Delia Barth

Afternoon tea is what makes a trip to London truly iconic – even if you already live here. You’ll find some of the best at London’s chicest hotels, restaurants, and art galleries - and we’ve worked out what makes an afternoon tea a truly memorable experience. It'’s not just perfect pastries, the most elegant of teeny tiny cakes and finger sarnies with the crusts cut off, but swish service, the option to have something boozy and bubbly and a picture-perfect, characterful room in which to enjoy it all. From The Ritz to a Caribbean restaurant in Walthamstow, the National Gallery and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, there's truly something for every cake-munching tea-drinker in this round-up of London's best afternoon tea spreads.  Expect to pay in the region of £50 to £80 for the pleasure per person, but you'll be in for a treat if you go with one of our recommendations. Remember, many of the teas have set times for seatings, so booking in advance is always a good idea. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor and knows all about tiny little cucumber sandwiches and drinking Champagne at 3pm. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now.

The iconic NYC skyline is ever-changing, with fabulous new buildings rising up next to historic beauties like the Empire State, Chrysler and Flatiron buildings. The best views in NYC are from above, atop said buildings and others. These breathtaking panoramas are attractions on their own, and many viewpoints are among the best free things to do in the city. If you’re visiting NYC, or just in the mood for a staycation, why not choose a hotel that also happens to have one of these gorgeous views? These hotels offer views of the city that can’t be beaten. These are top-notch hotels with luxurious, lavish interiors as well as prime views of Central Park, the skyline, the Hudson River and more. After tackling the best museums, galleries, restaurants, neighborhoods and other things to do in NYC, you can kick back, relax and absorb all you’ve seen on your city adventures. Need some extra relaxation? Some of these hotels have hot tubs and some are home to the best spas in the city. We’ve checked these out ourselves to make sure these views really do take the cake! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best hotels in NYC Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Finding the best hotel in NYC to stay at, whether on a trip here or a staycation, is paramount. Yes, you’ll likely be out and about and the hotel simply serves as a place to lay your head, but a good hotel can make or break your time in the city. New York prides itself on its hospitality and that is pretty clearly evidenced by its best hotels. Every kind of traveler can find their perfect holiday haven in this glorious city, from sleek boutique hotels in the city’s trendiest neighborhoods to opulent luxury stays near the top NYC attractions. You’ll even find some of the best spas and restaurants tucked inside their lobbies. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the Big Apple or a local craving an inner-city staycation, these properties take the cake when it comes to hospitality and hotel perks. Cue room service. October 2024 update: We have completely revamped our list by visiting dozens of hotels across NYC this year, including The Beekman, The Ludlow, The FiDi Hotel and 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. So know that when you’re reading this list, you’re getting the most up-to-date information. RECOMMENDED: 🇺🇸 Click here to view our full guide to the best things to do in NYC🏨 Discover the best cheap hotels in NYC🌉 Explore the coolest Airbnbs in Brooklyn💗 Book one of the best boutique hotels in NYC Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user re

The best hotels in New Orleans range from high-end national brands to quirky, boutique properties, with plenty of options in between. There's something out there to suit everyone – even if you've got a very acquired and niche taste.  These New Orleans hotels offer everything you need for a comfortable stay plus service and attention that will make your visit to the city memorable. A new crop of independent hoteliers has transformed unique spaces into posh retreats, while a handful of historic hotels have stood the test of time and have become attractions in their own right. Plus, many of these hotels even have on-site bars and restaurants that have earned accolades on their own.  Whether you’re a business traveler, party animal or trend-seeking influencer, these hotels have it all. Deciding which New Orleans neighborhood to be based in is always a tough decision – maybe you’re looking to blow off some steam with a French Quarter fiesta, or perhaps you’re more in the mood to decamp to a trendy hideaway in the Marigny – but wherever you decide to stay, you’ll have a perfect spot to rest your head after exploring all the best restaurants and bars in NOLA. RECOMMENDED: The best neighborhoods in New OrleansRECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in New OrleansRECOMMENDED: The best things to do in New Orleans This guide was written by New Orleans-based writer Gerrish Lopez. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about ho

