Serendipity 3

Open for business since 1930, The Carlyle is just a few blocks from Central Park and Museum Mile. And you can’t check-out without stopping for a drink in Bemelmans Bar, which has murals painted by Ludwig Bemelmans, the author of the Madeline series.

This luxurious Upper East Side hotel is so plush and inviting that you’ll be tempted to stay indoors rather than leave to explore the city. The rooms are old-New-York in the best way, with marble baths, plush beds, city views, and space to stretch out. Plus: excellent dining (Marjorelle for dinner, Jacques for drinks, and the palm-tree-laden Pembroke Room for elaborate breakfasts, brunches, and high teas) and an elegant club room for all guests to enjoy.

Checking into the Mark is like checking into a New York fantasy life, from 24/7 exclusive access to Bergdorf Goodman, Ladurée macarons at the bedside, custom bikes for touring the city, and Jean Georges Vongerichten-crafted picnics to go (he runs the The Mark’s primary restaurant). The rooms themselves are sleek and just a little splashy. Plus: A Frédéric Fekkai hair salon, an Assouline bookstore, chic pedicabs on call, and a wood-paneled, warmly-lit outpost of the Paris caviar institution Caviar Kaspia.

This French bistro, whose arched ceilings give it a cozy, wine-cave-like feel, plays the hits spectacularly. Expect garlicky escargot, coq au vin, trout amandine, and Burgundy and Rhône Valley wines. But what’s particularly special is what’s found only here: a board of pâtés and terrines curated by owner and chef Daniel Boulud, whose Upper East Side flagship Daniel has two Michelin stars.

This is a bit more casual and much more affordable than its big brother next door (three Michelin-starred Masa), though it's still one of the best places for sushi in New York.

This old-school delicatessen has been around for over 100 years and carries every conceivable kind of smoked fish. It's a fun stop even just to see the hand-painted 1950’s sign outside, and the vintage Americana interiors it has carefully stewarded through the decades. Greengrass is also a restaurant that’s particularly great for breakfast—there are plenty of egg and bagel options to accompany your choice of smoked fish. And, in keeping with tradition, portions are huge, so go hungry.

A neighborhood staple for four-plus decades, Cafe Luxembourg serves three meals a day, but folks flock here for weekend brunch—with warm doughnut holes dusted in cinnamon sugar, eggy sandwiches on pillowy brioche, and cheesy, herby omelets.

Romantic for a date, yet also the very best spot for a multi-generational family moment, the wood-paneled Cafe Sabarsky is part of the Neue Galerie, set in a former Vanderbilt mansion smack on 5th Avenue. The restaurant has a rare, leafy first-floor view of Central Park. There are chic banquets, spectacular flowers, lots of champagne, and fantastic Viennese spaetzle, goulash, paprikash, sausages, salads, and of course, a next-level array of cakes and sweets. The thing to do is tour the museum (full of Klimts and Shieles) before your reservation, and then sit for a coffee and a sweet, if not a full dinner.

The food is classic Italian by way of New York—but it’s the beautiful presentation and cozy uptown vibe that make this spot so special. It’s a siren song for some of the city’s most interesting personalities.

The food here is full of flavor and spice (the dan dan noodles are particularly insane). It's a no-frills kind of place, and the reasonable tabs make it a great place to go with a group on a budget. (Note that it's no longer BYOB, though.) There's also a location in the East Village.

The location of Lincoln Center's refined Italian restaurant makes it a no-brainer for before a show, but the menu (not to mention the seriously sophisticated, Italian-only wine list) actually stands up to our favorite hole-in-the-wall joints downtown. The menu fulfills cravings for all the classic dishes, from spaghettini bathed in tomato sauce and pecorino to white truffle tagliatelle, plus a glorious dry aged porterhouse. If you come in the evening, don't forget to check out another bonus from the drinks program: The negroni and prosecco bars.

This offshoot from the Nolita original is part of the Major Food group (Dirty French, Carbone, etc.), and as-to-be-expected it's reliably really good. It couldn't be Parm if it didn't serve a really good one, along with other trattoria standbys like broccoli rabe, penne scampi, and chicken limone. There's also an outpost in the Financial District.

