6 of the best things to do in New York City

New York City welcomes over 65 million travelers annually. But a visit to the Big Apple offers more than selfies in Times Square or a pretzel from a street cart. Each of the five boroughs has its own personality, from unique architecture to multicultural food history. 

The sheer volume of options—tens of thousands of restaurants and over 135,000 hotel rooms—may leave some visitors overwhelmed. The key to a memorable New York City visit lies in its curation. A bit of planning goes a long way, according to Antoni Porowski.

The Best of the World host moved to New York City to pursue an acting career, then landed on the reboot of Queer Eye as the food expert. There’s no better on-the-ground adventurer than Porowski. In National Geographic’s new series, the two-time Emmy winner heads to London, Mexico City, and Paris—but no “best of” list is complete without a nod to his hometown.

1. Pick up a New York Slice (reinvented) at Cuts & Slices 

Porowski heads to a quiet street in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn for a slice with a story. Randy and Ashlee McLaran opened Cuts & Slices in 2018, bringing high-quality ingredients and cultural diversity to New York City’s pizza scene. 

Skip the standard slice and go for their signature oxtail topping—available in four varieties, including spicy curry. The oxtail is braised for eight hours to achieve its deep flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The couple has expanded to locations in Queens and Manhattan, which doesn’t surprise Porowski, who says, “It’s always the story and the people behind it that give a place a real soul and longevity.”

Like that? Try this. Despite a growing national pizza scene that expands beyond New York City and Chicago, making a mark in Manhattan remains a badge of honor for serious pizza makers. Enter Pizza Tsubasa Tamaki, which fuses Japanese precision with traditional Neapolitan pies. Located on the Lower East Side, Tsubasa Tamaki’s first U.S. outpost features dark wood and whitewashed brick, allowing Tamaki’s proprietary flour blend to take center stage. 

After 700 test batches to create what he describes as a “specific balance of elasticity, structure, fermentation behavior, and flavor,” Tamaki settled on a blend of Japanese, American, and Canadian flours, blasted at 900 degrees in a custom-built Acunto Neapolitan oven to produce his signature char and pillowy texture. The namesake pizza features San Marzano tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, and basil. His secret touch? A toss of Okinawan sea salt onto the searing-hot oven surface for shio no shigeki, a “salt punch” that amplifies the flavor profile of every pie.

(7 of the best things to do in London.)

2. Leave your mark in New York City with Lady Pink

Born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, graffiti artist Lady Pink was only 17 years old when her work appeared alongside greats like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat at MoMA PS1. Pink chose public spaces rather than canvas for creative expression. Porowski spends an afternoon with the artist, whose commitment to accessibility reaches far and wide. “When I set an example like this, it opens doors for all to come out and paint as well,” she says. “People from all over the world come to paint here; everyone wants to leave their mark on New York.”

For those short on time, a visit to The Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria showcases over 150 murals with new works commissioned each summer.

Like that? Try this. Free art can also be found beyond the city streets. Amant founder and CEO Lonti Ebers, an avid art collector, wanted to create free gallery space and a residency program for mid-career artists. The result is a free-of-charge 31,000-square-foot East Williamsburg campus, winner of the Municipal Art Society of New York’s 2021 MASTerworks Award for Best New Building. 

Installations change seasonally, showcasing Ebers’ commitment to amplifying experimental work. Past exhibitions include Grada Kilomba’s first U.S. solo show, Heroes, Birds and Monsters, which dismantled colonialism through video, photography, and performance. In addition, free programming from book launches to summer DJ sets engages local artists and visitors alike. 

“There are so many great institutions and museums already,” says Ebers of her decision to lean into a non-collecting residency model. “The community that needed more is the artist community, and a venue for presenting experimental work.”

3. Savor a multi-course Japanese meal with a Polish twist

Porowski is Canadian by birth, but the child of Polish immigrants, and the taste for his heritage is never far away. While New York has plenty of spots to stop for a taste of its immigrant past, chef Rafal Maslankiewicz’s Ikigai turns the experience into a riff on the Japanese multi-course dining experience kaiseki with Polish flair.

