Thinking of heading across the pond to New York for some serious eating, drinking and shopping? At Hot Dinners, we've just eaten our way around the city, so here's the lowdown on our trip and how to plan yours.
Where to eat:
Here's where we ate on our trip
Day 1: Big Gay ice-cream truck and Schiller's
Day 2: momofuku duck lunch and foie gras dumplings at Annisa
Day 3: Set lunch at Eleven Madison Park and nouveau Southern cuisine in Brooklyn
Days 4 & 5: Soho brunch, Korean fried chicken, Manhattan cocktail crawl and the BBQ fest
Do's and don'ts:
Do plot where you're going to eat and drink like it's a military campaign. Leave (almost) nothing to chance.
Do find some interesting New York foodies on Twitter and follow them in the weeks running up to your trip - you'll find out what's opening and going on when you'll be there.
Don't visit when there's a heatwave. Summer temperatures will diminish your appetite and prevent you from walking off the lard as it's too hot to be comfortable anywhere without air-con.
Don't book too many meals out. Recognise that you have limited time and won't be able to eat three square meals every day - leave some time free to try the food trucks and other street and fast food New York has to offer.
Where to stay:
If you've got a big budget and you're staying with a loved one - the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho is seriously gorgeous. The rooms on the higher levels have amazing floor to ceiling windows and their minibars are the business.
If, on the other hand, you're travelling with a friend, sibling or colleague and don't want the cost of separate rooms - a deluxe double suite at the Vincci Avalon in Midtown is a great mid-budget bet. The rooms are massive with two double beds and - critically - there's free wi-fi. It's also useful that you're in the middle of Koreatown with loads of great, cheap places to eat on your doorstep. The John Dory's only a few blocks away as well.
We'd also recommend any of the Affinia hotels and if you really want to live like a local, consider looking for B&Bs or apartments down in the Village or Soho.
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Handy links
Here are links to the places we ate on this trip, as well as few more we love:
- Big Gay Ice Cream Truck
- Schiller's
- Pulino's
- John Dory Oyster Bar
- tbsp
- Momofuku Ssam Bar
- One if by land, two if by sea
- Annisa
- Eleven Madison Park
- Ma Peche
- Seersucker
- Clover Club
- Crosby Street Hotel
- Vincci Avalon Hotel
- Jimmy's at the James Hotel
- The Beagle
- Raines Law Room
- Eataly
- Big Apple BBQ Block Party
And from previous trips...
- Blue Smoke (BBQ all year round)
- Gramercy Tavern
- Jean Georges (for the set lunch)
- Commerce
- Pastis (for breakfast)
- The Four Seasons bar (for posh cocktails)
- PJ Clarkes (for excellent - and quick - burgers)
- Flatiron Lounge (for cocktails)
And the websites we found invaluable...