Napa's French Laundry may have put Thomas Keller on the map, but Per Se, which is perched above Central Park, confirmed his legendary status. The menu changes daily, and you can expect Keller to trot out some of his older hits along with some delightful new surprises. The meal itself can last for hours as you advance from seasonal course to course, and the set dinner menu starts at $390. The private room also happens to have one of the best views in town.

The P.J. Clarke’s on 55th Street—it’s been there since the 1880’s—is one of those classic NYC institutions where everyone who grew up on their burgers can think of nothing better. The Lincoln Square location is a hit with kids walking home from Central Park.

Red Farm’s menu focuses on fresh greenmarket product, artfully prepared fish, and delicious dim sum (including less familiar creations like pastrami egg rolls). The shrimp dumplings are delicious, the duck spring rolls are surprisingly refreshing, and we’re more than willing to endure the substantial wait (no reservations here) for a bowl of the veggie fried rice alone. They put together prix-fixe menus for large groups in private spaces.

Inspired by the LA original of the same name, this is a “trust me” sushi spot, which means you’re at the mercy of Chef Takahashi and his team behind the bar. The barely seasoned omakase they make consists of incredibly fresh fish—sourced at the fish market early each morning—served on warm, perfectly moist rice. It’s a tiny, no-frills nook, and the best seats in the house are at the bar.

If Afro-Caribbean Tatiana isn’t already high on your list, it should be. James Beard Award–winning chef Kwame Onwuachi takes inspiration from his childhood in the Bronx and from the legacy of San Juan Hill, the vibrant neighborhood that preceded the construction of Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side. The menu is distinctly Onwuachi, and distinctly New York: The chef works with ingredients and techniques from his Creole, Nigerian, and Caribbean roots—and plays with ideas from French cooking, Chinese takeout, Jewish delis, and city bodegas.

This is a seriously charming, truly legendary New Yorker's bar: For starters, the clubby space is covered in Madeline author Ludwig Bemelmans's whimsical murals—a tribute to the city's quirky inhabitants.

Hidden under the Queensboro Bridge, The Jeffrey combines two storefronts that look completely unremarkable. Inside, though, you can get unexpectedly good coffee, drinks—and oysters. The espresso bar serves local roasts from Café Grumpy, and is also part growler-to-go-service. For later in the day and night, there are a few dozen rotating local and global brews, plus wines and a fairly extensive cocktail list. When the weather is nice, take your drink and oysters to the back patio.

Kitschy, often crowded, and rowdy on any night of the week, this 1970s bar makes a great, laid-back stop in the otherwise pretty upscale Upper East Side. We go for excellent Bloody Marys and their famous burgers, served from lunch until late into the night.

The Penrose was a very welcome addition to the Upper East Side when it debuted on Second Avenue, and the gastropub still feels noteworthy today in a neighborhood that is more known for its collegiate sports bars than craft-centric joints. Some would say that it feels more downtown than uptown, probably because the Penrose was done by the same people behind downtown spots The Wren and Wilfie and Nell. All that said, beyond the exposed brick and vintage décor, this is really a neighborhood spot—and a solid one at that. Besides the drinks, the snacks are satisfying, and you might find yourself wanting to stay for dinner, or come back the next day for brunch.

Vin Sur Vingt always hits. They have an extensive list of French wines, great tapas, and several locations in the city, including two on the Upper West Side.

Beyond being one of the more perfect independent grocery stores around, Fairway is the perfect New York cross section: You'll see young families, old ladies in fur coats, students looking for good food at good prices, and just about every New York type you can think of.

Near the East River, Le Moulin à Café is part coffee shop, part bistro, part French grocery store—and charming. If you’re not ordering to-go, the counter spots overlooking York Avenue are prime real estate—and somewhere you can post up to do work, trading your latte for a glass of wine later in the day. There are also tables (with waiter service) in the back of Le Moulin, though.

Three brothers developed a taste for quality cacao while growing up in the Caribbean eating chocolate made from trees they had grown (and picked from) themselves. Cut to: Dominic, Nicholas, and Daniel Maloney craft single-origin, bean-to-bar dairy- and nut-free, organic, fair-trade chocolate in Harlem. A square or two of Sol Cacao’s 70 percent plus chocolate is the kind of rich, slightly sweet, slightly bitter treat you enjoy with a glass of red wine after dinner or with a thimble of espresso in the afternoon—it’s to be savored. Find Sol Cacao sprinkled throughout New York City's best artisanal food purveyors like Chelsea Market, Chicky's General store, and Brooklyn Larder, as well as at Whole Foods and online.

