THE LOFT // BROOKLYN

VIDEO // NEW YORK CITY BY PAUL

My brother just finished editing a little video about our time in NYC. (Make sure to change the settings to HD quality, it is really so much better than with the poor quality!!) I think it turned out super cool, I love the music and the shots and it shows pretty well how we experienced New York. Watching it I just want to leave again and travel, travel, travel...  

CITY GUIDE // NEW YORK

Spending almost a month in New York I got to know the city quite a bit. Of course I have only seen a tiny part of the whole but I like to walk around a lot and try out many different places so I feel like I am able to give you a list of my personal hotspots, places you might like as well. So here we go, enjoy your trip to this amazing, amazing city (or if you're still dreaming about going  - or returning -enjoy the thought of you being there one day!) Xx

TACOMBI

Mexican Food 

As mentioned in one of my first NY posts Tacombi is THE place to have Mexican food: the design is simply great, the ambience is lively and fun and the tacos are sooo delicioso. They have various locations over the city (one of their cool vans is located in the great Gansevoort Market in Chelsea!) but I have only been to the two below, which I can both highly recommend, though.

Tacombi at Fonda Nolita // 30 West 24th Street, SoHo

Gansevoort Market // 52 Gansevoort Street, Chelsea

MAMAN

Lunch and Bakery

A cute french bakery serving everything from clean and veggie lunch options to reeeally good coffee, brownies and quiches. I loved the interior and it's a very cosy place especially on a rainy day. Kind of the place to be for hip asians taking selfies with their lattes though. ;)

Maman // 239 Centre Street, SoHo

FIVE LEAVES

Cafe, Bar, Restaurant

Also mentioned in a special post before this is the place to be in the up and coming polish neighbourhood Greenpoint. They have delicious, (kind of) affordable and really extraordinary dishes and also serve great coffee, cocktails etc. Best around early evenings but always expect to wait 10 to 30 minutes. It's worth the walk to the park nearby and back!

Five Leaves  // 18 Bedford Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

DINER 

In a typical old diner this "Diner" is almost a bit too hip and cool but still a great place to have lunch. It's super crowded and lively, packed with stylish looking people eating amazing pancakes for lunch, or burger, or something super clean and healthy, kale, poached eggs. The tiles are broken and the tables look like they are 50 years old but I guess that's what we all want right? 

Diner // 85 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

TARALLUCCI E VINO

Italian Brunch spot and wine bar

Ok yes they had marble tables. And super fancy Italian ladies sipping prosecco along with their french toasts. And cinnamon rolls that cost more than a whole breakfast anywhere else. But one thing is for sure: we had the BEST BRUNCH EVER and it was worth every cent. The atmosphere was perfect, lively, cosy and just what you expect a saturday morning to be like. The staff was excellent and the hot chocolate molto delizioso! This is for sure one of the best places to go for an amazing brunch (haven't tried the wine but I guess the place is as crowded in the evenings as it is around 11 am!)

Tarallucci E Vino // 475 Columbus Ave, Upper West Side (and more locations)

JACKS STIR BREW COFFEE 

Coffee and Bakery

It's not that I have testes every single coffee shop in the city but I did have tried a few and this one is my favourite one (in it's location in Greenwich Village). Neighbours popping in for a coffee, chatting, working, reading... and really nice staff. It's tiny but super cosy, a hip brick wall on the one, a huge window front on the other side. Serving delicious iced cafe latte and even more delicious oatmeal cookies this place was where I spent quite a bit time. 

Jacks Stir Brew // 138 West 10th Street, Greenwich Village (they have more locations but I have only been to this one),

THE BUTCHERS DAUGHTER 

Juice Bar and Cafe

Another place I have posted about before (click here). A super stylish cafe and lunch place with delicios smoothies, sandwiches and vegan/gluten free etc. stuff, a bit too pricey though. But still, if it's within your budget it's worth a visit, I mean, think about all the perfect instagram photos you'll be able to post. ;)

The Butchers Daughter / 19, Kenmare Street

GREECOLOGIES

Cafe and Greek Yogurt Lab

A very clean and minimalistic cafe in SoHo, featuring super organic and natural greek Yogurt with all sorts of toppings and (even better) a nice shady backyard with a huge table and enough space to work, read, sketch... Also a pricey one, but then again, what isn't pricey in New York?

Greecologies // 379, Broome Street, SoHO

RUSS AND DAUGHTERS 

Deli and Cafe

One of the reaaaally good delis (gourmet food stores) in the city and apparently they also have a cafe, which I haven't been to. It's a whole century old and super chic and the visit itself is a nice experience. The dried fruit are probably one of the best takeaway snacks you'll get in Downtown.

Russ and Daughters // 179 East Houston Street, SoHo

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM

There is not a lot I can say about the Guggenheim. It's a must (next to the Met and Moma). And it's worth it. (Even though I liked the design/building better than the exhibitionss but still, so so cool!) Try to come as early as possible to avoid queueing for hours. Best is probably around 9:45, it opens at 10 and then the crowds are arriving.

Guggenheim Museum // 1071 Fifth Avenue (at 89th Street), Upper East Side

CHELSEA GALLERIES

Gallery hopping in Chelsea is a great thing to do if you feel like you need some more art and culture and have already visited the classics (Met, Moma, Guggenheim...) It's also a great thing if you tend to wear all black, look a bit artsy and like to meet more of your kind. ;) There are soooo many galleries but luckily they have a map with all of them listed (see link below). I have only been to a few but I really liked the David Zwirner Gallery at 19th street.

