Secret guide: Manhattan

The epicentre of New York City is a magnificent collection of bucket-list topping icons.

Immortalised on screen and in music the world over, Manhattan is uniquely familiar, yet offers constant surprises with each visit. It seamlessly mixes stalwart classics with burgeoning new scenes, constantly pushing boundaries and laying the standard for style and glamour across the world. Alight at coveted restaurants, world-leading museums, glamorous bars and a sprawling troupe of unmissable sights.

The Met, MoMA & Guggenheim

Art lovers alight – New York offers an enviable curation of the world’s finest artworks. Three veritable temples of art act as a stepping stone into the New York art scene. From Rembrandt to Warhol, these enviable collections make the galleries here art-world icons. From here you can springboard into the galleries of Chelsea and the studios of Brooklyn, completing one of the most celebrated art trails in the world.

Iconic Architecture

Looming heavy over the bustling streets below, New York’s towering skyscrapers are a grand statement to the success of this cultural and industrial powerhouse. The Art-Deco marvels of the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building, and the Beaux-Arts grace of the Flatiron and Grand Central, directly oppose the stark Modernist lines of the Seagram Building, MoMA and the avant-garde Guggenheim. The wild variety of design makes for enlightened tours for any design buffs.

High Line

New York is a city that is constantly reinventing itself and High Line is a perfect example of this. A disused, suspended railway line that snakes through the old slaughterhouses of the Meatpacking District is now an elevated park with truly spectacular views over the city. You’ll see New York like you’ve never seen it before, looking down at the pedestrian traffic and catching long views down the endlessly-straight streets. As the sun sets, the lights dance below and overhead, offering a stupendously romantic scene.

Staten Island Ferry

Forget paying a fortune for a touristy tour of the waterways. Head for the iconic orange ferry at Battery Park for fantastic views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty and more. It’s free. Completely free, not a dollar or cent is needed – so what are you waiting for? Hop on, take a peek at Staten Island, and head back safe in the knowledge you’ve beaten the system!

Rooftop Cocktails

Manhattan is famous for its bar culture. From classic Prohibition speakeasies to hip craft beer joints, any drink in town is steeped in a constantly-evolving legacy. For a truly unique slice of this famed bar culture, head to Manhattan’s myriad rooftop bars for simply stunning views as you sip iconic cocktails. Lose yourself in the glamour of Jimmy at the James, the park views from The Met’s Martini Bar, and the budget-friendly Bar 13.

East Village Eating

There’s plenty of great ‘hoods to chow down in, but East Village offers a true Big Apple feast. It’s here that you’ll find the kaleidoscope of flavours that go to symbolise what makes the city so unique. From stalwarts like Katz’s Deli and Veselka, to hip new joints like Momofuku Ko and Oiji, you can span the globe in a few blocks worth of culinary travels. Cheap eats abound, so head east and indulge your cravings.

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