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Some things get better with age. The Empire State Building—now approaching its 100th birthday—is definitely one of them.  The Empire State Building became an icon when it opened in 1931 as the world's tallest building. Though the landmark may have lost its No. 1 height status, it's remained a beloved destination with incredible views of the city. Thanks to recent updates, it's not just about the views anymore. The building now spotlights art, architecture, and history; plus, it offers a slew of cool events and excellent dining options.  Tourists tend to make the Empire State Building their first stop upon arriving in New York City, and they're onto something—it's worth a visit, no matter if you're a lifelong New Yorker or just passing through town. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of your trip to this essential gem of the Manhattan skyline. RECOMMENDED: 101 best things do in NYC Why is the Empire State Building so famous? This building was a Very Big Deal since day one. It was the world’s first building to soar higher than 100 stories, and it was completed in a record-breaking 1 year and 45 days thanks to seven million man-hours of hard work. The 102-story skyscraper opened to plenty of fanfare. On May 1, 1931, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C., officially opening the building and turning on the Empire State Building’s lights for the first time. The building quickly became a tourist hotspot, even more so when it became the...

Ranking among the city’s top tourist attractions, Bloomie’s is stocked with everything from bags to beauty products, homewares to designer duds. The cosmetics hall, complete with an outpost of globe-spanning apothecary Space NK and a Bumble and bumble dry-styling bar, recently got a glam makeover. The compact Soho outpost concentrates on young fashion and cosmetics.  

While the giant signs that adorn this department store with the label of “The World’s Largest Store” are not true anymore, there’s no doubt that the flagship Macy’s is massive (with a big history to boot). For over a century, New Yorkers and visitors from the world over have been visiting Macy’s at its iconic location at 34th Street and Broadway. Though originally founded as a dry goods emporium in the 19th century, today shoppers flock to the store's 2.2 million square feet—which takes up a whole city block—to buy clothes, accessories and home goods.As one of the few major brick-and-mortar shops specializing in mid-priced fashion left in New York in this age of online retail and luxury brand–palooza, Macy’s carries a large amount of designer names you recognize that won’t cost you premium prices—especially during the deeply discounted sales offered periodically throughout the year. The 63,000-square-foot shoe department is the biggest on the planet and carries everything from dress shoes and delicate stilettos to work boots and slippers. Last-minute gift shoppers might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options of perfumes, ties, scarves, watches and more, but great deals await those with patience.   Pro-tip: Look for the cool wooden escalators, which feel like stepping back in time.

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.

Arriving at Kabawa for a late-night dine, my eyes were immediately drawn to one of the patrons standing at the bar, rum drink in hand, hips in mid-whine to the music. A fitting welcome to a restaurant that centers its food as much as it does its culture. Kabawa is the latest from the Momofuku Group—the first to open in nine years—residing in the same Momofuku Ko space where David Chang long enticed diners down the makeshift alleyway for matcha-tea–dusted mille-feuilles and snow-like shavings of foie gras. Now it’s Paul Carmichael's Caribbean cooking leading New Yorkers down the same corridor—ready to rip and swipe crumpled partha through heated guava chutneys and pepper jelly for a buss up and shut bread service and spear royal red shrimp, blushing with dried hibiscus and dollops of bright orange pepper oil. Prentension here is long gone: chefs in watercolor-dipped aprons swing between casual catch-ups with patrons and then wow them with solid hunks of goat shoulder, slow-roasted in an orangey-reddish Creole sauce that yells with habanero peppers. Drinks lean into the islands with coconut water martinis, sorrel-flecked daiquiris (though, more daiquiri iterations reside next door at Bar Kabawa) and even a Caribbean lager made to tame any flames on the plate. And when you leave, bellies full and tongues likely still dancing, you'll hopefully carry the ethos of Kabawa home and remember to "Love Yuh Self."

If you’re starting from scratch with your ornament collection, head to this store for fully decorated Christmas trees. There’s also a Christmas museum on the lower level, if you want to find out where exactly decorated Christmas trees come from. (They date back to the 1500s, so yeah, there’s lots to cover.)

This bar and grill combines traditional German food and beer with a healthy serving of kitsch, notably with its annual Christmas decorations. Year-round, you can enjoy a wide range of German dishes, especially meats and sausages, while an array of faux medieval paintings peaks out behind obsessively entwined oak branches. The portions are extremely generous; more sauerbraten, really than anyone could (or perhaps should) eat. There are five different schnitzel offerings, but you can’t go wrong in ordering the simple Wiener schnitzel. In the end, the zeitgeist is more Epcot Center than Bavaria and like the theme park it’s a fun ride.

  Located on the 18th floor of the hotel, the "jewel box" space by Med Abrous and Marc Rose, who are food and beverage partners of the hotel and co-founders of the hospitality group Call Mom, opens up to incredible views of the boroughs, the bridges and the East River, which shine like stars at night. Designed by James Beard Award-winning design firm Parts and Labor Design, Panorama Room is visually dramatic. Its palatial vibes are set by luxurious velvet vintage-inspired tubular lounge sofas, chrome and marble touches, mosaic tile columns and its giant, tubular acrylic chandeliers that hover above the massively long bar. It's not only luxe but it's somehow simultaneously futuristic and retro. The space is filled with art from artists like Julia Chiang, Spencer Lewis, Alake Shilling, JPW3, Chris Martin, Brian Belott and Ida Eklbad, selected by Venus Over Manhattan partner Anna Furney and designer/creative director Darren Romanelli (aka Dr. Romanelli or DRx). Artist Sophie Parker and her botanical studio, Wife NYC, will also make custom arrangements and sculptural artwork for the lounge. There's even a custom-designed DJ booth made in Normandy by Hervet Manufacturier and Cédric Hervet, the long-time creative director for Daft Punk. The vibe: This is a swank place with a lot of cultivated ambiance, so there’s a cocktail attire dress code for entry i.e. no sweatpants, cargo shorts, or slides. The food: Mostly raw preparations of seafood, so it’s not the kind of place you...

When I asked my friend to come with me to L’Industrie Pizzeria in the city on a Friday evening, she mused that perhaps they wouldn’t have a line, given the two adequately spaced locations in New York: the original in Williamsburg and the new(er) location in the West Village. I assured her that, no matter what time of day, they always do. I sadly confirmed I was right as we neared Christopher Street, walking toward the stretch of people who were coming out of the door and down the block. L’Industrie's perpetual wait times are just a result of the pizzas crafted by Massimo Laveglia. The Tuscan-born chef opened up shop in Williamsburg back in 2017, perfecting and then hawking wonderfully blistered and crisp pies à la New York style, dressed in all things Italian with prosciutto di Parma and milky balls of burrata. I knew I was in for a wait at the city's current "It" slice shop. So, I steeled myself, clocking the time for 7:54pm.  I will say, as long as the line was, the crowd of tourists, twenty-somethings, and older individuals was a jovial one. We collectively scooted down the block at a nice and steady pace, fast enough to feel like I was making progress but slow enough to hear a chorus of strangers say some variation of “I don’t do lines.” Over the next hour, I chatted with the bouncer/doorman at the neighboring TALEA Beer Co.—who graciously invited all future slice holders to come back and grab beer, a pro tip! I also peeped a sleepy shop cat inside a liquor store and...