Anna Rahmanan

You don’t need us to tell you that The Big Apple is a pricey place. Anybody visiting for the first time will soon realise that all the pizza slices, cocktails, museum tickets and cab fares quickly stacks up, but one way to easily make some savings is by booking yourself into a budget-friendly hotel.  What are hotel prices like in New York City? Hotel prices in NYC can be pretty harsh on your wallet, whether you book well in advance or not. But don’t fret, weary traveler—we are here to help. Our cheap New York hotels guide comprises a list which has not been skimpy on that effortlessly cool New York style, but still only features stays with a starting price of $215 per night or less.  What’s the best area to stay in New York City? It’d be easy to assume that staying smack-dab in the heart of Manhattan will set you back a chunk of change—and don’t get us wrong, that is often the case. However, even in New York’s coolest zip codes, you will find budget-friendly places to stay. Have a read of our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, and cross-reference with our brilliant list below for the best affordable hotels in the city.  New York’s best budget-friendly hotels, at a glance: 👙 Best pool: Margaritaville Resort Times Square 🗺️ Best location: Now Now NoHo 🤩 Coolest: Romer Hell’s Kitchen Hotel  📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York City How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old

Television is widely thought to have entered its golden age in the early 2000s, but the road there was paved by the previous decade. In many ways, the ’90s completely changed the idea of what the medium could accomplish. It’s where Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld reinvented the sitcom. It’s where David Lynch actually got a spot in primetime. And it’s where HBO set up the revolution of the coming millennium by introducing a crime drama for the ages.  If you weren’t around back then – or ‘didn’t even own a TV’, as Gen X liked to brag – it’s a good time to catch up. The ’90s are everywhere again, in fashion, music and all over streaming platforms. Here are 37 can’t-miss suggestions, along with where to find them. Recommended: 📺 The 101 best TV shows of all-time💻 The 40 best Netflix original series to binge🎮 The best 50 ‘90s movies🎶 The 50 best ‘90s songs

This list is old. Here are the best things to do in the world in 2026.  2025 is set to be a momentous year when it comes to travel. Citywide celebrations and milestone anniversaries will be taking place in Amsterdam and Rome, sparkling new cultural centres are flinging open their doors in Rotterdam, New York and Abu Dhabi, and there are fresh chances to see some wonderful wildlife in Australia, Singapore and Greenland – but that’s just the beginning. Read on for our roundup of the 25 coolest, weirdest and most adventurous new things to do across the world in 2025, no matter your whereabouts or budget. RECOMMENDED:🇬🇧 The best things to do in the UK in 2025🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world🎪 The world’s best music festivals for 2025🌃 The best cities in the world right now  

If you’re looking for a travel destination, don’t underestimate Busan. In our opinion, Busan is one of the most underrated cities in the world, but let’s not go there right now. See the magic for yourselves. This huge, sprawling city at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula is home to three and a half million people, and to fully embrace it, you’ve just got to go along for the ride.  Busan has huge beaches, a seriously good food scene and plenty of markets and shopping spots to explore. The best part? You can get all this alongside the bright lights of city life, which lends itself to trendy micro-breweries, cool coffee shops and vintage bargains. Fancy fresh seafood from the biggest fish market in Korea? An underground photographer’s gallery? You’ve got it all here. Read on for the best things to do in Busan right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Seoul🇰🇷 The best things to do in South Korea✈️ The world’s most underrated travel destinations🌆 The best cities in the world🏬 The coolest neighbourhoods in the world Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.

Few travel experiences capture the spirit of adventure quite like a road trip—and in America, it's practically a rite of passage. With thousands of miles of scenic byways, historic highways and wide-open roads, the United States, in our opinion, is best explored via four-wheel drive. While there are many reasons to love road trips, it's the freedom to roam that makes them truly special. Without the rush, distractions, or rigid schedules that come with pre-booked flights or train tickets, travelers can explore at their own pace—lingering where they want, skipping what doesn't interest them and embracing spontaneity. So, instead of racing to an airport or train station, travelers have ample time to explore, be it strolling through small towns, pulling over for a scenic hike or making a beeline for quirky roadside attractions. Whether you're weaving through coastal cliffs along the Pacific Coast Highway, winding through the Smoky Mountains on the Blue Ridge Parkway or cruising through red rock arches on Utah's Route 12, there's a scenic and spectacular route for every kind of traveler. Here are 20 of our favorites across the country, each offering picturesque landscapes and postcard-worthy views. We've also included Airbnbs to stay in at the end of each route!

