ahead of the TikTok ban that happened last night (but has since been reversed!!!!), i had spent the last week doomsday prepping. my Notes App is now filled with soup recipes, craft ideas, and most notably, a myriad of New York City recommendations. below you’ll find the shops, restaurants, bars, and things to do recounted to me by countless local creators throughout the years on TikTok.

SHOPS

Thrifting / Vintage

• Dana Foley
• Crossroads on 26th Street
• Metropolis Vintage
• Reliquary Vintage Jewelry

Antiques / Flea Markets

• Manhattan Art & Antique Center
• Grand Bazaar
• Chelsea Flea
• Ludlow Flea

Books / Stationery

• McNally Jackson
• Three Lives & Co
• Pageant Print Shop
• Greenwich Letterpress
• Bookmark

Gifts / Curated Finds

• Cafe Forgot
• LAAMS
• Airmail
• Seven Wonders Collective
• Assouline at the Plaza Hotel
• Big Night
• Way Forward: Embroidered clothing
• Pierre Laborde

Specialty Shops

• CO Bigelow: Oldest apothecary in NYC
• Zitomer’s Pharmacy

Miscellaneous Items

• Treasures of NYC
• By Liv Handmade (Williamsburg)
• Uncle Funky’s Boards: Skateboards
• Gohar

Farmers Markets

• Union Square Market: Great flower selection

Grocery Stores / Specialty Markets

• Duals Natural: Mango lassi & specialty teas
• Teso Life: Japanese grocery store
• Butterfield Market: Good hot bar

Bakery / Grocery Hybrids

• Get Home: Bakery, home store, and grocer

Tea Shops

• Nikita: Tea shop

Restaurants with Produce

• One White Street

RESTAURANTS

Cafés / Bakeries

• La Cabra: Pastries / café
• Maman: Café with a cute vibe
• Nick + Sons Bakery: Good za’atar croissant
• Prince Tea House
• Stone Street Café: Enough space to study / WFH in
• Postcard Café: Japanese bakery by Nami Nori
• Culture: Froyo
• Cafe Reggio: First cappuccino café in NYC
• Matchaful
• Sorate: Matcha
• Setsugekka: Matcha
• Not As Bitter
• Cafe Regular
• Kijitora: Good strawberry matcha
• Peter Pan Donuts: French Cruller
• Montauk General Store
• Larry’s Ca Phe: Matcha foam over coconut water
• Bread and Butter: Watermelon soft serve
• Taku Parlor: Matcha float
• Super Moon: Ube ice cream sandwich
• Nick + Sons Bakery: Good za’atar croissant

Sit-Down Restaurants

• Barney Greengrass: Jewish deli with great latkes
• Hancock Street: Fancy Italian in West Village
• Misi: Italian with famous piped ricotta toast
• Lilia: Same owners as Misi
• Tartufo at Bar Pitti
• The River Café
• Fanelli’s: People-watching
• Dudley’s
• Little Prince: French restaurant that turns into a dance party
• Raoul’s
• Minetta Tavern: Good burger
• Virginia’s: Good date night spot
• Wildair: Caviar donut
• Banter: Good brunch

Markets / Casual Stops

• Mezze on the River: Saganaki cigars / Greek restaurant
• Apollo Bagels
• Faicco’s: Italian sandwich
• Via Porta: Italian sandwiches
• Milano Market: Caesar salad wrap
• Daily Provisions: Good tuna sandwich
• Smør: Danish smørbrod
• Fernando’s Hideaway
• Rigor Hill Market: Hot chocolate

Pizza & Italian Specialty

• Rubirosa: Tie-dye pizza
• Mamas Too: Pizza
• L’Industrie Pizza
• Don Angie’s: Famous lasagna
• Borgatti: Ravioli and egg noodles
• Fini Pizza

Asian Cuisine

• Dumpling Man: Soup dumplings
• Chinese Tuxedo
• Oiji Mi: Japanese with good black bass
• Miznon: Folded cheeseburger
• Shalom Japan: Jewish-Japanese fusion
• Kochi: Sushi
• Nin Hao
• Win Son: Good BAC sandwich
• Shabu Tatsu

Matcha-Focused Spots

• Sorate
• Matchaful
• Kijitora: Strawberry matcha
• Larry’s Ca Phe: Matcha foam over coconut water

