining trend is breathing new life into the iconic American diner: young, talented and ambitious chefs are buying staid diners and putting some creativity on the menu. Case in point: Kellogg's Diner in Williamsburg, Montague Diner in Brooklyn Heights, and Old John’s behind Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side, have all gone through recent haphazard-to-hip makeovers where you can get inspired Tex-Mex fare, way-better-than-average burgers and creative cocktails.
How to spend your weekend
Day one: Morning
Hit Central Park for an early-morning stroll through this 843-acre-sized patch of greenery that looks like it was carved out of the urban landscape. The park, designed by genius landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, is a great spot to feel submerged in nature, far from the bustle of the big city.
Try to emerge from the park on the south-east corner. That way you’re only a small stroll from one of the best modern art museums in the United States (if not the world): The Museum of Modern Art. The museum, best known as MoMa, has a vast collection of work by late-19th and 20th century artistic visionaries, including Van Gogh, Rousseau, Picasso, Dali, Mondrian, Warhol, Monet, Matisse, Frida Kahlo, Jasper Johns and Warhol. The best way to tackle MoMa is to take the lift to the top floor and work your way down (the most memorable works are on the top two floors).
Welcome to Monkey Bar, a nearly 90-year-old restaurant with enough dimly lit atmosphere to make you feel like you’ve time traveled back a few eras when the three-martini lunch was still a thing. You can tuck into a dry-aged ribeye or one of the best burgers in the city. If you’re starving, MoMA’s in-house eatery, The Modern, is also exceptional. Pro-tip: for something more casual and more affordable, grab a seat at the bar and order from the a la carte menu.
Afternoon
Walk off that Big Apple meal with an amble down the High Line, a long stretch of once-abandoned elevated railroad track on Manhattan’s westside that was converted into an aerial park. It has become an instant Big Apple institution, wowing visitors and locals with its cool design that incorporates much of the natural surrounding. Start at the top of the High Line on W. 34th St. and then work your way down. That way you’ll be deposited right into the atmospheric Meatpacking District.
Before hopping on the High Line, though, point yourself to Hudson Yards, a new-ish complex of glass towers that New Yorkers love to hate. The best thing about Hudson Yards are the restaurants. And one of the best places to fill the stomach is BondSt, a downtown sushi stalwart that recently opened an outlet here. Weekend brunch serves up Japanese-accented mid-morning fare, plus there’s just-pulled-from-the-sea sushi and other Japanese standards.
Once you reach the end of the High Line, head west to the Hudson River to see Manhattan’s latest attraction: Little Island. Designed by London-based Thomas Heatherwick, the one-hectare artificial island in the Hudson River is free to enter. The lush island is etched with trails and provides stellar views of the Manhattan skyline.
Since the High Line spills out into the Meatpacking District and the West Village, take a breather at Té Company, where you can sip hard-to-find oolong teas from Taiwan and nibble on snacks made by chef Frederico Ribeiro who has logged time at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. Or, just steps away on the improbable corner of West 4th and West 10th Streets, is St. Jardim, which is a coffee bar during the day and a natural wine spot in the evening.
Late
When the stomach starts rumbling again, head to Minetta Tavern on historic and dynamic MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. Minetta boasts a classic old-school New York vibe that serves up one of the best burgers in the city and can shake or stir up an excellent martini.
Have a nightcap at Sip & Guzzle, a Japanese cocktail bar that started shaking and stirring cocktails in early 2024. The sleek, two-level spot is brought to you by alums of Employee’s Only and Angel’s Share, two other great West Village cocktail bars.
Day two: Morning
Spend part of day two exploring Brooklyn. Get there by strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the most iconic spans in North America. The 271-ft-tall neo-gothic arches are certainly the bridge’s trademark, but ambling along the elevated pedestrian walkway is a must for any visitor.
Once off the bridge, walk through leafy, historic Brooklyn Heights, especially the promenade above the river that offers splendid views of the downtown Manhattan skyline. And then, point yourself toward the tree-lined atmospheric neighborhood of Cobble Hill. Here is where you’ll find St Julivert Fisherie. Run by the husband-and-wife chef team Alex Raij and Eder Montero (who also run the excellent nearby La Vara), St. Julivert is an excellent seafood spot with an emphasis on European and South American coastal cuisine.
Work off your lunch by taking in more art at the Brooklyn Museum, the second largest museum in New York City. The 1895 Beaux Arts building include works by Mark Rothko, Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe and Edgar Degas.
If you prefer to stay outdoors, go next door to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where thousands of types of flora will take you miles away from the bustle of the Big Apple. Seek out the particularly peaceful Japanese Hill and Pond Garden.
Afternoon
For some post-sunset fun, head back to Manhattan. Linger for a while in Washington Square Park where bohemians and beatniks, street performers and students from nearby New York University give the place a groovy and fun vibe. On warmer days, children play in the fountain and jazz musicians thump out tunes. If the weather is not agreeable, pop into Blue Note where, since 1981, jazz and soul greats like Sarah Vaughn and Ray Charles, among many others, have taken the stage.
Then plant yourself at Anton’s on Hudson Street, where you can tuck into excellent pasta dishes in a dimly lit ambience.