A new season calls for a new wardrobe, but who says the swap has to come with a hefty price tag? The best sample sales in NYC offer a goldmine of designer finds at a fraction of the cost. From chic outerwear to fresh footwear, these sales let you step into spring with a stylish new look—without breaking the bank.

Growing up, a shelf-stable sandwich was a constant cast member in my brown bag lunch, from the reliable turkey with a squirt of mustard to the simple yet satisfying peanut butter and jelly variety, all of which was prepared by my loving mother. But as I've grown, so has my imagination as to what I can slide between two halves of bread.  The mighty sandwich is really a vehicle for all. Carnivorous appetites call for hunks of brisket and barbecue to pastrami-stacked creations. Yet sandwiches sprouting with veggies and vegetarian-forward ingredients can be just as satisfying if not more. And no matter what, a sandwich beats a sad desk salad, any day. When the hankering calls for a carb-laden lunch (or breakfast or dinner, we don't care), thumb through this list and discover your new favorite sub. Editor's note: We removed Bonafide Delicatessen and Cafe, Ciao, Gloria, Henry Public and Rowdy Rooster. We added Bark Barbecue, Calyer, Daily Provisions, Ends Meat, Ollin, Win Son Bakery and The Bonnie.  RECOMMENDED: The 25 most spectacular sandwiches in the world

New York City's art scene is in for an impressive spring season. The season begins with an extensive survey of Brooklyn artists at the Brooklyn Museum. Then, there's The Affordable Art Fair, The Frick Collection's re-opening, never-before-seen Hilma af Klint illustrations, and an exhibit on nuclear posters at Poster House. We're especially looking forward to "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at The Met and "Out of the Closets! Into the Streets!" at Hispanic Society. From public art displays to gallery shows to museum presentations, here are 17 art experiences we’re excited about this spring for you to mark your calendar. No matter which you choose, New Yorkers you're guaranteed to feast your eyes on some incredible works this spring.  

New York is a green city. Back in March of 2021, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation into law that effectively legalized marijuana in the state. It was a long time coming: lawmakers had been trying to pass the guidelines since back in 2018 but conversations would stall on the topic of tax revenue from sales. Finally, in 2021, the stage budget proposal included the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Act (more on that later).  RECOMMENDED: Weed 101: Everything to know about cannabis in NYC Fast-forward nearly two years and the legalization of recreational cannabis began to actually take effect and all previous marijuana-related criminal records in the state of New York were given the current legality of the substance. New York State legalized the sale of cannabis for adult recreational use in 2022. That year, thousands of New Yorkers applied for their Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CUARD) license and (at the time of publication) over 40 of them went on to open licensed dispensaries, including 16 of them right here in New York City in 2023. Since then, more than 300 have opened across the state, as of January 2025. Of course, there are still a lot of questions to be answered: Can weed also be grown at home? Where can New Yorkers buy the stuff and will they be stopped if carrying it around? Can anyone sell marijuana now? Below, check out our extensive guide to marijuana legalization in New York state. Recommended: What to expect in NYC now that weed is

Whether or not you’re a sports fan, the halftime show is the one thing everyone tunes into on Super Bowl Sunday. This year was no different with Pullitzer-prize-winning rapper (!) Kendrick Lamar taking the stage alongside special guest SZA (plus a few other surprises we won’t ruin just yet). The halftime show is a long-standing tradition that has featured some of the country's biggest stars, from Beyoncé to Prince to Madonna. Every year, it brings us a thrilling performance filled with fireworks, splashy entrances, special guests, and plenty of surprises to keep you glued to your TV set. This year’s musical spectacle made a big impression, but that doesn’t mean they’ve all landed well with audiences. We’ve seen our share of misses among the best Super Bowl halftime shows. Below, a cherry-picked ranking of the performances that got us dancing, singing and discussing with colleagues the next day.

No matter where you are or where you work in New York, you’re probably stressed out. As great as our fair city is—with so many amazing things to do, fabulous restaurants and top-notch bars—it’s hard to find time to chill out. Taking a weekend getaway or relaxing on a nearby beach are good ways to relax, but often we need serenity NOW (and let’s face it: sometimes planning that beach trip or weekend getaway can lead to even more stress!). A relaxing spa treatment can be just the thing for a quick fix. Problem is, most of us can’t afford the luxurious spas that promise instant bliss. Fortunately there are a number of spots for affordable spa treatments in NYC. Whether it’s a facial, a massage, a mani-pedi or a body scrub, one to two hours at a spa will give you the re-set you need. You’ll feel refreshed and glowing in no time. RECOMMENDED: Find more spas in NYC

