Christina Izzo

In a city where faded Old Style signs swing outside of beloved dive bars and lines snake around the block at trendy cocktail lounges, the best bars in Chicago act as meeting places, date locales and venues for celebrations. With so many great places to grab a beverage, the list of our all-time favorite bars around town is expansive—and inclusive of taprooms at Chicago breweries, sultry wine bars uncorking bottles of reds and whites, and the finest cocktail bars Chicago has to offer. In a metropolis packed with places to sip and swirl, these watering holes shine even brighter and boozier. Take a look at the best bars in Chicago and find the perfect destination for your next night out. Best Chicago bars at a glance: 🎶 For live music: Green Mill – Historic jazz lounge with nightly performances (Uptown) 🍹 For extravagant cocktails: The Aviary – Theatrical cocktail experience (West Loop) 😘 For date night: Lazy Bird – Basement bar with intimate vibes and live sets (West Loop) 🎉 For group celebrations: Three Dots and a Dash – Tiki cocktails with extravagant garnishes (River North) 🍸 For rare spirits: Billy Sunday – Amaro-focused drinks with unusual ingredients (Logan Square) Updated April 2026: We've finally reached that time of year when the days get longer and heading out on the town suddenly sounds a lot more enticing. Whether you're planning a girls' night out, are grabbing drinks with a coworker or are looking for a low-key spot for a solo date, Chicago's best ba

Brunch is competitive in New York City any time of year, and interest ticks up even higher on especially brunch-y holidays. On Easter Sunday in particular—which falls this year on April 5—demand for mimosas, bloody Marys, eggs Benedict and all manner of pancakes soars higher than the city’s rooftop bars.  Still in need of a reservation? These are our picks for the best Easter brunch offerings in NYC for 2026. So make sure to book now before you chance a walk-in on the big day.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Easter in NYC Updated March 2026: With the changing of the clocks, we can say that spring is finally here, baby! And with it comes one of the brunchiest holidays of the year, Easter. Whether you celebrate for religious reasons or are just an excuse to wear your biggest hat, the holiday offers good reason to gather with those who are closest to you. And getting together over eggs Benny and mimosas? It surely sweetens the deal.   To prepare, we've updated our guide of the best places to brunch in NYC for Easter. We've added Estiatorio Milos, ilil, Le Pavillon, Leonetta, Maison Passerelle, Melba's, Nubeluz and Temple Court. We removed Cathédrale, La Marchande, Tavern on the Green, The Garden at Four Seasons, The Fulton and Twenty Three Grand.

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: the return of JAPAN Fes, the reopening of Luna Park, the debut of a Raphael exhibit at the Met, symphony tributes to Taylor Swift, a Betsey Johnson shopping pop-up, and more, plus free events around town. All you have to do is scroll down to plan your weekend! Finish off a great month with our round-up of the best things to do in March.  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. 

When you're really feeling "the grind," it's your body and mind's way of telling you to go to the spa. If a weekend getaway isn’t in the cards, hitting one of the best spas in New York City is especially a great alternative. The city's spas dish out serious serenity in the form of massages, facials and other relaxing treatments so you can be refreshed and on the way to stress-free bliss. Spas are not just for melting away stress (though that’s certainly a welcome side effect), they also offer services that can soothe sore muscles, refresh tired skin or get you ready for a beach weekend or big night out. Others offer facilities where you can spend a full day unwinding (girls’ day, anyone?). Some offer or even specialize in couples massages for a romantic date option. NYC spas range from affordable to all-out luxurious. Treat yourself to a pampering at one of these spas—you deserve it.

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 the reopening of Luna Park, the return of JAPAN Fes, pop-ups from Cardi B and Betsey Johnson, early Easter events, cool museum exhibitions, a 200-pound tuna spectacle and more, plus awesome free events in NYC. 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. 