Come here for the bagels, and the rugelach, and the chocolate babka, and the smoked fish, and we could go on and on. This Upper West Side specialty grocer, which has been operated by the Zabar family (out of the same location) since the 1930s, is still the place to stock up on old-school Jewish delicatessen fare. It’s one of those classic city shops that’s as worth it for the goods as it is for the characters who shop there regularly.

The French Embassy has pulled off a wonderful coup in bringing this gem-like French bookstore and reading room to Fifth Avenue. Named after the ethereal character from Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, the Jacques Garcia-designed (who else?) space is beautifully decked-out with comfy leather couches for cuddling up with a novel, and a gleaming constellation fresco on the ceiling of the two-story space. The only French bookstore of its kind in the city, it’s a gift to New York—in one of the few remaining Stanford White-designed Beaux Arts buildings, no less.

Led by Barbara Kirshbaum, who has been on more than 150 buying trips to Europe and Asia, BK Antiques carries furniture, lighting, accessories, original artwork, and silver from the 18th-, 19th-, and early 20th-century. BK Antiques also has an exclusive collection of limited editions: high-end desk accessories; a series of small “drinks” tables in wood, iron, and stone; oak console tables; barstools; wastebaskets and custom iron and wood benches.

Phoebe Cates's boutique is pretty great: You’ll find really beautiful jewelry and a great assortment of toys, including hand-painted Russian dolls and Keith Haring dominoes. You'll also find clothes from little known designers, especially for the neighborhood, like Ally Capellino handbags and Yoshi Kondo dresses. It's not surprising it's a hit on the Upper East Side, as it brings uniqueness and discovery back to a neighborhood that’s generally dominated by big brands.

Jamie Creel and Christopher Gow are serious collectors who spend much of their time traveling the world sourcing far-flung objects for their townhouse shop. We go just to see the wacky and elegant displays that mix coral and taxidermy, Suzani textiles and kitschy South African ceramics. It’s a real mix with prices to match, and if you’re looking for a truly offbeat gift—like say, a hand-blown glass hammer and nails—chances are you’ll find it here.

This gorgeous estate jewelry shop looks more like an exceptionally appointed apartment than a store and has more than earned its name: the collection of estate jewelry spanning every era and every designer (Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels are the biggies) is nothing if not museum-worthy. Rare treasure hunters in particular flock to FD as it’s one of the few US distributors of JAR. Also worth noting: the vintage accessories by Chanel and Hermes and photography by Man Ray, Richard Avedon, and more.

Over the past few years, this lingerie boutique has grown and opened up several shops all over the city. It turns out there was a real hole in the marketplace when it came to lingerie: A place where you can find pretty lingerie that you don't feel silly wearing everyday, which means a tasteful mix of brands like Bordelle, Stella McCartney, Cosabella, and Princesse Tam-Tam, in both basic nudes and bright colors. There are also locations in Union Square and Soho.

For over 20 years, food academics, serious chefs, and home cooks alike have all come here to stock their kitchen bookshelves. In fact, Julia Child used to shop here. Besides the seemingly endless supply of cookbooks, academic journals, and food memoirs, it’s owner Nach Waxman and his team that make it really special. Well-informed but not intimidating, they’re happy to help you find the right book, or will track it down if they don’t have it.

This intimate boutique on Madison Avenue serves up a carefully curated collection from luxury and contemporary designers like Gabriela Hearst, Blumarine, Emilia Wickstead, Missoni, Acne Studios, and The Elder Statesman, to name a few. Their selection—from denim and cashmere to special-occasion pieces—tends to be a touch funkier than what you'll find at the department stores nearby, and you're sure to discover a new favorite brand. Don’t miss their private label Freya for couture-level beaded skirts & dresses and silk pieces in groovy prints.

Housed in Andrew Carnegie's former Georgian mansion, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum still conserves the original dark wood-lined interiors and imposing staircase, even after closing for a few years for a major upgrade in the hands of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, among others. The shop on the second floor is part of the revamp, too, with the architectural firm's custom modular shelving framing the tailor-made space. The wonderful mix of beautifully designed objects and utilitarian goods remains the same, however, from Fredericks & Mae birthday candles to Michael Graves kettles and much more.