With 365 possibilities for a good meal in 2023, Time Out New York editors ate and drank around New York City with gusto. We dine out so frequently in this capital of cuisine that we’re able to pinpoint what makes a good dish, cocktail or dessert—and love to share it with you. Below, we’ve identified eight amazing dishes we loved this year. Some are from NYC’s best new restaurants of 2023, while others are mainstays or just really good spots for a meal that have gone above and beyond in a particular dish.  RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in NYC right now

A lot can conspire to make a place seem great. The power of suggestion, beautiful surroundings, subsequent cost justification, wonderful company, and actually excellent menus.  Time Out New York editors eat and drink around the city with such frequency that we know how to quickly cut through the enticing noise and identify when something’s just a terrific dish. Some are classic, some are novel and all of the favorites here are totally separate from NYC’s best new restaurants of 2022, to keep expanding the options of everywhere you should eat and drink right now.  RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in NYC right now

Even when you spend most of your free time and discretionary income on eating and drinking, some things simply stand out. They may or may not be from the latest openings in town, and we've intentionally left out the best new restaurants that opened in NYC this year so we can spotlight some other great venues. These were some of our favorite things to taste over the last 12 months. These were Time Out New York's editors' favorite food and drinks this year. 

As someone whose data often runs out mid-month, I was pumped about the idea of subway Wi-Fi. That is, until I learned that “Subway Wi-Fi” is nothing more than a sick joke played on innocent riders. RECOMMENDED: See more New York rants First off, the Wi-Fi doesn’t stay connected from station to station; it only works on the platforms. So, in between stations, you’re Wi-Fi–less. In all fairness, I have literally zero idea how Wi-Fi works—to be honest, I believe it is made of magic. But the Transit Wireless website claims that you can “stay connected while in transit,” which is actually just the transit system lying directly to our collective face. As if you haven’t hurt us enough, MTA?  But here’s the really fun part: With the average stop lasting about a minute, it’s a mad rush to reconnect at each stop. In order to reconnect, you need to watch a “short” video. Always on schedule, that video plays for the exact amount of time the doors are open. Just when the signal bars finally appear on your phone, the train zooms into the tunnel and your connection is lost, leaving you with only the afterimage—burned upon your retina—of a goofy ad you’ve seen a billion times. Guess I'll just look like a crazy person and not look at my phone the entire ride.

Journalist, silver fox, intrepid jogger—there are many ways you could describe CNN newscaster Anderson Cooper. But labels aside, the man is a born-and-bred New Yorker, even if he doesn’t eat like one (after all, he prefers the Soylent meal-replacement diet). Still, we got Cooper to open up about some of his favorite restaurants and local memories as well as his upcoming live storytelling show, AC2 (Beacon Theatre; June 21, 22), cohosted by TV personality—and Cooper’s dear friend—Andy Cohen. “It’s not a night of serious politics,” says Cooper. “It’s a night of really funny stories—all true—and just weird things that have happened to us. A lot of people will come up to me and say, ‘I wish I could get a drink with you.’ That’s basically what this night is. The bar is very open.” His favorite haunts: Club Cumming + Raines Law Room“Club Cumming is a spot unlike any other. It’s like going to a Berlin cabaret, and Alan Cumming often performs there. Beyond that, I like Raines Law Room. It’s not technically in the Village—it’s on 17th Street—but I think it has a Village-y, speakeasy feel.”His meal of choice next to Soylent: OatMeals“This is one of my favorite places in New York. It’s a tiny hole-in-the-wall that offers nothing but oatmeal. There’s a fixins bar, and it sells oatmeal muffins and oatmeal cookies. It’s very big with NYU students.” His weekend activity: Pace Gallery “A good day is one spent looking at art. That’s something I very much enjoy. I go to Pace Gallery to see wh

