Every visit to New York City feels electric: the taxi horns, the aroma of fresh bagels and grilled kebabs, the excited chatter spilling from every corner. Having lived in Brooklyn on-and-off, I’ve wandered these streets for years, yet every trip is a culinary adventure — from Astoria taquerias with freshly pressed masa to Upper East Side hotels with thoughtful cocktails. Some dishes instantly steal your heart, others surprise you with bold flavors you didn’t know you were craving and nearly all are splurges worth savoring.
Here’s a curated week of where to stay, what to eat and how to play in the city that never sleeps — not a full itinerary, but a few splurges worth building yours around.
Hotels
Loews Regency New York – It’s easy to come to expect tiny hotel rooms in New York City, but the Luxury King room at the Loews Regency hotel was absolutely massive. While a bit dated, the room had a kitchenette and a microwave, as well as a separate fridge from the minibar setup. With costs in NYC higher than ever, having a way to store leftovers and warm up food in between restaurant reservations is a huge boon in my book. The bathroom layout was comfortable and the water pressure was simply divine!
Just two blocks from Central Park and near the Upper East Side, Park Avenue was somehow quieter than expected after the rush of the day. An inviting grand lobby and kind staff greeted us and immediately assisted with our bags, despite our late night arrival. After my phenomenal experience with room service at the Atlanta location, we opted for a burger and pasta for a late night meal, but both were unfortunately a miss. The Regency Bar serves up great cocktails, including thoughtful zero-proof options, as well as bar bites, but I’d skip the oysters. Overall, Loews Regency New York offers a great home base for endless NYC adventures.
Thompson Central Park – Situated just half a mile from Times Square and around the corner from Carnegie Hall, the Thompson Central Park offers a sleek, modern design, friendly service, and spacious rooms. A subtle musical theme runs throughout, and the hotel has two on-site restaurants. We stayed in a high-floor room with incredible views of Central Park and access to the Upper Stories lounge, where complimentary light bites and drinks are offered (we only made it there once in four nights, but it’s worth considering). Water pressure was wonderful, though city noise was audible even on a high floor, which is pretty standard in NYC, so being some earplugs. For a touch of indulgence, the on-site spa offers fantastic massages — perfect for unwinding in the city that never sleeps.
Want more great food writing and recipes? Sign up for Salon’s free food newsletter, The Bite.
Brunch
Mayahuel – Mayahuel, a family-owned gem in Astoria, Queens, is just a quick hop from Manhattan via the Queensboro Bridge. Specializing in Northern and Coastal Mexican cuisine, the kitchen grinds 150 pounds of heritage corn into fresh masa each week, pressing it to order for every tortilla.
We visited for brunch, a smaller menu than dinner, but every dish was worth savoring. The guacamole with salsa macha is a must-order — ask for extra to pair with everything else. Highlights included the carne casera (sirloin with sunny-side-up eggs, chimichurri and home fries) and a perfectly cooked brunch burger. Bottomless mimosas, margaritas, Modelo Draft, Monopolio Clara and white sangria are available for $30.
Don’t skip dessert: the coffee flan is silky smooth and utterly addictive. Lively music, an exuberant vibe, and attentive service make Mayahuel an unforgettable brunch spot that will have you plotting a return for dinner.
Pro Tip: Make a day of it with a visit to Rachel’s Nail Spa right across the street from Mayahuel. The prices are reasonable, service fantastic and they take walk-ins. The salon feels like a neighborhood fixture, with the owner knowing some of the customers for decades. And on your way out, check out Tea and Milk next door. The bubble tea shop has drinks named after different New York City neighborhoods, offers multiple tea and juice bases, as well as dairy alternatives.
(Jodyann Morgan) Mtsvadi and Chanakhi at Oda House
Oda House – I’m a sucker for Georgian food, which is rare where I live, so I jump at every chance to indulge. Oda House, with locations on the Upper East Side and in Brooklyn, delivers exactly that. The UES spot had giant windows, a few steps up to enter, and a cozy dining room.
We started with khinkali, handheld Georgian soup dumplings with thick, meaty fillings. The waiter explained how to eat them — pinch the top, slurp carefully — which is perfect for first-timers. Adjaruli khachapuri followed: a boat of bread loaded with gooey cheese, topped with a raw egg, mixed tableside. Rich, indulgent, and utterly satisfying.
Always wanting something new, we tried chanakhi, a hearty stew with eggplant, potatoes, peppers, and lamb. Charred, rich and intensely flavorful, it came with Georgian bread that you’ll want second of. I’ve been attempting stews inspired by this at home ever since.
(Jodyann Morgan) Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung – Our return flight to New York was canceled with just a few hours’ notice, leaving us scrambling for lodging (thank you, Thompson, for extending our stay) and a quick meal. Din Tai Fung, luckily within walking distance and surprisingly uncrowded, was perfect for brunch.
It was my wife’s first visit, and though I couldn’t fully explain the lore of the restaurant, the food spoke for itself. We started with a refreshing cucumber salad dressed in chili and sesame oil, then moved on to Kurobuta pork soup dumplings, shrimp and Kurobuta pork spicy wontons and more — each bite expertly balanced and juicy. Dessert was the sesame mochi xiao long bao, a delectable finish that didn’t disappoint.
