It is exactly one week since returning from the best birthday that I have ever celebrated in my 27 years of living. And as to no surprise for some of you, my birthday weekend was celebrated in New York City.

It was my first time traveling to the Big Apple, the Concrete Jungle, or the “City that Never Sleeps”, and all it took was one walk through Central Park to create a lasting impression.

I love New York City.

I love the diversity that the city embraces, the unique style each person expresses, the tasty and exquisite food, the liveliness each rooftop brings as it surrounds you with magnificent views, and the hustle of each person as they walk by or sometimes through you with a purpose.

I loved being in New York City.

To add to this incredible birthday experience, I passed by Kim Kardashian while on a carriage ride in Central Park on the day of my birthday. As if there wasn’t any other way to make my memory of NYC any more magical.

And with the recent sparkle from my trip, I bring to you a travel guide to both Brooklyn and Manhattan. If you are considering visiting NYC for your birthday, or just desiring to take a trip to the best place in the U.S (aside from Hawaii-my top 2), then keep reading to get the exact travel itinerary that we used for our two days in Manhattan, and two days in Brooklyn.

Mapping out your trip

When planning out my birthday trip, I wanted to maximize all of my time that I had in New York City. To me, this meant finding accommodation in both Manhattan and Brooklyn so that I could experience both boroughs. We were also very strategic with outlining what we wanted to do, where we wanted to go, and how we wanted to look (please come to NY cute).

To get more time in NYC, we decided to fly out of California on a Wednesday morning and arrived to JFK at 4pm EST. After checking into our hotel, we hit the ground running to begin our adventure. If you’re using PTO and hoping to map out your plans in a strategic way, check out my blog post here for more tips.

Attire- One of the many reasons as to why I love NYC is because nearly everyone is dressed in a stylish or unique way. Even if I personally wouldn’t wear an outfit selection that someone has on, I could agree that it works for their vibe or aesthetic. With that being said, please do not come to NYC without giving your outfits any thought, and do not pack flip flops and t-shirts for the entire trip. And for my fashionista’s, make sure to pack some comfy walking shoes and bring a cute day bag with you so that you can easily change into them when you’re ready to make the shoe switch.

Money- If you’re hoping to visit NY on a budget, you have high hopes. While I am sure that it is possible, and probably a blog out there written by a local who has tips, you should expect to spend a minimum of $500 within 3 days on food, transportation (I will talk about this later), and activities.

Vaccination Expectations- NYC recently began requiring proof of vaccination card’s in order to dine in and for a lot of indoor activities. If you aren’t vaccinated, you will want to plan your trip accordingly and research the requirements for your desired activities. Yes, this also includes the rooftop bars and lounges.The itinerary that I have provided below should also be reconsidered as most of the things that we did required our vaccination cards.

Day 1 & 2 in Manhattan:

Wednesday Night-

Pazza Notte– After checking into Park Central Hotel and getting dressed for our first night in Manhattan, we stumbled across an authentic and TASTY Italian place called Pazza Notte. We ordered the Pizza Forestale, and caught the end of happy hour with a Souther Belle drink.

Times Square- How could we not explore Times Square when it was only a few blocks away?! Filled with many tourists, ads, and flashing lights, Times Square is an iconic must see to add to your travel guide.

Thursday-

Central Park– Love of my life, Central Park. On the day of my birthday, my amazing bff Stasi surprised me with a carriage ride through Central Park, and it was everything that my inner child needed. Please, please, please go to Central Park and especially if you’re visiting in the fall or the spring.

Beyond Sushi – After our Kim K fan girl moment, we took a subway towards Midtown South and ended up at a vegan sushi spot. Totally accidental, yet totally good.

Lazzara’s Pizza- After hearing about this pizza place in a bar that I temporarily used for a shoe change, Stasi and I followed the very friendly New Yorker’s advice and walked over to get a few slices of pizza from Lazzara’s (posted below). IT WAS THE BEST PIZZA THAT I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE.

Le Grande Boucherie – The most fabulous French restaurant that I have experienced before with incredible food. Going into the place was enough to make me feel like a birthday princess, and the steak (also pictured below) enhanced this moment even more.

Make Believe -After a quick outfit change (shoutout to Stasi & Alex for helping me out that dress lol), we made our way to the East Village and ended up at Make Believe, a fun rooftop lounge decked out in all pink decor and neons lights.

