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.

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

Let's be honest: online Black Friday deals involve a greater variety of products than in-person shopping experiences do but, alas, sometimes, touching the dress and seeing the TV might spark something in you, which is why we've compiled a guide to where to shop on Black Friday in NYC if you're a traditional kind of shopper. From Target to Uniqlo, the MoMA Design Store to the Apple Store, there are plenty of good offers on the table this holiday season—making shopping one of the best things to do in NYC this holiday season, alongside visits to the top holiday markets in New York. What are you still waiting for? Hit one of the best coffee shops in NYC first to fuel up and then start checking items off your holiday shopping to-do list. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Thanksgiving in NYC

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

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

New York is home to a new art gallery, this one in (you guessed it!) Hudson Yards. The neighborhood is the hottest new real estate destination in town, after all.  Aptly named Hudson Yards Gallery, the 2,300-square-foot space is home to mixed media exhibits directed by one James Weber, an artist turned collector and gallerist. You can expect to browse through a slew of projects at the new gallery, from photographs to paintings, sculptures and more. Among the currently featured artists are painter Gail Buggy, photographers James Weber and Jonathan Pozniak, sculptor Will Woodrow and NFT photographer Duck. For now, Hudson Yards Gallery is open on Saturdays from 4pm to 10pm and Sundays from NOON to 5pm.

Is there anything more satisfying than a warm soup with some crackers on a cold New York day? That's the kind of feeling that Eight Ladles, a new soup and cracker bar on the Upper West Side, hopes to deliver. Found inside gastropub Thyme & Tonic, the new destination at 474 Columbus Ave offers eight different types of soups alongside a slew of homemade crackers. It's also kosher, vegetarian and vegan friendly. From a classic matzah ball soup to a jamabalaya (cajun spiced tomatoes, peppers, red beans with rice and Impossible meat), a potato and corn chowder (made with vegan baacon and chive topping), a Yemenite lentil soup (turmeric and coriander spiced red lentils with vegetables) and a Moroccan split pea, the soups span all culinary genres and can be ordered in a 12oz bowl or 32oz quart. As for the homemade crackers, which might very well be the most exciting aspect of the new business, diners can order the artisan cheddar, the everything, the zaa'atar, the superseed or the olive oil, oregano and garlic cracker. Yes, they all sound crackling-ly delicious.

There is only one thing wrong with Liba, the first new restaurant in more than 20 years from the team behind 12 Chairs Café, the Manhattan staple that's been operating in SoHo with much fanfare since 1995: the music is loud. It’s not about the playlist (it’s great!), but just the volume that is too loud. And the fact that this is the complaint, at a brand-new restaurant with a brand-new menu inside a brand-new room inside the beautiful William Vale hotel, should tell you most of what you need to know about how good everything else is. RECOMMENDED: The best new restaurants in New York right now Liba is led by 12 Chairs' own Chef Maayan Glass, who has spent more than a decade shaping the group's food and is now getting the biggest canvas of his career. The name, fittingly, means "core" in Hebrew, a nod to the idea that a meal's real center of gravity is the table itself, not any one dish. It's also, literally, the layout: the centerpiece of Liba, in both space and menu, is an 800-degree brick oven that anchors the open kitchen and does the heavy lifting on a good chunk of the dishes, starting with the brick oven bread.  Photograph: Nick JohnsonLiba Made from a 48-hour fermented dough laced with coriander seed, the bread arrives with an olive oil "butter" that will have you rethink both the olive oil and the butter currently stored in your kitchen. It's arguably the single best thing on the menu, which tracks, given that the whole roster of offerings is built around a confiden

Although spas and massage parlors are plentiful in New York, the former rarely focus solely on massages while the latter don't usually deliver the elevated experience many New Yorkers are looking for. That combination—a massage-first spa with a polished, hospitality-driven feel—is exactly what Spencer's Spa seems to be betting on at its SoHo flagship, which opened a year ago, and now at its newly debuted Williamsburg location (with a West Hollywood outpost as well). Photograph: Sean DavidsonSpencer's Spa in Williamsburg During a recent visit, one of the first things that stood out was the not-too-grand scale of the place. The entire space can be taken in almost at a glance, which is surprisingly comforting. There's something to be said for a neighborhood spot that feels intimate instead of sprawling, especially in a city where every new opening seems determined to be bigger, louder and more over-the-top than the last. Upon arrival, a gracious host leads guests to a small entryway where you're invited to slip off your "outside shoes," pull on a complimentary pair of branded Spencer's socks and change into an incredibly comfortable pair of slippers (those, unfortunately, are not complimentary). From there, you're ushered into a cozy waiting area designed to evoke a classic New York apartment, complete with oversized couches, bowls of mints and chocolates and a choice between tea or orange-infused water. On my visit, the citrusy drink was delightful. When it's time for your tr

