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New York City Travel Guide

About New York City

New York’s capacity to surprise and delight never waivers - this is a metropolis which constantly reinvents itself, setting trends which every other world city clamours to follow.

Manhattan remains the vibrant centre, the first among the Five Boroughs. Walk its long, unending avenues and you’ll see a cross–section of the globe: the frenetic buzz of Chinatown, the bookish hush around New York University and Washington Square Park, the epicentre of African-American culture in Harlem.

Ticking off every cultural highlight in the city is nigh on impossible. First timers should make a beeline for the big–hitters: the Statue of Liberty, MoMA, the Empire State Building. For those returning, the city’s outer neighbourhoods and green spaces are a must. Brooklyn’s stunning Prospect Park and Inwood Hill Park (the latter the only undeveloped part of Manhattan) are great ways to spend an afternoon.

Foodies will be overwhelmed with options. The Astoria neighbourhood in Queens is a great bet for those looking to eat cheaply and well, with a melting pot of Greek, Italian, Egyptian and Chinese restaurants. This is New York at its most real, away from the razzle dazzle of Fifth Avenue and fast gentrifying areas of Brooklyn.

If you’re more interested in shopping than eating, then New York has it covered. Music lovers are blessed with a first rate record shopping scene, led by Rough Trade NYC and South Slope’s ace Permanent Records, while the weekly Brooklyn Flea Market (held at various locations throughout the year) is great for unique treasures and one–off fashion.

Night owls can find a dark booth and a great selection of cocktails and beers all over the city, but the Lower East Side and Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg neighbourhoods serve up some of the best spots. Maison Premiere’s absinthe cocktails are a great way to kick off a night on the tiles on uber-hip Bedford Avenue.

Just remember that even the hardiest New Yorker hasn’t seen everything the city has to offer. Pick a few highlights and you’ll be certain to want to come back for more.

Key facts

Population:
8400000
Latitude:
40.714353
Longitude:
-74.005973
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Ye Olde Carlton Arms Hotel

A somewhat divisive 'art' hotel that lots of people really love for its location and pricing, but which you're going to dislike if you're humourless, or are a stickler for high levels of cleanliness. The rooms are individually designed with striking, and sometimes shocking, motifs, and the casual air recalls a backpacker's hostel but with individual rooms. Bohemian, definitely.

Lowell Hotel

New York hotels don't come too much classier than this 1927 landmark building, set on a leafy street in one of the Upper East Side's most fashionable spots. Discreet and aristocratic, the liveried doormen escort you to opulent rooms crammed with period furniture and antique décor. It manages to retain an understated air, though, and is the ultimate retreat for those that can afford it.

The Greenwich Hotel

This hip downtown spot fills a renovated historic building in the Tribeca neighbourhood. From the eclectic lobby with its comfy chairs and imported Moroccan screens, to the luxurious bathrooms featuring Carrara marble and hand-laid Turkish tiles, you'll feel a rich combination of style and decadence.

Crosby Street Hotel

This chic downtown hotel features 86 individually designed guestrooms and suites, all with floor-to-ceiling windows, original artwork and a stylish contemporary design. Guests also enjoy the leafy garden, the private screening room and a whimsically designed bar. The hotel is beautifully located on a cobblestone street just a short stroll from the great dining and shopping in Soho and Nolita.

The Jane

For an affordable stay in a great downtown location, it's hard to top the Jane. Rooms are clean if decidedly small and play off a nautical theme. Those used to life at sea won't mind the 'cabins', which are a mere 5sq m (50sq ft) in size. The bigger 'Captain's Cabins' are roomier at 23sq m (250sq ft) and have flat-screen TVs and iPod docks.

The Paramount

There is nothing traditional about The Paramount, a post-modern showplace. For example, in the entrance, red roses are displayed vertically in vases set into the wall. The lobby bar, designed by Philippe Starck, has platinum walls and a glamorous staircase sweeping up to the mezzanine. Guests can gaze down from their tables to the music and theatre industry leaders reclining on the slightly off-kilter furniture below.