So you've seen Times Square, went up the Empire State Building, and visited the Met - what else is there to do?

New York, NY, USA

The Non-Touristy NYC Weekend

Pro tip: Museums and art exhibits will almost always have special exhibits or shows going on. Look them up ahead to find one you're interested in. For instance, the Met is worth a repeat if there's a special event going on, like during the Lunar New Year festival.

Of course, Broadway is a classic, and you should try to lottery into shows while you're here (or rush them if you're feeling ambitious), but there's a ton of comedy, jazz, music, etc to enjoy as well!

I won't list every single food recommendation in New York City (there are too many!) but here are a few that are easy to get to, some without a reservation and some potentially less touristy.

(a little harder to get to during a quick trip, but well worth the commute)

Starting the day off in Bryant Park in Midtown, take a free tour of the New York Public Library (hugely underrated experience). If it's December, be sure to check out the Bryant Park holiday market too.

If you visit New York when Smorgasburg (street food vendor market) is on, check it out in Prospect Park:

Take the NYC Ferry down the East River from the stop on 35th St (walk East on 35th all the way to the river, and you'll see the dock). Take the East River ferry headed to Pier 11 / Wall Street and get off at the Dumbo stop in Brooklyn. Download the NYC Ferry app ahead of time to have an easier time buying tickets.

If you've been to New York before, you may have visited Dumbo to see spots like Jane's Carousel, the Brooklyn Bridge, or Time Out Market. However, Brooklyn has much more to offer, so let's spend the afternoon here.

Stay in Brooklyn for dinner (see below for recs) or make your way back to Manhattan for the evening. Let's stick downtown in the West Village for food and drinks.

Make your way to Prospect Park, making sure to catch the Grand Army Plaza and the central Brooklyn Library.

Continue further into Brooklyn either by taking the train or taking a stroll through Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill. Stop for a snack near Barclay's Center (where the Nets play!)

Just south of Washington Square Park, there is a huge selection of comedy clubs, music clubs and other bars. When I went to Terra Blues, it didn't feel touristy at all, and many of the folks there seemed like regulars.

Love hanging out in KTown on a Friday night - let's do dinner, dessert, and karaoke.

Finish up with karaoke at a nearby bar (Anytime Kitchen also has a karaoke bar upstairs, and Karaoke City is my personal favorite budget karaoke experience) or find a comedy show / theater show / etc to hang out at for the evening, more recs below.

Let's make our way back downtown - take the train down to the East Village for dinner.

Let's work our way from uptown to downtown today, starting off with a morning on the Upper West Side. Let's stop by the market first where you'll find food vendors, thrifted clothing, jewelry, art and more. Even on the coldest of days, the market will still be open Sunday at 10a.

After the Grand Bazaar, grab Sunday brunch in the UWS.

After brunch, let's walk off the food coma - grab a coffee and stroll through Central Park. Since we're a bit north of midtown, there's a good chance it'll be less crowded around here. While you're up here, I'd also check out the giant reservoir in Central Park.

This is what I'd do if my friend came into town and didn't want to do any of the big tourist attractions. Towards the bottom, there are lots of recs for food, shows, and museums that you can sub in and out for any of the items on the sample itinerary.

David Zwirner

The Whitney Biennial

Whitney Museum of American Art

The Stand NYC

Comedy Cellar

Smalls Jazz Club

Grand Bazaar NYC

Delivery & Pickup Options - 745 unbiased reviews of Los Mariscos "The amazing team at Los Tacos No.1 have done it again with their separate fish/seafood taco joint in Chelsea Market. And if you know anything about Los Tacos, you'll know to come here. Fast.