When it comes to trendy foods, presentation and Instagrammability tend to play a big role in drawing crowds. But how does your opinion change when you don’t have an Instagram or possibly don't even know what Instagram is? We brought four Italian grandmas to the Time Out office to try New York’s trendiest Italian dishes. And when it comes to their self-created Italian Test, these native New York nonnas are not messing around. Lets just say, they were not as impressed as many Instagram influencers seem to be with New York’s more innovative Italian creations. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC Each grandma is from New York and belongs to a lunch group called the Pasta Girls, who eat pasta together weekly. They have also all been cooking Italian meals since childhood and love feeding their families Italian feasts. So in our book, these women are Italian cuisine experts. We had them try Pop Pasta’s spaghetti donut (made famous at Smorgasburg last year), which every grandma thought was pasty and, quite honestly, offensive. Next on the menu was The Sosta’s critically-acclaimed brunch special: spaghetti pie. Gloria, 88, said she’s “had better” in Syracuse. Then there was Max Brenner’s chocolate pizza, which the grandmas all agreed was not real New York pizza but overall enjoyed it. And finally, there was a vegan fettuccine alfredo from John's of 12th Street, which was surprisingly a crowd pleaser. Forget Michelin stars; if you really want an honest review of your

The Dominick Soho is perfect for anyone looking for a fuss-free stay on one of New York City’s most exciting streets. I entered through the Spring Street entrance and was greeted by a lobby that blends modern and mid-century styles, featuring dark wood and plenty of cozy nooks to sit, read, take a call, or get some work done. Distinct hanging steel-caged light fixtures and wood panels reminiscent of church organs make up the very tall walls. Once I finished admiring the lobby architecture, check-in was prompt and I was quickly sent down the elevator bank to my room. I stayed in a Skyline View King Room, which consists of a king-sized bed, a sofa and coffee table, desk space and a wet bar. The room was spacious and the views were fantastic. We were fortunate to see a rainbow from our room, which made for a spectacular welcome experience. The room was well-kept; the robes were soft, and the bathroom featured both a standing shower and a full tub. The tub even has a TV you can pull out to watch while soaking. The toiletries were all by Diptyque, and the subtle scent of high-end fragrances lingered in the air—I must say, I didn’t hate that at all. The hotel offers a nice mix of amenities, including a spa (some suites even have saunas) and a terrace pool, allowing you to relax or swim seven stories above Soho. The pool is adjacent to the hotel restaurant, El Ta’Koy, which serves Hawaiian-style street food. I tried the kalua pork bao buns and the guacapoke (think poke bowl mixed wi

Located just 15 minutes from Quito’s airport, Samay Collections is a unique hippie dreamscape brought to life. This hotel and spa offer a truly one-of-a-kind experience with 12 distinctively designed whimsical cabins perched on a cliff in the Andes Mountains. Though technically a hotel, I would describe Samay Collections as “glamping on steroids.” Each unique room sports a mix of glass-enclosed beds, wooden plank bridges and suspended hammock netting, which allows guests to feel as though they're floating above the rainforest. During my stay, I was in the Amazonia room. The expansive suite featured charming thatched roofing with open skylights that let trees grow through from the floor below. Inside, a small chimney and a luxurious canopy bed created a cozy, enchanting atmosphere. The private jacuzzi room, with jungle views, was also a welcome feature. However, the pièce de résistance was the netting above the base floor—a hammock made of netting that spans most of the ceiling, allowing you to hang out above the room in a cozy bed of floating pillows. The shower is a plant-filled outdoor shower, which I found charming and fun but might be an issue in colder weather for some. The spa portion of the hotel is rustic but cute, with dipping pools as well as dry and wet saunas available at your disposal. You can make appointments for facials, massages and other services while access to the pools and saunas is included in your room at no extra cost. One of the hotel's coolest featur

