We went to New York in late October 2024. I had been to the city a couple of times before, but that was at least 15 years ago. My wife had never been there.
You guessed it right, her itinerary was as long as the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Every day was planned to ensure we did not miss a thing. Of course, we missed some, that is part of the charm of New York. It pulls you back again and again, taking your hard-earned dollars and spitting you out.
Like a Swiftie fan, you want more and more. So yes, we are coming back to NYC.
Let us face it, NYC is not a cheap city. I think I read that it is the third most expensive for tourists. The Wall Street Journal even wrote an article titled “It Has Never Been More Expensive to Visit New York City.”
Our trip was about seeing as much as possible and, of course, as foodies, eating at famous restaurants, Daniel, Per Se and Eleven Madison Park, while also trying some new openings, like Acru.
Some places are simply not to be missed if you are a foodie, like Zabar’s on the Upper West Side. Where else can you buy a bagel guillotine? I did not even know they existed. But now I was travelling with a New York pro who had never set foot here before, she knew. I am not sure if I should be impressed or slightly afraid….
66 Perry Street
Then there is Sex and the City street, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment at 66 Perry Street in the West Village.
Watch out for the owners, let us just say they are not fans of tourists standing outside, taking picture after picture.
Try to get past the little chain at the bottom of the stairs or even come a little too close and see what happens. We dare you! (Spoiler alert: a little man pops up from the basement and will teach you some new vocabulary.)
And, of course, the Magnolia Bakery on Bleecker Street, where you just have to try the Instagram-famous banana pudding. In my view, it looked a little shabby inside, and the pudding was a little overrated.
Then you must buy the black-and-white cookie, the iconic New York treat. They are everywhere, but if you are a hardcore fan, try one at William Greenberg Desserts, or Liebman’s Delicatessen.
Sometimes you pass by a long lunch queue outside a place, and you just know this is what is trending now.
Be prepared to queue, especially in high season. We got stuck at Katz’s, thinking we were safe because it was after lunchtime. Oh boy, were we wrong.
One example is Lucia in Soho, where we had one of the best slices ever—the crust was just amazing! When a pizza place in NYC reaches hype status, you know it is serious. In June 2022, Bloomberg even wrote that if you wanted a delivery from Lucia, you had to order it 48 hours in advance.
Back home, we call our local pizzeria, which makes really good pizza. OK, it is not Lucia, but ten minutes later, it is ready for pickup.
Restaurants in NYC are so different from elsewhere in the world. The pressure on them is enormous. They have to deliver, otherwise, they are gone faster than you can spell “restaurant.”
And you feel the pressure as a customer too. Due to high costs, they need to turn tables. The service is, most of the time, chop-chop, strict, and formal, and they do not have time for you, they are already getting ready for the next guest.
That is the core, it is so money-driven that the soul often is missing. Sure, sometimes it slows down, and they can take time to deliver excellent service. Remember, it is not you, it is just how the city has shaped its restaurants over the years.
So there you sit at the end of a dinner, sometimes with mediocre dishes and service (read: Frenchette), leaving you wishing for more. Then comes the bill—8.875% tax added, maybe even a 3% surcharge for employee health care, and on top of that, they expect at least a 20% tip. I told you NYC is expensive.
You are in for a ride, it is so different. First of all, it is expensive. We are talking cry-or-laugh prices. Then you have the wine list, it is as if they are competing to have the most pages and the highest markups. If you are a wine lover with the same wallet as Musk, then you are in heaven.
But when you struggle to find a bottle under 100 USD, something is wrong. Do not believe me? Check out, for example Le Coucou’s wine list.
The service tempo, I do not mean that the dishes come out fast, I mean there is a lot of running around in the dining room. Both Daniel and EMP had an insane tempo. The plates look nice, and they use top-dollar ingredients. But it all feels a bit soulless, lacking any genuine warmth or character.
So forget seeing the chef welcoming you at the door or coming over for a chat during the service.
At some Michelin restaurants, you might wish you had earplugs—just to handle the buzz.
Restaurants on MacDougal Street, Greenwich Village
Our advice is to find a regular restaurant that is not so famous but has a good reputation. They are hard to find. No, you will not find them on Tripadvisor. Try local foodie forums.
Honestly, Michelin-starred restaurants in Sweden and Denmark have a much higher standard compared to what we have seen in San Francisco, Napa, and NYC.
For example, back home, our local go-to restaurant has a Bib Gourmand and continues to amaze us with new, fantastic dishes on an ever-changing menu. Some of them stay a long time, becoming classics, but most change.