They say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, which is all the more reason to celebrate! From the annual St. Paddy's Day parade in Manhattan to pub crawls and live music, the Big Apple is alive with joyful festivities splashed in green. If partying isn't your scene, there's still plenty to do, like trying Irish dancing and participating in Sober St. Patrick's Day activities. Either way, grab your green attire, belt your favorite Irish songs and bust out a limerick—St. Patrick’s Day in NYC is going to be a blast this year! RECOMMENDED: See the full St. Patrick’s Day in NYC guide

Right now, it feels like a great time to celebrate our cities. What cities do best is bring people together – everything we love about urban life, from the galleries and bars to the neighbourhood parks, exists thanks to the communities that make it all happen.  That’s why, every year, we raise a toast to the city with our definitive annual ranking, created on the back of a comprehensive survey of city-dwellers worldwide. Our survey asks not only what people love about their cities – the food scene and nightlife, the shops and museums, the parks and people – but also how it feels to live there. We asked you about happiness, affordability and quality of life, among a variety of other criteria. And, in order to dig deeper into the everyday lives of locals, this year we expanded our survey to cover aspects like love, romance and community feel. Time Out’s Best Cities with Intrepid Travel spotlights the destinations that offer the best of both worlds: an endlessly exciting catalogue of reasons to visit, as well as all the good stuff that makes a place feel like home. The 50 cities that made the list this year did so thanks to the insights of more than 24,000 people across 150 cities worldwide. To determine the final Best Cities ranking for 2026, we combined their thousands of responses with the votes of more than 100 Time Out city experts. Then we tapped up our network of local writers to tell us exactly what makes their city worth a visit right now. The result? A rundown of the m

There’s never been a better – or more important – time to celebrate cinemas. They’re the places we go to dream, focal points of our communities, and an all-round great escape. Yet movie theatres are faced with challenges that even lovelty popcorn holders can’t help with. But they’ve survived the advent of TV, Hollywood strikes, a couple of pandemics, and so far, they’re holding firm against streaming and surging costs – and there’s reasons for optimism, too: younger, Letterboxd-savvy audiences are embracing the big-screen experience like never before, and filmmakers like Ryan Coogler, Christopher Nolan and Chloé Zhao are championing it at every opportunity. Just try booking an IMAX ticket for The Odyssey. With that in mind, Time Out’s local experts have collaborated on a celebration of the best cinemas from across the globe. From cult Tokyo cinemas and grand Parisian film temples to beloved Sydney picturehouses and LA film dream palaces, from a Berlin kino with its own nuclear bunker to a Canadian cinema with only 12 seats, we’ve pointed the spotlight on a hundred magnificent movie palaces that all movie lovers should know about – and visit.  NB We’ve gone almost entirely with single-use cinemas rather than venues that double up as theatres or gig venues.  Greatest cinemas at a glance: 🍿 The greatest cinema in the world: TCL Chinese Theatre, LA 🌔 The world’s best outdoor cinema: Cine Paris, Athens 📽️ The coolest cult cinema in the world: The New Beverly, LA Jump to list

The city is just beginning to warm up and thaw out from its winter slumber with some incredible NYC events in March, including St. Patrick's Day and Women’s History Month. For sure, we'll all be heading to the best Irish pubs in the city, but there's much more to do, including art exhibitions on Raphael and Robert Mapplethorpe, musical tributes to K-Pop Demon Hunters and Bridgerton, and the transportive Orchid Show at NYBG. And finally, we can start fantasizing about packing away that puffy coat and gearing up best things to do in spring. RECOMMENDED: Full NYC events calendar for 2026

If there’s one thing—just one thing—you’re coming to New York City for, it’s got to be the views. There are few spectacles more iconic than the twinkly Manhattan skyline, after all, but housed inside many of those towering skyscrapers are hotels with magnificent views. With brand-new coverage from our local writers on Equinox Hotel, The Shelburne Sonesta and the Park Terrace Hotel, as well as many, many more.  Which area is best to stay in New York? Manhattan’s dense concentration of high-up, high-end hotels means you’re blessed with options for up close and personal views of The Big Apple, but heading over to Brooklyn is also a great option for more sweeping city vistas. Have a read of all our guides to all NYC’s neighborhoods, to help you decide.  New York’s best hotels with a view, at a glance: 🌃 Best view: Ritz-Carlton Central Park 👙 Best pool: Equinox Hotel 👛 Best budget: The Shelburne Sonesta 💎 Most luxurious: Mandarin Oriental 🤩 Most iconic: The Plaza 📍 Discover our ultimate guide to the best hotels in New York How we curate our hotel lists Our team of writers and travel experts review hotels all over the world—new openings, old classics and everything in between—to bring you fresh, honest recommendations, all year round. We have reviewed many of the hotels featured below, but we may not have stayed at every single one. Any we haven’t stayed in have been selected by experts based on their amenities, features, pricing and more. By the way, this article includes

