My Top 10 Things To Do and Eat on a Return Trip to NYC
New York City is one of those places that never gets old! On a recent girls trip with my daughters, sisters, and nieces, we decided to skip many of the classic first-time attractions and instead explore parts of the city we don’t usually make time for. If you’ve already checked the big NYC highlights off your list and are craving fresh ideas, this episode is for you.
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NYC is so magical and it never gets old! Let’s jump into 10 of our favorite things we did on our last visit.
1. Visit SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
If you’ve already been up the traditional observation decks, SUMMIT is a great alternative with awesome views! This feels less like a typical lookout and more like an experience designed for fun and photography. Bonus: you can see many of the other iconic buildings from here.
What makes it different:
Fully immersive, interactive spaces
Massive mirrored rooms (floor + ceiling views = super fun photos)
Floating silver balloon installations
Glass ledges for thrilling city views
2. Climb Into the Statue of Liberty Crown
This is easily one of the most unique NYC experiences. You’re literally inside the Statue of Liberty, it is SO cool! You get incredible views of the fascinating interior structure as well as an excellent museum & short history films. Plan roughly half a day for the full visit.
Important tips:
Reserve crown tickets as soon as you know your travel dates
Tickets are limited (only four per order)
There are age & physical requirements
Expect a serious stair climb
3. Get a Chinatown Hair Wash & Blowout
One of our most random (and super fun) activities! We got blowouts at Lee Ren Salon in Chinatown.
Details:
We went to Lee Ren Hair Salon II (304 Broome St) because the main location (104 Forsyth St #1) was super packed. They are right next to each other, so you have options if one is busy!
It cost about $30 per person, but $35 for those with super long hair.
Insanely good head massage + wash
Full blowout styling
Perfect for girls trips, date nights, and broadway evenings! Honestly, my hair has never felt cleaner.
4. See a Broadway Show (Or Several)
Broadway never disappoints! This should 100% be repeated on every NYC trip.
Shows we loved:
Chess
The Outsiders
Maybe Happy Ending
The Great Gatsby
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Ways to get tickets:
Online resellers
Lottery & rush tickets
Same-day box office sales
This is one of NYC’s greatest experiences. I love Broadway so much!
5. Stop by the Old Friend Photo Booth
A simple but unforgettable souvenir. It’s old-school fun that never goes out of style!
What to know:
Vintage street-side booth
Black & white photo strips
Consistent lines (about a 30 min wait)
Locations in Manhattan & Brooklyn
You can comfortably fit 2-3 people in the booth, but we squished 4 for a few photo strips.
6. (Actually) Ride the Subway
If you avoided it on your first trip, try it now. It’s fast, efficient, and feels very “New York.”
Why it’s easier than ever:
Clear directions via Google / Apple Maps
Tap-to-pay with your phone (make sure everyone uploads a card to their phone beforehand)
No ticket machines needed
7. Explore the Harry Potter Store
Great for fans and surprisingly entertaining. Easy way to spend an hour indoors.
Multi-level immersive space
Tons of themed merch
Butterbeer café
8. Experience ARTE Museum
A fantastic cold-weather activity. Perfect if you’ve already visited the major museums. The only downside was that it was very busy.
What to expect:
Floor-to-ceiling digital projections
Interactive environments
Super fun photo opportunities
9. Attend a Live Show Taping
A true NYC memory-maker! My daughters and sister got to watch a live taping of the Drew Barrymore show! They absolutely loved it and had so much fun!
The audience isn’t too big, so it feels very up close and personal. They even got a book and cooking wok to take home!
10. Attend the Jimmy Fallon Show
I have had both good and bad luck getting into the Jimmy Fallon show.
Options for getting tickets include:
Applying for tickets in advance
Standby lines for shows like Jimmy Fallon / Kelly Clarkson
Using OneIOTA (free ticket requests)
I’ve never gotten chosen to get a ticket from the lottery, so I have waited in standby a couple of times.
To get standby tickets, you need to go to the studio gift shop in Rockefeller Center the morning of the taping.
Here you can sign up to get in line for the Jimmy Fallon (and Kelly Clarkson) show.
You get a ticket to hold onto with your number in line on it
Return that afternoon to get in a standby line and hope to get in! You never know how many seats will be available.
Now Let’s Talk About the Food!
New York City rarely misses when it comes to dining. These were our top 10 standout favorites.
🌮 Los Tacos No. 1
Always busy and totally worth it! There are a couple of locations around Manhattan. SO delicious! There is almost always a long line, but I feel like they move people pretty quickly.
The adobada (pork) was the best meat! We also loved the carne asada tacos and chips & guacamole.
This made for the perfect post-Broadway show dinner/snack.
🍪 Levain Bakery
NYC cookie royalty! This has always been a non-negotiable stop on our NYC trips. Unfortunately, we went twice on this last trip and they seemed slightly overcooked both times. However, I will go next time I’m there and try again because they are usually amazing!
Favorite flavors:
Chocolate chip walnut
Dark chocolate chip
Dark chocolate peanut butter
🥒 Jacob’s Pickles
If you love comfort food, go here. Portions are generous and ridiculously good. We went for brunch and it was perfect!
Some of our favorites from here:
Biscuits (any form)
Fried chicken + biscuits
Biscuits & gravy
Pickle appetizer tray (fun and yummy)
🍌 Magnolia Bakery
Go for one thing: the Banana pudding. We always try new desserts when we go, but the banana pudding is always our favorite.
On this trip we tried the blueberry cheesecake for the first time and it was excellent! We also got the red velvet cheesecake, but we all agreed we would skip it next time.
🍕 Rubirosa
One of my absolute favorites. Don’t miss this place if you love Italian food!
It’s a very small restaurant, so you really want to try to get a reservation. You can reserve a table one week ahead of the day you want to visit at 12am (midnight).
Do not miss:
Tie-dye pizza (vodka sauce + pesto drizzle)
Lasagna (huge + amazing)
Caprese salad
🫖 Tea & Sympathy
Cozy, classic English tea vibes. A perfect slow, relaxing break.
There was a huge tea selection! We also loved the chicken curry sandwich, and scones with clotted cream & jam.
☕ Amarino Gelato
We unexpectedly found the amazing dessert of hot chocolate with gelato in it. It was so delicious!
Highly recommend dark hot chocolate with hazelnut gelato addition. Incredibly rich and comforting.
🥟 Shanghai Joe’s (Chinatown Favorite)
Go for the pork soup dumplings! But everything we ate was delicious. We also got some chicken dishes, regular dumplings, and noodles. Excellent flavors and very satisfying.
Be aware that the restaurant is cash only, but there is an ATM available onsite.
🥗 Impact (Fresh & Healthy Reset)
A welcome contrast to heavier meals. This was a perfect final-day breakfast stop. We stopped here on our way to the airport.
Everything at this restaurant is seed oil free! There is a wide variety of fresh bowls & with clean ingredients.
I also loved the protein hot chocolate!
🥯 Liberty Bagels
No NYC trip is complete without a bagel. Why are they so much better here??
My favorite picks:
Everything bagel + chive cream cheese
Breakfast bagels (bacon + egg + cheese)
Whether it’s your second visit or your tenth, New York City always has more to offer.
Skipping the obvious attractions opened the door to unique experiences, slower moments, and unexpectedly finding new favorites!
Hopefully this list gives you a few fresh ideas for your next trip.