NIGHTLIFE

Jazz Clubs

• The Jazz Cafe in Casa Cipriani
• Bemelmans Bar: Jazz bar with Madeline murals
• Zinc Bar: Jazz in the West Village
• Nublu: LES, features Producer Mondays
• Arthur’s Tavern: West Village jazz club
• Birdland Jazz Club: Midtown
• Smoke Jazz Club: Upper West Side
• Penny Jo’s: Free shows at 6:30 PM on Tuesdays
• The Backroom: Jazz night every Monday evening
• Cafe Wa?
• Toni Jazz: Jazz bar with Japanese food
• Django

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Cocktail Lounges

• Nat’s on Bank: Known for great espresso martinis
• The Nines: Piano bar
• Experimental Cocktail Club
• Employees Only
• Bathtub Gin
• Tigre
• Pearl Box
• The Portrait Bar
• Dante
• Bar Lina: Spaghetti speakeasy

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Rooftop Bars

• Le Bain
• Make Believe
• Jimmy Soho: Outdoor spots with good views
• The Westlight Bar
• The 1 Hotel: DJ Sunday Funday (3 PM–2 AM)
• Nubeluz by Jose Andres

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Nightclubs

• The Palace: Club on Canal
• Socialista
• Paul’s Baby Grand
• Paul’s Casablanca
• The Public Arts Club
• Little Sister Lounge
• Elsewhere
• Small Disco

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Speakeasies

• Discola: Located in a Michelin-starred restaurant
• The Backroom: Jazz nights
• Bar Lina: Spaghetti speakeasy

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Taverns / Dive Bars

• Spring Lounge
• Cafe Select: Dive bar vibe
• Arthur’s Tavern

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Hotel Bars

• Fouquet NYC
• Soho Grand Hotel
• Public Hotel: Second floor, great for people-watching
• Waverly Inn
• Bowery Hotel
• Hotel Chelsea
• Crosby Street Hotel Bar
• Beekman Hotel
• The Lobby Bar at Hotel Chelsea
• The Mark Hotel
• Standard Hotel (WV)

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Bars with Dancing

• Wiggle Room
• The Blond
• Loosies (LES)
• The 1 Hotel: DJ Sundays

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Eclectic / Other

• Eavesdrop
• Time Again
• Public Records
• Silo
• Dead Letter No 9
• Café Balearica
• HiLot
• Soso’s

THINGS TO DO

Sightseeing / Exploring

• Perry Street: Visit Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment
• See the bench inscriptions in Central Park
• Do a walking reading tour of plaques across the city
• See the sunset at Battery Park
• Dimes Square: Cute area that looks European
• Take the ferry at night
• Take the Classic Harbor Line at night
• Elizabeth Street Garden
• Jefferson Market Garden
• Little Island

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Arts & Culture

• Film screening at Soho House
• The Whitney Museum photobooth
• The Smith photobooth (in a bathroom)
• The Church of Sweden

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Fitness / Wellness

• Driving range at Chelsea Piers
• Workout class at Alo Gym
• Workout class at Public Hotel
• Workout class at Practice Room
• Go to Othership (spa social club)
• Go to the spa at the Hotel Chelsea

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Food & Dining

• Minetta Tavern: Good burger
• Veronika: Cool vibe and feels like a hotel

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Creative Activities

• Make perfume at Olfactory
• Make lipstick at Lip Lab

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Leisure & Games

• Chess Forum
• Boat ride in Central Park

ART GALLERIES

Contemporary Art Galleries

• David Zwirner: Known for cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions
• Gagosian Gallery: High-profile contemporary and modern art
• Tanya Bonakdar Gallery: Contemporary art, installations, and multidisciplinary works
• James Cohan: Focuses on emerging and mid-career contemporary artists
• Kurimanzutto Gallery: Showcases innovative contemporary art
• Oren Pinhassi: Contemporary works with experimental approaches

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Design-Focused / Conceptual Galleries

• Casa Perfect by The Future Perfect: Contemporary design pieces in a home-like setting
• The Annex by Studio Giancarlo Valle: Art and design collaborations
• Shop Quarters by In Common With: Specializes in lighting and design objects
• Invisible Collection: Curated selection of luxury design, often with an online presence

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Traditional Art Clubs / Historical

• Salmagundi Club: Historic arts club with traditional exhibitions and events (includes magic shows)

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Multidisciplinary Spaces

• Salon 94: Combines art, design, and architecture
• Amelie Maison d’Art: Contemporary and classic art in an intimate setting
• Levy Gorvy Dayan Gallery: Modern art with a focus on secondary market works and curated exhibitions

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Emerging Artists / Experimental Spaces

• StudioTwentySeven: Emerging artists and experimental works
• Tules Factory: Focus on innovative and unconventional pieces

💘, Hanna