New York
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Recommended Last Updated: 22/02/2007

Let me start by telling you that New York is a mad place and nothing like you can ever prepare for. It is a huge pot of people all in a rush and all with things to do. I can't describe it but it is fascinating.

Things you must do

  1. Ride in a yellow cab - ideally shouting 'Follow that cab' as you get inside.
  2. Eat a hot dog from a street vendor.
  3. Take a picture of the Fire Escapes on the sides of the buildings (the quintessential N.Y. image)
  4. Go up the Empire State Building
  5. Get the right Ferry to the Statue of Liberty
  6. Eat a Bagel and Cheesecake.
  7. Have an all-American Breakfast.
  8. Walk on 5th Ave and especially visit Tiffany's
  9. Visit Central Park
  10. Visit Woodbury Common, the largest premium outlet mall. For those of us paying UK prices for everything, you'll be glad you did.

Quick Links
Restaurants
Hotels

Manhattan

Restaurants

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  • Ben Ash Deli, 857 Seventh Ave at the corner of 55th Street, NY 10019 (T:212 265 1818, F: 212 265 0727). Great touristy diner - lost a lot of its old charm as we remembered it. Much better places elsewhere but work popping into if you're in the area.- last update 29 Oct 2005
  • City Hall Restaurant, 131 Duane Street, Tribeca, NY 10013 (T: 212 227 7777). This is our most favourite place to eat in Manhattan from our last visit. It has outstanding service, great food and well priced. Everything has a little twist in it to make it 'just so' and I can't recommend it enough. Owner/Chef Henry Craig is an absolutely affable and made sure all the guests were content. Definitely worth visiting if you want steak, burger or seafood. - last update 29 Oct 2005 #1cool.gif (111 bytes)
  • Ellens, Chambers and Broadway, Tribeca. This is a delightful bakery that also acts as an old-fashioned diner. The food was excellent and the service very good. Very strongly recommended for breakfast if you are in the area. cool.gif (111 bytes)
  • Foley's, Renaissance New York Hotel, 714 Seventh Ave, at 48th Street, NY 10036 (T: 212 261 520, F:212 261 5499). This fish restaurant is quite simply lovely. The food magnificent and service outstanding. It boasts an excellent view of Times Square and I challenge you to find a better view. Try to get a Window table if you can and make sure you book, its really worth it. cool.gif (111 bytes)
  • Lombardi's Pizzeria, 32 Spring St, Little Italy (T: 212 941 7994). This is the definitive stop over point in NY's little Italy. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, one the tastiest pizzas we have had.- last update 29 Oct 2005 #2cool.gif (111 bytes)
  • The Old Homestead. No. 56 on Ninth Avenue between 14th and 15th, New York, N.Y. 10011 (T:212 242 9040). This an outstanding restaurant but be ready for exceptionally snooty service! To be honest, we found it by chance due to conspicuous large sign of a cow hanging off its wall. Its claim is that it is N.Y.'s oldest and finest steak house. Having had 20 Oz fillet steaks  and sat with a clientele mostly made from the more elegantly dressed, I am not going to disagree too much with them but I have to say that for the money, a little more decorum towards the guests would be nice.
  • Cafe un deux trois, 123 West 44 Street, New York, NY 19936 (T: 212 354 4148/4397; F: 212 840 2169). Very nice international cuisine and great as a stop over if you're hitting theatre-land here. Good mixture of dishes so there will be something for everyone.

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Hotels

Keep a note that NYC charges taxes on everything and that includes about 12.5% city and hotel tax and US$2 per night!

  • Cosmopolitan Hotel, 95 West Broadway, New York, NY 10007 (T: 888 895 9400 or 212 566 1900, F: 212 566 6909). This is a nice hotel as long as you book for a double room - do not take a loft room unless you are five foot or under as the loft part has practically no ceiling! Also the small room is way to small for two people. They have good prices, as of Sept 98, you could get a double room for approx. $120 p.n. + taxes
  • New York Hilton. Very very very very very very very nice. Not very cheap though.
  • Sheraton New York. Avoid if you can, service and rooms not at all much to speak of and exorbitant rates. More aimed at the tour bus group. Susan and I both were very disappointed with this hotel.
  • Waldorf Astoria. Wonderful old school hotel with lush rooms, if a little small. Plushness everywhere but do note - its is very touristy and always packed. Nonetheless, one worth visiting!

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Westchester County

Hawthorne

  • Gasho Japanese Steak House, 2 Saw Mill River Road, Hawthorne, NY 10532 (T: 914 592 5900). Very nice Benihana style. You sit around a table while a chef chops, cuts and does acrobatics with your food that you then eat. Good fun and made most memorable by the company it is enjoyed with.

Yonkers

  • Kang Suh Japanese/Korean Restaurant, 2375 Central Park Ave., Yonkers NY 10710 (T: 914 771 4066,4035). Great cook-it-yourself grill restaurant. Pleasant service and great food. 

Port Chester

  • The Willett House, 20 Willett Ave., Port Chester, NY 10573 (T: 914 939 7500; F: 914 939 1894). This is a wonderful restaurant with private dining rooms that include beautiful old leather sofas and a great selection of wines. The food and service are both on a high par and this is strongly recommended. cool.gif (111 bytes)(Nov 2001)