New York holidays

New York’s sights are spread around the city, though most first-timers will want to stay somewhere on Manhattan Island. We’ve pulled out some of the best areas to stay in the city, below.

• Many first-time visitors opt to stay near Times Square. It’s not known as ‘The Crossroads of the World’ for nothing: it’s one of the world’s busiest pedestrian areas and is well-connected to many of the city’s main sights. Stay at Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square and enjoy a finely tuned sleep environment and a dedicated Get Ready Zone designed for the responsible traveller. Midtown, the area around Times Square, is where you’ll find the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, and the Rockefeller Center. Try booking the New York Hilton Midtown.
• If you’re hankering for a luxury hotel with all the trimmings: bells, whistles and bellhops, then Central Park, on the Upper East Side, is your best bet. This area is one of the most expensive in the city. This is the ultimate destination for culture (think opera, ballet, jazz, classical music, Michelin-starred restaurants) – and a taste of old New York. As you walk along Fifth Avenue, bordering Central Park, you’ll encounter ‘Museum Mile’, an area of prestigious institutions like the Met and the Frick. Stay at Park Lane New York and relish timeless views from the intimate rooftop, Darling.
• Staying on the Lower East Side puts you near Brooklyn Bridge and the Tenement Museum – a popular museum exploring the area’s working-class roots. The LES has gentrified rapidly in the last couple of decades. Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York gives you a feel for the area as it is now: trendy, young and fun.
• Several eye-catching cast iron buildings form the backbone of the SoHo district, which sits below Midtown. The name comes from the area’s geography: it’s the region south of Houston Street, in downtown Broadway. SoHo is synonymous with shopping – with boutiques for everyone from Wolf & Badger to Celine. Stay at NoMo SoHo for interiors stuffed with vintage finds and curious furnishings. Tribeca sits along the Hudson River, north of the Financial District. Hudson River Park and its promenade provide a breath of fresh air amid the hustle and bustle of Manhattan – quite literally. Stay at Walker Hotel Tribeca which gives a nod to the neighbourhood’s industrial past with practical design, utilitarian furnishings and whitewashed brickwork.

New York never stays the same. It refashions itself throughout the year, offering something different in every season. Visit in spring and stroll through blossoming parks. Toast to the skyline on a terrace in summer. See the city’s trees painted in fiery reds and golden hues in autumn. Or go in winter and wrap yourself in a big coat before staring up at the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree – there's a reason so many films romanticise Christmas in New York. 

1. If you’re a first-time visitor, you’ll want to visit all the classic New York attractions you’ve heard about in songs, read about in books and seen in films. We’ve put together a guide on the best things to do in New York, outlining the city’s highlights and offering useful tips, to help you get planning.
2. Booking a short break and unsure of how you’re going to fit it all in? Use our weekend itinerary for inspiration.
3. If you’re a return visitor who’s already seen the main tourist attractions or a traveller seeking out a different side of the city, look at our itinerary curated for the curious instead.

• Absolute Bagels was voted the best bagels in New York by Time Out, we tend to agree. These chewy, delicious, hand-rolled boiled delicacies come with a great selection of schmears (creamy cheese spreads). Our recommendation is the scallion schmear with lox (smoked salmon) and cucumber, a true New Yorker’s bagel. Journey up to the Upper West Side on Broadway to sample these bagels, close to Columbia University. A student-staple, you will not be disappointed. As there is no seating inside, maybe sit in the nearby Riverside Park for a mini-picnic.
• Supposedly secret – but often with queues – this quirky, 70s-inspired hole in the wall is inside the exclusive Thompson Central Park New York, part of Hyatt. Behind a red curtain, down a corridor with a lively neon-burger, diners sit in a small room strewn with graffiti eating some of the best burgers in Manhattan. Juicy, char-grilled beef patties with a liberal amount of cheese, salad, and pickles all in a grilled bun. Crispy fries and thick milkshakes complete the experience. This is a cash-only joint, in keeping with the grungy theme, so visit a cash point before you arrive.
• Brunch in New York can be the most important meal of the weekend. With that in mind, head over to local favourite Friend of a Farmer in Gramercy Park for a superb hangover cure. Choose from farm-fresh, home-made dishes that will remind you of your grandmother’s cooking. From superb omelettes with spinach and mushrooms to crab eggs benedict, you will find something you want. The griddle specialities are especially appealing, as are the Bloody Marys. A small warning – get there early as it gets busy, which is always a good sign.
• Known as the first pizzeria in the US, Lombardi’s first opened its doors in 1905. Gennaro Lombardi, a Neapolitan immigrant, reinvented a humble staple dish into the massive worldwide phenomenon it is today. Smoky-based dough baked in a stone-baked oven, with his famous tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella await the eager diner. Signature toppings include Italian meatballs and pepperoni – a traditional treat. In the family since 1897, you know you are going to be well looked after when you walk through the doors.

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