New York is famous for its plethora of sightseeing spots, trendy restaurants, and amazing fashion (check out Her Campus’ College Fashion Week on October 20th!) With so much to see and not much time to experience it all, we created the ultimate College Girl’s Guide to NYC.
Hotel:
Located at the heart of Midtown and only a 10 minute walk from Times Square, Sofitel New York is the perfect place to call home during your next trip to New York City — from the incredibly attentive and kind staff to the modern and bright rooms. We stayed on the 23rd floor with a one-of-a-kind view of the skyline encompassing the “bright lights big city” feel, complete with a desk, sofa bed, two televisions and a king size bed – perfect amount of space for 4 ladies.
Attractions:
Hudson’s NYC is a 3-story cruise ship, which includes a full restaurant, two bars, and a live DJ. Guests are taken for a ride that glides alongside the New York Harbor, to enjoy the gorgeous views of the city. As promised on their website, guests can “escape the chaos of the city, without escaping its beauty.” True to this statement, we were completely blown away by the experience. Hudson’s is located at Pier 81, West 41st Street, placing it in the prime location to get the best views of Manhattan.
The two-story mansion located in Midtown Manhattan is a Rosé lover’s dream with interactive photo opportunities and an endless supply of Rosé samples. We had a blast creating our own Rosé and learning about the history of this famous pink drink.
If you loved Eloise at the Plaza as much as we did growing up, then you must stop by the beautiful Plaza Hotel for tea time. Make sure to ask the hotel staff for a mini tour of the Eloise themed artwork around the hotel and stop by the beautiful Palm Court restaurant.
Restaurants:
It’s no exaggeration: Maison Pickle has the best mac and cheese you can buy! The Upper West Side spot offers — yes — pickles both kosher dill and spicy, along with its famous French toast. But the real star of the show is the gooey macaroni and cheese, a must-try if you stop by the French-named restaurant in New York City. It prides itself on offering American favorites, and it does tenfold. Maison Pickle’s interior has the vibes of a cozy French cafe, with soft orange lighting from bulbs up above.
With its signature red-and-white checkered tablecloths and walls filled with family photos and Italian decor, Buca di Beppo serves up family-style Italian dishes all across the world. The Buca di Beppo location we visited in New York City is unique because it is in the heart of bustling Times Square. With the crowded streets, bright lights and nonstop entertainment, this location is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before wandering the streets or attending a Broadway play.
Located at the heart of New York in East Village, 139 1st Avenue, you’ll find the most adorable ice cream shop. Stuffed Ice Cream is famed for its unique twist on ice cream, creating beautiful ice cream bouquets with unique flavors and bright colors.
Tipsy Scoop is famous for their alcoholic ice cream and sorbets. They have a variety of delicious flavors, such as Raspberry Limonchello Sorbet, Cake Batter Vodka Martini, Mango Margarita Sorbet, and Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel. We highly recommend stopping by for a boozy treat!
Fashion:
New York may arguably be considered the fashion capital of the United States. And with the city’s busy, fast-paced atmosphere, the fashion there is always ahead of the game on the latest trends and styles. We love drawing inspiration from the iconic NY fashion featured in both Gossip Girl and Sex and the City.
Check out our New York fashion guide article for fun looks from the city that never sleeps.