ONE DAY ITINERARY FOR MANHATTAN

We often get people staying with us at the Salisbury Hotel that are just passing through NYC on their way to another destination and have just one day to see the city. It may feel that there's so much to do that seeing it all in one day is impossible. However, with the right plan, a one-day visit can be a really great introduction to NYC. Here's our suggestion for a one day itinerary:

 Morning

Central Park

First, head two blocks up to Central Park. This massive common space is a green oasis in the middle of the big city and perhaps the world's most famous public park. Take a bike tour with a guide or rent your own bike. Central Park hosts meadows, bodies of water, more than 26,000 trees, 58 miles of walking paths, 36 bridges and arches. It's a sight every NYC visitor should see.

Museum Mile

East of Central Park is Museum Mile, but if you only have one day, you won't be able to browse through all 10 museums on this stretch. Pick one that interests you the most. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at East 82nd Street, you can view limited-time exhibitions as well as objects in the museum's permanent collection, which consists of more than 2 million works of art that span the breadth of human history. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum features scores of modern and contemporary masterpieces. See the full list of museums along the Museum Mile by clicking here.

Afternoon

Rockefeller Center

From the Salisbury Hotel walk down to 50th St. and Rockefeller Center that houses NBC Studios and Top of the Rock Observation Deck. The deck provides one of the best views of New York City's legendary skyline and cityscape,as well as the Statue of Liberty.  After you've made your way back down, head three blocks north to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to visit one of the world's finest collections of contemporary art, ranging from painting and sculpture to film and live performance.

Downtown

Catch the nearest downtown train and find the stop closest to City Hall where you can view the beautiful architecture of the structure, one of the nation's oldest still-functioning civic buildings. From the City Hall grounds, walk towards east to the Brooklyn Bridge. From there, walk through the historic South Street Seaport area to Battery Park and catch a roundtrip on the Staten Island Ferry. Enjoy the breeze and rest your legs while passing the Statue of Liberty and taking pictures of the beautiful NYC skyline. Since you're already downtown, from here you can also hop in a cab or subway heading north and go see the 9/11 Memorial.

Evening

Greenwich Village

The last item on your one-day NYC agenda is an evening in the West Village. Stroll through the Washington Square Park and stop to listen for impromptu music performances or even a magic show. There is also variety of bars, restaurants and jazz clubs with nightly offerings of live music. Try the Village Vanguard, Smalls Jazz Club, Cafe Wha? or Blue Note. West Village is also home to numerous restaurants serving delectable food, helping you to recharge after a busy day.

4 THINGS TO DO IN CENTRAL PARK

One of the best features of the Salisbury Hotel is its' proximity to the world's most filmed location: Central Park. These 843 acres of playground are basically our backyard! The park has everything you can imagine: restaurants, ice-skating rink, amusement park, green meadows, beautiful ponds, boat rentals, lush gardens, 36 bridges and arches, performance centers, more than 26 000 trees, playgrounds, zoo, pool, 58 miles of walking paths, educational facilities, places for picnics, concerts, baseball, lawn bowling and classical architecture. Best way to see the park is to rent a bike and explore it at your own pace. There's so much to see so we narrowed it down to few of our favorites. 

Belvedere Castle

 Belvedere Castle's observation deck offers breathtaking views of the park and the New York City skyline. Since 1919 the castle has also been the location of the official Central Park weather station. It can be found mid-park at 79th Street, surrounded by some of the park's most beautiful attractions, like Delacorte Theater, Great Lawn, Turtle Pond and the Ramble.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

 The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located on the east side of the park on 5th Ave between 80th and 84th streets. The museum's collection is so large that you could easily spend an entire day there. 

Bow Bridge

The Bow Bridge is the most photographed bridge in Central Park and has been captured in many big Hollywood movies. Find it mid-park at 74th St., just west of Bethesda Terrace.

Carousel

The original carousel opened in 1871 and was powered by a mule and horse who walked in a hidden compartment underground below the attraction. The animals were trained to start and stop with a foot tap from the ride’s operator above ground. It is located mid-park at 64th Street. 

BEST FOOD MARKETS IN NEW YORK

Combining communal dining space and artisan grocery shopping has caught fire in New York City in the past few years. Since the opening of Todd English's upscale food court at the Plaza Hotel this style of dining and shopping has become a fast growing trend. Here's 5 must-visit food halls in NYC.

HUDSON EATS

Hudson Eats opened in June 2014 and is an upscale dining terrace overlooking the Hudson River featuring 14 fast-casual eateries. Vendors include, but are not limited to Black Seed Bagels, Mighty Quinn's BBQ, Umami Burger, Little Muenster and their creative grilled cheese sandwiches, Dos Toros burritos, Num Pang Cambodian sandwiches, Tartinery open-faced tartines, Chop't salads, Dig Inn seasonal health food, Sprinkles cupcakes and Blue Ribbon Sushi. Great place to get something to eat when visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum or the Battery Park.

Monday-Friday 7am-9pm Saturday 10am-9pm Sunday 11am-7 pm
Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey St.

