Looking for a leisurely, easy itinerary for a couples getaway weekend in New York City? Well, you have come to the right place! Derek and I went to NYC for Christmas last year and he decided he wanted to check it out in Summer as well – and who am I to turn away from a weekend trip?! [Hint: I won’t.] Keep reading to see where we stayed, ate and played. This was the best trip!
Side note: You can shop all of my outfits here.
Where We Stayed
Last summer, I got a gig with Park Central NYC for a discounted stay to share my experience. You can see that review on this post. This summer, I reached out to Westhouse NYC. It was in the same Midtown location, but it was more lux and boutique. We LOVED this spot. The interior of the hotel lobby and room was top-notch, the bed was comfy and the rooms were a pretty good size – which is hard to find in Manhattan! If you book with them, tell them I sent you. 😛
Friday
We landed in NYC around noon, so we still had plenty of daylight left to enjoy the city. Going in June it was not as hot, so I recommend that over mid-July. [You can see that trip here.]
When we landed we dropped our bags off at Westhouse and immediately went across the street to this cutie Mexican restaurant. The margaritas and salsa are a 10/10.
After a snack and a drink [or two] we walked down to Times Square – Derk had never seen it during the day! While the Square is not a place that I just love going to [huge crowds, faint smell of pee], it is truly magical to see it in real life for the first time. The shopping is what you can get in any metropolitan area but if you want to people-watch, but is the place – ha!
Friday Night
Friday Night was one for the books. We went French Style.
Dinner: La Grenouille | 6/10
I give this restaurant a 6/10. First of all, it is BOUJEE. Like VERY BOUJEE. It was so quiet inside that we felt like we could not talk. The food was good, but it was not worth the price. The creme brulee, however, was delicious! Definitely the best thing on the menu, in my opinion! As the room started filling up, I noticed other people felt a little off by the ambiance. While it is [just] good, the bread servers, captains, etc., stand there, and it’s awkward. I recommend this place for wine and dessert rather than an entire meal. Also, expect it to take two whole hours.
After dinner, we went to a show, because when in NYC, right?! We saw Moulin Rouge. 100/10, so good. I want to go again! Moulin Rouge is a story about the Moulin Rouge in Paris. One great thing they do is mash up popular, new-age songs and incorporate them into the story. It is excellent!
If you are unaware, most (if not all) broadway shows are near Times Square. So you can experience it as night after the show! (Beware of Pedicab drivers – they are $8/minute lol)
Saturday
Rooftop brunch? Yes, please! One of my favorite brunch locations is 230 Fifth! I recommend making a reservation, and it is so fun. They have bottomless brunch, and the french toast is my favorite thing on the menu! After brunch, we went back to the hotel to take a quick nap [because of mimosas]. Once we freshened up, we went and did what anyone would do… NORDSTROM! After we did a little bit of shopping we hopped over to the bar that How I Met Your Mother was based on. Now, this was a complete accident, BUT it was very cool!
Saturday night was by far our favorite! After drinks, we returned back to the hotel to freshen up for our jazz night. And I will recommend this place to anyone who will listen!
Dinner: The Flatiron Room | 10/10
The Flatiron Room is located in the Flatiron District and if you enjoy jazz and old bourbon, this is the place. While it is pricy, you get dinner entertainment! So we thought of it more like a ticket to a show that had a nice dinner. The food was 10/10, the ambiance was 10/10, the handcrafted cocktails were a 10/10. Derek even enjoyed a 30-year bourbon which he said was a 10/10. As you can see in the photo below, it is COOL.
What did we do after dinner? Speakeasy! We went over the river to the first speakeasy in New York City that is still in operation. Your cocktails are in teacups, and there is no sign! Just watch for the people walking down a random staircase in between restaurants with a bouncer outside, and you are there. This place is called The Back Room. It definitely has a younger vibe, but it is still very cool!
Sunday
Sunday was our day to fly out in the afternoon and enjoy the day! We started the day by going to the Met – you could spend all day here if you are into art. We were there for three hours and were going quickly and still had so much that we did not see. I recommend getting your tickets ahead of time; those lines get long!
After the Met, we went and walked through Central Park while enjoying each other, overpriced ice cream and a woman singing opera near the Bethesda Fountain.
*que Gossip Girl internal screams bc this is where Chuck and Blair get married*
Quick weekend trips are the best way for us to reconnect with each other and experience new things. We are young and kid-free, so there is no better time to travel as often as possible.
If you take any of my recommendations, please let me know! I would love to hear your thoughts as well!