Let's start with some honesty: I love making fun of New Jersey.  The state is an easy target. After all, it sits right next to New York, which just so happens to be one of the coolest places on Earth, packed with world-class restaurants, iconic attractions and enough things to do to make its neighbor seem, at times, a little... expendable. But after a few days in the Garden State, I'm here to admit that Jersey deserves more credit than I usually give it. It's the birthplace of Bruce Springsteen, America's patron saint of blue-collar rock. It's also the diner capital of the world, with more than 600 diners serving disco fries, cheeseburgers and mile-long menus at practically any hour. And I'd be remiss not to mention that the world's first boardwalk opened in Atlantic City back in 1870. In other words, the state isn't exactly the cultural wasteland New Yorkers like to pretend it is.    Photograph: Courtesy of Bungalow HotelBungalow Hotel   Photograph: Courtesy of Bungalow HotelLobby at the Bungalow Hotel in New Jersey While visiting, it hit me: certain parts of New Jersey aren't trying to be New York and that's exactly the state's appeal. After spending a few days there with my kids, I realized the area works because it offers the opposite of the city's nonstop energy. There's room to breathe, fewer crowds and a pace that makes it surprisingly ideal for a quick family getaway when you need a break from everything New York is all about. When brainstorming a quick pre-camp

Although we're partial to just about any sort of outdoor dining area in NYC, there's something to be said for restaurants that really think their spaces through and don't just throw a few tables out on the sidewalk. Selene, a new Greek restaurant that opened at 23 Grand Street in SoHo last month, is the perfect example. In addition to a gorgeous indoor space, the restaurant features a retractable atrium roof that transforms into one of the prettiest open-air settings in all of NYC, peppered with olive trees and the sort of diffused lighting that might actually make you think you've gone to Europe for the night. (The opening ceiling is a deliberate nod to Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon: the whole idea is to let the night sky into the room.) Add a second outdoor space, this one a lush garden terrace, and you've got yourself a pair of must-visit outdoor dining destinations for the summer. We promise the food is worth it, too. Photograph: Courtesy of Selene/AKSSS StudioCharred carrots at Selene Photograph: Courtesy of Selene/AKSSS StudioBranzino at Selene But co-founders Reno Christou (of Avra and Kyma fame) and James Ragonese (who spent a decade with Philippe by Philippe Chow) paid just as much attention to the inside of their new 10,000-square-foot restaurant. Across three floors of dining rooms, every accent and decor piece was clearly thought through. The design by Greek architect Theodore Kondylis has been described as a sculptural, earth-driven sanctuary, and tha

Little Island, the man-made floating park that debuted on the Hudson River at Pier 54 in 2021, is bringing back its packed summer programming for a third season. The lineup features 56 events and more than 200 artists, all taking place inside the park's stunning open-air venues, The Amph and The Glade. Shows mounted in the former will cost $25 while those taking place at The Glade are free to the public. Unlike the past two summers, the programming will kick off a little later in the season, running from July 29 through September 6, which means you still have a bit of time to snag tickets, which are already available right here. Before we get to the full calendar, we'd be remiss not to highlight a few standouts, including a celebration of Allen Ginsberg's centennial with Laurie Anderson and Rufus Wainwright and the world premiere of Marina by Julio Torres and Martine Gutierrez. Photograph: Courtesy Little IslandPigPen Theatre Co. on Little Island Here is the full schedule: July 29–31: Justin Vivian Bond: Summer's Eve at The Amph July 31–August 2: Radiolab: Fruit Fantasia (host Latif Nasser, musical guest Rafiq Bhatia) at The Glade July 31: Papi Juice Party (Tama Gucci, Nita Aviance, Bobby Beethoven) at The Play Ground August 1: Qween Jean: Summer Legacy Ball at The Amph August 5–9: Anthony Roth Costanzo: Minimalism at The Amph August 6–8: Lions and Legends: Folktales and Foodlore (Rebecca Sheir & Eric Shimelonis) at The Glade August 7: Papi Juice Party (Anysia Kym, Oscar N