EATALY

Eataly is a massive Italian food hall with over 700 employees offering imported groceries and multiple eateries, each with its own focus. The marketplace, located near the Flatiron building in Manhattan, is a unique combination of sandwich stands, market-style stalls and full-fledged restaurants. Many products made on the premises are both for sale to the public and used to supply the restaurants on site. Grab a quick sandwich, buy some handmade pasta for dinner, or host a dinner party for friends in one of the eateries here. Eataly has it all.

Monday-Sunday 10am-11pm (Caffe Lavazza opens at 8am for coffee & pastries)

200 Fifth Avenue (at 23rd Street)

CHELSEA MARKET

Chelsea Market is an enclosed urban food court and shopping mall located in the Chelsea neighborhood. It has become in just fifteen years one of the greatest indoor food halls of the world, with more than thirty-five vendors purveying everything from soup to nuts, wine to coffee, cheese to cheesecake and also features multiple restaurants, bakeries and unique gift stores. Good option to come to when visiting Highline Park and the West Village area.

Monday - Saturday: 7am-9pm, Sunday: 8am-8pm  
75 9th Avenue (Between 15th and 16 Streets),

GOTHAM WEST MARKET

Gotham West Market features eight premier, artisanal food purveyors, serving fish tacos, pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs with Chinese mustard and tripe chili, and tapas. The Brooklyn Kitchen has a retail store and demo space where chefs and cookbook authors will teach classes and make public appearances; Blue Bottle is serving New Orleans–style iced coffee; and noodle master Ivan Orkin has opened his first restaurant outside of Japan, Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop. This would be a great place to get something to eat before or after your sightseeing cruise that leaves from 42nd St. and 12th Avenue, or when visiting the Intrepid (46th St. and 12th Avenue).

 Monday-Sunday 7am-11pm
600 11th Avenue (between 44th and 45th)

THE PLAZA FOOD HALL

The Plaza Food Hall is located at the concourse level of the Plaza Hotel, and it gets its' influence from European food halls not typically found in the United States. It offers a diverse range of specialty foods and prepared dishes for take away or to enjoy in one of eight seating areas, including: Wine Bar, Cheese & Charcuterie Station, Sushi Bar, Burger Bar & Rotisserie, Asian Noodle and Dumpling Bar, Pasta Bar, Brick Oven Pizza, and a Fish and Seafood Grill. 

Monday-Saturday 8:00am-9:30pm Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm
 Fifth Avenue at Central Park South

VEGGING OUT IN NYC

New York City truly is the world’s melting pot, and its diverse community has made sure that our city is among the Top 5 most vegetarian/vegan friendly places in the USA. It is a plant-based eaters paradise offering many options ranging from vegetarian friendly to raw vegan restaurants, bakeries, ice cream parlors and food trucks. We at the front desk have noticed the increased number of people asking for restaurant recommendations for vegetarians instead of the ever so popular steakhouses. Although almost every restaurant, even the steakhouses, offer good vegetarian options, you might want to pay a visit to some of the delicious vegan restaurants and be prepared to be blown away by the flavors. 

We have quite a few vegetarians on our staff, one of them being Katariina, a long-time vegetarian and a holistic Health Coaching student. She shared her top 3 favorite restaurants even a carnivore would love.

Candle Cafe West

2427 Broadway (between 89th-90th St.)

Serving fresh, local, organic farm to table fare and wide selection of organic wines, this restaurant is famous for its friendly and swift service and beautiful interiors. Whether you just wanted to have a glass of green juice or a 4-course gourmet dinner this place will satisfy your needs. Souvenir tip: buy Candle Cafe's colorful cooking books here.

Blossom

Multiple locations

Pairing specialty cocktails with gourmet dishes made from fresh, local, organic produce, Blossom epitomizes ethical eating. Order multiple dishes and share them with your table to get the best experience. Same goes with desserts. Blossom has three locations in Chelsea, West Village and Upper East Side with fourth location coming soon. 

Pure Food and Wine

54 Irving Place (between 17th-18th St.)

This upscale raw vegan restaurant is located on Irving Place, just one block from Union Square. Their menu is entirely plant based and does not include any processed ingredients. Nothing is heated above approximately 118 degrees in order to preserve vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. During the summer months request a table in their gorgeous garden. Make sure to leave room for their delicious desserts. Souvenir tip: just around the corner from Pure Food and Wine is their take-out location One Lucky Duck that sells healthy house-made snacks, cookies, chocolates, superfoods, t-shirts, tote bags and cooking books written by the restaurant owner Sarma Melngailis.

OUR PICKS FOR BEST CRUISES IN NYC

For first-time visitors, sightseeing cruises offer a terrific overview of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs as well a chance to learn a bit about New York's history, without all the traffic. No matter how many times you've visited NYC, these boat rides are a stress-free way to experience the beauty of the city's skyline and waterways. 

Circle Line Full Island Cruise 

If you've got the time, this approximately 2,5 hour cruise will take you all the way around Manhattan, offering participants views of all five boroughs and a chance to see three rivers, seven major bridges, over 25 world renowned landmarks and, of course, a magnificent close-up of the Statue of Liberty. During the tour, a guide supplements the views with interesting information about New York City. 