This year started off strong as New York City started winning its war against rats, was named as the best city in the world and had an extremely packed spring season on Broadway. But then as 2024 unfolded, we experienced some pretty radical moments, like an incredible solar eclipse and an earthquake—and when Jennifer Lopez declared “if you know, you know” about her mystifying Bronx bodega order. From there, we ditched the dating apps and confoundedly found love at live dating shows and running clubs, and suffered heartache when we lost a few greats—RIP to the Rubin Museum‘s physical space (it’s still in operation), the Fotografiska museum of photography (temporarily at least), our beloved Flaco the owl, pandemic-era dining sheds and $15 congestion pricing (oh no!). But New York City is nothing if not resilient. We celebrated the Paris Olympics from afar, turned out to the U.S. Open, saw top-notch theater, welcomed back Kellogg’s Diner, Papaya King and Pioneer Works, and even held a Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest.  But so much more is worth celebrating this year, which is why Time Out New York editors—all of whom experienced these crazy NYC moments—are unveiling their top picks in the food and drink sphere, the world of theater, art and culture, nightlife circles and more. RECOMMENDED: Time Out New York’s 2023 Best of the City award winners

Mercer Labs, Museum of Art and Technology is a unique immersive museum created by artist Roy Nachum (you might recognize his name because he designed Rihanna's famed Anti album cover) and his business partner Michael Cayre, a real estate developer. The 36,000-square-foot space opened in early 2024 at 21 Dey Street, with a total of 15 different rooms to explore, each one attacking all the senses upon entrance. Some outstanding installations include the one that the staff refers to as "The Dragon," where a total of 500,000 individual LED lights hung on strings adorn a room and are lit up to created 3D videos, including one of a galloping horse, that will catch your attention. Towards the end of the walkthrough is what can only be described as a cave of beautiful pink flowers (plastic ones), where there will soon be a bar as well. This is perhaps the most Instagrammable space within the museum as a whole, one that will likely come to represent the destination on social media once it officially opens.   A mere walk through Mercer Labs makes one thing clear: the immersive space can be much more than that given its size and the clear technological capabilities embedded in each room. That’s something that wasn’t lost on the founders: folks can rent out different rooms. May we suggest a very unique and technologically avant-garde wedding in a room filled with pink flowers, perhaps?

Dining at Malka in Dumbo, the kosher Israeli restaurant by celebrity chef Eyal Shani, shifts depending on when you walk through the door. On most nights, it’s a polished, Middle Eastern–flavored dining experience, anchored by the now-famous golden Malka schnitzel—stuffed with mashed potatoes and served with dips begging to be dragged through. The vibe: Weeknights are calm and focused on the food, but come Thursday, the lights dim, the DJ cranks up and the restaurant transforms into a Tel Aviv–style party. Prix fixe tends to dominate because who has time to order while people are dancing on tables? The Dumbo outpost, Shani’s first U.S. kosher venture after the Upper West Side debut in 2023, also hosts wine-pairing dinners spotlighting kosher bottles from around the world, matched with regionally inspired dishes. The food: While the menu offers green beans, a field-of-greens salad and red meat entries, the schnitzel steals the show. Crispy and stuffed just right, it practically crackles under your knife, revealing a pillowy potato filling. Order it as a starter with the focaccia to swipe up every last bit. The branzino hraime—a North African fish stew in a fiery tomato, garlic and chili sauce—is another standout, served whole and begging for that same bread-soaking treatment. The drinks: Cocktails hit the mark with Israeli-inspired twists: the Jerusalem Negroni with grapefruit, the Limonarak with arak, mint and soda and the Sweet Luisa with gin, lemon, honey, verbena and brut.

One of the most visited historical sites in Europe, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, has opened an exhibition in New York for the first time. Find it at the Center for Jewish History in the Flatiron District through April 30, 2025. New Yorkers can now walk through a full-scale re-creation of the rooms where Anne Frank, her parents Otto and Edith, her sister Margot, the Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer (all Jews) spent two years in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. Inside the re-created annex itself, every object displayed in glass cases is original—things that Anne, her family and fellow hideout Jews touched and used daily, alongside exact replicas of other items. The exhibition also includes a gallery space that walks visitors through the events leading up to the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were murdered, and its aftermath. Expect to see objects—some original, others exact replicas from the house in Amsterdam—alongside striking images. There's a remarkable amount of archival footage on display—photos and videos blown up to massive size that demand attention to every detail.  Brace yourself for a deeply emotional experience. Time Out tip: upon entering, be sure to grab an audio guide. The space is filled with artifacts, photos and videos, but the text on the walls is minimal, mostly consisting of quotes from Anne’s diary and from family members. 

