Budget-Friendly NYC Spots
Budget-Friendly NYC Spots
Jen Sierra
Extended version of my viral budget-friendly trip guide on IG! This is broken down by where to eat, bars to visit, etc. But... if you want the real tea, I have a guide where you can find everything I gatekeep with even more affordable spots called "NYC Hidden Gems"!
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Where to Eat
sendo
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KYURAMEN
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Bengal Tiger
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You cannot find a better Indian spot in the city at this price. They have a 3-course meal for $25 with so many options to choose from! And their mango lassi is incredible.
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Parm Upper West Side
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Not enough people talk about this place (but it does get crowded so I guess they do). However, this is was opened by the same people who opened Carbone!! A lot of the same (or similar) recipes for half of the price
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Yunnan Rice Noodle House
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$12 unlimited noodles! But honestly, they're so filling we couldn't even get a second.
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Bigoi Venezia
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This little spot is owned by the cutest man named Sebastian who makes fresh pasta every day and everything is $14!! He gives you so much pasta that it can turn into two meals.
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Pasta de Pasta
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Witch Topokki | All You Can Eat Korean Restaurant in Manhattan, Topokki Buffet, Korean Street Food
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Hamachi Sushi 34 | Japanese Sushi Restaurant
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Sushi Spot - Sashimi Express
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J san sushi
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Tasty Dumpling
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The most affordable and delicious dumplings! You can even take a frozen bunch home.
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Forma Pasta Factory
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Bars!
Tsumo Omakase
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Jakarta Munch
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Roey's
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TAO Uptown
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Arthur's Tavern
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This is the oldest jazz/blues bar in the city! My friend and I had so much fun here that we accidentally stayed for 4 hours.
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Dante West Village
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212 East
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Ainslie Bowery
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THEP Thai Restaurant
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Cafes + Caffeine
Note that not all of these coffee shops are necessarily THE cheapest (except for Jugos and Matto Espresso, which has multiple locations), but I added some aesthetic spots and thought about the nominal value of $6-8 coffee to get to hang out in a nice place rather than getting $2 coffee on the street and have to walk.Â
JUGOS
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Such an amazing small business whose owner opened up a coffee shop for his dad just because he has always dreamed of one (so cute!). Their food is cheap and SO delicious. I can't pick a single favorite.
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Matto Espresso
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Remi43 Flower & Coffee
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Coffee Project New York | Hell's Kitchen
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Another coffee shop I love! It's absolutely gorgeous and has the best cold brew ever. If I want to treat myself, I'll get their croissant egg salad (don't knock it until you try it)
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Hide & Seek
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This is the COOLEST coffee shop in the city that turns into a cocktail bar later in the night.
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Things to Do
Museums have free weekends such as free entry on the first Friday of the month for MoMa
The Museum of Modern Art
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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American Museum of Natural History
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Staten Island Ferry
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Please don't pay to see the Statue of Liberty. Take the ferry and immediately run to the returning ferry because they only run every 30 min.
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9/11 Memorial & Museum
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World Trade Center
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Brookfield Place
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If you need a bathroom, stop here! It's by the Michael Kors. There's also a food hall and beautiful pier.
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Brooklyn Bridge
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Walk across the bridge and head to Empire Fulton Ferry for a picnic!Â
Empire Fulton Ferry
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This is the BEST picnic spot with incredible views of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge!
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Bryant Park
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Its Winter Market is iconic, but they have events year round whether it's outdoor movies, yoga, etc.
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Central Park
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Domino Park
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West Side Highway
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Backyard at Hudson Yards
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The High Line
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You can enter from Hudson Yards down to Chelsea. It can be crowded, but much quicker to walk on than the street. Plus it's gorgeous!
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Frames Bowling Lounge
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A great bowling spot hidden in Port Authority (no it's not sus) and they even have deals like $25 bowling after 9pm!
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Roosevelt Island Tramway
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Governors Island Ferry
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
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Brooklyn Bridge Park
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New York Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
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Free Views
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Pier 84 at Hudson River Park
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This pier is a gorgeous spot to see the sunset and get views of the city! During the summer they host live jazz concerts.
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Where to Shop
Grand Bazaar NYC
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Brooklyn Flea
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Artists & Fleas Williamsburg
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L Train Vintage
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Beacon's Closet
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Cure Thrift Shop
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A great thrift shop supporting diabetes research where you can make more affordable charm bracelets like Brooklyn Charm!
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* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jen Sierra
Hi guys! Happy to see you here :)
I'm a NYC-based travel creator who grew up in Atlanta, GA and previously studied/worked in London, but I have been traveling since I was just 6 months old! My family truly created my love for travel as I am half Indonesian visiting my family, my dad has a PHD in German and visits every few years, etc.
I am trusted by travelers on social media to create the ultimate guides/itineraries and find "money-worthy" spots to share; NYC and Paris are my most popular locations!
I wouldn't call myself a luxury traveler, but I'm not a budget traveler either, somewhere in between that gets the most bang for your buck. I love a balance between adventure and slow travel because working a 9-5 has taught me the importance of balance! It has also taught me how to maximize my time to be able to travel frequently (my friends don't understand how I do it haha)
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