Ursus sells art and rare books along with a very special selection of 16th to 19th-century prints. For art lovers, this is where you'll find that rare edition on your favorite artist you can't find anywhere else. And if Ursus doesn't have it, their knowledgeable staff can help you track it down.

Just across the street from Central Park, this sprawling space—established in 1869—is home to more than 32 million specimens: Enormous dinosaur fossils, a stampede of elephants in the main hall, and a host of gorgeous dioramas are just the start.

It would be impossible not to include Central Park—New York's most coveted green space and, in many ways, what the rest of the city orbits around. Stretching 2.5 miles from 59th to 110th Street, it offers a mix of open lawns, wooded paths, water, and formal gardens. See the iconic landmarks at least once: the cinematic Bethesda Terrace and fountain, Belvedere Castle, and The Lake—which is most memorably experienced by rowboat (rentable onsite). Seasonal moments make it worth returning to, from ice skating at Wollman Rink to Shakespeare in the Park at the newly renovated Delacorte Theater. But the real appeal is in the in-between: long walks around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir with its uninterrupted skyline views, quieter shaded paths that feel removed from the city, and the simple act of finding a bench or patch of grass to sit with a coffee. For kids, the Central Park Zoo, the petting-friendly Tisch Children's Zoo, and numerous playgrounds make for an enjoyable afternoon outdoors.

Housed in Andrew Carnegie’s former Georgian mansion, the Cooper Hewitt still maintains the original dark wood-lined interiors and imposing staircase. After closing for three years for a major upgrade on the design galleries at the hands of Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the Cooper Hewitt had a grand re-opening at the end of 2014 with an expanded exhibition space. There's also an interactive Process Lab where visitors learn about the design process, and an Immersion Room highlighting the museum's expansive wall-covering collection. The museum was already one of the best in the world for design—both contemporary and ancient—so it's no surprise that it's better than ever. Don’t miss their shop, which is incredibly well done.

NOTE: The Frick is temporarily closed for renovation. It is expected to reopen in late 2024.

Aside from being one of the most significant buildings of the 20th-century, and the apex of Frank Lloyd Wright’s career, the Guggenheim is a world-class art museum and cultural center, too. No matter the show—usually solid retrospectives—it’s worth the entrance fee just to wind your way through the snail-like building and look down from the top at the mesmerizing view below.

This beloved institution—reigning supreme on NYC’s Upper East Side—has been shepherding millions through its halls since 1880. You’ll find some of the art world’s most iconic pieces, as well as important artifacts from ancient to modern times. It’s also home to the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, which dates back to 15 BC.

Whether it's your first time or you're a season ticket holder, an opera at the Met, with its shimmering gold curtains, monumental Chagall murals, starburst chandeliers, and red carpets, is one of the most unforgettable experiences in New York. From a classic Verdi to a contemporary John Adams opera, the production value, from the singers to the costumes and the sets, is pretty spectacular.

Walking into this Upper East Side townhouse is a quick time warp into the golden age of Vienna, before the First World War. The permanent collection, displayed almost as if it were in an elegant home, includes works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele and many design pieces from Josef Hoffman, Koloman Moser, and Werner Werkstatte. We never tire of visiting the galleries and then heading downstairs for a tea and Linzer torte at the perfectly achieved turn-of-the-century-style Cafe Sabarsky, where you dine surrounded by Adolf Loos furniture.

Whether for an opera, a musical, or a ballet, an evening out at the gem-like Lincoln Center always makes for a wonderful, dressed-up night out.

This nationwide yoga studio is known for cranking up the intensity of Vinyasa classes. Strength training is incorporated through squats, free weights, and ab workouts between traditional asanas. Studios are kept warm and humid to promote flexibility, and teachers are reliably energetic, which helps to keep motivation high.

Delphine Breyne honed her craft—brow microblading, brow shaping, areola micropigmenation (for cancer patients), scalp micropigmentation, lip shading, and more—in France (her home country) and later in Miami. Now, she takes appointments out of a gorgeous studio in an ancient Upper East Side townhouse right off Central Park.