In what is likely to be the most New York-way to ring in the New Year, dance to electrifying beats by DJ Kristaval, who will be performing 1,000 feet above the city at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt on December 31. You can also expect two complimentary cocktails of your choice, a complimentary champagne for a midnight toast, and a dessert bar with plenty of gourmet bites.  For $300, you'll gain access to all three floor sof the space until 2am, including the beautiful rooftop. You can purchase tickets right here.

If Netflix’s Squid Game was one of your favorite shows and you’re looking forward to the new season premiere this December, you’ll want to try your hand at some of the challenges at Squid Game: The Experience here in NYC. Set within Manhattan Mall (100 West 33rd Street by Sixth Avenue), you get into teams of up to 24 people each to complete challenges across 60 minutes, including those that appeared on the TV show (yes, you’ll get to try your hand at the iconic Red Light Green Light) plus a number of brand-new ones built specifically for the experience.  Once done playing, you can enjoy a night market offering a variety of Korean and international sweet and savory foods—plus drinks! As the event's official spirits partner, Johnnie Walker is serving signature cocktails inspired by the show such as The 456, at the Johnnie Walker Black Label bar.

The ultimate family concert experience, the Kidz Bop tour is hitting New York's Beacon Theatre with 90 minutes of pop tracks sung by children... for children. The concert coincides with the group's latest album Kidz Bop 2024 Vol. 2. This year's Kidz Bop Kids—Aleah, JJ, Shila and Tyler—will perform songs like "Dance the Night," "Shake it Off," "TEXAS HOLD 'EM," "Sunroof" and "Uptown Funk," among others. A few things to keep in mind: the show features an intermission and you are more than welcome to snap photos of the experience before, during and after the producion. A message to fans: every Kidz Bop tour is different, so expect an all-new set design, novel costumes, choreography and more at this year's shenanigans. You can snag tickets to the Beacon Theatre concert right here. 

Is the role of a hotel to shield its guests from the outside world or render them participants to the goings-on of the city they get to temporarily call home? If you’re leaning towards the former, then the Greenwich Hotel, the eight-story luxury abode near Tribeca that's partly owned by actor Robert De Niro, is where you’ll want to stay while in town.  Nestled on the corner of North Moore Street and Greenwich Street right by the West Side Highway, the building boasts 73 rooms, some of which overlook an interior courtyard, 11 suites and two duplex penthouses that are aptly named The Greenwich and The North Moore.  On a recent visit while staying in a luxurious suite on the second floor, I was struck by one aspect of the experience: I forgot I was in New York. When looking out the window and into the courtyard, I noticed the absence of the very things that make the city what it is on a visual level. There were no buildings, no people rushing down the street and all was… quiet?  Despite the disconnect from its surroundings, the hotel offers a premium experience when it comes to your actual stay: the beautiful bathroom, complete with a shower and a bath, was stocked with Red Flower products developed specifically for the hotel and the bed, by British company Savoir, was particularly comfortable.  But there’s more: guests receive a complimentary newspaper every morning and the mini bar is filled with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks to be enjoyed completely gratis (keep in mind tha

Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album, Short N’ Sweet, is set to drop this Friday. And Angelenos will get to celebrate the much anticipated new record with a visit to this exclusive pop-up experience, courtesy of Complex L.A. at 433 North Fairfax Avenue. Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25 from 11am to 7pm, folks can shop exclusive merchandise inspired by and dedicated to the 25-year-old singer and actress. From T-shirts to tanks, hats, totes, CDs and vinyl records, the roster of products on offer run the gamut in terms of style and genre, but each one pays homage to the artist behind the hit “Espresso.”

Angelenos will soon be able to taste one of the most iconic dishes served in New York when Katz’s Delicatessen, perhaps the most recognized deli in all of the East Coast, will open in L.A. for one day only this Saturday, June 29 from 11am to 6pm. Brought to this side of the country by Postmates and West Hollywood spot Bar Next Door, where the activation will be setting up at 9159 Sunset Boulevard, the pop-up will be serving a limited number of Katz’s famous pastrami sandwiches on rye with a side of the legendary house-made mustard and pickles. You can opt for either pickup or delivery on Postmates, and in addition to the app, there’ll be a limited number of sandwiches available at the bar for walk-ups (though you’ll likely need to wait in a standby line). Fair warning: The culinary delight will cost you $25 for half a sandwich and $45 for a full one. But trust us: The food is worth the price tag. Guests will also be able to look through limited-edition branded merch.

