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Beyond the iconic, show-stopping displays—the grizzly bear in the Hall of North American Mammals, the 94-feet long blue whale, the prehistoric Barosaurus skeleton rearing up as if to scare the adjacent Allosaurus skeleton—is an expertly curated, 150-year-old museum that fills visitors of all ages with a curiosity about the universe. Whether you’re interested in the world below our feet or the cultures of faraway lands or the stars light-years beyond our reach, your visit is bound to teach you a few things you never knew. With four floors filled to the brim with artifacts, you could spend a whole day just looking at the taxidermied animals that hail from North America, Asia, Africa, rain forests and the ocean. Or, conversely, spend a day like an anthropologist and study indigenous Americans, Asian cultures, African peoples, Pacific tribes, and, before these rich cultures existed, the evolutionary origins of humans and our near (now extinct) cousins, like neanderthals. Also don't miss the new wing called the Gilder Center, which houses a butterfly vivarium, an insectarium and a 360-degree immersive experience, in an architectural masterpiece.

On a random summer night, a bouncer perched outside Bar Snack called out to me and other passersby on the street, luring us with the promise of great drinks, great food and "the best bathroom in the East Village." Reader: I am here to tell you—he was right. But if a disco-fresh bathroom isn't enough to tempt you in, the convivial nature and solid list of tasty cocktails (and snacks!) found at Bar Snack certainly will.  The vibe: After surveying the East Village and its many, many (expensive) cocktail bars, bartender Iain Griffiths and Brooklyn-based bar owner Oliver Cleary decided they wanted to create something—and so they did, serving "dressed-up classics for dressed-down people." The inside gives off '70s lounge—think wood paneling and a dark, walnut-wood bar lined with glittery orange bar stools. Snagging a seat during the nighttime hours can prove difficult as this bar certainly attracts a crowd, making standing room your best bet. But even the daytime can bring a rowdy good time, as rock and throwback hits (hello Spice Girls!) blare through the speakers. The food: Snack is in the name, isn't it? And snacks, they do so well. Fried cheese curds are tossed in pickle dust and hot dogs get a little fancy with onion jam and a hot pickle. But the snack of all snacks is the Spice Bag ($18). Leaning on Griffith's Irish roots, the bag comes to the table in a white paper bag labeled "Spice Bag" fashioned in the style of the Spice Girls logo. As much as you'll want to save it,...

Following up on the widely successful Cote, Simon Kim set out to create “a modern and family-friendly cathedral for fried chicken.” And so, he did. For $38 dollars you can receive a bucket of gluten-free Korean fried chicken and be satisfied. Or you can tack on an order of caviar nuggets. Or choose from a selection of 600 Champagnes. No matter what you choose, best believe you'll be grooving to the tunes of Nas and Chaka Khan while you decide.

Rockefeller Center is a pretty stressful place overall. There’s just a ton going on all the time. Too much. But the team behind Frenchette has transplanted a fun downtown brasserie’s heart into Midtown’s hulking suit of Art Deco armor. Upon awakening, their creation (known as Le Rock) has arrived, serving up beautiful bread, gorgeous pâté, and excellent cocktails, ensuring you’re comfortable and having a nice time. It’s an astounding feat that feels impossible, but undeniable: Le Rock makes being in Rockefeller Center worth your while.  High ceilings, Art Deco bones, terrazzo underfoot, a bronzed glow that lights up faces. It’s a beautiful room, top to bottom. Tables do fit snug in the dining room, which means that the noise level can reach a din and all of a sudden you start getting visions of why Rockefeller Center was to be avoided. But if you’re blessed with a little space and a reasonably calm crowd, none of that matters. And lunch tends to present a more placid service, so you may want to plan on a visit midday. Cocktailing here is delightful: precise, clean, interesting, without reading convoluted. The Martinis Maison are the headline, and they do really feel right in this room: Super Sec (overproof gin, extra-dry and white vermouth) is crystalline clarity—mature and bracing. The Au Poivre folds in spicy green peppercorn notes that’ll wake up your senses. Classic builds are available if you don’t want to venture too far. And there are a few other fun concoctions...

