A Three-Day Fall Weekend in NYC

I’ll begin this post by saying this was not your typical New York City trip.

There was no Statue of Liberty involved, no shuffling through Times Square, no trip to the top of the Empire State Building, and only one museum. It was my umpteenth time visiting NYC over the past few years, so Michael and I spent our time exploring some of the neighborhoods we’ve never been to before and revisiting a few favorites.

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This post will be a little different than past trip recaps; instead of sharing an itinerary day-by-day, I’ll share a short and sweet blurb about the places we visited in these categories: Food + Drink, Shopping, and Sights + Attractions.

Ready? Let’s go!

NYC FOOD + DRINK

Coffee/Breakfast/Brunch

Murray’s Bagels

As a tradition, we begin every trip to the city with a shared bagel and lox. Often we visit Ess-a-Bagel, but this time we stopped at Murray’s Bagels as it was closer to where we planned to be. The bagels are everything you expect and more: crispy, chewy, and served up in a hurry.

→Murray's Bagels // 500 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

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Caffe Marchio

Earlier this year we visited Italy, where we experienced first-hand the practice of enjoying a morning espresso and pastry at a stand-up bar. We were glad to get another taste of Italy without leaving the country at the delightful Caffe Marchio (now closed).

→Caffe Marchio // now closed

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Perk Kafe

We needed a simple cup of joe to start our last day in the city, and a quick search on Google Maps sent us to nearby Perk Kafe. We joined the ranks of other locals beginning their day with Stumptown beans. We had no need for a bite, but any item from their pastry case would have made a great accompaniment to our freshly brewed coffee.

→Perk Kafe // 1867 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10029

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Jack’s Wife Freda

A lot of the food and restaurant trends are over-hyped and underwhelming (looking at you, Magnolia Bakery), but sometimes they are as good as you hope. You’ll see the line at Jack’s Wife Freda before you see the building. We were informed the wait would be about an hour and a half, so we put our name on the list and continued shopping.

We only had to wait another 15 minutes when we returned, and our name was called. Had we waited the whole time outside of the restaurant, I don’t think it would have been worth it, but my avocado toast was well worth the short wait onsite.

→Jack's Wife Freda // 226 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

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Buvette

We actually considered a meal at the Buvette in Paris last year, but figured we’d just wait to visit the one in NY sometime. We finally made the point of going this time around, and it was worth it. Buvette is another brunch place with a long wait, but again we were able to put our name on a list and shop around the area. A quick look at the chalkboard door frame will tell you how many more names are ahead of you. By the time we got in, it was closer to lunchtime, so we enjoyed a bottle of red from their excellent wine list.

→Buvette // 42 Grove Ct, New York, NY 10014

Lunch/Dinner

Agern

I’m less enthralled with “fancy” meals than I once was, so we tend to only make reservations at one or two more upscale places when we travel now, and nearly always at lunch if there is a significant price difference. Lunch at Agern (now closed) was a perfect balance of understated elegance. The price for a two-course meal was reasonable for a Michelin-starred restaurant, and as the staff are paid a fair wage, tipping is not accepted.

Agern’s founder, Claus Meyer, is also the co-founder of Noma. We can definitely see similarities between the two (although we had about eighteen fewer courses at Agern!) in their interpretation of New Nordic cuisine. As you leave the restaurant, they provide you with a small loaf of their excellent bread to take home.

→Agern // now closed

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Great Northern Food Hall

We’ve visited the Great Northern Food Hall three times since it opened, and we’ll probably always make it a stop when we’re in the city (edit: I guess not, since they’ve closed!). It’s a great place to grab a cup of coffee and a pastry or snag an open-faced sandwich similar to the ones we’ve enjoyed in Denmark.

→Great Northern Food Hall // now closed

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Superiority Burger

I was nervous I would have a tough time convincing the guys to eat at a vegetarian burger joint for dinner, but they were impressively agreeable. Our meal at Superiority Burger was the least expensive full meal of our trip, and honestly was one of my favorites. The guys ordered just the burger but I also added the broccoli salad.

Honestly, I think I could eat the salad every day; it may have been my favorite part of the meal. One thing to note is that the restaurant is better equipped for takeout than dining in. There are a few places to sit and eat, but it lends itself more toward a quick bite than a place to linger.