The Brooklyn Public Library and Roc Nation have partnered on the release of a JAY-Z-themed limited-edition library card celebrating the 30th anniversary of the rapper's landmark debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The card will be available at all Brooklyn Public Library locations beginning June 25 on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. The activation is part of a larger citywide campaign marking the anniversary, which officially kicks off on June 25 with immersive pop-up experiences in Lower Manhattan and DUMBO. Fans can reserve spots for the free experiences right here. The celebrations will continue throughout the year with additional activations, exclusive merchandise, music experiences and special events still to be announced. Released on June 25, 1996, Reasonable Doubt introduced the world to Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter's vivid storytelling, razor-sharp lyricism and entrepreneurial mindset. While it wasn't an immediate commercial blockbuster, the album has since become widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop records ever made, helping redefine East Coast rap and laying the foundation for JAY-Z's rise from Brooklyn rapper to global cultural icon.  In addition to the limited-edition card, visitors to Brooklyn Public Library's Marcy branch—located at 617 DeKalb Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant and just steps from the Marcy Houses where JAY-Z grew up—will be able to browse and borrow titles from the artist's curated reading list. The books will be displayed on a de

The verdict is still out on food halls in New York. Although the format has proliferated in recent years, with destinations like Market 57, Urban Hawker and the ever-expanding lineup at Rockefeller Center betting big on communal dining, not every project has managed to become a daily habit for New Yorkers. But if there's one food hall poised for success, it might be Shaver Hall, the sprawling new culinary destination taking over the former Lord & Taylor flagship building on Fifth Avenue, now home to Amazon's New York offices. Photograph: Anna RahmananShaver Hall Although the space doesn't officially open until June 26, Time Out got an exclusive first look inside and, after touring the venue, this writer is optimistic for two reasons: the carefully curated roster of permanent vendors and the location itself seem to be the right combination for success. Shaver Hall sits inside a building housing roughly 2,000 Amazon employees and is surrounded by some of midtown's busiest office corridors and public spaces. Between the built-in lunch crowd and several concepts designed specifically for grab-and-go dining, the hall already has a strong foundation. Eleven eateries and three full-service restaurants According to the team behind the project, the goal was simple: bring together some of New York's best food purveyors under one roof. That's a lofty promise, but the approach is smart. Rather than filling the space with competing concepts, Shaver Hall selected one standout operator fo

We're getting right to the point: you have until 11am today to enter the public lottery to win free tickets to tomorrow's City Hall ceremony celebrating the New York Knicks' NBA championship win.  Yesterday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that the city is going to give out 600 free passes to the celebration, which is happening tomorrow, June 18, at noon, the same day that a historical ticker-tape parade is set to take over the Canyon of Heroes. The parade will kick off at 10am and end end up at City Hall, where the second portion of the festivities will kick off. The City Hall procession will feature musical performances, speeches and a special presentation honoring the winning team. During the event, the Mayor will also present the New York Knicks with the Keys to the City. You can enter the lottery right here (remember, you have just a few hours more to do!). According to an official press release, the sweepstakes will select 300 winners and each one will receive two tickets.  “From packed watch parties in our parks to joyous celebrations that spilled out onto our streets, this championship belongs to New York City,” said Mayor Mamdani in an official statement. “The Knicks brought together New Yorkers from every borough and every walk of life. That’s why we’re making these tickets free and accessible—so working-class people have a chance to be part of this historic moment and celebrate the team that brought a championship home.” Between the Knicks' long-awaited return to t

Paddington, the hit musical based on Michael Bond's beloved Paddington books and the award-winning film franchise, is officially (finally!) making its way to New York. The production has been a massive success in London's West End, where it quickly became the most-awarded new musical in the destination's history. The show took home seven 2026 Olivier Awards—the UK's equivalent of the Tony Awards, honoring excellence in professional theater—including Best New Musical, Best Director, Best Set Design and Best Costume Design. (Have you seen how incredibly true-to-life the Paddington bear looks on stage?) Like previous adaptations of Bond's stories, the musical follows Paddington, a lost bear from Peru who arrives in London searching for a new home. "A chance encounter with the Browns leads him into an unexpected world of adventure, where kindness has the power to change lives and strangers can become family," reads the show's official synopsis. "But London isn't all afternoon tea and friendly faces—and even the seemingly happiest of families can have cracks beneath the surface. So, when a mysterious and vengeful villain sets her sights on Paddington, the Browns embark on a thrilling rescue mission, realizing they need this special bear as much as he needs them." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Musicals Daily (@musicalsdailyy) The production will take over the Al Hirschfeld Theatre once Moulin Rouge! The Musical ends its seven-year run there. Preview