The 12-course tasting menu begins in what Porowski describes as a “jewel box deprivation tank” for an exacting 17 minutes, followed by a first course such as Japanese milk bread with pickled lotus-wrapped buracski (Polish beets). The adjacent dining room provides a backdrop for a seasonally driven menu. Chef Maslankiewicz fuses Polish heritage and Japanese technique, culminating in a reimagined knedle (a boiled dumpling common throughout eastern and central Europe) with the texture of mochi—worth a train ride to Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. 

Like that? Try this. Within walking distance of Times Square and 41 Broadway theaters, The History makes its mark with a tribute to Georgia’s cuisine and culture. Dine like Georgian royalty among portraits of past monarchs and reproductions of artifacts and historical garments. Live performances ranging from jazz to traditional Georgian folk dancing, six nights per week, add flair to a menu that honors history with dishes like Megrelian kharcho (a slow-cooked beef stew), and an extensive wine list celebrating the country’s 8,000-year-old viticulture. 

(7 of the best things to do in Paris.)

4. Go glamping on Governors Island for a serene getaway

Once inhabited by the Lenape and later colonized, militarized, and finally sold to New York City for a dollar in 2003, Governors Island has since become one of the most unexpected places to sleep under the stars in the city. Porowski brings his rescue dog, Neon, for a sleepover at Collective Retreats—the ultimate glamping experience with views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan.

Day trippers can also enjoy the island’s 120 acres, which include public art and family-friendly play areas. QC Spa New York takes rest and relaxation a step further with over 20 spa experiences, including outdoor pools, saunas, and themed rooms featuring video mapping and other sensory stimulators.

Like that? Try this. Most travelers may be familiar with aerial trams in Palm Springs and Cape Town, but neither can boast the ruins of Gothic Revival architectural ruins and world-class art upon arrival. B.J. Jones, operating corporate president and CEO for Roosevelt Island, describes the destination as “incredibly idyllic and unique.”

Noteworthy sites include Amanda Matthews’ The Girl Puzzle, a monument honoring investigative reporter Nellie Bly, and the FDR Hope Memorial dedicated to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s disability advocacy. “The walk along the promenade offers amazing views of both Manhattan and Queens,” says Jones, “and you get to experience everything else the island has to offer along the way.” To avoid crowds, take the F or M subway to arrive, then enjoy a less crowded tram ride back to Manhattan. 

5. Experience one of the most innovative cocktail bars

Regularly ranked as one of the world’s best bars since opening in 2020, GN Chan and Faye Chen’s Double Chicken Please features seasonal cocktails on tap in the front bar, Free Range, and inventive mixology in the Coop to the rear. 

From drinks inspired by the Waldorf salad to cold pizza, nothing is off limits, but Japanese cold noodle—rum, pineapple, cucumber, coconut, lime, and sesame oil—may be the venue’s most celebrated concoction. Porowski tasted the mocktail version, declaring, “It’s the perfect manifestation of the American Dream that people always talk about.”

Like that? Try this. Recently named the number-one restaurant in New York City by The New York Times, chef Paul Carmichael has a line out the door at his Caribbean restaurant, Kabawa. For those in the know, the adjacent Bar Kabawa offers travelers a chance to explore Carmichael’s extensive rum list and daiquiris with house-shaved ice. Non-alcoholic options also feature tropical ingredients, such as the Tranquilto, made with mint, lime, allspice, and snow ice. Bar bites like savory patties filled with Geera goat or tamarind-glazed fish collar feel right at home in the transportive setting featuring Dominican American artist Raelis Vasquez’s vibrant large-scale mural.

“It’s the product that brings it all together,” says Carmichael, who’s been in the industry for over 30 years. For Bar Kabawa, the neighborhood is an integral ingredient. “The East Village is bustling. People are on the streets, and that adds to the feel of it. New York City’s got its own style and attitude.”

(8 of the best things to do in Mexico City.)

6. See the city in motion at the annual New York City Marathon

An extra adrenaline rush descends on the Big Apple the first Sunday in November, when nearly 60,000 runners traverse the five boroughs for the New York City Marathon. Enter via a charity partnership (minimum fundraising of $3,000), enter a drawing, or do what Porowski did and cheer on a loved one from the sidelines. 

Like that? Try this. Over 32,000 bikers breeze through the five boroughs each May for the Five Boro Bike Tour. While the official ride may be a tough entry to secure, a quick QR code scan at one of Citi Bike’s 2,200 docking stations can unlock an exhilarating way to experience New York City through its extensive network of dedicated bike lanes.