Dreaming of a trip to the Big Apple? This New York Travel Guide will help you plan the perfect NYC getaway!
Thank you to the Lotte New York Palace for hosting our New York vacation.
Oh New York. There’s something amazing about the energy in New York City. It brings up fantasies of Sex and the City, great style, and a glamorous lifestyle…..right? I think every woman on earth dreams of spending a week in New York, enjoying great food and doing some shopping.
When I found out earlier this year that one of my favorite blogging conferences would be during summer vacation in New York City….I jumped at the chance to head back to one of my favorite cities with my friend Kendall (a girls’ trip was like a dream come true after all our family vacations). I spent five days, and four nights exploring the city…..and I wanted to share some of my must do, must see, and must eat suggestions.
Where to Stay:
Lotte New York Palace: Warning, a few nights at the Lotte New York Palace and you won’t want to go home. This stunning New York icon is luxury perfected. Located in the heart of Midtown, this hotel just LOOKS like old world New York. From the courtyard where they filmed Gossip Girl (yes, Serena LIVED in the Lotte New York Palace on the show) to the stunning lobby…..this hotel is just beautiful. Our views of the New York skyline were unreal, I woke up each morning in my ridiculously comfortable bed and couldn’t believe that I was THERE.
My favorite part about the Lotte New York Palace though? Wasn’t the views or the fancy rooms (although those were amazing)….it was the customer service. From hailing taxi cabs to impeccable turn down service to amazing suggestions for coffee shops…..the men and women that run the hotel are truly out of the ordinary. They turn a stunning, luxury hotel into a once in a lifetime experience (although it won’t be once in a lifetime for me, I’m already making plans to go back)!
Where to Eat:
Villard: Villard is an amazing eatery inside the Lotte New York Palace and their BRUNCH? May be the best in New York City. Order the French Toast.
La Colombe: I discovered this adorable cafe between meetings in Soho while fighting exhaustion from getting off a red eye. The lattes are amazing. There are a TON of New York locations and bonus? They just opened one out here in Lala land!
Lauduree: This french bakery is all over the tabloids, it’s a celebrity favorite, and there’s good reason…..their macaroons are to DIE FOR. The Soho location is an adorable cafe, perfect for lunch or a fancy tea. It’s a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of a busy day in the city.
Rosa Mexicano:Delicious. Easy. Mexican food. If you’ve got a group dinner and you’re craving margaritas….this is the perfect spot. Their tacos are DELISH, and they have super fun drinks!
Morell Wine Bar and Cafe: My last night in the city, I met two of my girlfriends for dinner. We spent our single girl years together in LA. Now we’re all married, and they both live in New York. This adorable wine bar was perfect for a long catch up session. It’s smack dab in the middle of Rockefeller Center, has amazing wine and a killer cheese plate.
Shake Shack: THIS IS A MUST VISIT. This New York institution is the East Coast version of In N’ Out. We ate at the original Shake Shack in Madison Square Park. The burgers were AMAZING….and the milkshakes? I got the red velvet (it’s a seasonal special)…..and have been craving another ever since. There are a couple locations, but this one has a TON of outdoor seating, and super cute lights everywhere.
What to Do:
There are tons of amazing museums and monuments in New York, and they’re MUST VISITS. But I wanted to share a few off the beaten path activities from my trip that I would do again and again and again.
Bite Beauty Lab: A bunch of you loved watching my visit to the Bite Beauty Lab on Instagram stories. Bite Beauty is amazing cosmetics line sold nationwide….but in Soho they have an actual beauty lab. You can make an appointment to work with an expert and create your OWN perfect for your skin tone custom lip products. It’s so much fun!
Birchbox Store: You all know what Birchbox is, right? A monthly subscription box that allows you to try some of the latest and greatest beauty products. Well, they have a storefront in Soho. You can shop all the lines they work with AND you can make your own custom Birchbox. They also offer in store beauty services!
Trunk Club Clubhouse: I’m obsessed with Trunk Club (the personalized styling service connected to Nordstrom). While you can enjoy Trunk Club anywhere (and have a Trunk delivered to your house for try-on)…….Trunk Club also has a handful of Clubhouses in major cities. You get to meet with a stylist in person, and they’ll pull amazing suggestions based on your needs and budget. The New York Clubhouse is stunning, and a little dangerous to your bank account.
Concerts at Madison Square Park: During the warm summer months, there is an amazing concert series at Madison Square Park (and they have kids’ concerts during the day). Time your Shake Shack visit so that you can bring a blanket, and enjoy your milkshake while humming along to live music.
Have you been to New York recently? What should I add to this New York Travel Guide? Leave your favorite spots in the comments so that everyone can enjoy!
I love NYC. If they didn’t have harsh winters I’d want to live there. Yes, the shack shack has great burgers! That was our last stop before walking back and packing up to head home on our last visit. Glad you had an amazing time. The hotel looks AMAZING!
Did you hit any iconic sites too? Each time we go back we visit more & more sites, endless beauty in this big city.
I have been wanting to visit New York for so long. My daughter in law was born and raised there. She and I are going to go sometime in the near future. This hotel looks awesome. I am so happy you got to do this with a good friend.