In New York City, “underground” is good: think speakeasy-themed bars, hidden streets, secret gardens, you know, the actual underground. But sometimes you want to soar above it all, sipping effervescent libations among the clouds like some kind of fancy bird with an expense account. You want to be uplifted.  In the city that never stops sprawling, upward expansion has also reached great heights. Many incredible eating and drinking destinations are poised in the sky like treehouses with cover charges. Among these NYC rooftop bars are old throwbacks, party destinations and seaside terraces practically fashioned for Instagram. They each offer booze, some kind of view and an invitation for you to get high.  Updated February 2026: I know, we are currently in the thick of winter, historic blizzards and bitingly cold weather included. So perhaps rooftops aren't the first thing on your mind, but we think they should be. Several of New York's best rooftops stay open year-round thanks to a winter transformation of vestibules and state-of-the-art shutters, or simply because a few key players built much of their spatial footprint indoors. Meaning you can get unobstructed views of the city below while still keeping nice and toasty, no matter the season. With that in mind, we updated our list with rooftops you can visit right now. You'll find a fresh review of Nubeluz following a recent visit, and a new entry for UNLISTED in the Lower East Side. Sadly, we removed The Panorama Room, as it h

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

Now in its 14th year, Brisket King NYC returns on Wednesday, April 29 at Astoria's Pig Beach BBQ, bringing together more than 15 chefs and restaurants serving up everything from classic Texas-style low-and-slow brisket to favorites found in Jewish delis, Thai kitchens, Caribbean jerk stands and Mexican barbacoa traditions.  This year's lineup features returning champions and first-timers competing for the title of Brisket King, including two-time winner Richie Holmes of Juicy Lucy BBQ, 2023 champion David Gill of Wildwoods BBQ, 2024 titleholder Leland Avellino of Avellino Family Barbecue and the 2024 titleholder and last year’s Brisket King, Anthony Scerri of Smoke Sweats. Every ticket includes all-access to food and drinks, including a lineup of New York-focused spirits. Tickets are on sale now. Early birds can snag general admission tickets for $55 before they go up to $65. VIP tickets are $85 and include access to unlimited food and drink, plus a chance to mix and mingle with the chefs and exclusive Brisket King Merch. You can also buy group VIP tickets priced at $750 for ten people.

The Guggenheim's iconic spiral rotunda gets a colorful transformation courtesy the works of Geneva-born, New York-based artist Carol Bove, in the first museum survey of her sculptural pieces. Running from March 5 through August 2 and charting more than 25 years of work, the career-spanning show displays the wide range of her inventive practices, "from assemblages of paperback books and intimate paper collages to towering steel sculptures," per the museum. 

On now through April 27 across two floors of the SculptureCenter in Long Island City, Pat Oleszko: Fool Disclosure is the artist's first New York City solo presentation in 35 years, spotlighting her signature inflatables as well as posters, postcards, photographs, costumes, hats and moving images, among others, all of which are rooted in Oleszko's "humor, sharp social commentary and the defiance of all forms of authority," says the museum. 

Figure Skating in Harlem is putting on its 29th annual Ice Show, this time taking inspiration from the one and only Beyoncé. On Saturday March 21 and Sunday, March 22, head to Riverbank State Park to see "a powerful showcase of artistry, athleticism, and storytelling" on the rink, all set to Queen Bey's most famous and impactful songs. "From our youngest performers to our advanced teams, this annual production highlights the hard work, discipline, and growth of every FSH student," says organizers. 