When trying to gauge whether a stay at the Surf Lodge in Montauk is worth the effort, the first thing you have to figure out is whether you want to head to Montauk at all. About 112 miles from midtown Manhattan, the three-hour drive to Montauk will take you across all of Long Island, passing through locales such as Southampton, grazing Sag Harbor and even waving to folks as you pass by Fire Island.  If it’s a high-end vacation with tons of shopping opportunities and real estate porn that you’re after, then you’re likely going to want to stop a few hours into your drive and set up camp in East Hampton.  But if it’s a more subtle cool that you’re craving, defined by high-priced but casual-feeling outings, Montauk is the place to be during summer weekends in New York. Think of it as the equivalent of living in Manhattan versus Brooklyn: although both are part of this grand city of ours, each borough caters to slightly different characters. One fact mostly rings true across all of Eastern Long Island: when looking for lodgings, options include motels, Airbnbs or very expensive hotels, which is the category that the likes of the Surf Lodge and Gurneys in Montauk belong to. Straight off the bat, the price of an average room during the summer season at the Surf Lodge seems pretty daunting: it’ll cost you about $800 to stay there a single night. The prohibitive pricing probably has to do with the fact that the destination is more of a sunset-to-night hangout spot than it is a hotel w

Gaming company Immersive Gamebox has just partnered with Netflix to launch a full-scale, interactive version of Squid Game that New Yorkers can play beginning September 21. Specifically, the company has opened its first venue in New York (the 13th across the United States and Europe) at 242 Broome Street between Ludlow and Essex Streets, outfitting the space with a multitude of different games for all ages (think a life-size Angry Birds, for example). The company relies on its proprietary motion-sensing technology and touch screens to create all games, none of which require the use of headsets. The Squid Game offering is set to debut within the venue this fall.  According to an official press release, "groups of two to six players will navigate challenges inspired by the series, including Red Light Green Light and the 'Squid Game' itself, among others."  Think of the destination as a happy marriage between the various immersive experiences that have taken over the city in recent years and the escape rooms that some argue actually portended the trend. 

Kaizen, a new hand roll joint in Flushing, says it's a destination for hand rolls, but what Kaizen actually offers are pieces of (delicious) sushi served on crunchy seaweed. With an on-point interior and a skilled staff that patiently navigates the menu alongside each curious diner that wanders inside, Kaizen boasts an extraordinarily tasty oyster mushroom hand roll with garlic butter and a "secret" XO sauce to a simple-yet-delightful dish of salmon and tomato purée, diners will get to order sets of hand rolls presented in eye-pleasing wooden, "sectioned" serving dishes. An omakase option will soon launch as well. Standout orders in the short-but-strong list of appetizers include the akami avocado salad and the Thai-style yellowtail crudo, all served under the purview of chef Ben Chan of Sushi Seki and O Ya fame.  Overall, Kaizen certainly does pack a punch, a happy medium between traditional Japanese spots like Manhattan’s Sushi Yasuda and more "commercial" destinations like nearby Tara, in Little Neck. But if the inventively appetizing fare is what should initially draw you to Kaizen, the interior decor's piece de resistance, an actual cherry blossom tree, is what will have you linger way past your meal is finished, trying to gaze at the genetic makeup of the giant piece of nature. Set upright in the middle of the sushi bar, which happens to be the best seat in the house, the cherry blossom tree is made of a petrified trunk installed right into the ground with pink fabric

Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl that famously escaped from the Central Park Zoo in 2023 and became a myth of sorts in New York, is the subject of a new documentary titled Wild Inside by director Penny Lane. Before officially opening at Manhattan's IFC Center on July 31 followed by a nationwide theatrical release, the feature will enjoy a very New York kind of world premiere at a special outdoor screening that will be free and open to the public inside Central Park on July 29. We told you, very New York. "Central Park is a magical place, and it was made even more magical by Flaco," Lane said in an official statement. "From the beginning, I dreamed this film might one day premiere under the stars in Central Park. Today, I am pinching myself, as this dream is coming true!" Featuring footage from NYC birders and interviews with New Yorkers who have come to love Flaco, plus wildlife experts, Wild Inside takes a look at the bird's life, with particular attention paid to his escape following damage to his zoo enclosure, the ensuing owl hunt that took over the city, his 2024 death after colliding with an Upper West Side building and all the books, exhibits, merch and films that have honored him since. "Flaco's story has us thinking about nature versus nurture, about what it means to be free, and about how to experience urban nature in a new way," said Jessica Harrop, the executive director of Sandbox Films, which will present the Central Park screening in association with the office

