New York, late November. Bars/Restaurants (11 Madison) Stuff to do!

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

Ahleckz

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So, there's a fair few threads on New York but it's mostly summer based. It's looking likely that I'm going to be there in late November so looking for a few more wintery ideas as walking around may be off the cards!

We're debating being there for Thanksgiving (26th). We like the idea of seeing the parade, but realistically after an hour we'll be bored and concerned the city is basically shut. Is it worth going then?

We WILL be there for the 28th, as it's my birthday and plan to have reservations for Eleven Madison Park. Though, would be interested to know if Le Bernardin is a better choice. The latter appeals because it's seafood orientated, but the former appeals... well, for obvious reasons! Oli Collet, I'm looking at you here!

But, what else is worth doing in late November in NY? She's into shopping, I'm into cocktails (I want to spend my birthday drinking Manhattans and eating). It'll be my second time there, and her first.

Rooftop bars, restaurants and quirky arty things are more our thing than museums, churches and helicopter tours. Though, we'll obviously dip into the Guggenheim and National History Museum.

Also, flights are looking to be around £360 return from Glasgow (via London (British Airways) or Schipol (KLM)), is this fair? Seems good to me!
 
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Ahleckz said:
So, there's a fair few threads on New York but it's mostly summer based. It's looking likely that I'm going to be there in late November so looking for a few more wintery ideas as walking around may be off the cards!

But, what else is worth doing in late November in NY? She's into shopping, I'm into cocktails (I want to spend my birthday drinking Manhattans and eating). It'll be my second time there, and her first.

Also, flights are looking to be around £360 return from Glasgow (via London (British Airways) or Schipol (KLM)), is this fair? Seems good to me!
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I was in NYC for five days just before Xmas last year, walking is fine, it is cold but you miss so much going in the Subway. Just grab a Coffee and you'll be fine. I got dragged around the shops as my g.f went crazy, take you're passport and you'll get a booklet for discounts as you're a tourist. Our flights came out at about £400 pp direct LHR to JFK, wouldn't fly BA again unless I had to, old aircraft which was looking really tired.
 
We were there at the end of last October, and the weather was surprisingly warm. Flew BA which was a good flight, and we flew into Newark so we took the train from the airport to NYC - very easy. We flew home from JFK and won't be doing that again. Terrible traffic getting there, and then the airport isn't that nice. Newark was so much easier.

Ahleckz said:
We WILL be there for the 28th, as it's my birthday and plan to have reservations for Eleven Madison Park. Though, would be interested to know if Le Bernardin is a better choice. The latter appeals because it's seafood orientated, but the former appeals... well, for obvious reasons! Oli Collet, I'm looking at you here!
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Good luck with getting reservations for EMP! My wife tried at 9am on the day they opened the reservations and failed. Apparently they get over 150 calls about new booking every day that they can't take. We were lucky though, as we know a chef who used to work with the restaurant manager there, so he managed to sort us out with a table. Anyway, it was the most incredible dining experience I've ever had. You can read my review here.

We also ate at:
Keens Steakhouse - Fantastic steak and service.
Blue Smoke - Slightly disappointing BBQ food. Better than Bodean's but not a patch on Pitt Cue.
Luke's Lobster - Great lobster rolls for lunch.
Magnolia Bakery - Lovely cakes to get a good sugar rush.
Joe The Art of Coffee - The best coffee shop of the many I visited.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. - Yes it's a gimmicky Forrest Gump themed restaurant, but the food is really quite good (if you like shrimp!). Freindly service as well. Gets busy, so get there for an early or a late lunch to avoid the queues.
Carmine's Midtown Really big portions of decent Italian food. Again, it gets busy.

There were a load of restaurants that I wan't to go to that we didn't have time for, and a load of shops that the wife wanted to visit that we didn't have time for, so we're obviously planning another trip back.
 
byeo said:
take you're passport and you'll get a booklet for discounts as you're a tourist.
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Bloomingdale's certainly do this (10% off coupon, can be used multiple times but on select items only), but I didn't encounter any other department stores that do. Just don't want to get the OP's hopes up :p
 
A tip, if youre going up the Rockefeller and dont mind missing the Christmas tree lighting, do it that night.

We had absolutely no queues, but the area was very busy. Of course its night so you cant see a fantastic amount (far) but you will get to see the greatness of Empire State.
 
tlrBeta said:
A tip, if youre going up the Rockefeller and dont mind missing the Christmas tree lighting, do it that night.