Steakhouse
Yoon Haeundae Galbi – Yoon Haeundae Galbi is a fine dining Korean BBQ restaurant founded by Bobby Yoon, the grandson of the Korean chef who pioneered the “Haeundae Cut” to tenderize meat, which is used on all the grilled short ribs at the restaurant. At his grandfather’s restaurant in Korea, they grilled meat tableside over charcoal, but NYC regulations don’t allow that, so a gas grill is used instead. I first dined at Yoon Haeundae Galbi in 2022, went back in 2024, and again this year, and it’s been a consistent hit.
The menu is extensive, with cold and hot appetizers, stews, rice and noodles, and of course, meat grilled expertly at the table as you watch. Broiled prawns in a gochujang butter, garlic, and chives were served sizzling hot. Then, the table is blanketed in banchan, side dishes meant to complement and elevate the meal, as well as rice, perilla, lettuce, and endive, to wrap morsels of grilled meat.
But for me, the start of the show is uni mentaiko rice — an umami bomb with truffled mayo, seaweed, tobiko and a healthy amount of uni. The textures and flavors of this dish are unparalleled, definitely a must-order when visiting. Dessert was a refreshing Asian pear sorbet with cinnamon date punch, the perfect light end to a sensational meal.
We need your help to stay independent
Nusr-et Steakhouse -If you’re after a showy, Instagram-worthy experience, Salt Bae’s Nusr-et Steakhouse delivers. An exterior staircase leads down to a dramatic interior with a circular bar, soaring ceilings, and moody lighting. Most of the starters — salmon tartare with quinoa, meat sushi and beef carpaccio topped with Parmesan — didn’t wow us, despite their theatrical presentation.
But the main course was a different story. Perfectly medium-rare chargrilled steak arrived tableside with fanfare, finished with the now-famous sprinkle of salt. Even the creamed spinach, usually not my thing, was surprisingly good. Skip the baklava and finish with the basque cheesecake. You’ll leave satisfied, entertained and thoroughly Instagram-equipped.
Gui Steakhouse – Gui Steakhouse, where “American cuts are reimagined through a Korean lens,” stands out in Midtown with expertly prepared steaks, fresh seafood, and inventive cocktails. Skip the A5 Wagyu katsu sando and dive straight into the seafood: oysters topped with uni and Hokkaido scallop sashimi steal the show. The Caesar salad, with candied anchovies, gem lettuce, and umeboshi dressing, is a playful twist, but the main course is where things get truly exciting. Dolsot bibimbap, topped with uni, crispy rice, a mildly spicy sauce, and kimchi, paired beautifully with the bone-in rib eye grilled over live wood fire — a combination far more satisfying than mashed potatoes could ever be. For cocktails, the Gui-tini, infused with steak drippings and topped with beef jerky, was my wife’s standout choice.
Restaurants
Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi – No matter what the TikTok comments say, Tatiana is not overhyped — not even a little. Whether you score a hard-to-get reservation or a walk-in bar seat, it’s worth the effort.
Serving Afro-Caribbean fare “by way of the Bronx,” Tatiana strikes a balance between familiar and exciting. The curried goat patties were a ten out of ten, elevated by a surprising mango chutney. Sticky, spicy jerk lamb ribs with a smoky pimento wood aroma and hamachi escabeche followed, setting the stage for the main course.
The star for me was the crispy eggplant curry: a fried, breaded eggplant steak with a perfect crust and melt-in-your-mouth interior, served atop green curry and spiced chili sauce — I wished for bread to sop up every last drop. The fried branzino impressed, too, even if it was my least favorite dish; I’d still happily order it again.
Don’t skip dessert. The Bodega Special, a rich, fudgy, deeply chocolatey cosmic brownie with powdered sugar ice cream that looks like mini donuts is a chocolate lover’s delight. My wife wasn’t too thrilled with the golden rum cake, since it’s nothing like the dense dark rum cake she grew up with, but I loved it! Light and fluffy, the rum flavor was pronounced.
(Jodyann Morgan) O-toro nigiri topped with black truffle at Sushi Nakazawa
Sushi Nakazawa – It’s rare to find a lunchtime omakase. Most are reserved for the dinner hour, when diners have the time to leisurely enjoy nigiri one bite at a time. But on vacation, there’s a lot to do in the evenings, and sometimes a splurge-worthy lunch is in order. One Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa might have a slightly dated interior, but the chef’s counter omakase — about 20 pieces of nigiri, including uni, snow crab and multiple cuts of tuna — certainly delivers. The chef seems to enjoy using the torch, often pulling it out to sear the nigiri. It’s an indulgent spread, with optional uni, gold-covered osetra caviar, A5 wagyu, and black truffle upgrades. The uni, generously served over rice, was well worth it, elevating an already delicious meal.