Los Mariscos is gorgeous, casual and the perfect spot located right next to Los Tacos (I heard that the boys discovered a boiler room in the back of Chelsea Market and converted it into Los Mariscos). Simple, tight menu of Baja/Tijuana style nosh. Fresh tortillas made by hand by the queen of Masa-handling. The freshest, brightest seafood you've ever had (get the Enchilado - a spicy shrimp taco that will leave you craving at least 7 more). The simple fish taco has the flakiest fish you've ever had. Ceviches, aguachiles, oysters. Full bar, cranking out bright Palomas and fizzy Mezcal margaritas.

The walls are adorned by local street artist Steve Powers and his team - all hand-lettered, hand-painted and out of this WORLD. Classic style that adds the perfect touch.

Bring a date. Bring yourself. Get an extra taco. Say hi to the boys. Sip your cold beer. Welcome to NYC, Los Mariscos."

Los Mariscos - New York, NY

LOS MARISCOS

Specialties: MáLà Dry Pot focused Chinese restaurant with hip and relaxing environment. Established in 2018.  Trying to spread the word of dry pot with our second location in Midtown.

Mala Project - New York, NY

MáLà Project

Specialties: ‘Qahwah’ is Arabic for coffee and Yemen is the birthplace of these premium organic beans. Delight your taste buds and inner caffeine lover with a modern Yemeni tea and organic coffee shop. Indulge in the Yemeni Latte or Adeni Chai, and try our authentic pastries. 

Qahwah House - Brooklyn, NY

Qahwah House

Delivery & Pickup Options - 102 reviews of Double Crispy Bakery "This place is always super busy and I can see why.Thier stuff is great! They have a large selection and the prices are as good as any other chinese bakery.One of the best things they make are those little custard cakes!mmm. Thier service is fast and friendly.Not THE best chinese bakery but definetly better then your average one."

Double Crispy Bakery - New York, NY

Double Crispy Bakery

Specialties: Manousheh, Fatayer, Lahem bi ajine (lahmacun), Zaatar, Labneh, Ashta, Knefeh on Sundays, Nutella, Flatbreads Established in 2015.  Began in a home in 2012, moved into a pop up in 2013, and eventually got our own Brick and Mortar on 193 Bleecker Street in 2015.

Manousheh - Bleecker - New York, NY

Manousheh Bleecker

Raku - New York, NY

Raku

Delivery & Pickup Options - 3190 reviews of Grace Street "The green tea latte is nice! Not too sweet and creamy. Pairs well with the korean pancake which reminds me of an asian belgium waffle."

Grace Street - New York, NY

Grace Street Coffee & Desserts

Rudy's Bar & Grill

Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pie

Delivery & Pickup Options - 105 reviews of Al Badawi "Thrilled to have Palestinian cuisine represented on Atlantic. The flavors here are authentic and portions are meant for sharing i.e. huge. The mansaf in particular tastes exactly like the ones my grandmother used to prepare for special occasions. Welcome to the neighborhood, Al Badawi! We'll be back!"

Al Badawi - Brooklyn, NY

al Badawi

Spring Shabu-Shabu - Flushing, NY

Spring Shabu-Shabu

Specialties: Authentic Mexican food Established in 2012.  Chef Cosme Aguilar's passion for food began in his hometown of Chiapas, Mexico's southernmost state, where he was inspired by his family passion for cooking. The memories of the flavors created in his home remain his inspiration as he brings New Yorkers a taste of home-cooked Chiapas meal.

In September 2014, Casa Enrique was awarded its first ever Michelin star. "We are very proud to serve our family's recipes to our friends and customers and share a taste of home with them" - Chef Cosme Aguilar

Casa Enrique - Long Island City, NY

Casa Enrique

Alligator Lounge

Terra Blues

Specialties: We ofer the best beef BIRRIA on Wheels in nyc.          
Come try us out;

Birria-Landia - Jackson Heights, NY

Birria-Landia

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

New York Transit Museum

Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Library’s docent-led tours are an excellent way to see highlights of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. They are also the only way to get group access to many of the Library’s must-see spaces—including the historic Rose Main Reading Room.

Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Tours

New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

COVID update: Ruby's - Murray Hill has updated their hours, takeout & delivery options. 680 reviews of Ruby's - Murray Hill "New Ruby's location opened in Murray Hill, looks like the exact same menu, and very similar feel. It's a great addition to the neighborhood- crisp, cool, and inexpensive. I had the pesto pasta, my significant other had the sausage pasta, add some wines and complimentary fries, it was a good meal, and with attentive service. We will be back to try for breakfast/brunch. Welcome to the neighborhood!"

Ruby's - Murray Hill - New York, NY

Ruby's Cafe

Delivery & Pickup Options - 331 reviews of Smorgasburg - Prospect Park "Yay, Smorgasburg is in Prospect Park! Finally!
Great vendors. Great variety. 
It's in a nice part of the park, off the beaten path, which I think may ultimately help the crowd situation a teeny tiny bit. We arrived at noon and 1pm it was pretty packed but not out of control.
Do bring cash. There are some ATMs on site though. Supposedly some of the vendors take card but I didn't see any.
Also, do bring a blanket. There's not too much seating by way of picnic tables but lots of grassy space (that may be obvious since it's a park).
And lastly, grab bike parking wherever you can find it, cause there's not much of that either from what I could see. Hey, Smorgasburg, set up some bike parking!"

Smorgasburg - Prospect Park - Brooklyn, NY

Smorgasburg Prospect Park

Doughnut Plant

Grand Army Plaza

Central Library

Delivery & Pickup Options - 850 reviews of Shuka "I love all the restaurants in this group -  Cookshop, Vic's, Rosie's - and was really excited to see that they had reopened Hundred Acres as a Mediterranean restaurant (my fav dish there was Mediterranean inspired!). 

It seems still relatively unknown that a new restaurant has opened here. A friend and I walked in around 6:45pm on a Tuesday and were able to easily get a table. We ordered 5 dishes to share between the two of us: crispy cauliflower, whipped feta + pistachio, fried halloumi, tomatoes + peaches, and the boureka. Guys the fried halloumi is SO GOOD. Halloumi is a favorite among my friends but none of us have ever had it prepared like this. It's basically a glorified mozzarella stick but without any breading. Definitely get this. The rest of the dishes were super flavorful with great sauces. I think we ended up ordering a little heavy (crispy cauliflower is basically just battered and fried cauliflower florets, the fried halloumi as mentioned, and the boureka, which is in baked pastry) so in the future I'd try to balance that out a little more. Also wish they'd bring out more hot and fresh pita as the meal goes on; we got a couple pieces initially, one of which was warm and soft and the other which was crunchy (not as good for dipping). 

The price for the five dishes was under $50 between the two of us and we left feeling very full, definitely a good price for the area/quality and amount of food. Neither of us felt like drinking but did notice that they sell a pitcher of house red or white for only $18, so we'll certainly be getting that in the future. We also already have plans to come back for brunch this weekend with a larger group of friends!"

Shuka - New York, NY

Shuka

Delivery & Pickup Options - 182 reviews of Old John's Diner "This is my favorite neighborhood diner (well, my neighborhood at least). It's a little off the beaten path and often crowded on weeknights (everyone in the neighborhood seems to like the place). However, I've never had to wait for a table (although I've taken the last available table on more than one occasion). Also, it doesn't seem to be too crowded on weekend afternoons.

The place has good food - good selection, too. They have the best hot chocolate, too. The place also has a Victorian feel to it with a more classic look than the typical NYC diner. It's a nice change of pace and reasonably priced."

Old John's Diner - New York, NY

Old John's Luncheonette

Specialties: Artisanal comfort food, beer and cocktails Established in 2011. 

