New York City. If you’ve ever been, you know those three little words conjures a head-spinningly giddy mosaic of possibilities. The people, the shopping, the culture, the architecture, and, of course, the food.
As one of the busiest cities in the world, NYC is stuffed to the brim with wonderful places to grab a slice, a burger, or a smoothie bowl. So much to eat, so little time; if you’re just visiting the city, trying to cram all of the best eats into one weekend can be a bit daunting.
Fear not, for my ruined diet and I are about to break down some of the Big Apple’s trendiest culinary delights. Manhattan and Brooklyn are a bit like Fight Club and Pulp Fiction, both great in their own right, just with slightly different things to bring to the table.
Coffee & Brunch
Brooklyn
Sweatshop is a small cafe that peddles smoothie bowls and Aussie-inspired breakfast foods, not to mention they have a damn good cappuccino. It is also one of the most hipster places that I have ever stepped foot into in my entire life. Packed full of trendy Brooklynites, this is the place to go for an Instagrammable cup of joe.
Manhattan
La Colombe does fantastic coffee in several locations (I visited their Soho location). Their cappuccinos are a wonderful hangover cure, and it doesn’t hurt that this place is close to several wonderful brunch locations. 10/10 would recommend.
For brunch, NYC is crawling with possibilities. However, like most 20-something women, I have a deep fondness for avocado toast, smoothie bowls, and fresh pressed juice. My recommendations are: The Butcher’s Daughter at 19 Kenmore St for Eggs Benedict and a juice and Bluestone Lane’s West Village Collective Cafe at 55 Greenwich Ave for avocado toast and a smoothie bowl (but the coffee here is also fantastic). Both these spots cater to those “I want to treat myself but I also want to feel healthy” type cravings.
Mains
Brooklyn
You know those mac-n-cheese burgers that keep popping up on your Facebook feed? Head over to DuMont Burger to grab a decent burger in its own right, topped with bacon filled, creamy mac-n-cheese. You can choose a 5oz or an 8oz patty. I opted for the smaller one and still struggled to finish it, so be sure to go hungry!
Roberta’s pizza at 261 Moore St, Brooklyn was a very pleasant surprise. Usually a greasy slice of pizza will leave my stomach in knots and ready for some serious couch camping, but their light fare was delicious and had zero repercussions.
Manhattan
This place is tricky to find, but so, so worth it. Burger Joint NY is tucked away in Le Parker Meridien at 119 West 56th St, and since actually finding this spot is half the fun, that’s all I’m going to tell you! But it is hands down, my personal favorite burger place in NYC.
Desserts
Brooklyn
If you’re in the area and craving an icy sweet treat, check out Wowfulls. They serve fun flavored ice cream scooped into 1950’s style Hong Kong egg waffles, topped with a drizzle of choice, or a Fruity Pebbles dust. They’re so good my mouth is actually watering just writing this. But be warned: you’d be wise to get there early so they don’t sell out, and even so you may still have to wait in a long line. Even though you may lose a few years of your life waiting for it, this treat is worth it.