Louise’s skincare philosophy is straightforward—energize skin cells, tone muscles, and stimulate the lymphatic system—and translates to treatments that include stem cell application via micro-needling, firming galvanic current, lifting microcurrent, and sculpting facials. Every session, whether it's a cryo facial or a radiofrequency session, starts with an in-depth consultation. There's a lengthy waitlist to get in with Louise herself, but a session with a member of her team is an exquisite, skin-perfecting experience.

Jin Soon Choi, the fashion world's go-to for nails, has taken her tiny nail (and wax) salons to the next level. Each mani and pedi is more like a mini spa treatment for your hands and feet, with a menu of massages, essential oil, and hydrating treatments to choose from. Her technicians are great, the space is low-key, and blessedly low-tech (no vibrating massage chairs here), and she has a five-free line of polishes, too. There are also locations in the West Village, East Village, and Tribeca.

Whether for a special event or for a makeup 101 refresher course, booking an appointment at this deeply feminine shop is a worthwhile expense. Come with a few girlfriends for a facial, followed by makeup.

Dr. Schiller knows everything about women's health and is a wonderfully reassuring doctor to see when you're pregnant (or wanting to be).

Lidia Tivichi somehow makes the entire process of hair removal painless. Seriously. Hands down, she does the best wax we've ever tried.

Beyond the extensive list of yoga classes offered by husband and wife Stephan Kolbert and Ingrid Marcroft and their team, UWS Yoga offers meditation classes and sessions in their infrared sauna. You have to pre-book, so try and snag an appointment right before or after a yoga or meditation session for an extra detox boost.

This mega-pharmacy is so large (15,000 square feet, spread across three floors) it’s actually deemed a department store: Sure, you can drop off a prescription, but most people come here to pick up anything from old-fashioned throat lozenges to Mason Pearson hairbrushes to fancy shampoo and lipstick. The prices fit the setting (it’s just a stone’s throw from The Carlyle), but they have the services to match, from quick delivery, to house accounts, to shipping prescriptions to you anywhere in the world. They also have an excellent toy store named Zittles which consumes the entire third floor, carrying old-fashioned favorites like Barbie, Madame Alexander dolls, and a solid selection of dress up clothes.

These Alice in Wonderland–themed spots are pretty cute (there are now three outposts), and they're a great option for mid-afternoon snacks with kids or for throwing a birthday party. Pioneered by Lauren and Haley Fox, these teashops offer perfectly brewed teas, healthy snacks, and prettily arranged sweets—from cupcakes to cookies. There is also a location on the Upper East Side and a to-go spot in Brooklyn.

This massive, man-made, historic park in the middle of Manhattan might just be the thing that makes city life bearable for so many of its citizens: With acres of green space, it’s a public oasis offering incredible playgrounds, swimming pools, public concerts, running tracks, dog parks, gondola dotted lakes, a boathouse, a wonderful zoo, and the John Lennon Memorial. It’s a wonderful place.

This interactive museum touches on everything from the science of sleep to jazz. During warmer months, there’s also an outside water park, where kids can sail boats and study erosion through sand. With 38,000 square feet, there’s plenty to keep little ones occupied.

The Upper West Side is home to some of the best teaching programs in New York, and with it comes one of the best bookstores for little ones. You'll find everything from kids classics to the newest and best titles selected by the store's knowledgeable staff.

If you have a stationery or sticker addict on your hands, they’re going to freak. This Japanese mega-store facing Bryant Park is one of our favorite midtown oases, and a solid option for a quick sushi cafeteria-style lunch. There’s an entire floor dedicated to Japanese manga comic books, a solid selection of design books and international fashion magazines, but the basement is the main draw. There, aisle after aisle is stuffed with an incredible array of Japanese stationery goods—adorable pens, pencils, notebooks, and erasers to last a lifetime.

It's not that the clothes stocked at this subtly other-worldly (and easy to overlook) boutique are necessarily Parisian, but many of the brands—Demylee, Vanessa Bruno, Megan Park, Golden Goose—have that seasonless quality that the French pull off so well. This is not to say that the array isn’t without its wonderful eccentricities, whether it’s a doll-shaped Servane Gaxotte necklace, or a cat-bedecked Tsumori Chisato tunic. But we digress, because the real siren song is the kid’s selection, packed with Bonton pullovers, Anais & I party dresses, and Finger in the Nose jeans. There’s also a handful of toys from iconic brands like Villac.

