New York for DH’s 40th

[Mumofgirls12341]

I’ve just booked a 5 night trip to New York for DH’s 40th birthday.

Usually he is the one who books and sorts the Itinerary, however this time it’s a surprise trip and I don’t want to tell him until a few days before we fly.

Can anyone share any top tips/must dos/great restaurants etc (we are staying at the Knickerbocker if that helps)

thanks 😊

Apple pay has been around for almost 10 years now and Google wallet for even longer. I can't remember the last time I used a physical card in the US (I live here) and I rarely see anyone whipping out a card.

Yes, we had no problem using Apple Pay on our visit either.

I have a strong memory of jumping into a can on 5th in late January to find the footwell full of snow melt. Watch the weather carefully, it can be very cold in early Feb. If it is snowing your biggest problem is traversing the mountains by the kerb where the ploughs just pile it up.

I prefer shopping in the Village to uptown. I prefer to eat in Soho and TriBeCa.

Does Bloomingdales still give out tourist discount on the customer service floor?

Go to Grand Central and look up. The ceiling is terrific. Then have champagne and oysters.

Go to the theatre, they're better than ours. Sorry London theatres.

We were perpetually confused by places lack of ability to take Apple Pay. They kept asking us for our card. I never use cash and I was really surprised at a place that developed Apple Pay seem so loatge to take it. All you said you want to pay Apple Pay and they went off to get a different machine. Very odd indeed

New Yorker here - it might not be that cold based on the past few years. No snow this year at all!

River Cafe
Minetta Tavern
Waverley Inn
Cecconis
Via Carota
Saint Theos

Rockefeller is better views than the Empire State Building but the Edge and One Vanderbilt are inside (as is freedom tower)

If the weather is bad The Met is a good shout or Hudson Yards shopping centre

Battery Park to the bottom of Central Park is a 1.5-2 hour walk.

River Cafe would be a wonderful spot for a 40th dinner. Maybe a jazz club later if he's into that sort of thing? Birdland or Dizzy's, both can be booked online ahead of time I think.

Summit One is amazing, we've also been up the Empire State, Top of the Rock and the Freedom Tower, but Summit One was our favourite by far.

Agree about keeping Time Square to a minimum. I'm much reminded of the advice I was give about Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square as a newly minted 19yo Civil Servant 40+ years ago. Avoid; the entire place is teed up to rip off tourists or steal their wallets.

We were ripped off fro $10 by some bloke selling CDs. I was too polite to tell him to piss off at first encounter after he'd clocked me as English. Said he'd give change but his sidekick hung onto my $10 bill for dear life. Good job it wasn't a $100.

No intention of pushing the boat out spending wise so ate as we found. A super French restaurant just off Central Park - top of 5th? - would be a recommend. Not far off $200 for three courses plus wine for the pair of us but the food would have passed in Paris.

Carragher's, a Liverpool FC themed place was good value too, more so while they were playing a Fortress Anfield.

If you're flying to Newark then public transport to Penn Station is easy peasy although Penn itself makes Euston plus Victoria all in one a simple concept!!
We booked a shared taxi which turned out to be a minibus. Mrs B's petite by UK standards but neither is she ++. Couldn't get into the back seats 'cos short legs and normal female bum couldn't squeeze past non folding middle row seat backs.

Battery Park to the bottom of Central Park is a 1.5-2 hour walk.

We walked from the Battery to the Guggenheim end of Central Park but it felt like it took us all day, perhaps because we had a small child with us and kept stopping at cafes and shops! OP may not have that problem. Though in February OP may not want to do that walk!

"Battery Park to the bottom of Central Park is a 1.5-2 hour walk."

And you have to stop and wait at every corner to cross and not stop to look at anything on the way. It's fucking miles. Use the subway

Don't attempt to walk long distances in NYC in early February. You will get windburned and frostbitten, and the slush thrown up by passing traffic will soak and freeze you.

I have walked many miles up and down and sideways in Manhattan. It's so easy to miss things if you only cab and subway.

Take it slow. Stop and go. Every crossing has a hot dog!! What's not to love.

Rudys Bar Hells Kitchen, 44th 9th Ave?. Amazing dive bar, cheap drinks, free hot dogs every drink.

The high line, Chelsea market, the dead rabbit (best bar in the world)

@KillingMeDeftly Guggenheim is no where the end the park! Although it’s the highest tourists feel safe I think.

@mathanxiety the past two winters have been mild - no huge snow at all this year so OP might be fine. Was nearly 20 degrees at one point in Jan 2020!

@Sisternyc I didn't mean the park ended at the Guggenheim! I just meant we walked to that bit of it.

@Sisternyc i think you’re wrong. Up to 135 tourist seem happy with. (I always thought it was 125 but apparently I’m wrong)

About the distance though. Liverpool Street to Notting Hill is longer than battery park to the bottom of Central Park.

Also, feb has been mild recently. Like heatwave mild last year.

Best hotdog is Billy’s hotdog cart on Central Park west and 93rd. Reasonably priced and you’ll get some great chat.

@Newjobformoremoney fair enough. I live by the reservoir - that’s mostly runners but once you get past that the park is always significantly quieter so assumed the tourists dropped off!

@Newjobformoremoney maybe it’s just me as I’d never go up as far as 135😅

Thank you for this - it's literally around the corner from where I'm staying next visit. Who doesn't love a cheap drink?!

Also check out Summit OV which is the latest skyscraper with an observation deck. Everyone has a differing opinion on which building is the best but this one looks interesting as it has some immersive art installations up top as well as the amazing view. Basically on top of Grand Central Station.

@Sisternyc ha ha! I’m on 97th by the park. The school my daughter goes to has a far reach and a couple of families live around there.

I was super surprised when I went up to 125 and saw loads of tourists doing a tour of the area and the Apollo. Apparently it goes often 🤷‍♀️

I was very surprised at how gentrified it is!

Try Atera, if you love amazing food and have the budget:
g.co/kgs/t8GGgn

Their website: ateranyc.com/

Have a drink at Central Park, Statue of Liberty, do Empire State Building and go to Ground Zero (haunting), and have a drink up there. I'd also recommend Time Square, catch a show unless you always go to them anyway in London and if there's anything you're a fan of, do that (I went to see Carrie's house as I'm a SATC fan). I'm a touristy tourist 😆