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Looking for the best things to do in NYC this weekend? Whether you’re the group planner searching for more things to do in NYC today or you have no plans yet, here are some ideas to add to your list for this weekend: including the Taste of Sunnyside food crawl through Queens, CultureCon, a weekly spooky movie watch party at a cocktail lounge and much more, plus free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! And plan ahead for a great month with our round-up of the best things to do in October.  RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in NYCRECOMMENDED: The best New York attractions Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

'Tis the season to get spooky! But beyond the best Halloween events, there are plenty of other awesome NYC goings on in October 2026. Use our events calendar to plan the quintessential month for fall foliage spotting, pumpkin picking, Oktoberfest beer drinking and more of our favorite things to do in fall. Kick off the season with some epic cultural events you don't want to miss like Bronx Zoo activities, a new exhibit at Louis Armstrong House Museum and the return of New York Wine and Food Festival. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2026

Just being in New York City during the fall is an experience in itself—for a few brief months, we all channel Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail and breathe in the crisp air filled with the smell of leaves, pretending we're in the middle of a love story for the ages (maybe we are). It's true that NYC is one of the most sought-after places to experience the best that fall offers, from delightfully spooky Halloween events to gorgeous leaf-peeping opportunities and haunted houses that will scare you silly. Autumn in NYC is tough to match! Keep scrolling to find out how to make this season the best one yet.

If you’re looking for the best things to do in NYC this week, or even for today, there are tons of fun options, including Dia de los Muertos at New York Botanical Garden, a comedy show from one of NYC's best up-and-coming comics, an immersive dinner experience and more, plus awesome free events all over the city. For more ideas, scroll down to see this week's best things to do in NYC. RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in New York Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Contrary to its moniker, Oktoberfest—the annual autumnal celebration anchored in Munich, Germany, with satellite festivities all over the globe—kicks off in September. Lucky for you, New York City hosts some of the best boozy, musical sausage fests in the world. This year’s events include weeks-long waterside parties, brewery bashes and even lobster-fueled feasts—all with plenty of German (and local!) beer to start your fall eating and drinking plans off right. Here's where to keep the party going all season long. Próst!

We used to be good at sitting across from someone and having a real conversation, with nothing pulling our attention away from the person in front of us. Somewhere along the way, that got harder. We're all fluent now in the quick reply, the thumbs-up text and saying "sorry, one sec" mid-sentence to answer an email. Sitting with someone and sharing your full attention is starting to feel more like the exception than the rule. Americans are having fewer meaningful conversations than ever, and illy wants to change that… one cup at a time. Enter illy's new pop-up experience: an exclusive, three-day-only affair. There's no cover charge, purchase required or fine print. Just a radiant, light-filled space built around one simple premise: coffee is better when it's shared and conversation is better when you make time for it. In a city that runs at one speed—fast—that alone feels like a small act of empowerment and rebellion. Photograph: Courtesy of illycafféillycaffé is coming to NYC Here's what to expect. illy's baristas will be on hand serving up expertly pulled espresso and walking guests through what actually makes a great cup of coffee, from the origin of the beans to the precision of their espresso machines. Skip the rushed counter order and the paper cup you chug on the way to work in the morning. For three days, you're invited to sit, ask questions and strike up real conversations. It’s less coffee shop, more lux coffee experience (with pastry pairings!) that happens to...

Last updated April 13, 2026: Pickleball is back in Central Park, outdoor movie season is finally here, and Veselka is again turning out pierogi 24/7. Make the most of the spring season both indoors and out as city's iconic museums, big attractions and favorite restaurants host the coolest exhibits, shows and menus right now.  How we choose the best things to do in NYC: Time Out editors traverse New York City from end to end looking for the coolest things to do, the most delicious places to eat and the most impressive shows to see. We then pick the very best items to make it to this list each month.  From its art museums (The Met and MoMA) to its attractions (Broadway theaters and sunrises from the Empire State Building), we are certain that New York City is the best city in the world. Its dining and drinking scenes are still unbeatable with unrivaled bars, restaurants and creative culinary inventions. Every day, we’re discovering something new and wonderful about our city, whether it’s one of the best parks, incredible views, cool hotels, must-see art or quirky museums—and we’re highlighting the best of the best right here. Quick picks: The best things to do in NYC at a glance Central Park: The world's most famous green space, stop by to enjoy some peace and quiet. (Free entry) The Metropolitan Museum of Art: This massive museum spans 5,000 years of art history to get lost in. ($30/adult)  The High Line: This innovative reclaimed space turned railroad tracks into a cool...

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalog of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For an excellent slice: L'Industrie - The New York slice shop that made us fall in love with Burrata slices, now has a new locale in Little Italy (Little Italy, West Village and Williamsburg) For a spin on a classic diner: Thai Diner – Even six years later, crowds line up for Thai tea babka, French toast, and disco fries from this Thai diner. (NoMad) For killer tacos: Carnitas Ramirez – The taqueria is home to nose-to-tail pork cookery, just in taco form, and it all goes down in a laid-back setting (Lower East Side) For a classic steak: The Dynamo Room - The throwback steakhouse offers prime cuts of steaks and classic cocktails right off of Madison Square Garden (Penn Station) Updated October 2026: Fall is officially here, baby! For those who like to get a little spooky, even while eating and...

New York City has tons of things going for it, from incredible buildings to breathtaking parks. But surely, the top of the list includes NYC’s vast array of museums and galleries, covering every field of culture and knowledge: There are quirky museums and interactive museums, free museums and world renowned art institutions like the Met. Between them, they offer so many exhibitions of every variety and taste that it's hard to keep track of them. But if you’re starting to suffer a sudden attack of FOMA (that's fear of missing art), don't worry! We've got you covered with our select list of the best museum exhibitions in NYC. Don't waste any time—head to NYC's best museum exhibits now! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to museums in NYC

Broadway shows come and go, but the good ones find ways to keep themselves fresh. Just in Time just did exactly that: the cast got a genuine jolt of new energy this fall, and it makes an already electric night even more irresistible. At the center of it all is still Jeremy Jordan, at least for a little while longer: Jordan’s final performance is set for October 18, making this fall genuinely your last chance to catch his take on the role. And, it’s hard to overstate just how electrifying he is. Every actor that steps into the role of Bobby Darin makes it his own, and Jordan is no exception. Time Out’s own Adam Feldman put it best in his review, calling Jordan “one of Broadway’s most appealing leading men,” and noting that he “almost never lets you see him sweat,” even while belting his way through some of the most demanding vocal material on Broadway right now. It’s the kind of performance that makes an audience feel like they’re witnessing something special happen in real time, night after night. Photograph: Courtesy of Just in TimeAriana Madix as Connie Francis Joining him now is Ariana Madix, stepping into the role of Connie Francis for a strictly limited run through November 22. If the name sounds more familiar from reality TV than the Great White Way, consider this your reminder that Madix has already proven she’s the real deal on a Broadway stage, her 2024 debut in Chicago turned into an extended, sold-out run. She’s spoken about growing up on Connie Francis’s...