What. A. Weekend. Following a nail-biting, 16-point comeback in Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks won the NBA Finals for the first time in 53 years this past Saturday night. Now, it's time to celebrate. And we're not just talking about reliving the highlights of the game on your phone, or screaming "Let's go Knicks!" and "Go New York, go New York, go!" at everyone who walks past you. We're talking about a real NYC-style celebration: a ticker-tape parade up the Canyon of Heroes this Thursday morning. Whether you've been a fan since forever or have suddenly become a basketball aficionado given the excitement surrounding the team in this town these past few months (we don't blame you), we suggest you take the time off to participate in the festivities. Who knows? It might be another 53 years until we get to witness a Knicks championship win again (although, let's be honest, with Brunson and his squad, we expect to do this exact parade again next year). Here is everything you need to know about this week's Knicks parade: When and Where it Kicks Off The confetti drops this Thursday, June 18. The parade officially kicks off at 10am in Lower Manhattan, but if you know anything about NYC sports crowds, you know you need to get there way earlier than that to see the action. The Official Canyon of Heroes Route The floats will begin their journey at The Battery and travel north straight up Broadway, affectionately known as the Canyon of Heroes. The route proceeds through

There's just something about outdoor drinking with the NYC skyline stretched out before you that instantly puts everyone in a good mood. Now imagine that same scene on the water, aboard a floating bar. Better yet, imagine that bar set atop a decommissioned 1961 FDNY fireboat. Now that's a quintessential New York summer experience. Photograph: Sebastian LangeFireboat That vibe officially arrived this week with the debut of Fireboat at Brooklyn Bridge Park's Pier 6. The brainchild of Crew, the team behind Grand Banks, which is one of the city's most coveted reservations whenever the weather creeps above 70 degrees, Fireboat pairs tropical bites and drinks with panoramic views of New York Harbor. While the concept sounds elaborate, the backstory is refreshingly straightforward: Crew acquired the 1961 FDNY fireboat Governor Alfred E. Smith at a city auction in 2016 and has spent the years since restoring the vintage vessel into a cocktail destination. It's banking on the same undeniable truth that has made Grand Banks such a success: New Yorkers really, really love drinking on boats. Photograph: Courtesy of FireboatFireboat Although you'll likely spend much of your visit soaking in the views, the menu is worth a look. It's compact but thoughtfully curated, featuring snacks like ceviche and chips, cod cakes and assorted skewers. There are also three salads —cucumber tomato, watermelon wedges and curried chicken Caesar—plus a lone sandwich option: jerk chicken with bell peppers

Used to bemoaning the shuttering of iconic NYC retail institutions, we are excited to take a moment to celebrate the expansion of one of the greats: Fishs Eddy, the eclectically delightful home goods store, which we can exclusively reveal will open its third NYC location inside Chelsea Market tomorrow. Photograph: Courtesy of Chelsea Market Founded in 1986 by Julie Gaines and David Lenovitz, the shop carries the kind of offbeat kitchen and houseware items you'd expect to find only in the truest, most authentic NYC apartments. A mere scroll through the store's Instagram makes that clear: a mug bearing Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Supreme Court portrait, a glass printed with "NYC Tap" alongside a picture of a water tower, New York-themed prints, charmingly colored plates and plenty more. Oddly enough, given that the original location opened near Union Square back in the '80s (and is still standing!), the cornucopia of items found inside lends itself perfectly to the world of social media, where odd knickknacks with a lot of personality are very much right at home.  Photograph: Courtesy of Fishs Eddy The origin story of Fishs Eddy doesn't skimp on the oh-wow factor, either: as legend has it, Gaines and Lenovitz started the business after getting lost upstate in the mid-'80s and stumbling upon a small town called Fishs Eddy, where they wandered into an old barn filled with restaurant dishware that, the myth goes, had survived a fire. They bought the entire inventory, hauled it back