The best place to find your inner Zen boasts relaxed, peaceful grounds. Claim a spot near the serene Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, surrounded by Japanese myrtle and cypress trees, and bliss out. Read more.
Come here for 718 Sessions, the best party to dance your heart out to. The vibe (and crowd) harks back to the scene-starting, dance-all-night ’70s club Paradise Garage. Read more.
This elegant Greenpoint gem is the best store for upgrading your wardrobe on the cheap. We love the unique outerwear, but the shop’s best offerings are ladylike dresses. Read more.
The best spot to discover the next band of the moment has an amazing track record for booking hyped indie-rock acts and the DIY decor gives every show the air of a stumbled-upon loft party. Read more.
Arrive early at this best bar for birthdays to claim to prime barside real estate, and order a round of original cocktails mixed by rascally, white-jacketed gents. Read more.
Come here for the naughtiest burlesque show in NYC, !BadAss! Burlesque. The performances at this bimonthly revue aren’t the playful, teasing kind; they’re perverse and raunchy. Read more.
Come to this seductively lit haunt for the House of Scorpio’s Lip Service the best party to kiss a stranger. It’s a naughty and nice make-out mixer. Read more.
The best place to forget that you’re in NYC is crammed with gardens, forests and other quiet nooks that are perfect for chilling out. No visit here is complete without a stop by the Cloisters. Read more.
The best informal classroom offers cheap and cool sessions taught by a team of enthusiasts in various fields, including teachers, chefs, makeup artists and graphic designers. Read more.
The best touristy venue, this 80-year-old landmark is simply stunning. Check out the Art Deco flourishes in the lobby, restored to its original gilded splendor in 2009. Read more.
NYC’s best collective backyard boasts prime people-watching spots such as the Long Meadow and Nethermead The woodland expanse of the Ravine is a towering forest within bustling Brooklyn. Read more.
The best New York-focused museum is housed in a decommissioned subway station. Make sure to see the excellent collection of vintage subway cars. Read more.
The best birthday restaurant offers a homey French feast, centered on a shareable dish like roasted chicken, for groups of 8 to 12 on the long “kitchen table” in the back. Read more.
The best dive bar in NYC is filled with regulars making efficient use of the low prices. The owners have banished TVs to promote friendly banter and there’s always the jukebox to keep you company. Read more.
The best museum to spend the day in boasts unparalleled holdings in 20th- and 21st-century art, the Sette MoMA restaurant, a plush movie theater and the MoMA Design Store. Read more.
The best place to gawk at priceless art has a collection that is seemingly endless, spanning creepy Egyptian tombs to the shimmering Impressionist paintings to an unparalleled costume collection. Read more.