Arguably New York's premier Irish bar, The Dead Rabbit is bringing back its "It’s Paddy’s, Not Patty’s" bash for St. Patrick's 2026. From Thursday, March 12 through Tuesday, March 17, the whiskey-sloshed Water Street spot will host 11 spirited events, including live comedy from Síomha Hennessy, musical performances from Mike O'Malley, Lauren Craig and Smacht, traditional Sunday seisiún, festive cocktail specials like the Irish Coffee Martini (from the 14th onward), classic Irish food, DJ sets and screenings of all all the Six Nations Round 5 games. Sláinte!

Let your ginger freak flag fly at this spirited St. Patrick's Day race, which welcome redheaded runners rich with Irish heritage to bring those swift steps to Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Saturday, March 14 starting at 1pm. After you hit your 10,000+, head over to the nearby Ginger's Bar for the official after party. You deserve a beer (or three) after all of that running!

Literature is central to Ireland's history and culture, and this event celebrates the country's literary heritage. This year's Book Day on Tuesday, March 17, honors voices from the Irish and Irish American literary heritages. As always, the Center and its sponsors, partners and supporters—Culture Ireland, the Emigrant Support Programme, the Adrian Brinkerhoff Poetry Foundation, the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, New York, and The H. W. Wilson Foundation—will hand out thousands of free books across all five boroughs. Events start at 8am and last until the books run out. find out exactly where right here.

Ginger's Bar has been a staple of queer Brooklyn for more than a quarter of a century, and the beloved lesbian bar is planning to celebrate its 26th anniversary with a big, boozy bash to kick off St. Patrick's Weekend. On Friday, March 13 from 6pm, the LGBTQ+ space will welcome The Shanties to play all the classic Irish bangers you know and love, along with the Brooklyn Irish Dance Company, who will make their fourth appearance at Ginger's with two high-kicking sets throughout the evening. 

Oscar Sunday is upon us and the Monarch Rooftop is celebrating Hollywood's glitziest night with a glam viewing party of their own. Kicking off at 7pm on Sunday, March 15, the outdoor rooftop and indoor lounge will show the 98th annual Academy Awards in all its star-filled glory, along with popcorn and free champagne (for the first 50 RSVPed guests) as well as a host of  themed drink specials. Cheers the nominees and winners alike with festive quaffs like the Hamnet-inspired Poet’s Punch 75 (gin, cactus pear, lemon and prosecco), the KPop Demon Hunters-themed Neon Pop Martini (vodka, peach and lychee) and the Marty Supreme-esque Supreme Spritz (Aperol, prosecco and grapefruit), among others. The dress code is dress to impress – sparkles, tuxes, and formal attire are encourage!

From March 11 through 16, Mathnasium Learning Centers is teaming up with New York's Museum of Ice Cream for a limited-time-only Pie Day takeover, transforming the sweet venue into an interactive, math-meets-dessert playground. During the activation, kids and kids at heart can build Pi digit sequences in a reimagined Pi Magnet Room, calculate the circumference of a “pie” to determine the perfect scoop of ice cream, participate in a museum-wide Pi Day Challenge with branded trivia cards and interactive prompts throughout the space and, of course, enjoy dessert in the form of the limited-edition “Mathnasium’s Ice Cream à la Pi,” created exclusively for the celebration. 

On March 12 from 6pm to 8pm, the Abrons Arts Center will continue Kinstillatory Mappings in Light and Dark Matter, its long-running series of monthly ceremonial fires created and held by choreographer Emily Johnson and artist Kai Recollect. Taking place in the center's newly renovated Harold Steinberg Plaza, these gatherings center Indigenous protocol and knowledge, with stories and performances shared in honor and protection of the land, water, and air of Lenapehoking. The March 12 fire will feature DJ CURLY and "foreground anti-colonial Indigenous, feminist, and gender-expansive care ethics and practices," say organizers. And if you miss it, don't worry: The next ones will take place April 2, May 21, and June 25.