Chelsea Galleries 

BROOKLYN BOTANICAL GARDEN

Seriously, this was one of my absolute FAVOURITE places in New York. Especially around Spring time it is soooo idyllic and beautiful it's almost unreal and you can spend hours wandering through the park, relaxing on one of the big meadows or do it like all the Japanese taking selfies in front of the cherry blossom trees. Save money and come on a Tuesday when it's free admission (and more crowded but that's not a big deal, still such a peaceful place!).

Brooklyn Botanical Garden // Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

THE HIGHLINE

Another one of those must do's and another one of those places I have posted about before (click here). On a sunny day it's probably one of the best places to go if you want to soak up some sun, go for a walk but can't get out of Downtown. That's probably why EVERYONE is there, going for a run is probably not a good idea after 10 am in the morning. But still a great place to go and you can see a lot of the city looking down on Chelsea's streets.

Highline // Chelsea

HOTSPOT: INSIDE MOMA PS1 // LONG ISLAND CITY

MEET MELISSA / HOME IN NYC

Born and raised in New York Melissa Adames is a real local in the city, especially after moving to Upper Manhattan last year. I am meeting the 24 year old super stylish and nice blogger and instagrammer in SoHo where we get a delicious greek yogurt and cafe latte and sit down in the hidden backyard of Greecologies to chat about Melissas New York.

HOTSPOT: THE BUTCHERS DAUGHTER // SOHO

HOTSPOT: SMORGASBURG / WILLIAMSBURG

HOTSPOT: FIVE LEAVES / GREENPOINT BROOKLYN

If you spend some time in Greenpoint you will eventually end up having at least one drink or coffee at the Five Leaves. Let's say it is THE place to be if you're hip and young (or hip and not-so-young-anymore) and have enough money to go to fancy restaurants but not really enough because well, it's New York and everythings super expensive. ;) Anyways, the Five Leaves is both, cosy and rustic and probably one of the best places in the up-and-coming (polish) neighbourhood Greenpoint. It's always crowded with groups of friends, couples and families having their burgers and fries, hot soup or just a cup of tea on a grey and windy winter day or enjoy the spring sun with some delicious pancakes and orange juice  outside on the sidewalk (and ignoring - or trying to - the crowds waiting for a table). // If you ever come and visit New York don't make the mistake and skip Greenpoint just because Williamsburg is just around the corner. It has so much to offer and Five Leaves is just one of the many nice places scattered in the quiet and a bit industrial but still so charming neighbourhood.

STREETS OF TRIBECA

Manchmal ist New York einfach nur grau. Richtig richtig grau, der Himmel, der Asphalt. Aber die Luft ist trotzdem klar und so frisch, jetzt gerade im April, manchmal ein bisschen zu frisch und dann wird es plötzlich eiskalt, innerhalb weniger Stunden. Alle klappen die Kragen ihrer Mäntel noch höher und wickeln die Schals noch fester und rennen noch schneller durch die zugigen Straßen als sie es ohnehin schon immer tun (und bloß nie, nie den Fehler machen und in New York auf der Straße plötzlich langsamer werden oder sogar stehenbleiben, dann werden die sonst so höflichen, Abstand haltenden New Yorker auf einmal ganz schön fuchsig!). An solchen Tagen fegt der kalte Wind durch die Straßenschluchten- der Weg von der Subway Station zum rettenden Café kommt einem unendlich lange vor und wenn man es dann geschafft hat scheinen die 4 Dollar für den Milchkaffee gar nicht mehr so abwegig viel, weil, wer will dann schon wieder raus in die Kälte?

Aber sobald die ersten Sonnenstrahlen rauskommen und Temperaturen dann auch mal über 8° klettern tragen die New Yorkerinnen alle Flipflops. Paradoxerweise sind ihre Füße (fast) alle braungebrannt, was dann wohl entweder auf den Karibikurlaub zurückzuführen ist, oder  einen recht hochfrequentierten Besuch im Sonnenstudio.

2 weitere Posts sind schon vorbereitet, die Stadt inspiriert mich so sehr ich hab so viele Ideen und Pläne und ganz ganz viel Motivation, die alle Umzusetzen. Fremde Städte tun einfach so gut.

HOTSPOT: TACOMBI & GANSEVOORT MARKET / NEW YORK

One of the first places I have been to in New York was Tacombi, at its location Fonda Nolita in SoHo. It offers delicious Mexican food in a huge garage, served from a super cool red van parked in that garage and they also have Sangria and Horchata and all you need when eating out Mexican. Tacombi got a nice artsy instagram (@tacombi) which really makes you want to try their tacos straight away. I is also placed in 3 more locations, one of them the popular Gansvoort Market.

Gansevoort Market is comparable with one of those indoor food markets you'll find in many other big cities (a bit too pricey but super-stylish and definitely instagram compatible). But it's also new and not too big and located in the up and coming Meatpacking District in Western Manhattan. Another one of those great Tacombi vans is placed there, a light blue one, and I can only recommend to try some of their tacos if you haven't tried them in the Cafe el Presidente before. But then again there are many more nice stalls serving delicious looking pizza, crepes, Thai food and so on and I'm sure everyone will find at least one thing worth giving a try. Or two, or three. Too bad New York isn't the cheapest of all cities.

HOTSPOT: HIGHLINE / WELCOME TO NYC