→Superiority Burger // 119 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

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Roberta’s

After I returned, my coworkers were surprised to hear that the best pizza I’ve ever had was in Brooklyn – not Italy – but it’s true. I had a tough time coercing the guys into traveling further into Brooklyn by bus at 10:00 p.m. for pizza at Roberta’s, but thankfully I managed. We were told the wait would be about an hour and a half, so we hopped over to a nearby bar for a drink while we waited.

Less than thirty minutes later we got the text saying our table was ready, so we finished our beers and walked back over. The wood-fired oven is mesmerizing and leads to that incredible char on the dough. I look forward to recreating their dough recipe in my home kitchen (under the broiler!), or just splurging on having their pies shipped right to me.

→Roberta's // 261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Desserts + Treats

il laboratorio del gelato

It’s no secret that I have an insatiable sweet tooth. If we’re being honest, part of the reason I eat dinner is so I can have dessert afterward. We weren’t too far from il laboratorio del gelato, so we walked on in for a (double) scoop. It was about twice as expensive as the gelato we had in Italy, and while it was good, I still don’t think the flavors were as concentrated as I would have liked. I would never turn it down, though, and finished the whole thing to prove it.

→il laboratorio del gelato // 188 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

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Levain Bakery

This cookie. We traveled way out of our way for this cookie. We didn’t consider that those who had finished the marathon would also be traveling out of their way for this cookie, and basically got stuck on the Upper West Side trying to get back to our Airbnb in Spanish Harlem.

It was worth it though. I’ve made a few copycat recipes before, and they are pretty close to the real thing, though I prefer to leave out the nuts and add some flaky sea salt. If you are ever in the city, make a point to stop at Levain Bakery for their chocolate chip cookie.

→Levain Bakery // 167 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023

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Milk Bar

~~Crack Pie~~ Milk Bar Pie is so well known that there’s no longer any weirdness about it sharing a name with a hardcore drug. They are definitely a little overpriced at $6 per small slice, but it’s probably a good thing since it can’t be at all healthy for you either. As a side note: I made two of these pies for Thanksgiving one year, and my family just didn’t get it. I will be making the recipe again for Friendsgiving this year, where I think everyone will get it.

→Milk Bar // 251 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

Drinks

TØRST

We didn’t do too much bar-hopping this trip, but we did return to TØRST, a Scandi-style bar with tons of great beer on tap.

→TØRST // 615 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

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Pine Box Rock Shop

While waiting for Roberta’s we headed into Pine Box Rock Shop for some solid sips. Oh, and the name? Well, that’s a reference to the bar’s past life: it used to be a casket factory. Yep.

→Pine Box Rock Shop // 12 Grattan St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

SHOPPING IN NYC

Greenwich Village + West Village

A.P.C.

We popped into A.P.C. and nearby A.P.C. Surplus to admire the wares; nothing for us this time.

→A.P.C. // 267 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

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Le Labo

Le Labo was on my list as I’m currently looking for a new fragrance and I admire their scent-creating process. I left empty-handed but full of smells, and their customer service was exceptional.

→Le Labo // 296 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014

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Saint James

I’m also in the market for a Breton top, and why not go with the original? I tried on one of the styles at Saint James, but they were out of my color in my size. I may order online, or I may consider another brand (update – I later purchased this style, if you’re curious!).

→Saint James // now online

Midtown

& Other Stories + COS

I first shopped at & Other Stories and COS on our visit to Scandinavia a few years ago. I wish their clothing production practices were a little better, and honestly, sometimes the quality could be better too. I love the 5th Ave locations as they are right next to each other, but I didn’t pick up anything this trip at either store.

→& Other Stories // 505 5th Ave, New York, NY 10017
→COS // 505 5th Ave, New York, NY 10017

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Nintendo NY

We often head to the Nintendo NY store to shop for gifts for my siblings (and Michael shops for gifts for himself!). The store sometimes carries exclusive items and also has a mini museum-type display.

→Nintendo NY // 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020

SOHO

Glossier

The Millennial Mothership. The Glossier showroom is located upstairs and is accessible by elevator. The room is drenched in natural light and millennial pink and filled with a few testers of each product. While I was there I tested out Super Pure and their new fragrance Glossier You. Downstairs, preparations were still being made for a showroom entirely dedicated to the new scent.