Running from March 13 through April 12 at La Mama Galleria, JEWESS is the ambitious new exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Danielle Durchslag, exploring three powerful Ashkenazi characters who meet "at the crossroads of Jewish ritual, politics, and fashion," per organizers. Visually inspired by 1960s glamour, Tudor court dressing and early London punk, the personas are Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth I and a rebellion Angel of Death, all reimagined with the Jewish holidays of  Passover and Shabbat in mind. During the exhibition's run, there will be three free and open-to-the-public events: Two guided tours of the exhibit by the artist herself on March 21; a concert by NYC Jewish punk band Theophobia on March 22; and  a conversation between Durchslag, designer Isaac Mizrahi and comedian Negin Farsad about Jewish glamour on April 5.

There's plenty of fun to be had during Easter in New York, whether you want to take the kiddos egg hunting, feast upon the best Easter brunches throughout the city or soak up the beauty of spring with a stroll through one of NYC's best parks. Sure, most of the holiday's festivities are kid-focused (with Easter Bunny meet-and-greets, family-friendly egg hunts and more), but Easter-themed rooftop bars and bloom-filled art shows mean that people of all ages can get in on the spirited celebrations. Here are eight great ways to celebrate Easter in NYC this weekend.  Don a bonnet and check out the parade The annual Easter Bonnet and Parade Festival is all about the hats—lavishly decorated, from the exquisite to the outlandish. Anyone is welcome to join, just show up near St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 10am on Easter Sunday (a.k.a. April 5) to watch or saunter with the group up Fifth Avenue. The tradition dates back to the 1870s, so you might even see some participants in period costumes. But the highlight is the elaborate bonnets, some of which are truly over-the-top. Activities run until about 4pm. Photograph: ShutterstockEaster holiday brunch Go for a springy brunch somewhere nice Brunch is competitive in New York City any time of year, and interest ticks up even higher on holidays. On Easter Sunday in particular, demand for mimosas, Bloody Marys, eggs Benedict and all manner of pancakes soars higher than rooftop bars. So plan ahead: these restaurants are receiving some of the best

Along with a place to pay your respects, Green-Wood Cemetery is also a place to, well, party: the gorgeous Brooklyn graveyard (500 25th Street at Fifth Avenue) is known for hosting all manner of musical performances, spirit tastings, twilight tours, spooky storytelling sessions and other after-hours festivities throughout the year, and come May, they're adding a new fête to the growing list of programming: MoonFest. RECOMMENDED: Let me tell you—Cemeteries are hosting the coolest events in NYC right now Kicking off the month on Friday, May 1 from 6pm to 11pm, MoonFest is Green-Wood's first-ever after-hours celebration of, duh, the moon, that celestial being that controls the ocean tides, our biological rhythms, our moods and a whole host of mystical properties.  Underneath the light of the full Flower Moon — a symbol of spring bloom and warm-weather abundance — the nightfall event draws inspiration "from the Cemetery’s permanent resident, John Draper, who made history in 1840 by capturing one of the earliest photographs of the moon, proving we could bridge the 238,000-mile gap between the Earth and our celestial neighbor," per organizers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Green-Wood Cemetery (@historicgreenwood) Creatives, scientists, historians and devoted stargazers from the Amateur Astronomers Association will guide you through tours, talks, and activities all inspired by Draper and his findings, "exploring the moon’s profound influence on

New York, it's finally spring. Okay, sure, Mother Nature doesn't seem to be all that aware of that fact but at least New York's best museums are, as evidenced by the season's new crop of exhibitions celebrating some of the most iconic figures across art (Raphael), fashion (Iris van Herpen) and even sports (hello, Lombardi trophy!) Whether you're a culture vulture or simply want to escape some April showers by spending an afternoon inside a gorgeous gallery, there's plenty of artistic excitement to come in these springy months ahead. Here are 10 NYC art exhibitions we’re already planning to visit this spring. 10 NYC art exhibitions we’re most excited about in spring 2026 Photograph: Eileen Costa/The Museum at FITArt x Fashion at the Museum of FIT Art x Fashion at the Museum of FIT Fashion has been explored as an expressive tool by numerous artists, from Salvador Dalí to Sonia Delaunay to Scott Barrie, a fact beautifully portrayed in the new exhibition Art X Fashion at the Museum of FIT. Running now through April 19, the stylish display features more than 140 objects, including garments, accessories, textiles, photographs and original artworks drawn from MFIT's permanent collection. "This exhibition will garner strong opinions and spark lively dialogue, but whether you decide that fashion is art or not, fashion's strong and mutual relationship with fine art is undeniable," says Dr. Elizabeth Way, curator of costume and accessories at MFIT. Carol Bove at the Guggenheim The Gug