This is the original outpost of what’s grown to include five locations in Manhattan. Its cute Chelsea Market environs are as pleasant as any for a self-guided tasting through a smattering of taco and quesadilla varieties. 

I admit—I never had the chance to experience John McDonald's MercBar, which was described as a "proper bar" in SoHo and ran for an impressive 21 years. Since its closure, McDonald had stayed plenty busy with his other ventures at Mercer Street Hospitality, including Lure Fishbar, Cha Cha Tang and Bowery Meat Company. But it seems his itch to get back behind the bar was too strong as McDonald opened Bar Mercer in January 2025.  While the name plays on the long-gone bar, the vibe is entirely new, with McDonald describing it as "an inversion of its spiritual predecessor both in name and concept." While the intention is to look lived in, the sleek red shine of the walls is a dead giveaway, made even more elevated with black and white photography on the walls and cloth-backed chairs that display watercolors of flowers and peacocks. But luckily, chef Preston Clark (of Lure Fishbar) menu of comforts help to usher that feeling of familarity forward. Here, chef Clark cooks the food he likes to eat, and in turn, we like it too, with branzino bar sliders and beer-battered fish alongside a meaty Berkshire Pork Chop. Brunch follows through with more hits, like Housemade Pigs in a Blanket with a horseradish mustard that will make your head sing and Hangover Pasta with a silky sauce and a yolky egg that is guaranteed to cure. The chalkboard near the front displays weekly specials, so try to catch the bone-in, ribe-eye Cowgirl Steak or the off-menu burger if you can. 

With a name that translates to “The Head of Gold," La Tête d’Or by Daniel Boulud is truly something to discover. The deep-red entryway with soft glowing amber fixtures leads you to the bar, a sultry corner of bronze mirrors and velvet armchairs. It all pours into the soaring, high-ceiling dining room with elements of dark woods, leather and plush banquettes and elegant bouquets that sit above them. The 120-seat dining room is framed by the open kitchen with its opulent hood that calls to the Art Deco era.  Seafaring adventurers can dip their toes in Scallop Crudo and Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, an import from his eponymous restaurant, Daniel. But naturally, the meat is the draw. Eleven steaks grace the menu, from Bavette to a 45-day aged Rib-Eye to Prime Rib Trolley that wheels right up to the table. Playing to Boulud’s love of American ice cream shops, desserts include swirls of soft-serve served with a plate of goodies—sprinkles, coca nibs and cranberry meringue kisses—to make your own sweet treat.

When I was growing up, a trip to Katz's with my dad wasn't an occasion so different than visiting a grandparent; there was a strange, arcane way we had to observe that was clearly the product of another time. And spending the time was rewarded with a real treat, something that felt comforting and maybe a little overwhelming. Back then, there was liable to be a line, but it was never very long, so it was, without question, worth it. Today, the place hasn't changed, but the feeling has. Waiting on a line that stretches down the block is part of the experience, and at every table you'll see tourists more preoccupied with taking photos of the food than enjoying it. I can't begrudge them that–there's no place like Katz's. But the hype now affects the actual experience one has there, which is a funny thing. It doesn’t make the food any less delicious.Katz's sign reads: Katz's that's all! Because at one time it advertised itself as Katz's kosher deli, except it wasn't actually kosher and there was outcry, so they changed the sign. It's just Katz's, that's all. If you're visiting, it's probably on your list. That makes sense: if you've never eaten at Katz's, you want to. The sandwiches are huge, insanely good, and the place is–and I don't use this word lightly–iconic. Mind that the efficiency you're supposed to observe navigating NYC’s streets goes triple here: know what you want by the time it's your turn, and keep things moving. Keep your ticket. Do not lose your ticket. And...

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 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