image creditThe Ultimate The Ultimate New York City Food Guide Food Guide
Your curated guide to the city's best
Preview the guideAll the tips and info you need before your trip
Overview
NYC is dense, fast, and walkable in a way few cities match.
Manhattan is the iconic core, but Brooklyn, Queens, and other boroughs are essential. The subway runs 24/7 and goes almost everywhere.
Walking is often faster than driving. Expect to spend more than you planned and walk more than you thought possible.
Best Areas to Stay
FIRST TIME: Midtown—central, near sights, easy subway. SoHo/NoHo—stylish, walkable, shopping.
CLASSIC + CONVENIENT: West Village/Greenwich Village—charming, great food, neighborhood feel. Lower East Side—trendy, nightlife, restaurants.
BROOKLYN: Williamsburg (hip, young), DUMBO (views, upscale), Park Slope (quieter, brownstones).
BUDGET: Long Island City (Queens)—cheap hotels, easy subway to Manhattan.
Money & Tipping
TIPPING IS MANDATORY: 18-25% at restaurants (not optional—servers depend on it). $1-2/drink at bars. 15-20% for cabs/Uber. Hotel housekeeping: $3-5/night. Cards accepted everywhere. Cash useful for food carts and some bodegas.
NYC is dense, fast, and walkable in a way few cities match.
Manhattan is the iconic core, but Brooklyn, Queens, and other boroughs are essential. The subway runs 24/7 and goes almost everywhere.
Walking is often faster than driving. Expect to spend more than you planned and walk more than you thought possible.
FIRST TIME: Midtown—central, near sights, easy subway. SoHo/NoHo—stylish, walkable, shopping.
CLASSIC + CONVENIENT: West Village/Greenwich Village—charming, great food, neighborhood feel. Lower East Side—trendy, nightlife, restaurants.
BROOKLYN: Williamsburg (hip, young), DUMBO (views, upscale), Park Slope (quieter, brownstones).
BUDGET: Long Island City (Queens)—cheap hotels, easy subway to Manhattan.
TIPPING IS MANDATORY: 18-25% at restaurants (not optional—servers depend on it). $1-2/drink at bars. 15-20% for cabs/Uber. Hotel housekeeping: $3-5/night. Cards accepted everywhere. Cash useful for food carts and some bodegas.