Referred to as the cultural and financial capital of the world, New York’s impact on commerce, art, entertainment, fashion, media, technology, and finance is unparalleled.
New York has always had a strong dance music scene beginning with the days of disco. Hot spots like Studio 54, Limelight, Twilo, and Paradise Garage to name a few are characteristic of the city in its glory days.
Despite challenges to nightlife posed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his administration, the underground has survived. It’s because of this that a good part of the local music scene has shifted across the river to Brooklyn.
Many would argue that today’s clubbing scene is the strongest it’s been since the mid 90s with a seemingly endless selection of parties to choose from every night.
If you’re thinking about spending a weekend in the Big Apple, take a look at some of our recommendations for the best restaurants, bars, clubs, and daytime activities that the city has to offer.
Friday
7pm: Check in at Citizen M Times Square
This trendy boutique hotel recently opened its New York branch in the heart of Times Square, and it is the epitome of affordable luxury. Free Wi-Fi, movies, and unbelievably comfortable XL beds come as standard, and the lights in each room can be set to change to a variety of colors (blue, pink, red, green, etc.). Did we mention the rooftop bar is amazing? Located on W. 50th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, the hotel is close to a number of major subway lines, making travel around the city easy and convenient. Hit up the London, Glasgow, Amsterdam or Rotterdam branches if you’re on that side of the world.
9:00pm: Dinner at The Ugly Kitchen
This East Village gastropub specializes in Asian fusion and Filipino cuisine and it is out of this world. Great food and service make this our go-to spot for a good meal before going out that doesn’t leave you feeling stuffed or take two hours. Be sure to give the spicy pork buns, perilla cream pasta and roasted pork belly a try.
11:00pm: Grab drinks at Apothéke
Apothéke is a unique cocktail lounge located on a hidden narrow street in Chinatown. Inspired by European apothecaries and 1800s Parisian absinthe dens, the space is truly gorgeous inside, and the cocktails, dubbed “prescriptions,” are delicious and made from locally-sourced organic produce. Yummm.
12:00am: Party at Output
Since it opened about a year and a half ago, Output has become the go-to place for electronic music lovers in New York, consistently bringing in top talent like Jamie Jones, Thugfucker, Ten Walls, Danny Tenaglia, Chris Liebing, and Pan-Pot… and that’s just a small sampling of their July lineup. It’s also easy to get to, located just off the L train in the heart of Williamsburg, making it the perfect weekend clubbing destination.
Saturday
9:00am: Exercise at Flywheel
Sweat out your toxins from the night before and get a healthy start to your day with Flywheel. There are many spin class options in New York but we like Flywheel because it combines traditional cycling with an intense upper body workout. Their great playlists are curated by their own in-house DJs, and they have locations all over the New York metropolitan area making it very convenient to get to.
12:00pm: Grab a bite to eat at Broadway Bites
Some of the best things about summer in New York are the seemingly never-ending food fairs. Cultivated by the pop-up market masterminds behind UrbanSpace, Broadway Bites is one of a number of seasonal food and design fairs featuring “an ever-changing, edited lineup of chefs, artisans and makers.” From Korean tacos to savory meatballs and lobster rolls, Broadway Bites has a variety of cuisines from some of the best places around (Momofuku, anyone?) all served up in small portions to maximize your sampling capacity. It lasts until August, but if you miss it you can just catch the next market!
4:00pm: Party at MoMA PS1
Located in Queens, MoMA PS1 is one of the largest art institutions in the US dedicated solely to experimental and contemporary art and events. The Museum of Modern Art-run venue is set in an old school building and their outdoor music series called Warm Up features awesome DJs every week. Taking place in the courtyard, which is transformed into a work of art by a new artist each year, Warm Up has become a New York summer staple. It features both local and international artists and delivers the best in experimental live music, sound, and DJs. The lineup this summer includes Robert Hood, Cashmere Cat, Simian Mobile Disco, George FitzGerald, Kevin Saunderson, and many more. Warm Up 2014 is running until September 6th. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 day-of - head to the MoMA PS1 website for more details and to purchase tickets.
9:00pm: Eat dinner at Peter Luger Steak House
Zagat has named Peter Luger the best steakhouse in New York City for 30 years in a row. That should be all you need to hear to convince you that this is a necessary stop on your trip if you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation ahead of time. Established in 1887, the place has a rich history and the food served is simply delicious. Peter Luger’s interior has been described as “having a Teutonic air, with exposed wooden beams, burnished oak wainscoting, brass chandeliers and weathered beer-hall tables." Definitely a major staple in New York’s thriving restaurant scene.
12:00am: Party at 88 Palace
By day, 88 Palace is a bustling dim sum restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown. By night, the space completely transforms and is converted into a club with DJs like The Martinez Brothers, DKDS, Cyril Hahn, Ryan Hemsworth, Kaytranada, Gaslamp Killer, and Pearson Sound, brought by some of our favorite New York promoters like Dark Disco and ReSolute. Keep your ears and eyes peeled for parties taking place in this cool venue!
Sunday
1:00pm: Enjoy brunch at Maison Premiere
This old school oyster house and cocktail den will have you choosing oysters from 30 different varieties and boasts the largest collection of premium absinthes in NYC. Maison Premiere’s New Orlean’s style decor is charming and the garden is atmospheric. Not to mention they make a mean Bloody Mary. This Williamsburg spot is conveniently located on Bedford Ave and is the perfect cure to your weekend hangover.
2:30pm: Take a stroll along the High Line
A trip to New York City isn’t complete without a Sunday stroll on the High Line. If the weather is nice, be sure to check out this awesome linear park that lines the city’s lower west side. Built on a former elevated railroad line, the space has been completely redesigned and transformed into a mile-long aerial greenway running from the Meatpacking District up into Chelsea. You’ll get to see great views of Manhattan as you burn some extra calories!
4:00pm: Sunday Funday at Tiki Disco
Making its way into the city’s top summer party lists more often than not, Tiki Disco is a New York clubbing institution with events taking place all over town. So far this summer, Tiki Disco has taken over Output’s beautiful rooftop and The Well, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for the coming months. Listen to the smooth summery sounds of residents Eli Escobar, Andy Pry, and Lloydski every Sunday from May through September.
9:00pm: Dine at Kuma Inn
This windowless unmarked speakeasy is located up a towering staircase in a building on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side. It’s been open for more than ten years and is still hard to find, but once you do (look for No. 113) it’s definitely worth the effort. For such a small place, the Filipino Fusion-Asian tapas menu is pretty expansive. We recommend the steamed rice crepes with pork bolognese and pan-roasted ocean scallops. The sauteed Chinese sausage with Thai chili lime sauce is also amazing and every table in the restaurant gets a plate.