Things to Do
Tonight with the Impressionists at Eclipso – I’m fascinated by virtual reality experiences. There’s something magical about walking around a large room in the middle of the city and being transported to a whole other world with just a headpiece. Eclipso offers several immersive options, and the NYC location was pretty busy when we visited, requiring a bit of dodging fellow participants. I was initially booked for Horizon of Khufu, but, being afraid of heights, I quickly switched. The staff kindly moved me to Tonight with the Impressionists, which transports you back 150 years to Parisian art galleries. It was educational — though I didn’t fact-check — weaving in the stories of artists considered revolutionary in their time, like Morisot, Monet and Degas.
Pro Tip: Kitty corner to Eclipso is the Riverside Gourmet Deli, which makes fresh-pressed juices to order. I’m a sucker for watermelon lemonade, which they do not offer, but I wasn’t deterred. I ordered a freshly pressed watermelon juice and bought a bottle of Natalie’s lemonade. Mix the two together, and voilà, you have seriously delicious lemonade!
QC New York – Just a five-minute ferry ride from Manhattan, QC New York on Governors’ Island offers endless views, interesting showers, outdoor pools, and spa treatments. Two buildings connected by an outdoor walkway and large pools form a maze of showers, saunas, and relaxation spaces — some easier to find than others. Even on a Monday morning, the spa was busy, but the heated outdoor pools offer sweeping views of the NYC skyline, with built-in loungers perfect for reading or napping.
Not everything is picture-perfect: robes are available up to 3X, but sunscreen is scarce (unless you splurge on a $20 mini pack), and food doesn’t start until noon — health-food style, lackluster with minimal seasoning. There’s no cold plunge or similar cold experiences, which I found disappointing in the summer heat, though it may not matter to you.
Skip the massages and instead focus on the facilities: complimentary self-service masks and scrubs make it easy to relax and indulge in the spa experience.
Guided Fishing in Central Park – Did you know that you can fish in Central Park? It’s catch and release, but one hell of a memorable and unusual New York City experience. The guide, Seth, meets you in the park bright and early, before too many people flood the area, with all the necessary equipment. The fish were pretty small, but it was certainly a thrill and a great way to enjoy the beautiful park.
With Friends
La Dong – I couldn’t imagine dining at La Dong without a group of friends — there are simply too many fantastic dishes to choose from. The dimly lit restaurant buzzed with energy when we arrived, conversations and laughter filling the space. It’s beautifully decorated, with colored glasses, a striking mural, and umbrellas, lanterns, and floating bamboo lotus hanging from the ceiling. The menu is packed with Vietnamese classics, from banh mi to pho, alongside many other dishes.
We tried many plates, but the star of the night was the Cá Chiên Nước Mắm: a whole-fried, deboned bronzino glazed in sweet fish sauce. Crab fried rice arrived topped with generous lumps of crab meat, and the Vietnamese chicken wings were fried hard, impossibly crispy. Duck lovers, rejoice — the Duck Tamarind is not to be missed. Don’t skip the drinks or dessert either; both are phenomenal and worth every indulgent bite.
Sofar Sounds – Do you love all kinds of music? Or maybe discovering emerging artists? Then Sofar Sounds might be right up your alley! The company puts on intimate concerts in a variety of different venues where you can get close and personal with the music. They don’t tell you where the concert is held or who the artists are until one day before the show, but they do give you enough information to decide if it makes sense. You’ll know the music genre, venue style, seating configuration, and the availability of alcohol and food. It’s definitely a unique experience that might not be right for everyone, but is great for gathering with friends, date night or just adventuring in a new city.
Transportation
Gotham Ride -The only direct flight from Milwaukee to the NYC area is to Newark, which has had its share of issues this year, so I was a little nervous — but not nervous enough to drive to Chicago or book a stopover. As it turned out, it wasn’t Newark that derailed my plans, but thunderstorms blanketing the East Coast, grounding all flights, including mine, already mid-air.
It all worked out in the end, thanks in part to Gotham Ride. They had me booked for a ride into the city, and when my flight was delayed (and delayed again, then turned around) I braced for alternate transportation. But that’s not what happened.
The driver checked in regularly, sent pictures of the weather, and picked us up seamlessly soon after we landed. They knew the best doors for easy pickup, provided cold beverages — sparkling wine, coffee, and water — and had a great playlist. The driver even offered tour-guide-style commentary en route, capping it off with a New York-themed song as we left the tunnel and entered the city.
Cannabis
Gotham Cannabis Dispensary – New York City is filled with a dizzying array of cannabis dispensaries and hemp shops, making it tricky for visitors to find a product that actually delivers. Gotham Cannabis Dispensary is exactly what it claims to be — a legal spot with high-quality products, expert guidance, and somehow, so much more.
Gotham doubles as a lifestyle and community hub, selling clothing, candles, perfume, accessories, and more. They host events like Summer Fridays, complete with deals, DJs, rolling classes, and even book signings.
With four locations — three in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn — there’s likely a convenient spot nearby. They also offer delivery, though the website can be a bit clunky when sorting strains and brands, and deliveries arrive in 2-hour windows, so plan ahead.
Pro Tip: Although not yet available at Gotham, if you come across NAR New York prerolls, definitely pick up a few.