Last time, it was the grilled monkfish cheek with miso hollandaise and caviar. Flavour-wise, it was running in circles around most restaurants in NYC.
Be prepared. It takes time to move around the city. Planning is crucial, sights, restaurants, everything. And if you do not have a good pair of shoes, you are done. You will hit your 10,000 steps easily every day. The fastest way to get around is, of course, the subway, but if you are like us, you will avoid it, as it feels inhabited by angry zombies.
We did not try the hop-on, hop-off buses, so we cannot say if it is a good idea. We relied on taxis and Ubers, mostly Ubers, simply because there are more of them. Fixed prices are nice, especially when you hit a standstill in traffic. (Yes, you will.)
Uber cars are often in better condition than taxis, and you have more options to choose from. One day we ordered one and started getting irritated like toddlers when it took four minutes to arrive. They are never more than two to three minutes away. Same here, taxis and Uber rides are not cheap.
The souvenir shop at the end of the Memorial—why? Just this once, they could skip it. We understand having to walk through a gift shop to exit the Empire State Building, but here, of all places?
At the Empire State Building, they packed us into the elevator like sardines in a Japanese subway, with tourists from all over the world. It felt like the perfect setting for a new COVID infection. A good tip? Bring a face mask!
New York legalized cannabis after Covid, with the law passing in March 2021. We don’t mind as long as we’re not walking through clouds of smoke. It happened a couple of times, but it was not nearly as bad as in San Francisco—hopefully, it stays that way.
New York is an electrifying mess of luxury, chaos, charm and some weed. The food? Often overpriced. The service? Rushed. But the magic? Still there. Would we return? Without a doubt.
Sometimes, your guard is down, and you think, it will never happen to me. I am street smart. Think again. If native New Yorker Alec Baldwin got scammed so could you. The city is full of distractions, and scammers know exactly how to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists.
If you know what to look out for, you can avoid the worst of them. Here are the most common tourist scams in NYC and how to steer clear of them.
The Costumed Characters Cash Grab
Times Square is full of people dressed as Spider-Man, Elmo, and other characters, happy to pose for photos. The catch? Once you take the photo, they aggressively demand an excessive tip, sometimes refusing to let you leave until you pay.
How to avoid it: If you take a picture, expect to tip. If you do not want to pay, admire them from a distance.
The Fake Monk Scam
Men dressed as Buddhist monks approach tourists, offering a bracelet or token as a “gift.” The moment you accept, they demand a “donation,” often aggressively.
How to avoid it: Politely decline any gifts and keep walking.
The MetroCard Hustle
At busy subway stations, scammers offer “discounted” MetroCards or claim they can swipe you in for a small fee. Many of these cards are empty, stolen, or set to be deactivated.
How to avoid it: Always buy MetroCards from official ticket machines or booths.
The Fake Tour Guide Trap
Near popular attractions like the Statue of Liberty ferry terminal and the Empire State Building, unauthorised “tour guides” claim to offer special deals or VIP access. Once they take your money, they vanish, or they lead you to an overpriced, unofficial tour.
How to avoid it: Only buy tickets from official vendors and websites.
The Taxi Meter Scam
Most NYC taxis are reliable, but some drivers overcharge by taking longer routes or claiming the meter is broken, forcing you to pay an inflated flat rate.
How to avoid it: Always insist on using the meter. If the driver refuses, get out and find another cab or use Uber or Lyft.
The Pedicab Price Gouge
Pedicabs around Times Square and Central Park can be a fun ride—until you realise you are being charged hundreds of dollars for a short trip. Many drivers advertise low prices per minute per person, hiding the full cost until it is too late.
How to avoid it: Always agree on the full price before starting the ride. If the driver is vague, walk away.
The Broadway Bargain Bust
Scalpers outside Broadway theatres claim to have last-minute discounted tickets. In reality, many of these tickets are fake, void, or severely overpriced.
How to avoid it: Buy Broadway tickets from reputable sources like TKTS, Telecharge, or directly from the theatre box office.
The Classic ATM Skimming Scam
Tourists using ATMs in high-traffic areas like Times Square and Penn Station risk getting their card details stolen by hidden skimmers or tiny cameras.
How to avoid it: Use ATMs inside banks whenever possible and always cover your PIN when typing it in.
New York is an amazing city, but tourist scams are common. Trust your instincts, stay alert, and enjoy the best of NYC—without falling victim to scams.
Want to be fully prepared? Watch this YouTube video on NYC’s most common scams and some new ones and how to avoid them.
New York, you never disappoint—until we meet again.
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