48 hours in New York City. What to eat, drink, visit and where to shop.

Last December, I went back to New York for a couple of days. It had been a long time since I had been in the Big Apple. Follow me in my suggestions of places to visit for a 48 hours in New York City.

Arriving in New York City

The idea of driving to New York did not appeal to me at all. The traffic, the cost of parking, in short, I chose the plane, mostly for its ease and duration given the short stay I had planned.

As we left Montréal, I was able to find a flight arriving at LaGuardia Airport. Honestly, it’s the perfect airport, just renovated, big, with high ceilings and very bright, it’s easy to find your way around. Whether it’s by taxi (about 15–20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan) or by bus, there’s even a free shuttle that takes you directly to the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue underground station, by the way, the airport has a bus only entrance, it’s so well done, and it’s fast.

To take the underground, the MTA (New York’s transportation agency) recently introduced OMNY, which allows you to pay with your credit card. No need for a weekly card or anything else, just swipe your credit card on your phone or watch and it’s done, really simple. Plus, with OMNY, pay no more than $33 (US) in total between Monday and Sunday, no matter how many trips you take. It’s like a 7-day unlimited subscription, but you pay as you go, with no upfront costs.

Recently, the Montréal-New York train is back. A little longer (about 6-hour ride), but it seems to be a very pleasant trip and takes you directly to the city centre.

When you arrive, if you’re kind of lost, head to the Official NYC Information Center at Macy’s Herald Square, it’s a great place to start.

Where to Eat and Drink

Eataly — Flatiron ou Downtown

If you’ve been to Toronto’s Eataly, New York’s are different and even bigger. It’s great if you’ve rented a small flat, because you can do your grocery shopping there. But the big plus is the restaurants, especially at happy hour where you can have a delicious Aperol Spritz. The two branches I visited, Flatiron and Wall Street, are so different. Two atmospheres and many little secret spots, you can really get lost! In short, go and have a look around.

Eataly NYC Flatiron 

200 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
10010

Eataly NYC Downtown

4 World Trade Center
101 Liberty Street, Floor 3
New York, NY
10007

Dominique Ansel Bakery

The inventor of the cronut! Its delicious pastries and croissants are a perfect stop for lunch or for an afternoon snack. Note that the Flatiron store has no indoor seating, only an outdoor terrace. If you want to relax and have a good coffee, the Soho store is the place to be.

17 East 27th Street
New York, NY
10016
212-901-1015

189 Spring Street (between Sullivan & Thompson)
New York, NY
10012
212-219-2773

L’Avenue at Saks

I discovered this place on the recommendation of a friend, Peter Chase to name but one. This restaurant is superb with its view of Rockefeller Center. French-inspired (it’s the little brother of Avenue on Avenue Montaigne in Paris), it was designed by the famous designer Philippe Starck and spans two floors with a French art deco inspired dining room and Le Chalet, a bar and lounge offering cosy après-ski style interiors, a little hidden one floor down where a rooftop terrace is present in the summer where you can also dine when the weather is fine and which offers an iconic view of New York City. Discover traditional Parisian cuisine with an exclusive cocktail menu by legendary mixologist Nico de Soto. Enjoy a glass of KRUG.

8 East 50th St.
New York, NY
10022

Visit the website here

Genesis House

Looking for a change of scenery, Genesis House NYC, located in the Meatpacking District, is the perfect place. Intimate and relaxing in its glass box along the HighLine, the place calms us like the South Koreans are. It was designed as a branded experience for the Genesis car company, the company’s flagship in the US (for the record, we were invited there by the company, but that doesn’t change our experience). It’s a showroom on the first floor, but a showroom where you can’t buy, only look at the beautiful vehicles. To buy, there is a dealer located at Hudson Yards.

For eating, let’s say that we are far from the Korean BBQ. The dishes are much closer to the traditions of the country. A total immersion with tasting menus that bring us into another world. Moreover, the library, filled with magnificent books by Assouline, is an unprecedented relaxation area. And when you are offered a hot tea on your way out, even though the temperature outside is cold, that’s what we call a successful service. I’ll tell you more about our experience very soon.

40A 10th Ave.
New York, NY
10014

Visit the website

What to visit in 48 hours in New York City

Central Park

It’s a classic place to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. Whether it’s for running or cycling, it’s the perfect place. It’s easy to get to by metro.

Between the 5th Ave. and Central Park West
New York, NY
10024

The Oculus

The Oculus is one of New York’s latest architectural feats. It is impressive. Designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus is an aesthetically striking station that houses the World Trade Centre PATH station with trains to New Jersey, with connections to 12 New York City underground lines, and dozens of restaurants (including a Boulud grocery shop with takeout) and retail shops (Apple, TUMI, etc.) as part of the Westfield shops at the Oculus. Its two-level underground concourses cover the 16-acre World Trade Center campus and also provide access to the office towers, the One World Observatory entrance, Brookfield Place and the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal. It was after our visit to the Oculus that we went to Eataly.