Late
Afterwards, wander a few blocks north to the new 8th St. hotspot, Mace; an avant-garde cocktail bar from French mixologist Nico de Soto. First timers should opt for anything with unlikely ingredients as de Soto has a way of mixing booze and things you wouldn’t find in a cocktail glass (such as sweet potatoes or black pepper) and making it oh-so-quaffable.
Insider tips
Neighbourhood watch
Brooklyn’s Bushwick is currently the hip ‘hood, but those in the know have already moved on to Greenpoint, a vibrant Polish neighbourhood. Vietnamese restaurant Di An Di and homey hipster tavern Bernie’s are just two eateries that should lure you here.
Don’t overlook DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a neighbourhood that is rich in atmosphere thanks to the cobblestone streets and old warehouses that have been turned into loft living spaces. The nearby revamped riverside walkway boasts public art, an historic carousel, and street food stands.
City hack
Get in step for a guided Free Tours By Foot. The daily walks include an architectural tour of Harlem, where to find the best street art, and a culinary take on Greenwich Village and the Lower East Side.
Speaking of tours, if your stomach dictates your travels and you want to take a deeper dive into the food scene of historic Greenwich Village, Devour Tours does in-depth walks through the neighbourhood, stopping at the best pizza-by-the-slice spot, legendary cheese stores and butcher shops, and some of the coolest, off-the-radar restaurants in this storied part of town, all while regaling fun anecdotes about the local history.
Did you know?
New York City’s tap water is among the highest quality urban drinking H20 on the planet, as it is channelled from upstate reservoirs. Spare buying a plastic bottle and drink from the tap instead.
Rooftop pool
You can pay up to $150 (£125) for a day pass to a rooftop pool in at some posh “beach clubs,” but at the new-ish Virgin Hotels in Midtown Manhattan, $80 (£62) gets you a poolside lounger on the rooftop and endless cool vibes as you take in the view.
Map of New York
When to go
Autumn creates a classic New York City vibe, plus the Halloween parade through Greenwich Village is not to be missed. In other times of year, there is always a great reason to be in the City that Never Sleeps. In winter, the ice skating rinks appear in Rockefeller Center, Bryant Park and Central Park. Restaurant Week takes place 21 January to 9 February, when you can score memorable meals for lunch and dinner at reduced prices.
In spring shoulder season, the temperatures are on the rise and professional baseball has just begun – for Mets and Yankees fans, if you’re into that sort of thing. In summer, the cafes have sidewalk seating, the New York Pride is amped up throughout all of June, culminating in the Pride parade the last weekend of June.
Where to stay
Luxury living
The lavish Beekman Hotel, located way downtown, boasts spacious high-ceilinged rooms bedecked with vintage furniture and aged oak floors. Temple Court, the in-house restaurant by celeb chef Tom Colicchio, serves old-school New York fare, such as lobster Thermidor, but updated with seasonal ingredients.
From
£343
pn
Rates provided byBooking.com
Designer digs
The Ned’s new New York outpost is in the diminutive but fashionable NoMaD district (North of Madison Square). The 167 rooms, housed in a turn-of-the-century Beaux Arts building, are outfitted with dark wood and marble, complete with claw-foot bathtubs. The in-house eatery, Little Ned, serves up New York classics in an Art Deco-bedecked atmosphere.
From
£231
pn
Rates provided byBooking.com
Budget beauty
The 612-room Moxy Times Square is a design-friendly property with budget-conscious millennials (or those who don’t mind travelling like one) in mind. The massive rooftop bar affords fabulous views.
From
£105
pn
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What to bring home
Stop by the New York Transit Museum shop to pick up some iconic items of the New York City subway system: T-shirts of your favourite metro line, Grand Central socks, and subway-themed tote bags.
Know before you go
Essential information
British Consulate-General: (00 1 212 745 0200; ukinusa.fco.gov.uk), 845 3rd Avenue, New York
Emergency services: Dial 911
Tourist office: See nyctourism.com, the website of NYC Tourism + Conventions, for extensive information on what's on in the city and tips on where to go. Stop by to pick up maps, leaflets and other information from the Official Visitor Information Centre (00 1 212 484 1222) at at 151 W. 34th St. between Seventh Ave. and Broadway; Open Mon-Sat, 10am-10pm; Sun, 10am-9pm; Times Square between 44th and 45th Sts; daily, 8am-7pm; Southern tip of City Hall Park; Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm.
Local laws and etiquette
It is standard to tip 15-20 per cent in restaurants. Sales tax in NYC is 8.87 per cent; taxes are not included in listed shop or restaurants prices.
The basics
Currency: US dollar
Telephone code: Dial 00 1, then the three-digit number of the borough (eg, 212 for Manhattan, 718 or 347 for Brooklyn/the Bronx/Queens/Staten Island) for New York numbers from abroad
Time difference: New York is five hours behind London
Flight time: London to New York is approximately seven hours
About our expert
David Farley has called New York's West Village home for the last 15 years, where he makes a habit of helping lost, google map-wielding tourists to navigate the neighbourhood's tangle of confusing streets, trying to steer them away from tourist trap restaurants and bars.
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