The Water Taxi's Hop On/Hop Off Service 

Water Taxi's Hop On/Hop Off Service runs every 45 minutes and offers visitors a tour of the New York Harbor, including great views of Governors Island, as well as the option to hop on and off at stops along the 1 hour route, including Pier 1 in Brooklyn Heights section of Brooklyn.

 Zephyr Yacht Harbor Cruise 

If you're tight on time this is the cruise for you. In just one hour, you can see much of downtown Manhattan. Circle Line's Zephyr Yacht Harbor Cruise combines the comfort of a yacht ride with the great views of New York City and the Statue of Liberty. 

Classic Harbor Lines Adirondack Schooner 

 If you're looking for more intimate, crowd-free experience, Classic Harbor Lines offers 2 hour cruises in their wooden gaff-rigged sailboats that accommodate 49 and 80 guests. You won't have to queue up in a long line to board or disembark and you can even relax and enjoy a beverage from the bar during the cruise. This is a bit pricier options than the others, but totally worth it. Choose from their Sunset Sail, City Lights, Full Moon or Day Sail options.

STARS IN THE CITY

Photo:nypost.com

New York's film industry is not quite as large as Hollywood’s, but its billions of dollars in revenue makes it an important part of the city's economy. This makes it the second largest center for the film industry in the US. Between the years 2010-2011 there were 18 TV series produced in NYC and in 2013-2014 the number jumped to 27. The amount of films shot in NYC was 188 in 2011 and in 2012 it got as high as 267. No wonder that so many of our guests report star sightings almost daily while they’re exploring the city. That is exactly what happened to one of our guest from Paris, France.

Mrs. Gombeau and her family had ordered a large pizza earlier in the day and offered the leftovers to a homeless man. She had no idea that it was Richard Gere. Gere was filming his next movie “Time Out of Mind” in which he plays  homeless dressed in grimy clothes eating a burger from a trashcan.

Mrs. Gombeau saw him near Grand Central and felt the urge to help by offering him food also apologizing that it had gotten cold. Gere gladly accepted her offering and replied, "Thank you so much. God bless you”.

Two days later, Mrs. Gombeau saw her picture on the TV with news of her offering Richard Gere pizza and came down to our front desk to tell us all about her exciting encounter. She had felt sad that people waste so much food and at the same time many have nothing.

Photo: nypost.com

In a city of 8.4 million people, more than 36,000 homeless men, women and children sleep in homeless shelters and at least 3,200 more sleep on the streets and subways in the dead of winter.  If you are in NYC this June 11^th and want to help the homeless, join the Carnival Night for Kids in Central Park’s Victorian Gardens to help raise funds to fight homelessness. This is a family event with arts, crafts, and amusement park rides, arcade games, magicians, BBQ and authors signing and giving away complimentary children’s books to participants. More info on this fun packed event here:  http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/events/entry/2014-carnival-night-for-kids/

MEET THE STAFF : PAUL FROM THE BRONX

Paul has worked at the Salisbury Hotel as a bellman for five years. He hails from the Bronx and besides providing his friendly service to the hotel customers he also has deep passion for real estate development and construction. He has worked on renovating real estate mainly in the Queens and the Bronx, familiar neighborhoods for him. 

Paul takes great pride on the quality of work done in his properties just as he takes pride in working at the Salisbury Hotel and providing guests with the most courteous service. He really enjoys meeting people from all over the world.

If you're planning on taking the trip to the Bronx during your visit in NYC, here are few of its most popular attractions:

THE BRONX ZOO

The Bronx Zoo is one of New York's most popular attractions, with more than 4,000 animals housed on its 265 acres. There's an extensive daily schedule of feedings and demonstrations, world class exhibits like the Jungle World, Tiger Mountain, the Sea Lion Pool and latest attraction Madagascar!. Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx.

THE YANKEE STADIUM

The Yankees are one of the most famous sports teams in the world. On a guided tour you'll be able to admire the enormity of the most expensive baseball stadium ever built, and admire the ballpark from Monument Park - an open-air museum where the retired numbers and plaques honoring Yankee greats like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig are displayed.  Yankee Stadium, 161st St. and River Avenue, Bronx.

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN

It's one of the most famous attractions in the Bronx, and there's hardly a better time to visit the New York Botanical Garden than right now in spring. Azaleas, crabapples, lilacs and flowering dogwoods are all in full bloom, the seasonal three-acre Rock Garden has just re-opened and is bursting with alpine flowers and woodland plants, and the 250-acre old-growth Native Forest is teeming with a broad range of resident and migratory birds, including nesting great horned owls and red-tailed hawks. NYBG, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx.

ARTHUR AVENUE

Arthur Avenue - The Bronx's own Little Italy Just south of the Botanical Gardens, Arthur Avenue runs north to south through the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx. The area is known for the high quality and great value of its fantastic assortment of Italian-American restaurants, delis, grocers, pasta-makers, butchers, fish markets, bakeries, gourmet coffeehouses and other shops and services. Visit BronxLittleItaly.com for more information or watch this informative video about Arthur Avenue.