We had absolutely no queues, but the area was very busy. Of course its night so you cant see a fantastic amount (far) but you will get to see the greatness of Empire State.
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You need to buy a ticket for a time slot anyway, I tried to go up at 6pm and couldn't go until 9pm so we went to get food, went back for 9pm and went straight up.
 
Ive done a few roof top bars in NY, I would reccomend the 230 Fifth Roof top bar, provides excellent views of the city but in particular the Empire State, though staff were a bit up themselves. I stayed at the Gansevoort on Park and that has a roof top bar and pool again with good views of the Empire State, but even as a resident the security are a bit of a pain and for me the bar was a bit Jersey Shore up top.
 
trickycurve said:
Bloomingdale's certainly do this (10% off coupon, can be used multiple times but on select items only), but I didn't encounter any other department stores that do. Just don't want to get the OP's hopes up :p
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Macy's definitely do this - are you sure that's not the one you're thinking of? You can pick up your 10% discount card from the visitor's centre, just bring your passport with you.
 
spudbynight said:
I think everyone should have a meal at 21 a some point.

Book a table in the bar room, NOT the dining room upstairs.

http://www.21club.com/web/onyc/bar_room.jsp

If you are charming you can get a tour of the private dining area which is in the old "speakeasy" part.

http://www.21club.com/web/onyc/history.jsp
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It's for my birthday so if I can get a table it'll be in the main dining room but will consider the bar if I can't get a table in the main room! Already got four alarms set and the number on speed dial!

Housey said:
Ive done a few roof top bars in NY, I would reccomend the 230 Fifth Roof top bar, provides excellent views of the city but in particular the Empire State, though staff were a bit up themselves. I stayed at the Gansevoort on Park and that has a roof top bar and pool again with good views of the Empire State, but even as a resident the security are a bit of a pain and for me the bar was a bit Jersey Shore up top.
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Good to know, will hopefully check it out. I wear smart casual basically all the time so hopefully things will be OK. Hotel wise, if I get my way we'll be staying in airbnb places they are such good value!

sandy10 said:
OP - I'm actually going to NYC with my GF for the Thurs--->Mon of the previous week, so this is a great posting - cheers!
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Hope it's good. Let me know of any recommendations.
 
Qdos said:
Macy's definitely do this - are you sure that's not the one you're thinking of? You can pick up your 10% discount card from the visitor's centre, just bring your passport with you.
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It's a bit of a con though because they almost always have 20-25% off coupons on their website that you can print out and use - right now it's 20% here.
 
Qdos said:
Macy's definitely do this - are you sure that's not the one you're thinking of? You can pick up your 10% discount card from the visitor's centre, just bring your passport with you.
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It was definitely Bloomingdale's I got the discount. Tbf I only knew about it because a sales assistant mentioned it. No-one mentioned it in any other department store we went into, including Macy's.

Is it available country-wide? We also went into a Macy's in Bellevue, WA, and no-one said anything.
 
We are out there for 5 days just before Xmas( land back in the UK on Xmas eve) and am wondering the same things on what to do I think we got lucky our flights were £520 each with aer lingus
 
This is a completely unashamed bump.

Booked flights at the weekend, and weirdly direct flights appeared for the first time ever. So I'm flying United (ugh) direct (yay) from Glasgow to Newark (yay!). Times are really good and it's £450 each. Worth it for direct, as we would easily spend £50 pp in Heathrow/Amsterdam.
Booked the Hotel Belleclaire. Like the location/price.

So, just after any more insider tips and information really!
 
Bump!

So I leave tomorrow morning, and just wondering if there are any other tips!
I really need a classy, but fun, cocktail bar for Saturday.

Got the following booked:

Friday:
Keens Steakhouse for dinner.
Empire State Building after dinner.

Saturday:
Le Bernardin for dinner.

Sunday:
Comedy Cellar in the evening (and maybe the Carnegie Club if time allows).

Monday:
Number Eleven for dinner.
 
Jew York is great :D

Grand Central station Oyster bar is an absolute must, we went twice.

We stayed at the Dream Manhattan, it has a really nice cocktail bar but the doorman are picky.

Also for breakfast there was one french place right next to central park which served the best breakfast I have ever had, can't remember the name though.

Also the Top of the Rock is way better than the empire state.
 
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