If you’re looking for a Gilded Age, old-money historic NYC experience, Lotte New York Palace on Madison Avenue is just the place. Lotte Palace was built during the Gilded Age, 1882 to be exact. The lobby, courtyard and the main hotel building comprise three wings of the Villard Houses, a row of mansions built in the 1880s by McKim, Mead & White (which are New York City-designated landmarks and listed on the National Register of Historic Places) for railroad tycoon Henry Villard. I entered the building through the main lobby, walking through its notorious courtyard, which is immediately recognizable from the over 25 movies and TV shows filmed there. Through the heaviest revolving door I’ve pushed in a while and stepped back in time, surrounded by the type of ostentatious grandeur that isn’t made anymore. The lobby features multiple staircases, two of which lead to the second-floor balcony and its giant pink marble fireplace. Marble statues of Greek goddesses adorn the gold leaf-plated banisters. It should feel almost gaudy, but instead, it feels exciting and luxurious. Heading down the stairs to check into the towers, I was given a room on the 45th floor. My ears took a second to pop when I got off the elevator, but the annoyance of that feeling quickly lifted when I caught a glimpse of the view out my window. I looked straight out over Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, right towards Rockefeller Center. It’s the type of view that even I, a lifetime New Yorker, was in awe of. The room

If you’re looking for a clean and safe place to rest your weary head after a long day out in the city, the M Social Hotel New York Times Square is the spot! It's decently priced and close to most major midtown attractions. Six blocks from Central Park, two avenues away from the Museum of Modern Art and smack dab in the center of Broadway's theater district. Its rooms are straightforward yet functional, with sliding mirror doors, dark wooden furniture and comfortable bedding. Although the interiors are typical of mid-range corporate hotels, the amenities stand out: a microwave, mini-fridge, cable TV, a small sofa, and, on higher floors, impressive city views. Each of these was well taken care of and immaculately clean. I was obsessed with how comfortable the bed was, and how quiet the room was at night, considering it’s smack dab in the middle of midtown. The bathrooms are a highlight with their waterfall showers and luxury toiletries. For the price and location, the M Social offers a pretty sweet deal. The lobby is anchored by a large, sprawling bar with high vaulted ceilings showing off the view of Times Square. There are local beers on tap and a pretty impressive cocktail list. The bar sports has a foosball table, as well as a couch with wall-mounted TVs and game consoles for kids to play video games on—and a long shuffleboard table. The bar’s outdoor space has views looking down Times Square towards the New Year's Eve ball, which was pretty inspiring even for a jaded New Y

Pontchartrain Hotel is a charming hotel right on St. Charles Ave in the Garden District. Famously, this hotel is where Tennessee Williams wrote A Streetcar Named Desire, and the rooms do, in fact, overlook streetcars that run up and down the street. These days, the hotel has leaned into a 1950s boho charm aesthetic in a big way, and it’s working! Upon entering the hotel, you are met with a lavish lobby framed by large red velvet curtains, bright red walls and dark wood counters. The hotel still uses metal keys to enter and leave rooms; you’re told at check-in that if you lose your key, it will cost $250, but you’re welcome to leave it at the front desk as you come and go. The romantic lushness of the hotel, along with these quirkier attributes, make for an eclectic experience very much in line with the city it resides in. The rooms match the lobby’s rich decorative style with a bit less boldness. With green and pink velvet bedding, and floral drapery, in many ways, it does feel as though you’ve walked back in time to 1950s New Orleans. There’s a sketch of Tennessee Williams and a small chandelier hanging in every room. Though charming, the boho-retro vibe of the spot could be read as outdated by some. However, where it matters most—the bathrooms, TV and beds—everything is pristine. The robes are fluffy, and the soap is La Labo. If you’re looking for a quirky, chic, yet affordable stay, this hotel is perfect for you. The hotel’s rooftop bar, Hot Tin, is a trendy, sophisticated