This under-the-radar Japanese brand puts out all sorts of cool and totally quirky prints and graphics that are both great and at times hilarious. (I.e., the tag in your toddler's pineapple-printed shorts might read: Big Goals Every Day.) The other big appeal is the cut: The pants and jeans in particular are good for skinnier, harder-to-fit babies and kids. There's also a location in the Financial District and Soho.

Perfect little cashmere cardigans and sweater dresses, slouchy tunic tops, and floral printed camisoles are typical of the Parisian-inflected kids clothing here. Prices are steep, making this a good option for a special gift.

This Brooklyn store is among our very favorite toy shops, and for good reason: Just about everything, from the wooden toys, to the hand-sewn cloth dolls, to the musical instruments and craft kits (of which there are many), is intended to ignite a kid’s imagination. And in keeping with their small, sustainable vibe, they feature the work of many small, local Brooklyn designers.

While its name might suggest that this shop traffics in frothy pastel pink and blue onesies, the colorful shelves suggest otherwise. Sweet William focuses on small, lesser known labels—Molo, Bobo Choses, boy + girl—that are, in their words, environmentally and ethically responsible. It’s all equal parts chic and adorable, from mohair cardigans and fox-emblazoned backpacks, to metallic lace-ups and psychedelic rabbit sweatshirts. In addition to clothing, they offer plenty of wooden toys from archival brands like Persephere & Trylon, as well as colorful Rouxrou blankets. There's a second location in Brooklyn, as well as an outpost in Los Angeles.

This West Village staple—in business since 2002—offers an artful-meets-streamlined aesthetic, meaning that there’s enough exuberance in the clothing picks to appeal to most kids, while the shapes and silhouettes make parents happy. Whether it’s an Imps & Elfs onesie or a Tutu du Monde swan queen tutu, there’s plenty of cuteness to go around, as well as bedding, toys, and furniture. In fact, owner Cristina Villegas offers design services for kids rooms, opening up her rolodex of unique suppliers from around the world.

While take-out from the 1914 original on East Houston is an unparalleled New York City experience, the wonderfully turned-out, old-world café is about a ten minute walk from the mothership, with waits that are two or three times that long. We heartily recommend the classic open-face sandwich, the super heebster nosh with wasabi roe, and matzo ball soup. Dying to try next: Chocolate babka french toast, along with their potato latkes.

If you have an American Girl collector on your hands, then, well, this is the mothership. Besides the shop, there’s a hair salon (yep, a hair salon for dolls), a photo studio, and a café, where kids and their dolls can feast together on brunch, tea, lunch, or dinner. Seating times are strict, and reservations are required.

Apart from the tasty Italo-American dishes—homemade spaghetti (kids go nuts for it) and the perfect roast chicken—the music is what really sets this restaurant apart. Colorful old-school boombox prints decorate the walls, and Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, and Dre boom from the speakers, making the meal a good one for a big group (they actually have a private dining room if you're inviting more than ten people), rather than an intimate gathering.

There’s not much to confuse or offend on this un-intimidating, all-American menu. It’s based on comfort food, meaning you’ll find casual basics like great mashed potatoes, pancakes, and pies galore. The no-frills, laid-back atmosphere makes the restaurant kid-friendly, as do sweet offerings, like the homemade pie (they're most famous for key lime).

From June through October, this oyster bar aboard the historic Sherman Zwicker schooner docks at Pier 25 in Tribeca. Under yellow and white stripe canopies, servers in appropriately nautical outfits distribute casual sea-side fare and cocktails from the built-in bar. During weekend days, it’s a fun lobster roll destination with kids, and in the evenings, thanks to a solid list of schooner-themed cocktails and oysters and small plates, it’s a pretty great night out. While the location is a bit remote, it’s still conveniently close to downtown—plus, how cool is it to eat on the water?

For many years Mark Israel’s plain glazed doughnut recipe was enough to draw crowds to this Lower East Side foodie destination, but more recent additions, like Mexican churros, house-made jelly filled doughnuts, and cake doughnuts have made Doughnut Plant legitimately legendary. While you can find Doughnut Plant on the menus of many hotels and restaurants throughout NYC, we like to make an early morning pilgrimage to their original, Grand Street location.