From now through August 13, Regal Cinemas locations nationwide are once again rolling out the chain's popular Summer Movie Express program, offering families and children $1 movie tickets to select morning screenings. The promotion applies to screenings at 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday and extends beyond discounted admission. Regal is also offering special snack bundles at reduced prices, including popcorn, a junior-sized drink, fruit gummies and a Dippin' Dots ice cream cup for $3 less than the regular cost. Can you think of anything more refreshing than a morning spent at an air conditioned movie theater during the peak of summer? Here's the full list of movies included in this year's Summer Movie Express lineup:   A Minecraft Movie Animal Farm Charlie the Wonderdog David Despicable Me 4 Dog Man How to Train Your Dragon K-Pop Demon Hunters: A Sing-Along Event Kung Fu Panda 4 Muppet Treasure Island Paddington in Peru Scoob! Sing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem The Bad Guys 2 The Garfield Movie The Sandlot The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants The Wild Robot The lineup mixes recent box-office hits with family-friendly classics, giving parents plenty of options whether they're entertaining toddlers, school-aged kids or tweens on summer break. And at $1 per ticket, the program is one of the most affordable summer activities around—a welcome reprieve in this day and age.  

The pros at 50 Top Pizza—the influential, Italy-founded guide that ranks the best pizzerias on the planet—have once again confirmed what New Yorkers already knew: when it comes to pizza in America, this is the city that matters. At the 50 Top Pizza USA 2026 ceremony, held in Manhattan earlier this week, Anthony Mangieri's Una Pizza Napoletana on the Lower East Side claimed the top spot in the country for the fifth straight year. (The guide has named it number one every year since 2022.) And it had plenty of company: 10 more local spots landed on the main list of 50, including Don Antonio, Ribalta, Stretch Pizza, Audace, Pizza Secret, Ops, Kesté, Salsa, Andrew Bellucci's Pizzeria and Pasquale Jones. Back in 2018, Una Pizza Napoletana earned three stars from Time Out's Jake Cohen, who noted that the simple starters are almost beside the point—you're there for the Neapolitan pies that he said "rival Naples' best." Things clearly haven't changed. Then there are the slices. 50 Top Pizza also released its by-the-slice ranking, and, lo and behold!, New York runs that category, too. L'Industrie Pizzeria took first place, followed by Mama's TOO! at number 4, Brooklyn D.O.P. at number 6, Filaga at number 8, Mano's Pizzeria at number 11, Cello's Pizza at number 14 and Roberta's R Slice at number 15. L'Industrie pulled a perfect five stars from Time Out Food & Drink Editor Morgan Carter, who waited out the shop's famously long line and came away a believer: "One bite into that crunchy cr

Not that we ever need an excuse to eat more donuts, but the fact that National Donut Day is just around the corner (June 5!) has got us all giddy with excitement at the prospect of eating the sweet stuff for a cause—because we have to honor the day correctly, right? Among the many donuts you'll find us devouring next month will be the various creations of the Doughnut Plant, which was just named one of the top-rated donut shops in the country by DoorDash, the only New York entry on the list. Among our go-tos will be the wild blueberry creation, made with real wild Maine blueberries in both the dough and the glaze, and the passion fruit donut, a sweet-tart classic they've been making with real passion fruit since 1995. Year-round favorites like the Brooklyn blackout (Valrhona chocolate cake with chocolate pudding filling), tres leches and the iconic crème brûlée are always in the mix too. Just keep in mind that flavors are subject to availability and they're always adding new ones, so stop in and see what they're doing.  As for the shop itself, the story is as good as the treats. Doughnut Plant has been pioneering artisanal, high-quality donuts in New York City since 1994, when founder Mark Isreal started making them using his grandfather's recipe in a Lower East Side basement, delivering them by bicycle to neighborhood coffee shops. Over the years, Doughnut Plant introduced a string of industry firsts: the world's first crème brûlée donut, the iconic square-filled concoction