50 Church Street
New York, NY
10007

Visit the website

Hudson Yards

This place is striking, but still a bit complex to find, especially when you go there for the first time. With the impressive Vessel (which is currently off-limits for security reasons), it’s clear that this area will grow. Especially being a stone’s throw from the High Line.

Hungry? There are restaurants. From our Estatorio Milos (yes, from the Montréal family) to the Peak (on the 101st floor) to the Electric Lemon (recommended by Phil Birnbaum), you won’t be disappointed. Not to mention the classic Shake Shack, Blue Bottle and Starbucks Coffee.

There’s also Edge, the tallest outdoor terrace in the Western Hemisphere. Located at 30 Hudson Yards. It’s a unique design, suspended in the air, giving you the feeling of floating in the sky with 360 degree views you can’t find anywhere else.

Look down 100 floors from the transparent glass floor, look out over the city on the sloping glass walls and sip champagne in 7th heaven.

Between 10th and 12th Avenue from West 30th St. to West 34th St.
New York, NY

Visit the website

Where to shop

Saks Fifth Avenue

Before or after your meal at L’Avenue at Saks, it’s time to shop. The selection is incredible, there’s plenty to choose from, including Louis Vuitton, Loro Piana, Hugo Boss, etc.

611 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY
10022

Nordstrom Men’s NYC Store

As their Canadian stores are closing, it’s a good time to visit their New York branch. The shop isn’t very big, but it’s vibrant and there’s a Milk bar, with a reduced product offering, inside as well as a cocktail bar.

235 W 57th St,
New York, NY
10019

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton’s are all over this city! Whether it’s counters in department stores or their flagship shops. The one on 5th Avenue is impressive. It’s worth a visit for its decor as much as for its unique pieces.

1 East 57 St
New York, NY
10022

Visit the website

Macy’s

The size of this store is unbelievable, in fact, it is the biggest shop in the world. Watches, clothes. Plus, it’s the perfect place to start your visit to New York with the Official New York Visitor Information Center.

151 W. 34th St.
New York, NY
10011

Bergdorf Goodman

Don’t get mixed up between the men’s and women’s shop, you can look for a long time for suits (it happened to me). There’s plenty of choice and luxury brands.

The Goodman’s Bar, a wonderful place to discover. It is located on the second floor of the men’s shop. Here you can enjoy craft cocktails and wines selected by master sommelier Dustin Wilson with cuisine by chef Austin Johnson.

745 5th Ave
New York, NY
10022

Apple

Need a computer, phone repair or other Apple device? There are a ton of Apple shops, almost as many as Starbucks. The most impressive is probably the one on 5th Avenue with its huge glass cube. It’s impossible to miss. This store is open 24 hours a day!

767 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10153
(212) 336-1440

RH New York

You may know RH by its former name of Restoration Hardware. It’s a furniture shop in a palace. We have Must and Roche-Bobois here, but it’s two or three notches above here. It’s huge, it breathes. And there’s even a restaurant with a roof terrace. It’s really impressive! And it’s a stone’s throw from the Genesis House I mentioned earlier. When your next Thursday outing in Montréal for your happy hour is in a furniture shop, we’ll talk about it.

9 9th Ave
New York, NY
10014

Visit the website

Orlebar Brown

The quintessential swim shorts! With two shops in New York, you can’t miss out on the British brand’s products. The choice, the colours, the styles, it’s all there! Perfect for your next trip to Bermuda or Jamaica, the island of James Bond, for which the company has released a special collection. Learn more about the brand here.

987, Madison Avenue
New York, NY
10075

Crockett & Jones

Let’s stay in James Bond for a few moments, because this is where you will find his shoes. English quality is hard to beat in this respect and you will be served. Different styles are offered depending on the season, but the classics are always present. We’re talking about an investment here.

11 East 55th Street
New York, NY
10022

156 Spring Street Soho
New York, NY
10012

Taking a break

I could have told you about hotels here, but you have several choices on our site and the one I visited was well located but not very luxurious.

Centurion New York

Brand new, I haven’t visited yet, but it seems to be the next must-see New York stop par excellence. This American Express Centurion cardholder-only lounge seems to be the epitome of a luxury gentlemen’s venue. With a bespoke kitchen by Chef Daniel Boulud, the experience will no doubt live up to what the setting offers knowing the French chef’s cuisine.

Learn more with this Wallpaper article.

Don’t give up hope, you can book without being an American Express member with Resy, but it is extremely limited.

One Vanderbilt Building
Floor 55
New York, NY
10017

In short, 48 hours in New York is very short. Especially in winter when the weather is rainy and prevents you from discovering the city. A tip for the rain is to pass trough the secret street of New York, the 6 ½ Avenue.

Liens utiles

• NYC, The Official Guide 
• Aéroport LGA – LaGuardia
• OMNY 
• The Official NYC Information Center at Macy’s Herald Square  
• Air Canada