“It’s the vibrant energy and the people that make
New York one of the world’s greatest cities,” says NYC-based Virtuoso travel advisor Erina Pindar. “New Yorkers are some of the most genuinely kind people I’ve ever met – just don’t walk too slowly in front of them on the sidewalk.”
WHEN TO GO: “I love fall, when the temperature is mild, days are still long, and the city glows, thanks to the gold- and rust-colored leaves covering
Central Park,” Pindar says.
MUST-DO: Pindar’s hands-down pick: a walk across the
Brooklyn Bridge. “You can finish the walk with a scoop at the
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory or a romantic dinner at
The River Café.”
DIG IN: In a dining scene that moves faster than an express N train, classic establishments are solid choices. “If you want an amazing dining experience at a place that never disappoints,
Le Bernardin in Midtown is the one,” says Peter Rubin, a Virtuoso travel advisor from Atlanta. “My runner-up: A lovely meal at the exceptional
Café Boulud.”
TAKE A PASS: “Skip the Empire State Building and head over to
One World Observatory instead to see Manhattan from a different perspective,” suggests Pindar. “Follow that up by visiting the
Oculus, NYC’s newest transportation hub and luxe shopping center.”
THE LATEST CRAZE: “The city is all about
food halls right now,” Rubin says. “I’d spend a day hopping among them all: Mario Batali’s Eataly, The Todd English Food Hall, Chelsea Market, Union Fare, and Bowery Market.”
PRO TIP: “
Jane’s Carousel [in Brooklyn Bridge Park] is one of my favorite spots in the city,” Pindar says. “Built in 1922, it was recently restored by artist Jane Walentas. It sits inside a glass pavilion designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.”
STAY: A recent $120 million overhaul to Midtown’s
Four Seasons Hotel New York added picture windows, walk-in closets, and bathrooms with soaking tubs to the property’s 368 studios and suites.
Virtuoso amenities include breakfast daily and a $100 dining credit.
More: The Insiders' Guide to the World’s Greatest Cities
Photos: Ball & Albanese