There are few weekend morning activities quite as essential as picking up coffee and bagels at a local neighborhood shop. In the West Village, the place to go is definitely Murray’s, a long-time neighborhood favorite. They offer every conceivable type of schmear, including a great egg salad. There are tables for eating in, though these travel well, making them pretty perfect picnic fare in warmer weather.

We’re big fans of Sunday’s Smorgasburg on Pier 5, where over 70 local food and beverage vendors (like Dough, the ideal doughnut) roll out every Saturday. Situated right on the water facing downtown Manhattan, this is the perfect family pitstop, thanks to plenty of seating and green space.

Go to Junior's for old-fashioned entrees (tuna melts, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken fingers) and legendary cheesecake. (The cheesecake really is where it's at.) There are two city-centric options (one in Times Square, one in Grand Central), but if you have time, head to the original on Flatbush in Brooklyn, which still retains its 1950's aesthetic—red booths and banquettes, formica countertops, old-school uniforms, the works—and its friendly, neighborhood feel.

You wouldn’t know it from the cute, unassuming exterior, but Erin McKenna revolutionized healthy baking (sounds like an oxymoron, but it’s true). Inside the bubble gum pink, ‘50s-inspired interior, you’ll find punk rock girls serving delicious cupcakes, cookies, and pastries, many of which are gluten- and sugar-free.

From October through mid-December, the Carlyle’s legendary Bemelmans Bar—beloved for its wall-to-wall murals painted by Madeline author and illustrator, Ludwig Bemelmans—opens up for afternoon tea and cake for kids. Little ones get to sing Madeline’s songbook along with Tina de Varon at the piano.

In the last few years, Westvilles have popped up all over Manhattan, which is probably a good thing since the original West Village outpost was way too tiny. You’ll find every variation of comfort food, from mac and cheese to the hot dogs that made them famous. Beyond myriad toppings and preparations, they offer vegan dogs, too. The South Village outpost is very close to the Children’s Museum of the Arts, and there are also locations in Chelsea near the Highline, and in the East Village.

Open since the end of the 19th-century, this world-class zoo—at 265 acres, one of the largest on the globe—is home to animals from the far reaches of the planet, including several endangered species and many now thriving rescues. While the idea of keeping animals in captivity can be troubling, we take comfort in the almost true to life quality of the animal's habitats, and the fact that the zoo contributes to important research and the protection of wild animals.

Typically, Loot is a no-phone, no-website, no-email hangout for comic books, collaboration, and confidence-building, all in a space that looks like a mini museum. It’s the brainchild of Joseph Einhorn, father to three boys, founder of a social e-commerce platform, and a childhood beneficiary of the creativity boost that comic books offer. With the physical premises closed, Loot has pivoted online. Hit the site and find a series of free comic drawing tutorials and a registration link for the excellent eight-week camp. You can participate on a virtual drop-in, drop-out basis, and the camp is structured to build kids’ creative and expressive confidence. This is the perfect at-home activity to keep littles occupied for a few hours and pique their imaginations for hopefully a few hours more..

Imagination Playground, designed by David Rockwell, is one of the city's most deluxe parks for little ones, with an enormous sand-pit, Rockwell's own system of big blue blocks for kids, and plenty of water and sprinklers. It goes without saying, but you'll want to pack a change of clothes since they can't resist getting wet.

Located in the northern-most area of Battery Park City with direct views of the Hudson, this is one of the best parks in the city, with several play structures for different age groups, a water area, and a sand pit. Kids can also climb and interact with the playful Tom Otterness sculptures installed throughout the park.

Mini-golf, beach volleyball, a skate park, and a huge play structure are just the beginning at this Hudson River-adjacent park. There are also loads of water features (bring a change of clothes), swings, and climbing walls—and it’s all adjacent to Tribeca and Battery Park City, meaning there are tons of options when everyone get hungry.

Granted, this stretch is as touristy as it gets, but it’s a great day’s outing with kids. Skip the shops, and head to the South Street Seaport Museum, where you get to climb aboard several historic ships, including the Pioneer, an authentic 19th-century schooner which hosts rides from May through October. (Don't miss Bowne & Co., an old-world print shop, which is attached to the South Street Seaport Museum.)