Truman Capote loved this hotel so much that he often told people that he was born inside Hotel Monteleone, and now that I’ve stayed there, I understand why he felt that way. This French Quarter hotel is the perfect location for anyone looking to spend the day exploring the lively neighborhood without enduring the chaos of Bourbon Street (though it is only a few minutes' walk away). The almost 150-year-old hotel has undergone a bit of a facelift, making for the perfect mix of historic charm and modern convenience. I stayed in a king room in the Iberville Tower, the most recent section of the hotel to undergo renovations. The rooms in the tower go for about $50 more than the king rooms in the less-updated parts of the hotel. From where I’m sitting, that $50 is worth the upgrade. These sleek rooms feature a pull-out vanity with makeup lighting, a waterfall shower, white marble bathrooms and turn-down service twice a day. Each room also has a doorbell, which doesn't feel necessary but is a fun little touch. As a seasoned traveler, the most exciting thing about the rooms is how they’ve been adjusted for the modern world perfectly. On either side of the bed are easily accessible USB ports for charging, light switches that allow you to control the room's many lights without getting up, and a footlight below the bed that turns on when you get up and stays lit until you return to bed, so you don’t wake or disturb your travel companion. The pillows are soft and the toiletries smell gre

Hotel Peter & Paul is a sophisticated hotel in a fascinating, historic space. In the 19th century, the building used to house a schoolhouse, rectory, church and convent. (Don’t worry, the nuns have long since left.) With 71 rooms spread out across the property, each room is unique. I stayed in a convent room with a fireplace and working clawfoot tub. Instead of ignoring the hotel's religious origins, the decor acknowledges it in a fresh, exciting way. The four post beds are draped in rich canopy fabric, and each post is topped with small crosses. This rich gothic styling clashes intentionally with the quaint country vibe of the furniture in a way that feels uniquely New Orleans. The hotel takes great care to make your stay something special. It’s the attention to detail that separates this spot from the usual Instagram fodder. It’s not just special visually, it’s a special place to stay. Each room comes with an almanac of New Orleans, which breaks down the best things to do in the area, how to pronounce famous landmarks and the “New Orleans Culture” you may need to know while exploring. The robes are soft, the shower is a walk-in and the provided toiletries smell exceptionally good. There’s also a lot more to do here than sleep. The Church Space hosts yoga classes on Tuesdays and Saturdays, which guests are encouraged to attend, as well as community events. There are concerts, sound baths and even square dancing events hosted in the church-turned-event space. Located in the r

The new 'City Explorers' program will hand over the social media spotlight to a collaborator from our city each month. Through two monthly videos in Time Out’s style, on both our London and NYC pages, we’ll show people how to have a great time in the city and show off new, unique and diverse areas and communities that don’t always get the attention they deserve. We’re looking for content creators with a fresh perspective, insight and opinion on the city and who are passionate about going out and exploring the city's restaurants, bars, museums and other fun things to do that would be of interest to our audience. The videos that you will create with Time Out editors will be posted as a collaboration to Time Out’s page and yours. If you’re chosen as that month’s official City Explorer, you’ll get: Coverage seen by Time Out's highly-engaged audience of millions of New Yorkers and Londoners Access to Time Out’s professional editors and producers The title of Official Time Out City Explorer to add to all your social bios Legacy-brand access to events and places around the city The Time Out video team will work closely with you to create content that speaks to both our and your audience, from pitch to edit to promotion, we’ll work together to make the most engaging content possible with you at the helm as videographer! Ready to make magic with us? Send an email to us about why you think you’d be a good fit with a link to your IG/TikTok accounts to to video@timeout.com.

Ever wonder what it takes to perform at a Knicks game halftime show? So did we, so we sent one a Time Out staffer to Madison Square Garden for a firsthand lesson from the Knicks City Dancers. Our prodigy suited up in an official set of warm-ups, learned the crew’s choreography (or at least tried to) and spent an afternoon uncovering the tricks of the trade. Spoiler alert: It ain’t easy.  Take a look at the video above for the full rundown, and get inspired to sharpen your own dance moves.  Sign up to receive great Time Out deals in your inbox each day.