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Walking up to Hotel Chelsea, I accidentally stumbled upon rows upon rows of shiny chrome taxis, part of an immersive pop-up put on by Prada. Fitting for a landmark that was once the place to be—and still is. Erected in 1884, the Hotel Chelsea of yore served as an artist's co-op, welcoming the likes of Mark Twain and Isadora Duncan in its early days. And even though it fell into seedy disarray by the 1950s, growing artists still flocked to its doors, with Bob Dylan, Jackson Pollock and Patti Smith among the many who hung their hats. The hotel closed in 2011 and lay in limbo during the change of hands. A massive $30 million renovation later, Hotel Chelsea reopened in 2022 as a luxury hotel. Completing the rebirth is Café Chelsea. Run by the Sunday Hospitality team, the bistro is one of the city's swankiest, as members of the hotel jostle to get inside the art-deco dining room just as much as the New Yorkers who live here. And once they do, they can find a lineup of French classics, including omelets and steak frites, peppered with a few updates, such as the excellent maitake au poivre. The vibe: Café Chelsea is as stunning as they come. Each of its three rooms, the bar and the petite and grand café sections, are defined by Parisian tiled floors, golden scalloped scones and a skylight framed with greenery. Chatter bounces easily off its mirrored halls, making for a bit of a louder dine if that matters to you. But if you can catch a conversation, don't be surprised if the...

After opening in 1929, MoMA became key to spreading the gospel of modern art over the course of the 20th century, positioning itself as a kind of temple for only the most dedicated aficionados. Today, that approach has largely been discarded in favor of a refreshingly more inclusive program that features women and artists of color, as well as lesser-known figures from global reaches beyond Europe and the United States. MoMA has become increasingly user-friendly through successive expansions—2019 added 40,000 square feet of new exhibition space, including street-facing galleries free to the public, as well as a dedicated venue for live programming and performances. Current amenities include MoMA’s sculpture garden and cinema, as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant run by Danny Meyer (don’t worry; there are also less-expensive dining options). Then there’s The MoMA Design Store, which sells furnishings and other merchandise as well as books. Still, it’s hard for MoMA to completely shake off its legacy; people still come to see famous artists such as Picasso and Matisse, after all. But through repeated renewal and re-invention, MoMA has exceeded its original role as modernism’s incubator to become one of NYC’s most important—and visited—museums.

History buffs will love this Upper West Side institution. Built in 1804, it's the oldest museum in New York City. The New York Historical features more than 1.6 million works that explore the history of the city and the country, including exhibits, art and historical artifacts. The Patricia D. Klingenstein Library has more than three million books, newspapers, maps, photographs and more from our nation’s founding through slavery and Reconstruction and beyond. The museum is also home to the Center for Women's History, which unearths the lives and legacies of women who have shaped and continue to shape the American experience. If all that history makes you hungry or thirsty, enjoy coffee and snacks at the on-site Cafe 77.

We really like eating around the city, and we're guessing you do, too. So lucky for all of us, we've packed all our favorite restaurants under one roof at the Time Out Market New York. The DUMBO location in Empire Stores has fried chicken from Jacob’s Pickles, pizza from Fornino, delicious bagels from Ess-a-bagel and more amazing eateries—all cherry-picked by us. Chow down over two floors with views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.  RECOMMENDED: The best things do in NYC

If you thought getting a table at Per Se was tough, try getting into Rao’s. On second thought, don’t. Rao’s (pronounced “RAY-ohs”) is really a private club without the dues. To eat here, you’ll need a personal invite from one of the heavy hitters who “owns” a table. These CEOs, actors, politicians, news personalities and neighborhood old-timers established a long-standing arrangement with the late, legendary owner Frankie “No” Pellegrino, and that's what ensures a seat at one of the ten tables at the Italian-American icon. In fact, reading this review is probably the closest you’ll get to Rao’s.

Standing at the foot of the High Line along Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District, the 63,000 square facility features both indoor and outdoor exhibition space. True to its founder Gertrude Vanderbilt's wishes, the Whitney is dedicated to presenting the work of American artists. Its collection holds about 15,000 pieces by nearly 2,000 artists, including Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, Edward Hopper (the Whitney is the largest repository of Hopper's artwork in the world), Jasper Johns, Louise Nevelson, Georgia O’Keeffe and Claes Oldenburg. Still, the museum’s reputation rests mainly on its temporary shows, particularly the Whitney Biennial. Held in even-numbered years, the Biennial remains the most prestigious (and controversial) assessment of contemporary art in America. Three outdoor sculpture spaces provide views of the Hudson and the surrounding neighborhood. This is a goldmine for slightly lesser-known but fantastic exhibitions. 