Jacob's Pickles - New York, NY

Jacob's Pickles

Specialties: In 1964, Bobby's grandfather opened a restaurant in Korea that became a local favorite. Yoon Haeundae Galbi continues his grandfather's legacy and brings traditional dishes and authentic Korean BBQ to New York City with a modern twist. We specialize in providing the highest-quality meats prepared with a unique method that allows each cut to come to a perfect sear, giving each piece a tender core beneath a caramelized glaze. Enjoy a meal and atmosphere that artfully blends authentic Korean culture with New York's contemporary style. Established in 1964.  Established in 1964 and spanning two generations, Yoon Haeundae Galbi is a spin off of the famous "Haeundae Sommunan Amso Galbijip", a local favorite for Korean BBQ. "YOON" brings authentic flavors from Busan, South Korea, while adding a modern touch to match New York's contemporary vibe.

Yoon Haeundae Galbi - New York, NY

Yoon Haeundae Galbi

Specialties: Homestyle Korean Cuisine Established in 2015. 

Her Name Is Han - New York, NY

Her Name is Han

Specialties: Anytime specializes in affordable and creative tapas small bites to pair with Korean spirits like soju. Established in 2018.  We've opened our restaurant in Koreatown towards the end of November 2018.

Anytime Kitchen  - New York, NY

Anytime Kitchen

TIGER SUGAR (KOREATOWN)

Delivery & Pickup Options - 701 reviews of Attaboy "In the former location of the infamous Milk and Honey, Attaboy opened their unmarked door to the public last week.  M&H may have moved uptown but familiar Bartenders Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy have taken over the space to keep the spirit alive.

The concept is similiar, bespoke cocktails made from quality, fresh ingredients in a classy, low key setting.  The space is small and seating is limited but they've done away with the reservations only policy formerly in place at M&H.  We did have to wait outside a few minutes before a pair of seats opened up.  Sam was behind that bar that night and it's easy to tell that he really loves and takes great pride in his work.  I told him of my affinities to certain spirits and flavors and he came up with a fantastic rendition of the classic Dark and Stormy followed by a rum and cucumber based drink that was absolutely refreshing and not too sweet.

Highly recommended for a finely crafted cocktail if you're in the area."

Attaboy - New York, NY

Attaboy

Karaoke City

Specialties: Cho Dang Gol is a Korean restaurant located in the heart of New York City that offers something different than the plethora of Asian restaurants populating the city. We specialize in home-made tofu, made in the traditional style of Chodanggol, a small coastal village in Korea. We strive to preserve the authentic taste of regional Korean cuisine while incorporating our fresh tofu. We look forward to serving you! Established in 1997.  CDG is known as "Tofu House" for its various homemade tofu based menus, which they make freshly every morning. Some of the popular menus include Dumpling Jeongol (spicy hot pot with kimchi, homemade dumplings and tofu, squid, pork and assorted vegetables), Dubu Duruchigi (spicy stir-fried pork with homemade tofu), and Soybean Paste Stew (traditional stew with assorted vegetables). Jeon or Korean style pancakes are also popular with variety of topping such as seafood, kabocha, teri-
yaki chicken, cod fish, assorted mushroom, and more). CDG not only offers traditional Korean dishes, but also offers new recipes through weekly and seasonal specials, for those who are looking for even more variety within Korean cuisine.

Cho Dang Gol Korean Restaurant - New York, NY

Cho Dang Gol

The Ramble

Turtle Pond

Fotografiska Museum

Specialties: Grand Opening at 2/6 ! Please enjoy our exclusive experience of Hakata Hotpot. 

Kimura - New York, NY

Kimura

Delivery & Pickup Options - 45 reviews of Jiang's Kitchen "We came the second day of soft opening and ordered the Big Plate Chicken, Fried Lamb Special, and two Beef Skewers. The noodles in the Big Plate Chicken was very good and the flavors were great. The beef skewers were well seasoned with cumin and cooked to a good temperature that left it still juicy. The fried lamb was especially good with the pita and the spices that come with it. I've always been a fan of Xinjiang style food, and this really hit the spot. Will definitely be back!

The service was also excellent!"

The Non-Touristy NYC Weekend

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