Curator’s statement
There's Old New York, Young New York, and then there's, like, Newborn New York. The kind of place you walk by and you think, “I could swear that restaurant wasn’t there just this morning.” This city is constantly evolving at breakneck speed and, while we love our heritage here (see my earlier guide to Old New York), we also embrace the new. New York has changed A LOT in the last 25 years. Most neighborhoods are gentrified. We have new skyscrapers, a new skyline, new demographics, and probably some new values. This post-Sex and the City version of New York is less cultural and more commercial than it once was (and slightly Miami-ized). Where we used to aspire to uptown sophistication, now we value downtown trendiness. But, through all its changes, us born-and-bred New Yorkers are still madly in love with this crazy town and we can still point you to what’s new and exciting and worthwhile. As such, here’s a quick cheat sheet to the younger, trendier, hipper New York.
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Things to do in New York City
Brookfield Place
Dimes Square is the microneighborhood (very New York word) where the Lower East Side meets Chinatown. I define it as Orchard, Ludlow, and Essex Streets between East Broadway and Hester Streets. It somehow emerged as quite the scene after the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and is still bustling with young energy. Head here to look at the beautiful people and enjoy lots of cute boutiques and great restaurants (Dimes, Cervo’s, Le Dive, etc.).
NoLIta, short for North Little Italy, is just north of Dimes Square and another neighborhood chock-full of cafes, restaurants, and independent designer stores. I love it as a place to just stroll around on a Sunday afternoon, window-shop, sit down with a cup of coffee, and people-watch.
The Meatpacking District, once just a giant smelly butcher shop by day and a very different kind of meat market by night, is now all luxury fashion retailers, high-end hotels, and trendy clubs and bars. Be sure to head to the Gansevoort Rooftop for some drinks. This is where New York’s well-heeled go to shop and dine, but it’s not without some culture. The formerly uptown Whitney Museum of Art is a great addition to the neighborhood.
Just as the Meatpacking District is unrecognizable to anybody who remembers what it was like in the '90s, so is The High Line. Not so long ago, this lovely park was a dilapidated rail line. Now it’s a green elevated boardwalk with public art installations throughout. For a perfect Sunday afternoon, start your day at The Standard Rooftop for a drink and breathtaking views, then get on the High Line and stroll from the Meatpacking District, through Chelsea, and up to Hudson Yards in Midtown. End the day with dinner at Jose Andres’ Mercado Little Spain, a food hall and market featuring culinary imports from all over Spain.
Places to eat & drink in New York City
The Tin Building: a food court with everything
Stop by The Butcher’s Daughter, with locations in Williamsburg and NoLIta for their magnificent brunch menu. (Go with "The Best Egg Sandwich.")
Another great brunch spot, Jack’s Wife Freda, has locations all over downtown. Don’t miss the grilled eggplant baguette.
A fun place to try a variety of foods, the Tin Building at South Street Seaport is a food hall and market founded by French chef Jean-George. I particularly like its brasserie for its crispy salmon, but make sure to go exploring and visit every floor for culinary delights from around the world.
Le District Bar & Bistro on the waterfront in Battery Park offers a beautiful view of the Hudson River in addition to a killer rigatoni alla vodka. After your meal, go inside for the French food hall and market to stock up on French food imports.
Rudy's Bar & Grill* is the quintessential New York dive bar for cheap beer and cheap eats. And an excellent place to observe or participate in a bar fight. (*Technically, Rudy’s is Old New York, but I only discovered it recently, so I’m including it here.)
Need to know
Where to shop
Ina is a designer consignment shop with three downtown locations. Here, you’ll find lightly used designer fashion at a fraction of the original cost. It takes some patience to scour through the selection, but you’ll find your new favorite dress/shirt/bag/shoes here.
The new Printemps, located in the Financial District, is the New York outpost of the French luxury department store. Not all of us can afford to shop here, but it sure is fun to experience this beautifully designed store.
Rag & Bone is a New York staple for quality men’s and women’s basics and denim.
Alice + Olivia, with locations across Manhattan, is a New York staple for women who love flirty, fun print dresses and colorful clothes.
Kith is your one-stop shop for men’s and women’s streetwear and sneakers.
Supreme is your one-stop shop for skateboarding and hip hop fashion.
A stretch of Bleecker Street between 7th Avenue and Bank Street in the West Village is a lovely place for a shopping spree, with an array of fine stores including James Perse, Rain, Intermix, Diptyque, Sandro, Aesop, Maje, and lots more.
It’s not my thing personally, but some people just love going shopping in malls. For that, we have Brookfield Place, home to luxury shops including Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Theory, Tory Burch, and more.
Language basics
Yerrr: Hello, how do you do?
Deadass: Seriously
Bodega: A 24-hour market/drug store/sandwich shop, typically on the corner of every other block
We Gucci: Everything is good between us
Schlep: (verb) to carry; (noun) a long haul or walk
Bric: It’s really, really cold.
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Eva Dilmanian
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, check out my Autumn in New York guide.