NYC 2025
Ugh, tourists amirite? On a much-needed long weekend trip to the big apple in the depths of my senior-itis, I wanted to be different. Taking off down the alleyways of Harlem, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge down to prospect park or just blending in with the crowd in Times Square and not being offered a bus tour on every block. We arrived at our hotel in the prime location of West 48th street, and the billboard infested heart of Manhattan kept us rubbernecking at the grandeur of it all. We quickly realized as we circled the grid system that we were, in fact, the unapologetic tourists.
With our phones in the air, google maps in queue, we shamelessly took a city vacation that could make a local scoff in disinterest, including 3 separate trips to the M&M store. We stopped at Grand Central Station with no plans to board a train and purchased “I heart New York” t-shirts at bodegas on the street. But why should we feel bad? Tourism is one of the largest contributors to the city’s economy. After all, its iconic sites were built to be gawked at. So don’t feel bad if you find yourself glued to the beaten path because you deserve to walk there too!
Here is a glimpse at some easy to find restaurants in Manhattan for an unabashed tourist experience:
Mexican cuisine in the theatre district that doesn’t disappoint. The queso was spicy just like my margarita. Fried cauliflower is something I always reach for, I just wish we spent less time waiting for the check!
1567 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Home of the decadent ice cream cake, we had vanilla soft serve with an overwhelming sweetness that‘s reminiscent of heavy cream. The sorbet is a lighter option, and I can never resist something pink.
165 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036
How could I go to New York City and not get a bagel? They had so many bagel types, cream cheeses and sandwich options with brightly colored salmon laid out in the case. It was busy enough to assume my time spent on NYC bagel Reddit pages was worth it.
691 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
There’s no chance to be bored here, with screens at every angle playing pop hits loud enough to make ordering just a little uncomfortable. Go for the experience!…but save your appetite for $1 pizza 2 blocks down.
136 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036
Authentic, Roman-style pizza (and they do that thing I love when you order 1 slice but they really give you 2). Their outdoor seating provides a transparent view of Columbus Circle if you snag one before your food arrives.
1796 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
On my quest for local coffee, the baked goods in the window is what drew us into Fabrique. Their “vanilla roll” and vanilla iced latte were a rebellious yet rewarding break from my daily Dunkin’ donuts.
348 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014
