hello! for the next part of my nyc guide of a few recommendations around the city (see my guide to the upper west side HERE) i’d love to share a few of our favorite spots from union square to midtown. a few are highlighted in the video we made below with jenner brown, but several more are listed below. of course, this is just a sliver of what to do in the city, but hopefully it will be of some help as you plan your next visit to the big apple! and don’t forget to leave any of your favorites in this specific neighborhood in the comments below for others to check out.
enjoy!
video by jenner brown. music in video is wooden floors by david swensen.
some things to do between union square and midtown:
union square farmers market
east 17th street at union square park 212-788-7476
strand bookstore
828 broadway 212-473-1452
flat iron building (one of my favorites in the city to see from a few blocks up!)
175 fifth avenue
cinema village (great little spot for documentaries, independent and foreign films)
22 east 12th street 212-924-3363
fishs eddy
889 broadway at 19th street 212-420-9020
abc carpet and home (worth checking out every floor! such a great place to get lost in.)
888 & 881 broadway 212-473-3000
ace hotel (photobooth, too!) + sumptown coffee
20 west 29th street 212-679-2222
empire state building (it’s the one pretty big touristy thing i highly recommend!)
350 5th avenue 212-736-3100
new york public library (the reading room is spectacular!)
5th avenue at 42nd street 917-275-6975
bryant park (they show movies on the lawn on certain summer nights and be sure to check out the carrousel on the south side!)
at 42nd street and 6th 212-768-4242
MoMA
11 west 53rd street 212-708-9400
some things to eat between union square and midtown:
city bakery (my favorite chocolate chip cookie in the city. also, amazing pretzel croissants and hot chocolate.)
3 west 18th street 212-366-1414
friend of a farmer
17 irving place 212-477-2188
gotham bar and grill (a bit of a fancier and pricier spot, we’ve only been during restaurant week, but it’s one of our favorites.)
12 east 12th street 212-620-4020
eataly
200 fifth avenue 212-229-2560
the original shake shack at madison square park
madison avenue (btwn 23rd and 24th street) 212-889-6600
max brenner (a fun chocolate spot to grab something sweet)
841 broadway 646-467-8803
sweetgreen
1164 broadway (btwn 27th and 28th street) 646-449-8884
burger joint (the best little one room burger joint behind a curtain in the le parker meridien hotel)
119 west 56th street 212-708-7414
norma’s (get a reservation! and try the crunchy french toast!)
119 west 57th street 212-708-7460
*josh’s midtown lunch recommendations below if you’re needing a quick stop for food. these are his top two go-to lunch places from all his time working in midtown:
little italy pizzeria on 43rd (he says you have to get the original grandma’s pizza! i’ve had it and it is pretty good)
1 east 43rd street 212-687-3660
park italian gourmet
60 west 45th street 212-382-0580
there you have it! a few recommendations from union square to midtown! now i need a city bakery cookie….