New York City Travel Guide

For "some of the best seafood" in NYC, plus an "amazing raw bar", head to this "casual", "friendly" SoHo "neighborhood" grill; despite "cramped, noisy" quarters, finatics attest "it doesn't get any better" – certainly not for less – so no surprise it's often "jam-packed."

"Stylish in a subdued way", this "sleek" Midtown Scandinavian generates raves for celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson's cuisine (he may have been born in Ethiopia, but he "learned to cook in Swedish heaven"); for "the full treatment" you'll have to "splurge" on prix fixe–only dinner, though the "more casual" à la carte front cafe is a "reasonable" alternative.

Yes, it's a "cheese-lover's paradise", but don't count out the other "excellent" menu selections at this Murray Hill French brasserie considered "well priced for the quality"; the "like-in-Paris" digs get "a bit noisy", but it earned its "good vibes" honestly; P.S. don't miss the "fab fondue", and "thank God for Lipitor."

"Hands-down one of the best seafood restaurants on the Upper East Side", this "standby" is praised for its "neighborhood feel" and "terrific" brunch; boasting a "big bar scene", it's "a good place to meet, greet and people-watch" – though "noisy, crowded" conditions are as much part of the catch as waves in the ocean.

Charlie Palmer's flagship American "foodie mecca" recently departed its UES home of 20-plus years and debuted within Adam Tihany–designed space in Midtown's Bank of America Tower; in addition to its "modern", glassy makeover, it has a new chef, Christopher Lee (ex Gilt), whose output early-goers rate "extraordinary"; N.B. the main dining room is prix fixe–only, but the barroom offers an à la carte menu.

Brought to you by the Batali-Bastianich team, this Greenwich Village "classic" set in a "lovely" "carriage house" is just about "as good as it gets" for "upscale" Italian food and wine – "you could eat here every night without getting bored"; it's "almost impossible to get in", and when you do it's often "crowded, hectic" and "noisy", but for most it's still "on top of the wish list."

"A rare find this side of the Atlantic", Keith McNally's "Paris-in-NY" SoHo brasserie is "a feast for all the senses" with "wonderful" French classics and a "happening scene" brimming with "celeb sightings"; in sum, it's a "perennial winner" that does everything right – "what Paris' La Coupole used to be" – plus it's a "power breakfast" favorite.

Chef Daniel Barber "wows" his well-heeled clients (including the Obamas) with "inspired" New American cooking based on "exquisitely fresh" seasonal ingredients; though its "intimate", "tasteful" quarters are in the middle of Greenwich Village, you feel you're "so close to the farm, you might have to harvest the food yourself" – that is if the "helpful" staff weren't there to provide "everything you need, with a smile."

"Still fresh after all these years", these ever-"popular" SoHo–Park Slope New Americans from the Brombergs are best known for their "excellent", "very diverse" menus and some of the "best late-night dining in NYC"; "warm" service helps make the "long waits" and "pricey" tabs easier to swallow.

Set in a "spectacular" marble-clad former bank space, this "bustling, happy" Union Square seafood standout scores with "consistently delicious" cooking, especially at brunch; if "not quite Le Bernardin, it's easier to score a reservation" and lighter on your budget; for prime "people-watching", "sit outside" on the veranda – and don't miss the "sexy" downstairs jazz room.

It's no surprise that this West Side mega-museum ranks as NYC's most popular attraction: since its founding in 1869 it has amassed an "astounding" collection of some 32 million artifacts spanning everything "from evolution to planets", with "awe-inspiring" dinosaur displays, wildlife dioramas akin to "capsule safaris" and "stellar space shows" in the remarkably renovated Hayden Planetarium; the "knowledgeable staff" leads guided tours that quickly hit the highlights – otherwise, you could "spend days here" without seeing everything.

A "piece of heaven" in Manhattan sums up this "843-acre paradise" designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux some 150 years ago; it's "hard to believe you're in NY" when you're "escaping" on its miles of tranquil trails, boating on the lake, admiring Bethesda Fountain or visiting attractions such as Wollman Rink; there are free activities in summer (Philharmonic concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, Summerstage shows), and for sustenance there's Tavern on the Green, the Boathouse Cafe or a good ol' hot dog vendor – it's truly a "haven in the middle of Stressville" and can be as exciting as the circus on weekends.

Whether you're going for the "amazing" "cloud-nine views of the Big Apple" or just to "meet Meg Ryan", it's hard to top the observation deck of this "classic American icon", once again the city's "tallest building" and the place that simply "defines skyscraper" for many; to avoid the "killer lines on weekends and around holidays", "go early" and "buy tickets online in advance."

There's "always something doing" at this "sprawling" West Side "showcase for the performing arts" that's home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic and the Julliard School, among others; even those who find its white marble–clad buildings "stately but cold" still get a warm rush when the Opera House "chandeliers rise before a performance" and on summer dance nights.

A "lifetime of visits is not enough" to see everything at this "world-class" East Side museum that is itself a "masterpiece"; with arguably the "greatest permanent art collection in the world" (over two million works), it's a "feast for the eyes" and has "something for everyone" – from paintings and sculpture to "arms and armor, jewelry and costumes"; for best results, get a map, "watch for special exhibits" and "don't try to do it all in one day."