St. Patrick's Day lets every New Yorker tap into their Celtic side, whether they want to celebrate with boozy green-beer shenanigans, live traditional Irish music, some classic corned beef and cabbage, or a sideline spot cheering on the marchers of the official New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade. But the festivities aren't just relegated to March 17—the city will be spreading Irish culture and immigrant pride across the boroughs in the days leading up to the big holiday. Here are our picks for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this weekend and beyond in New York City.  RECOMMENDED: 10 hidden spots in NYC Irish history Cheer on the official parade Let's get the big one out of the way: Held since 1762, the city's official St. Patrick's Day parade is an annual favorite and is the largest of its kind in the world. Take in all of the drum bands, dancers and more as they transform midtown Manhattan into a big green-hued bash this Tuesday, March 17 beginning at 11am. (The parade begins at 44th Street, marching up Fifth Avenue—past St. Patrick's Cathedral at 50th Street—all the way to 79th Street.) Outside of Manhattan, there are other parades held throughout the boroughs, including the Brooklyn St. Patrick's Parade in Park Slope and the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade, both on March 15; and the Bay Ridge St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 22.  Join Stone Street's giant outdoor celebration Stone Street always throws a huge party for Paddy's Day and this year is no exception. F

NYC has an amazing independent film scene, with some of the best arthouse cinemas in the world. (Just check out Time Out's new global list of the 100 Greatest Cinemas in the World for proof.) And now New Yorkers can take advantage of it for free with a new campaign out of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment: Running from March 20 through 26, the inaugural Art House Cinema Week will offer up 5,000 free tickets to 30 participating independent theaters around town, including Film Forum, Metrograph, IFC Center, the Angelika and more. RECOMMENDED: Four NYC movie theaters were just ranked among the world’s best cinemas So, how exactly do you get said tickets? You have to be among eligible New Yorkers, including NYC teachers, CUNY students, U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans, people with disabilities, SNAP/EBT cardholders and NYC families registered with the nonprofit Cool Culture, which provides free access to cultural spaces. Simply present valid forms of identification at the box office.  "This initiative reflects our vision for an inclusive creative economy that supports the people who make art, the people who experience it, and the venues that bring it to life. At a time when many New Yorkers and independent theaters are feeling the squeeze of the affordability crisis, we’re stepping in with a simple way to open doors and strengthen our creative ecosystem. I hope to see you at the movies!” said Rafael Espinal, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office o

We can't say we're shocked (we really love the place, after all): New York was yet again ranked as one of the best cities in the world.  New York City had a strong showing on the annual list of the "Best Cities in the World," released by Time Out today. the Big Apple came in at No. 5, joining top global contenders like London, UK (No. 4); Edinburgh, UK (No. 3); Shanghai, China (No. 2); and this year's big winner, Melbourne, Australia.   RECOMMENDED: 50 reasons why NYC is the greatest city in the world right now Why was NYC included among those major megalopolises? "Well, it’s New York, for crying out loud. We’re a cultural behemoth with swagger for days, an intoxicating blend of the hallowed old and the hyped new, a city that doesn’t chew you up and spit you out so much as it consumes your very being until no other place will ever quite satisfy the same," yours truly wrote in the rankings. And data-wise, 78-percent of locals dubbed the five boroughs the most exciting place to be in the world, the highest score, by a long shot, of all cities surveyed. And from our world-class restaurants (rated highly by 91 percent of New Yorkers) to our stunning museums and cultural attractions (which received a huge 93 percent approval rating), the proof is in the proverbial pudding.  To determine the 2026 Best Cities ranking, we surveyed more than 24,000 residents across 150 global destinations, evaluating metrics like affordability, food scene, livability and overall vibe. We then combined

