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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.

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.

Just 50 minutes from Midtown is the Bronx’s City Island, a neighborhood that feels a little more like Cape Cod than the birthplace of the RZA. Drive over the bridge and all the way down to the tip to find Johnny’s Reef Restaurant, a 60-year-old seafood destination with $3 beers and $40 lobster tails overlooking the Long Island Sound.  The vibe: Easy, breezy and charmingly old-fashioned, you might even feel like you’re on vacation. City Island remains a secret to transplants (it is, as of this writing, still influencer-free), so Johnny’s Reef Restaurant still brings the same joy that a red plastic bucket of fried shrimp and fries with a frozen drink always has.  The food: A gigantic menu with “fried,” “steamed” and “clam” sections offers $40 steamed lobster tails, $18 plates of fried shrimp and a half-dozen little necks for $8, among other seaside delicacies. For the less adventurous eaters, there are burgers, hot dogs, Italian sausages and generous servings of crispy French fries.  The drinks: Cool down with a soda, a chocolate or vanilla milkshake or a frozen drink. A Bud or Bud Light is still just $3 (in THIS economy?) and no beer costs more than $5.  Time Out tip: It may come as no surprise that this old-school spot is cash only, so make sure to bring enough bills to pay for all the Buds you plan on pounding. 

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...

If you and your significant other enjoy knocking boots with a writhing mass of sexy strangers, look no further than this club in Queens. And if you want more information on boots, here’s a fun fact: The actual first name of the Roman emperor commonly called Caligula was Gaius—caligula means "little boots" in Latin, and Caligula picked up this nickname (which he hated) when he accompanied his dad, Germanicus, during his military campaigns in Germany.

Simon Kim has a knack for upping the ante in all that he does, bringing the tenets of Korean BBQ to the steakhouse format at Cote and adding bubbles and bumps of caviar to fried chicken at COQODAQ. It is no surprise that he shoots just as high with his first standalone bar, adding the ambition of making the best martini in the city. But with a name like Bar Chimera, this three-pronged beast does more than just swizzle martinis: one corner is dedicated to the art of whiskey, while the other focuses on pouring and guzzling wine, all coming together in one fantastic hybrid. The vibe: It's hard not to look up here, as the room of 550 Madison soars an astounding 60 feet. And once you do, your eyes will be met by a glowing neon sign looming overhead, telling you "Don't Worry." If the signage doesn't put you at ease, the interior sure will, as each corner of Bar Chimera is tailored to its own medium: martinis, whiskey and wine. The entryway is defined by its wine program and is as convivial as can be, with walk-ins conversing over long tables among walls and refrigerated sections of the stuff. On the other side of it is the martini bar, crisp and clean with mirrored accents, entirely staffed by white suit-jacketed barkeeps who deal in chilled glasses and all things gin and vodka. The whiskey bar, however, is perhaps the grandest, with rows upon rows of whiskeys that nearly touch the ceiling. The drinks can soar, too, as most cocktails hover around the $20 mark, with two topping...

New York’s ever-changing skyline acquired another sky-high attraction for Gothamites to climb in 2019: Vessel. The 150-foot-tall, 60-ton landmark, located at sleek cultural destination Hudson Yards, resembles a honeycomb, although some New Yorkers say it looks like a waste can. Others say the larger-than-life art installation designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick is New York’s version of the Eiffel Tour. As for what we say? The gleaming bronze-toned structure looks like a good excuse to get your steps in and snap some pics for Instagram. We climbed the spiral staircase made up of 154 interconnecting staircases, almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings—the various outlook points offer panoramic views of the Hudson River, the West Side skyline and the ever-expanding Hudson Yards campus, all of which appear mighty dreamy at sunset. Bonus: New Yorkers can visit for free on select days; here's how.

Stepping into Film Forum feels like stepping back in time to a different version of New York. That’s appropriate, as New York’s premiere independent, nonprofit cinema, the place has been running for half a century and for good reason: It’s a small but mighty operation, with four screens running 365 days per year with an always-interesting mix of American indie premieres, foreign art films, genre works, directors’ retrospectives and special programming (ranging from filmmaker intros to live piano accompaniments of Chaplin classics).  The vibe is cozy—not in the real estate sense that actually means "claustrophobic," but in the sense that you’ll feel right at home and want to stay for a while. ("I have probably had the most inspiring moviegoing experiences of my adult life at Film Forum’," filmmaker Robert Eggers (Nosferatu) told Time Out.) In many ways, Film Forum is the anti-mega-cineplex: a unique NY institution that’s earned a spot on this list.

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.