"Grand, glorious and gaudy", this "beautifully restored", circa-1932 art deco palace in Rockefeller Center is a "classic NY venue" with "phenomenal acoustics" and "not a bad seat" in the house; "used for a variety of functions" – from concerts to award shows to the "spellbinding" Christmas Spectacular featuring the high-stepping Rockettes – it "evokes a bygone era" like few other sites in town.

Arguably the country's "quintessential holiday attraction", this mega Midtown complex is famed for its "towering Christmas tree" and "appealing ice rink", though year-round you can enjoy its "grand" architecture, "open-air dining" and "subterranean shopping" options, as well as sweeping city views from the new 70th-floor Observation Deck at 30 Rockefeller Plaza; if you "go early", you can "catch a glimpse" of stars on the Today show, which broadcasts live on-site.

A "wonder to behold", this "awe-inspiring" circa-1879 Catholic cathedral opposite Rockefeller Center is a "place of calm in the frantic city" with its "magnificent stained-glass windows", "beautiful altar" and "amazing" organ; as the seat of the country's most important bishopric, it has also been the site of a great deal of church and political history; "regardless of one's religion", this "beautiful refuge" is an ideal place to "light a candle and say a prayer."

"Shining" tall in the harbor, this "American icon" – and "heartstring tugger" – has reopened its base museum and now sports a new glass ceiling featuring a view of the statue's interior; while you "can't climb to the top", you can ascend 10 stories to the observation deck, so bring "comfortable shoes" and be prepared for "long lines"; N.B. though admission is free, the roundtrip ferry ride costs $12 for adults.

"It's certainly bright lights, big city" at the "center of the world" – a Midtown extravaganza that's "overwhelming, tacky and absolutely mad – but that's part of the charm"; with "wonderful theater, shopping and restaurants" as well as "blinking lights, animated ads", news tickers and giant-screen TVs, it's "full of life" and "energy."

The latest "'it' roof bar", this "sprawling", vaguely "tropical" deck crowning a Chelsea office building is "swamped" with "suity" "mingling singles" marveling at the "awesome cityscape" vistas and disregarding the "snooty service" and "steep" tabs; the "bottlenecked elevators" let out on an indoor penthouse that channels a "cruise-ship disco", but upstairs the "top-of-the-world" scene is the "only place to be during the summer."

This swank bar/restaurant brings some "'wow' factor" to the Meatpacking District on a "huge" scale, spreading "Asian flair" over a "magnificent" space to the tune of a "fab" soundtrack; with a "red-rope crowd" fanning the "souped"-up scene, it can be "tough" to access, but sure to send those "willing to shell out" the bucks into "nirvana."

"Always cool" and "swankier than swank", this habitually "hopping" Murray Hill eatery boasts a "small bar area" that's "still a scene" comprised of "well-heeled" "pretty people" hobnobbing amid "dreamy white decor"; both the "steamy vibe" and "fabulous cocktails" are "buzz-worthy", and though "you'll pay the price", all that "eye candy is free."

The "closest thing to Paris this side of the pond", this SoHo brasserie remains "abuzz" with "clamorous" throngs – everyone from "models to tourists" – who show up for the "top-notch" service and "amazing" (if "costly") tipples; as the "gold standard" for "people-watching" and "celeb-hunting", it's still "delivering the goods" with the "exceptional" panache that's made this one a "classic."

The "wow factor" endures at Steve Hanson's Union Square seafood stronghold, a former "bank building" that emanates "class on all fronts" as "top-notch" staffers oversee a "vaulted" main-floor bar populated by "chatty professionals"; add outside seating on the "veranda" plus live "jazz in the cellar", and anyone "ready to shell out some cash" is in for a "whale of a time."

"Yee-haw!", these "Deep South" themers are a "frat-tastic flashback" to "college days" populated by "red state expats" in "baseball caps and khakis" getting trashed on "PBRs" and "fishbowls of sugary swamp drinks"; sure, they're "immature", but with "ACC sports action", "rockin' '80s" tunes and waitresses "cuter than the Hooters girls", "how can they be bad?"

"Yee-haw!", these "Deep South" themers are a "frat-tastic flashback" to "college days" populated by "red state expats" in "baseball caps and khakis" getting trashed on "PBRs" and "fishbowls of sugary swamp drinks"; sure, they're "immature", but with "ACC sports action", "rockin' '80s" tunes and waitresses "cuter than the Hooters girls", "how can they be bad?"

"Yee-haw!", these "Deep South" themers are a "frat-tastic flashback" to "college days" populated by "red state expats" in "baseball caps and khakis" getting trashed on "PBRs" and "fishbowls of sugary swamp drinks"; sure, they're "immature", but with "ACC sports action", "rockin' '80s" tunes and waitresses "cuter than the Hooters girls", "how can they be bad?"

"Yee-haw!", these "Deep South" themers are a "frat-tastic flashback" to "college days" populated by "red state expats" in "baseball caps and khakis" getting trashed on "PBRs" and "fishbowls of sugary swamp drinks"; sure, they're "immature", but with "ACC sports action", "rockin' '80s" tunes and waitresses "cuter than the Hooters girls", "how can they be bad?"

"Still cool", this "glam" hotel bar near Columbus Circle set in a "wacky", futuristic space (with a "glowing floor" right out of "2001: A Space Odyssey") is where "pretty people go to get hammered" on "drain-your-bank-account" cocktails; those seeking a "less noisy" scene head for the Library, an equally "stylish" if "smaller sanctuary" fitted out with a "purple pool table" and "hundreds of books", or the 15th-floor outdoor terrace.