This excellent neighborhood park—smack in the middle of Tribeca—feels like its own world. The edge is lined with trees, which gives it a veil of privacy and makes the play areas, water fountains, and jungle gyms feel like they're in a not-in-the-middle-of-a-city place.

Situated on a pier along the Hudson River, this gigantic sporting complex operates out of the "if you build it, they will come" mindset. And it’s true: Here, you’ll find year-round ice skating, a rock climbing wall, gymnastics, soccer, a driving range, and more, all situated under one sprawling roof.

Catering to serious climbers and novices alike, this massive, technicolored climbing space in Gowanus hosts casual climb sessions, lessons for kids, and serious team training. With several walls, it’s roomy enough to accommodate larger groups and families. It’s a great resource in the winter, when it’s far too cold to exercise outdoors. Also, they're open until midnight.

Originally installed in 1922 in Youngstown, Ohio, Jane and David Walentas bought the dilapidated carousel at auction in the 80s, before turning their attention to meticulously restoring it (Jane went so far as to scrape the layers of paint off with an Exacto knife, so she could color-match the artist’s original intentions). The carousel and its 48 horses are pristine now, and housed in a fitting all-glass, Jean Nouvel-designed pavilion. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of green space nearby to make a full day out of it.

Sure, it’s not officially in Manhattan, but this amazing science center is just a short train trip or drive away. Beyond boasting the largest IMAX dome in the states, there’s a Tesla coil lightning show, an outdoor obstacle course that mimics the way wildlife moves through nature, and the Touch Tunnel, where kids grope and crawl their way through a pitch black space.

While the name might invoke childhood memories of fear and loathing for the subject, this super interactive museum might inspire an affection for math. It revolves around hands-on rides and activities that employ mathematical concepts to function—a tricycle with square wheels that rolls across a track, a chair that drifts across a pool of acorn shapes—meaning that a few hours spent here will be both fun and insightful.

CMA is one of those spots that doesn’t hold any punches: Here, kids are introduced to heady tropes in contemporary art from portraiture, to process, to language, through kid-accessible exhibits featuring works by Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer, and more. In addition, their classes and after school programs are some of the best in the city. Check the website for the day's activity, as many are free and offsite.

This exuberant Firmdale Hotels offering is sort of the perfect mix of over-the-top design flourishes and straight-up excellent hospitality, which makes it an instant hit for kids. Dotted with dog statues and bright colors, the rooms are fun, rather than stuffy, and there are lots of considerations for little ones: Adjoining rooms, cots, pint-sized bathrobes, a kid’s menu, plus babysitting service. There's also an on-site screening room.

Since its original owners first broke ground on the building in 1907, The Plaza, with its opulent décor, luxe suites, and location right along the edge of Central Park, has been a monumental presence in the city. F. Scott Fitzgerald (a regular himself) staged Gatsby’s confrontation with Tom Buchanan in a Plaza suite, Frank Lloyd Wright famously lived there for several years while he oversaw the construction of the Guggenheim Museum, and, of course, there’s Eloise (she has her own suite which regularly hosts elaborate birthday sleepovers and such). All of the rooms—and some phenomenal suites—have been recently updated to reflect a more current, but no less classic, point of view. And for those looking for a trip back in time, tea at The Palm Court is where you want to be.

Danny Meyer does a lot right at his burger chain, evidenced be the long lines at all the outposts. While we’ll always prefer the original kiosk in Madison Square Park, there’s a convenient location across from the Natural History Museum on the Upper West Side, as well as one near all the Pier 25 action in Battery Park City. We’re big fans because the meat in Meyer’s burgers and dogs is completely antibiotic- and hormone-free, as is the dairy in the shakes and custards. It’s also reliably delicious.

They brew Intelligentsia coffee here, and make a mean macchiato, though it's their work with a chai (and alternative milks) that is really winning hearts across the city. They also serve insane donuts.

There’s no lack of gelato shops in NYC, though this one is probably the best of the bunch. Handmade the Italian way, using strictly natural, seasonal ingredients, the gelato here is just sweet and creamy enough that it doesn’t feel overly heavy. The permanent location inside Chelsea Market is always a good bet, while the summer pop-up by the High Line is ideally located for grabbing a scoop or three before a stroll.