The Back Room– Probably one of my favorite moments during my trip, the Back Room. A Speakeasy, that has been around since 1920, it was so cool to be in an environment filled with history. Our cocktails were also served in teacups to maintain the history during the prohibition era.

Friday:

SERRA by Birreria- Located in Eatly, near the Flatiron Building, SERRA is the perfect place to eat at for its seasonal decor and for the tasty food.

Madison Square Park– A quick walk from SERRA, visiting Madison Square Park is convenient and a good stop to shoot content.

Top of the Rock– Also known as the Rockefeller Observation Deck, the Top of the Rock has the best and nearly all of the views of NYC that you can get. This is actually where I shot the picture of me at the beginning of the blog.

Prince Street Pizza– Located in SoHo, and on the way to our next stop, Prince Street Pizza was a great stop and also a very popular pizza place when visiting NYC. It was good, but Lazzara’s was better 🙂

Gitano Garden of Love– I am not sure how my bff found this place, but it was ADORABLE. Only available in the warmer months, Gitano’s has really good Mexican food and is probably the only tropical place that you will experience in New York.

Day 3 & 4 in Brooklyn:

Saturday:

DUMBO– An extremely cute neighborhood in Brooklyn, which features cobblestones, and brownstones, you have to plan for time to walk through this area. If you’re hoping for a dope IG shot of the Manhattan Bridge (featured below), get to Washington St before everyone else who desires the same thing.

Brooklyn Bridge Park– Around the corner from Washington St, you will see the Brooklyn Bridge Park and the waterfront as well. You will also get views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge on the waterfront as well 🙂

The Butler– Full transparency, we weren’t able to eat here but it is a highly recommended place if you’re wanting to get breakfast and lunch in Brooklyn. It also comes with the view of the Manhattan Bridge.

Prospect Park– If you’re visiting NY in the fall, then you probably want to visit another park to see some fall foliage. Prospect Park is Brooklyn’s version of Central Park, and definitely worth strolling through. After spending the day outdoors in Brooklyn, head back to your hotel or Airbnb for a quick outfit change. Your evening plans will require a soft night glam look, while rocking some comfortable shoes.

Westlight Rooftop– Westlight Rooftop is apparently incredibly difficult to get a reservation, but my best friend managed to do so. You’ll be able to eat dinner (the best burger), grab a cocktail and soak in the some of the best views in NY.

Williamsburg Hotel (Watertower bar)– Close to Westlight Rooftop, is Williamsburg Hotel & its unique Water tower bar. Yes, a bar and a dance floor in a water tower. The picture of me below was taken at the water tower, located on top of the Williamsburg Hotel rooftop.

Sunday-

On Sunday we left Brooklyn and headed towards Manhattan to catch the train for our flight. If you’re able to, try getting a later flight so that you can soak up your last moments in NYC. We were able to do so and it helped us not feel as rushed as we prepared to head back to San Diego.

Where to Stay:

Park Central Hotel– Park Central Hotel is next to Central Park, Time Square, and not too far from Hell’s Kitchen. It is truly conveniently located, and the staff made staying here even more pleasant for my best friend and I.

Brooklyn Airbnb– If you’re hoping for an experience that immerses you into the local lifestyle, then this is the perfect Airbnb for you. The place is also super clean, and we felt comfortable staying here.

Overall:

Transportation: DO NOT GET A RENTAL CAR. NYC is known for its incredible public transportation options. So do not waste your money on getting a rental car. Hop on the subway, hail a taxi, grab a bike, or use Uber when visiting the city.

Friendliness: NYC is not everyone’s cup of tea, and a huge contributing factor is the “people”. Except I actually don’t agree with this fully. If you’re used to walking fast, getting shit done, and you’re personally not someone who loves engaging w/strangers on vacation, then you will be fine in NY. If you expect the opposite, you will have a difficult time in NY.

Solo Travel Safety: Now that I have been to NY, I feel comfortable going back by myself. If you’re trying to decide if you should go on a solo trip to NY, I would suggest visiting with a friend first and then making that decision based off of your trip. I also personally think that NY is a place that you should experience with your close friends.

Final Thoughts: As I have said before, I LOVE NYC. It was everything that my little 12 year old self would have loved, and I plan to return one day 😉