→Glossier // 72 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

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A sign that reads "You're a F****** Lady" — (edits mine)

Reformation

Reformation typically uses deadstock – remaining fabric from other makers that may be tossed – to produce their clothing. While the website has items I would consider purchasing, I just wasn’t feeling a lot of the incredibly revealing items featured in the store.

→Reformation // 62 Greene St, New York, NY 10012

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Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony is always a fun stop to look at clothing that we would never, ever be able to pull off but simply admire.

→Opening Ceremony // now closed

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Blue in Green

The guys tried on some Japanese denim in Blue in Green, and I resisted ordering a coffee from their fantastic-looking coffee bar within the shop. They were also having a great sale in-store, which they mentioned continues online.

→Blue in Green // 8 Greene St, New York, NY 10013

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Muji

A fun place to souvenir-shop is Muji as it is filled with all of the things you never knew you needed. The prices for clothing are very reasonable, and the quality is not bad, but the fit is just not right for my body type.

→Muji // 455 Broadway, New York, NY 10013

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Everlane

This was my first visit to Everlane’s showroom in this location (I’ve visited Shoe Park, Cashmere Cabin, and their previous office/showroom before). There was actually a line to get in as they were having a special event to launch their puffers, and they had a one-in/one-out policy. They kindly provided matcha while I waited, which was so appreciated in the cold. I purchased a cashmere crop mockneck sweater and received it in the mail a few days later.

→Everlane // moved to 28 Prince St, New York, NY 10012

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Kith

While I was at Everlane, the guys headed to Kith. I’ve been to the one in Miami and I’m not really a sneakerhead, so I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on much. The guys, on the other hand, had a blast.

→Kith // 337 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

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Uniqlo

Like a moth drawn to the light, we somehow always end up at Uniqlo, and this trip was no different. I walked out empty-handed, but the guys walked out with empty wallets.

→Uniqlo // 546 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

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Sample Sales

I always check to see what sample sales will be going on when we visit any major city, and a Rachel Comey sample sale was scheduled during our visit. I went on the second day of the sale, so I knew I had no real chance at getting a pair of Mars boots, but I expected things to be a little more organized considering how high the prices still were! Head here for a calendar of upcoming sample sales.

→Various Brands + Locations

Brooklyn

Beacon’s Closet

Big cities lead to the best thrift finds, and this visit was no different. I ended up with a brand new pair of Levi’s 606 jeans for $40 (reg. $198) and Michael bought a brand new Thom Browne shirt for $45 (reg. $400). There were more good finds to be had in Beacon’s Closet, but it was nearly closing time.

→Beacon's Closet // 74 Guernsey St, Brooklyn, NY 11222

NYC SIGHTS + ATTRACTIONS

Winter Village at Bryant Park

Last year we visited the city in December and enjoyed exploring the holiday markets. The Bryant Park market was already open by the first weekend in November, and it looked like many of the vendors we’d seen previously had returned. The ice skating rink was open, despite 72° weather and a layer of water on top of the ice.

→Winter Village at Bryant Park // New York, NY 10018

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NYC Marathon

Being in the city for the marathon was exciting, despite the delays we encountered as a result. It’s really inspiring to see people making and achieving a goal!

→NYC Marathon // Various Locations

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Central Park

I’m disappointed that we didn’t spend more time in Central Park during this visit. The weather was crisp and the leaves were beautiful. It actually felt like autumn, which is a season we don’t really experience at home.

→Central Park

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The High Line

We’ve walked the High Line a few times, and each time it’s different. The plants and art change from time to time, so it’s never the same experience twice. It’s a nice escape from the chaos of the city down below.

→The High Line // New York, NY 10011

FINAL THOUGHTS ON VISITING NYC IN THE FALL

New York City in the fall is something that should be on everyone’s list – just know that beautiful weather often comes with a higher price. But, you just might reap a little savings on transit, as the city is so beautiful to walk around. This is a city I return to over and over, and I’ll never get tired of it.

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Questions for you

What are your must-sees and must-eats when visiting NYC?

When is your favorite time to visit NYC?

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