Enjoying a great night out in a new city can be tough when you only have a limited time and budget. After several good nights out on my last trip to the Big Apple a couple of weeks ago, I’m happy to share some of my expert tips on getting the most out of your nocturnal activities during a night out in New York.
1) Do – Get the party started before you go out. Drinking in any city is tough on the wallet and New York is no exception, so why not buy a bottle (or two) to enjoy in your Hotel Motel room before you go out? Don’t forget the ice and iPod.
Don’t – Walk around for the best part of an hour looking for post-drinking food, only to stumble into a dark and dodgy-looking pub at 2am and order the worst fried chicken strips and chips you’ve ever had. It is also a good idea to not pour an ice cold glass of water over yourself whilst you’re wearing a white dress at same said bar.
2) Do – Make use of the many rooftop bars and terraces around the city to enjoy a nice chilled beverage on a warm evening. Take plenty of photographs of yourself on said terrace and ask other drunken tourists to take some for you as well.
Don’t – Ask the security man guarding the terrace whether it is ok to consume your own alcohol at the terrace bar. It won’t be, so don’t even waste your time. Instead, proceed to the local store (where you purchased the previous night’s alcohol), choose some nice cold bottles of cider from the fridge and then drop one on the floor where it will smash. Inform the man behind the counter, who will roll his eyes but won’t charge you for the bottle, however you’ll still leave a tip due to drunken guilt.
3) Do – Go on a hunt for some of the city’s famous pizza slices. Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village is a great little spot which is open until 5am – perfect to satisfy those drunken food cravings.
Don’t – Get lost in Greenwich Village looking for Joe’s whilst walking around with a bottle of half-drunk cider in your hand (apparently this is illegal). Also, don’t get distracted taking photographs of signs which say “Don’t Honk” (totally hilarious after a few drinks) and stand in the middle of the road on Gay Street, only for a local to approach you and ask if you need help. However, should they ask, they will be able to point you in the direction of Joe’s, so make sure you take them up on the offer.
4) Do – Spoil yourself by ordering drinks in one of the famous hotel bars in the city, such as the Oak Room in the Plaza Hotel.
Don’t – Order a lemonade in the Oak Room. It will cost as much as a glass of beer. But it will taste damn good.
5) Do – Take a walk along the harbour and enjoy watching the sun set over the city from one of the boat bars.
Don’t – Play music through your phone at your table so that you annoy the people around you enjoying a nice quiet evening drink.
6) Do – Enjoy some of the city sights at night, as opposed to during the tourist rush throughout the day. This could include buying some Empire State Building tickets or taking a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.
Don’t – Get on the wrong subway line and end up in Brooklyn when you wanted to be Downtown. If you do, however, all is not lost. Simply ask the man in the ticket booth who will be only too happy to give you the wrong information about which line to switch to. If all goes well, you will be able to enjoy your adventure and be home in time for 3am, just as the early-morning commuters are setting out for the day themselves. If you are especially lucky, part of the subway line will be closed for maintenance and you’ll be able to experience the free bus shuttle service, where you can get approached by beggars whilst waiting in line, adding to the authenticity of the local outing.
So there you have it; just a few of my tips to enjoy a great, if slightly tipsy, weekend in the City That Never Sleeps. Enjoy!
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