With its colorful characters, stunning skyline and unflappable swagger, New York is an inherently cinematic city, so it's only fitting that it's also a film lover’s dream town, boasting some of the best movie theaters around. And if you need proof that the Big Apple has what it takes to rival those celluloid temples out west or those film palaces over in Europe, Time Out's global list of "The 100 Greatest Cinemas In The World Right Now" just dropped and four NYC theaters made the ranking.  RECOMMENDED: The 101 best New York movies of all time Even more excitingly, one of New York's own even managed to crack the top three: Film Forum, a four-screen favorite of both regular filmgoers and famous pros like Robert Eggers ("I have probably had the most inspiring moviegoing experiences of my adult life at Film Forum," the Nosferatu director told Time Out.) The Greenwich Village staple is deservedly praised for its always-interesting mix of American indie premieres, foreign art films, genre works, directors’ retrospectives and special programming."   Photograph: Peter Aaron   Elsewhere on the list, you'll find Fort Greene's Bam Rose Cinemas at number 55, a refreshingly no-nonsense Brooklyn classic that focuses on the stuff cinephiles really care about (that is, dark screening rooms, excellent sound and a candy-and-popcorn counter). A quick ride over the Manhattan Bridge will get you to the list's number 23 spot, the Lower East Side arthouse Metrograph—the Ludlow Street cinema showc

Lunar New Year is one of New York's most anticipated annual events, a joyous celebration packed with dancing dragons, loud firecrackers, stunning ensembles, delicious food and more. We officially rang in the Year of the Fire Horse on Tuesday, February 17 but the spirited festivities continue throughout the month, all leading up to Chinatown’s big Lunar New Year Parade on March 1. If you want to get in on the collective cultural party, here are five fun Lunar New Year events happening this weekend in NYC.  RECOMMENDED: The best Chinese restaurants in NYC include classic dim sum, Peking duck and viral soup dumplings Five ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in NYC this weekend  Photograph: ShutterstockLunar New Year celebration with cocktails and sparklers 1. LES After Dark: Year of the Horse If you want to extend your Lunar New Year celebrations into the evening hours, head up to the rooftop bar UNLISTED on the top floor of UNTITLED Hotel for LES After Dark: Year of the Horse. Taking place on Saturday, February 21 from 8pm to 11pm, the festive evening will feature music by resident DJ Ezzek, Year of the Horse themed cocktails (like a sherry-splashed Bamboo Horse Spritz, a Golden Hoof Old Fashioned  and a Fire House Highball made with your choice of Japanese whiskey or blended Scotch), and special Water Magic Fortune Telling—just drop the paper in water to reveal your 2026 fortune! 2. China Institute's Lunar New Year Family Festival Gather the whole family for this interactive Lu

In case you missed it, it's been pretty freakin' brick outside this week, which very much has us scouring the city's best spas for bubbling hot tubs and boiling steam rooms to offset that awful chill. Helpfully, an entire large-scale sauna festival is soon coming to New York City next month to bring much-needed relaxation and warmth to our frigid city.  Beginning February 12 and running through March 1, Culture of Bathe-ing will transform Domino Park on the Williamsburg waterfront into an immersive and "unprecedented bathing experiment," with the aims of being the largest sauna village ever staged in the United States. Led by Robert Hammond, co-founder of the High Line, the fest will be equal parts wellness experience and cultural event, with both ticketed spa sessions — more than 1,000 guided experiences led by internationally renowned Aufguss World Champions and bathing practitioners from New York favorites including Bathhouse, Othership, and the Russian & Turkish Baths — as well as free public programming and workshops scheduled throughout the run, including live performance, sound, ritual, and immersive art curated in partnership with Pioneer Works. Related: A new Nordic-inspired bathing club opened in Noho this past fall “We are excited to partner with Therme’s sauna festival at Domino Park to bring talks, rituals, workshops and performances into the bathhouse,” says Gabriel Florenz, Founding Artistic & Executive Director at Pioneer Works. “Our joint program, Hot Bodies,

