My ultimate list of New York City recos

I get asked for recos on New York City more than any other place in the world. This could be because it’s only a 5-hour flight from my hometown of Vancouver, could be because I’m obsessed and went like 5 times in the past year, could be because it’s the most electric, addicting city in the world.

No matter the reason, I HAVE TONS OF RECOS AND WANT EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE NYC EXACTLY THE WAY I HAVE BECAUSE IT IS LITERAL MAGIC!!

Here are my TOP recommendations:

1) Prince Street Pizza. The best pizza on Planet Earth. Those pepperoni slices. The way the grease sits in them. I’m drooling, moving on.

2) Miss Lily’s, East Village location. Your servers will basically be Rihanna in this Caribbean style dance hall — go for dinner for jerk chicken or jerk corn which I literally have dreamt about. It’s super funky, Jamaican vibes, and turns into a dance party around 10. A super fun place for din and drinks.

3) Comedy Cellar, MacDougal location. Do the 10:30 show for prime celeb spotting chances. This is where all the greats started out, and they often have surprise guests — I have seen surprise appearances from Louis CK (his 2nd appearance post perv reveal) and Sarah Silverman. I saw Amy Schumer like a month before she blew up into superstardom. I’ve loled my face off every time, you have to go.

3) Rooftop bar: Cloud M Bowery for a full 360 view. Top of the Standard for boujiness and glittery lights. 230 Fifth is a nice fam-friendly place for happy hour, or cozy up in the robes and igloos during winter — epic view of Empire State. Also PH-D Meatpacking for dancing.

5) Music: This is prob my fave NYC activity. Go to blues at Terra Blues, jazz hop around West Village (Smalls, 55 Bar, hit up the funk bar Groove (great for waiting for Comedy Cellar too).

6) Speakeasy: Unreal Mexican at La Esquina (go downstairs through the taco shop). I had the BEST night speakeasy hopping at Attaboy, Fig 19 (through an art gallery), Back Room (an OG NYC speakeasy, they still serve in tea cups to be stealth). Little Branch is a cute underground spot in West Village! Also LOVE Employees Only in West Vill, and you might get a burlesque show along with it!

7) If you like to party: You GOT. TO GO. TO BAGATELLE. For the biggest party brunch of your life. Picture this: a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, you go to brunch in this upscale white tablecloth French restaurant. You start to notice a couple peculiar things like a giant mojito pitcher with neon straws. As the time nears 2 or 3pm, the lights start to dim. The music gets louder. The curtains close. BOOM, champagne is popping, the servers are crowdsurfing into the place dressed up as Superman, a mariachi band, LED robot, etc, someone’s playing the bongos, the place is a full on dance club and it’s mid-afternoon. Best summed up by the sign “WTF is Bagatelle?” by the bathroom doors. Also summed up by my Insta post here (make sure to scroll. it’s a lot)

8) Dancing: Go to Jane Hotel in Meatpacking for an epic night of dancing on couches in an old fashioned living room setup. PH-D for epic rooftop views and glass windows showcasing the sparkling skyline as you dance. Pianos in Lower East Side is fun, go upstairs for the hip hop room. Also just dance everywhere cause it’s NYC.

9) Strolling: I love strolling through NoLita and SoHo, through Washington Park, and to West Village/Greenwich. Here, stop by the F R I E N D S building on Bedford and Grove, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment on Perry Street, stroll through the shops on Bleeker where Bookmarc is. Just pin all these in your Google Maps. This area will make you fall in love with residential NYC.

10) Coffee shops: Okay the best one ever is Urban Backyard in NoLita. The cutest and coziest spot ever. I also like Happy Bones in SoHo and The Elk in West Village.

11) Sweet tooth: Get the chocolate chunk cookie at Maman. Oprah voted it best cookie in the world and she was right.

12) Tourist attractions: I guess I’m not a local New Yorker cause I still love these! Go straight to Times Square, stroll around to see Rockefeller Centre (go up to the Top of the Rock for a view of the Empire State), stroll up to Central Park. Rent a bike and cruise the park. Also window shop down 5th Avenue. Check out the World Trade Center, see the Statue of Liberty, stroll the High Line. Hop on the ferry over to Governors Island for a new view of Manhattan, or catch it from the Brooklyn Bridge (I love that bridge).

Okay you’re all set! There are few things I love more than talking about New York so send me a message with any questions you have!!!