We curated every last detail at the Time Out Market: the food, the cultural experiences, the drinks, the space—everything including the breathtaking view, which is the perfect backdrop for the “best in New York City” experience. At The Rooftop at Time Out Market you can discover impressive bites from culinary rockstars while relaxing on sea foam seats on the outdoor terrace. Post up for acts selected by our team, complementing the entertainment of the breathtaking, sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline, perfectly framed by the grand windows. Signature Cocktails ($14) New York SourAmador Double Barrel Whiskey, Lemon, Simple, Aquafaba and Reserve Port Hibiscus ChillCasamigos Reposado, Combier Orange, Lime and Hibiscus Syrup Sangria SpritzBertoux Brandy, Mulling Spice, Red Wine Blend and Club Soda Smokin' Cherry MuleAgave De Cortes Mezcal, Black Cherry, Amaro, Lemon and Ginger Beer SouthsiderSpring 44 Vodka, Aloe, Mint and Cucumber My Kind of Old FashionedHigh West Double Rye, Bertoux Brandy, Maple and Bitters Coconut CarouselOwney's Rum, Dark Rum, Orange, Pineapple, Coconut and Nutmeg Strawberry BelliniGrey Goose Vodka, Strawberry, Basil and ProseccoBeer Selection ($8) Brooklyn Brewery, Bronx Brewery, Stella Artois ($9), Modelo Especial ($9), Asahi Brewery, Estrella Damm, Mikkeller Brewery ($12), Five Boroughs Brewery Wine List SparklingLambrusco, Otello Ceci, Emilia, Italy ($12, $54)Mumm Napa, Blanc De Blancs, Napa, CA ($13, $56)Bedell Sparkling...

There’s been much written about how Billy Durney’s Red Hook Tavern draws inspiration from New York institutions. The font used for the restaurant’s name could be mistaken for Minetta Tavern’s from afar, and there are two ales dedicated to McSorley’s. But once we secured a seat (if you manage to score a prime-time reservation, play the lottery), we quickly realized the experience here is its very own thing.After an affable employee leads you down the narrow dining room or to one of the 18 bar seats, your first priority is to order the Dry Aged Red Hook Tavern Burger ($24). This pub-style burger is hefty but manageable. The simple dish—a dry-aged patty cloaked in American cheese and topped with raw white onions, then sandwiched between sesame rolls—is cooked to a perfect temperature. This juicy burger is one of the best we’ve tasted in the city.It’s no surprise that the burger and the menu’s other meat options are also expertly executed. Durney showed off his expertise with proteins at Hometown Bar-B-Que, a popular destination despite its location in difficult-to-get-to Red Hook, that’s known for its ribs, brisket, sausages, pastrami and other barbecue dishes with global touches.Executive chef Allison Plumer interprets the nostalgia that Red Hook Tavern strives for with an unfussy approach that results in plates you’ll want to devour on a cold winter day. The country-ham croquettes ($10), which are filled with white cheddar and sit atop a swath of dijonnaise, can be popped...

Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology is a unique immersive museum created by artist Roy Nachum (you might recognize his name because he designed Rihanna's famed Anti album cover) and his business partner Michael Cayre, a real estate developer. The 36,000-square-foot space opened in early 2024 at 21 Dey Street, with a total of 15 different rooms to explore, each one attacking all the senses upon entrance. Some outstanding installations include the one that the staff refers to as "The Dragon," where a total of 500,000 individual LED lights hung on strings adorn a room and are lit up to created 3D videos, including one of a galloping horse, that will catch your attention. Towards the end of the walkthrough is what can only be described as a cave of beautiful pink flowers (plastic ones), where there will soon be a bar as well. This is perhaps the most Instagrammable space within the museum as a whole, one that will likely come to represent the destination on social media once it officially opens.   A mere walk through Mercer Labs makes one thing clear: the immersive space can be much more than that given its size and the clear technological capabilities embedded in each room. That’s something that wasn’t lost on the founders: folks can rent out different rooms. May we suggest a very unique and technologically avant-garde wedding in a room filled with pink flowers, perhaps?

This New York City landmark houses a series of 16 period rooms from the late 19th century, designed by such luminaries as Louis Comfort Tiffany and the Herter Brothers. The Armory has been transformed into one of the city's premier alternative spaces for showing art; the beauty of this historical setting allows for interesting visual contrast with the series of contemporary projects commissioned by the nonprofit arts organization.