Heated Rivalry has taken over New York—well, the world really—with themed raves, trivia nights, watch parties and more. It's not looking like the horny obsession over the queer hockey romance is ending any time soon. In NYC, you can ice skate like Hollanov, hit the clubs like Hollanov and, yes, even scarf down tuna melts like Hollanov. From burgers to blueberry smoothies, here's where you can dine like the Heated Rivalry fellas in New York City.  RECOMMENDED: See the new ice skating rink that just opened on the north end of Central Park Where to eat like the 'Heated Rivalry' boys around NYC Tuna melts In one memorable scene of episode four, hockey rivals-turned-lovers Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) bond over tuna melts and Grillo's pickles. You can copy their romantic lunch at nostalgic NYC luncheonettes like B&H Dairy (which arrives on homemade challah with your choice of cheese—American, Swiss, cheddar or mozzarella—for $13) and S&P Lunch (piled atop griddle rye with American cheese for $17), each served with a sour cuke on the side.  Blueberry smoothies The romance between Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) and Kip Grady (Robbie G.K.) kicks off at New York's fictional smoothie shop Straw + Berry, where they flirt over the former's blueberry-and-banana drink order. If you want to start your day like the captain of the New York Admirals, you can order a similarly fruity blend at local spots such as Baya Bar and Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe.  Ginge

Fashion fans, mark this one on your calendar: May 2026 won't just bring the return of the Met Gala, one of style's biggest nights, but also the debut of a high-profile new fashion exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. Opening its doors (or, rather, spreading its kinetic, three-dimensional wings) on Saturday, May 16 and running through Sunday, December 6 at the arts institution, "Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses" will celebrate one of the most forward-thinking designers in the industry, with 140 extraordinary haute-couture creations from the iconic Dutch designer on view alongside contemporary artworks, objets d’art and scientific artifacts. RECOMMENDED: The best museum exhibitions in NYC right now The latest fashion exhibit taking over a major NYC cultural institution (with recent style-focused shows at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at the New-York Historical Society and at the Brooklyn Museum itself, which hosted a popular Dior retrospective back in 2021), the Van Herpen exhibit will serve as first major New York presentation of the designer's work, after premiering at Paris's Musée des Arts Décoratifs in November 2023 and moving onward to Brisbane, Singapore and Rotterdam.  Photograph: David UzochukwuIris van Herpen, Morphogenesis Dress, from the Sensory Seas collection, 2020 The designs on view will include the avant-garde, highly sculptural garments that have made Van Herpen a runway pioneer—her ethereal, futuristic pieces celebrate both classic craftsmanship and ne

The last time Harry Styles was onstage in New York City—as part of his Love On Tour shows, which spanned nearly two years from September 2021 (kicking off in Las Vegas) to July 2023 (ending in Reggio Emilia, Italy)—he broke some pretty major concert records. We're talking a sold-out 15-night run at NYC's own Madison Square Garden, kind of records. And in support of his latest project, his fourth studio album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, the British-born pop star is set to shatter his own records with yet another historic Manhattan residency, this time with a whopping 30 shows in the Big Apple beginning this August through Halloween 2026 as part of his Together, Together Tour. And even more than that, New York will be his sole U.S. stop for the tour, with fellow residencies set for Amsterdam, London, São Paulo, Mexico City, Melbourne and Sydney. It's yet another treat for NYC-area fans, who got to get an early listen of his new single "Aperture" last week.  RECOMMENDED: The 8 best concerts and music events worth travelling for in 2026 Given that pretty much all of America will be now trying to compete for a seat at his Manhattan gigs, here's everything you need to know about getting tickets to Harry Styles' NYC residency.  When does Harry Styles come to NYC for his Together, Together Tour? As part of his upcoming Together, Together Tour, Harry Styles will perform 30 shows in New York City from August 26, 2026, through October 31, 2026, before the singer moves on to