Leave it up to the Knicks to bring all New Yorkers together, including the President of the United States. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump, a lifelong New Yorker, told reporters that Knicks owner James Dolan personally invited him to attend the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, as our very own Knicks prepare to face off against either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs—depending on who comes out of the Western Conference, which we'll find out either tonight or in a Game 7 this Saturday. It's a homecoming of sorts for Trump, who was born in Queens and built much of his real estate empire in Manhattan before relocating to Palm Beach, Florida in 2019. MSG, of course, has its own place in his story: the arena served as the site of a marquee campaign rally just days before the 2024 presidential election. Trump didn't specify which game he'll be attending, but the first Finals game at MSG will be Game 3 on June 8, followed by Game 4 on June 10 and—fingers crossed we won't need this to secure the championship title—a potential Game 6 on June 16, which also happens to fall on the same day as a World Cup match at MetLife Stadium. If that scenario plays out, New Yorkers should probably just stay home and watch both on the couch, because the city is going to be an absolute mess. Authorities are already planning to move more than 78,000 World Cup spectators per match using a coordinated network of shuttle buses, rail service and rideshare—and that's before yo

It seems like Amazon is making amends for bringing the book publishing industry online: the Internet giant is now stocking free new-release titles inside its brick-and-mortar Amazon Locker location in the Bronx at 42 West 225th Street, near the intersection of Broadway and Exterior Street in the Marble Hill neighborhood. Officially dubbed The Locker Library, the initiative lets customers who are already stopping in to collect an Amazon order or drop off a return grab a complimentary advance reader copy of a recently released Amazon Publishing title. For the uninitiated: Amazon Lockers are self-service pickup kiosks where customers can have their Amazon orders delivered to a secure location of their choosing, then retrieve them at their own convenience. The network launched in September 2011 in New York City, Seattle and London, and has since grown to thousands of locations across the U.S. and several other countries, typically housed inside convenience stores, pharmacies and grocery chains.  Among the titles currently available at The Locker Library in the Bronx are Kendall Ryan's How to Train Your Billionaire, about a recently laid-off accountant who takes a job as the travel companion to an eccentric billionaire, and Lauren Oliver's The Girl in the Lake, a mystery in which a psychologist's routine case study reopens a 24-year-old cold case. Call it corporate chess or genuine goodwill: when the end result is free books in the hands of New York readers, we're not asking too m

When weighing the pros and cons of moving away from NYC, you might want to add this to the "stay" column: a 2046 restaurant reservation at Roberta's. Photograph: Courtesy of StreetEasyFuture movie at Film Forum In one of the oddest-yet-we-can't-look-away-from-it promotions to hit our inbox, StreetEasy, Zillow's NYC real estate brand, just launched a new tool called Reserve Your Future in celebration of its 20th anniversary, allowing users to make reservations at iconic spots around town... 20 years from now. The idea is simple: imagine yourself still living in New York in 2046 and, in StreetEasy's words, maybe that'll help keep you here. "Staying in NYC forever?" reads the campaign's website. "Book a reservation for 2046." Bookable experiences include a corner seat at The Commodore, tables for two at Clinton St. Baking Co. and Gage & Tollner, plus a table for four at Russ & Daughters Cafe. Photograph: Courtesy of StreetEasyFuture books at Books Are Magic But the initiative isn't limited to restaurants. It encompasses all sorts of NYC institutions: iconic bookstore Books Are Magic is on the list, alongside two tickets to Film Forum, general admission passes to the Guggenheim or a cup of coffee at Rhythm Zero. There are art classes at Happy Medium and even a yoga class at Vera Yoga. Basically, a curated list of quintessentially New York experiences designed to remind you of why living here can feel impossible to quit. Wondering how businesses are expected to stay accountabl

Although mostly proud of NYC in all of its iterations, I've always been baffled by just how consistently disappointing its official basketball team has been. One of the most important cities in the country—filled with fans, money and a strong sports culture—is home to the Knicks, a team with a base of diehard fans who, for the past 20 years, have seemed almost willfully blind to the fact that their team has just never been... good. You'd assume that NYC could claim more basketball glory than an NBA Finals appearance in 1999 and a last championship win so long ago (1973, to be precise) that current fans may not even have been born yet. But all that has just changed. The Knicks are finally, officially, almost unbelievably headed to the NBA Finals this year, following a historic sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, four games to none. We have yet to find out who they'll face: the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs is still very much alive, tied 2-2, with Game 5 tonight. Although I have always told my brother-in-law Jon and my Knicks-obsessed cousins to please live in reality and stop dreaming, I can now confidently say that I have joined the circus, believing in a Knicks win myself—and I was never even a basketball fan. A girl can dream, right?  Clearly, my feelings are shared across the state. After watching each game with clenched fists, I found myself turning to eBay to buy Brunson shirts for my sons (and, yes, the fact that I o

Big news: yesterday, Amtrak and the Trump administration jointly approved a plan for a massive Penn Station rebuild without relocating Madison Square Garden, despite Trump previously signaling he'd be open to it. The two parties announced the selection of Penn Transformation Partners, a dedicated developing team that is going to lead the massive revamping of the transportation hub.  According to an official press release, the plan involves a grand new entrance on Eighth Avenue leading to a new train hall (perhaps one more akin to the beauty of Grand Central), new concourses replacing the current cramped walkways, increased track capacity—including the introduction of at least limited through-running on the regional rail network—passenger experience upgrades and an improved subterranean structure. Madison Square Garden is also going to be renovated: expect a new glass entrance and an upgraded exterior. “We took over the transformation of New York Penn Station because the project was behind schedule, over budget and hopelessly mismanaged. One year later, we continue to hit major milestones at record speed,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy in an official statement announcing the news. “In selecting Penn Transformation Partners and their innovative plan, we are one step closer to delivering a world-class travel hub that daily commuters and travelers have dreamed of for decades.” What's perhaps most shocking is the timeline that was just made public: according t

Earlier today, Michelin announced that 11 new L.A. restaurants were going to be added to its California Michelin Guide, in addition to picks in Palm Springs, San Diego and Santa Barbara. To be clear, these new additions are entry-level designations. What that means is that Michelin's anonymous inspectors have visited the eateries and thought they are worth telling people about. These restaurants did not receive any Michelin stars (yet) but they're now on the watch list for potential mentions during the 2026 Michelin ceremony that will be held in San Diego next month, on June 24.  Interestingly enough, the directory just recently issued an update to its California edition, adding six L.A. restaurants to the guide at the end of March. This latest round of inclusions features live-fire Studio City restaurant Alto; Joshua Whigham's Los Feliz Spanish eatery Casa Leo; Electric Bleu, the French bistro in Mar Vista; Good Alley, the modern dumpling hit; eight-seat Sawtelle sushi eatery Kojima; seasonal California set menu destination Lielle by Marcus Jernmark, one of Sweden's most celebrated chefs; Lynx, which is just as much a cocktail hit as it is a pizza one; Beverly Hills omakase spot Miura; The Mulberry, also in Sawtelle; Sonoratown in Downtown, which amounts to taco and tortilla heaven; and Sora Craft Kitchen, which focuses on Turkish and Anatolian dishes. Whether any of these mentions will translate into even more exciting Michelin nods is yet to be seen—but our money is on Ko

It took almost 80 years, but Katz's Delicatessen just officially unveiled The Ludlow Room, a restored 68-seat dining room that has been closed to the public since 1949—when it was actually converted into an enormous walk-in fridge "to support the deli's growing demand for pastrami, corned beef and brisket during the postwar boom," according to an official press release. Photograph: Courtesy of Katz's DelicatessenKatz's Delicatessen's restored Ludlow Room The revamped space will be used for additional seating during busy hours and will also be available for private events, complete with an on-site cutter hand-slicing a variety of meats for guests. Considering that every single piece of meat served at Katz's between 1949 and 2026 was weighed on a freight scale inside the now-renovated room, this feels like a true full-circle moment. Photograph: Courtesy of Katz's DelicatessenOriginal freight scale inside The Ludlow Room “We’ve always said Katz’s is more than a deli, it’s a living piece of New York history,” said Jake Dell, fifth-generation owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, in an official statement. “Reopening this room feels like uncovering a forgotten chapter of our own story. For decades, this space helped support the demand that made Katz’s what it is today, but very few people ever got to see it. Bringing it back to life is a way of honoring the generations before us while creating something new for the generations still to come.” Although adapted to modern times, teh new

UPDATE: May 19, 2026 *]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:1d385fdc-06f5-4471-9a44-a17ae8b09f13-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:1d385fdc-06f5-4471-9a44-a17ae8b09f13-0" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> Late last night, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) workers and transit officials reached a new contract agreement, ending the three-day strike that threw weekend travel and yesterday’s commute into complete chaos. According to The New York Times, full service across all lines won’t be restored until 4pm today, as crews are unable to return in time for the morning rush. Partial service, however, is expected to resume at noon—making for another difficult commute this morning but, hopefully, a far smoother trip home tonight. Although the exact details of the agreement have not yet been made public, workers seeking a raise were reportedly able to secure one. Governor Kathy Hochul also issued an official statement clarifying that the agreement will not lead to increased fares or higher state taxes. This marks the first shutdown of the railroad since 1994, when a similar strike brought the region to a standstill for two days. ---- The Long Island Rail Road is officially suspended as a massive worker strike ent