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Sample Lists - Top 10 Guide to New York City
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The Top 10 Restaurants in New York
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| These are the very best restaurants in New York and among the best in the world. They are very expensive but worth it. They provide a glorious dining experience. The hosts are gracious and they will make sure your visit is a memorable one. Call well in advance for reservations. |
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| 1. Le Cirque 2000 |
New York Palace Hotel
455 Madison Ave. @ 50th St.
Tel: 212.794.9292 |
| An outstanding dining experience of exquisitely prepared food, dramatic ambiance and pampering service. Serves French cuisine with extraordinarily delicious desserts. Popular with power players, but the food is the star. |
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| 2. Lespinasse |
St. Regis Hotel
2 E. 55th St.
Tel: 212.339.6719 |
| Elegant, refined, stunning to look at, and mesmerizing in its subtleties. You will be transported to a total environment of warm colors, overflowing flowers and delicious French food. A superb experience. If only every day could be like a Lespinasse day. |
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| 3. Daniel |
60 east 65th St.
Tel: 212.288.0499 |
| Everything a restaurant should be. A total dedication to outstanding food, service and hospitality. Ever in tune with the seasons, Daniel prepares excellent French food that is presented at the table with grace and care. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. A delightful dining experience. |
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| 4. Jean Georges |
Trump International Hotel
1 Central Park West
Tel: 212.299.3900 |
| Formal French food from a Master's hands define this haute cuisine artistically presented. Here the Master creates, the staff responds, and you enjoy superb, leading-edge French cuisine. |
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| 5. Bouley Bakery |
120 West Broadway @ Duane
Tel: 212-964-2525 |
| This is a change of pace from the formal elegancy of most of the pricey restaurants in this category. Originally, Bouley Bakery was an extraordinary bakery with a small cafe with exquisite French food. But the dining demand was so great that David Bouley had to expand. So he just changed the proportions. Now it's a full restaurant with exquisite French food and a small extraordinary bakery. The food is inspired, the service outstanding and the experience delightful. |
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| 6. Four Seasons |
99 E. 52nd St., The Seagram Building/Park Avenue
Tel: 212.754.9494 |
| The Pool Room is like no other dining room in the world. A large reflector pool sits in the middle of a room with ceilings so high they don't seem to exist. The food is excellent as is the service. |
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| 7. La Grenouille |
3 E. 52nd St.
Tel: 212.752.1495 |
| The First Lady of New York French restaurants. Just off Fifth Avenue, this is where Jackie O. loved to dine. Intimate and quiet with wonderfully delicious food and attentive service. |
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| 8. Alaine Ducasse |
Essex House, 155 W. 58th St.
Tel: 212.265.7300 |
| If you are serious about French Food this is the place for you. Alaine Ducasse is considered one of the top French chefs in the world with the stars and medals to prove it. The food is precisely prepared and elegantly served. The staff is attentive, respectful and wanting you to have a perfect dining experience. This is one of the most expensive restaurants in New York but they will cater to you like you were royalty of old. But it cries out for that old Broadway line "kick up your heels and live a little." |
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| 9. Le Bernardin |
155 W. 51st St. @ 6th Ave.
Tel : 212.489.1515 |
| Unbelievably delicious seafood with a French touch. A spacious, open room. Innovative, smart and imaginative cooking by a master who loves the bounty of the sea. Come, let yourself go, enjoy superb seafood and stunning deserts. |
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| 10. Chanterelle |
2 Harrison St. @ Hudson
212.966.6960 |
| A careful, thoughtfully prepared work of art: the decor, the ambiance and especially the food. Everything is planned for you to have an exceptional dining experience. The food is superb, the service excellent and the ambience is elegant. |
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The Top 10 Romantic Restaurants
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| Here are the most romantic restaurants in New York. You are assured an evening you will long remember. Some are very pricey, so romantics be aware. If you want a memorably romantic time with that special person, these are the places to choose. Romance, isn't that what a trip to New York is all about? |
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| 1. Top of the Tower |
Beekman Tower Hotel, First Ave.@ 49th St.
Tel: 212.904.796 |
| This is Manhattan out of a 1940's movie. Dine high atop an East Side Tower, with the lights of the city flickering across the majestic skyline while a piano plays softly in the background. The room is elegant and sophisticated; men are neatly attired, and women move in flowing dresses; the service is attentive and professional. Ah, this is the way romance in New York was meant to be. |
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| 2. Lespinasse |
St. Regis Hotel, 2 E. 55th St.
Tel: 212.339.6719 |
| For an intimate romantic evening with the most beautiful person in your life bring them to the most beautiful restaurant in New York. You are assured of an outstanding evening. See: The Top 10 Restaurants in New York. |
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| 3. Tavern on the Green |
Central Park West @ 67th St.
Tel: 212.873.3200 |
| There's nothing like pulling up to this famous restaurant in Central Park. There is not a celebrity in New York who has not dined in this restaurant at one time or other. The food is excellent and the deserts outstanding. And, on summer evenings you can walk hand-in-hand through the park back to your hotel. What could be more romantic? |
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| 4. Lutece |
249 East 50th Street @ 2nd Avenue
Tel: 212.752.2225 |
| A premier French restaurant with elegant French service. The waiters are sharp, the food is graciously presented and ornate silver serving plates are everywhere. You could be dining in Paris. The food is excellent, the dining room is spacious and the staff respectful of romantics as only the French can be. |
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| 5. Bryant Park and Cafe & Grill |
240 West 40th @ 6th Avenue
Tel: 212.840.6500 |
| This is part of one of the great small parks in New York. Right after work it fills with young New Yorkers living their dream in the city. When they leave, theatergoers fill the tables. As the evening moves on, it's the romantics who take over the place and waiters let them linger. As you sip wine, you can hear the distant rumble of the traffic up 6th Avenue, the honks of the taxis rushing to their destinations and the rustle of leaves in the breeze overhead. For romantics it's a symphony that can only be heard in New York. |
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| 6. Provence |
38 MacDouglas @ Prince
Tel: 212.475.7500 |
| You'll feel very romantic in this attractive French bistro, which has been serving this neighborhood for years. Candlelit tables, attentive staff and delicious French food make this is a sure bet for a romantic evening as only the French can create. |
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| 7. Panache |
470 6th Avenue @ 11th Street
Tel: 212.243.2222 |
| This is a little French bistro where they will recognize the love in your eyes and provide you with an intimate, memorable evening. It's low cost, personal, intimate and memorable. What more do you want for a night of romance? |
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| 8. Viceversa |
325 W. 51st St. @ 9th Ave.
Tel: 212.586.7714 |
| One of the most romantic spots for before or after the Theatre. It's a stylish restaurant specializing in Italian Cuisine. |
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| 9. Alison on Dominick Street |
38 Dominick St.
Tel: 212.727.1188 |
| This restaurant radiates relaxed elegance. The food is country French and particularly good, while the service is watchful. At reasonable prices, this is one of the best values in the city. |
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| 10. One of By Land, Two if by Sea. |
17 Barrow St. @ W. 4th St.
Tel: 212.228.0822 |
| Lilting piano music, outstanding food and understanding staff make this one of the favorites for romantic New Yorkers. |
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The Top 10 Things to Do in New York
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| No matter how short or long your visit to New York City, here are the Top 10 things you should do to make it a memorable experience. |
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| 1. See a Broadway show. |
| For show times and tickets call The Broadway Line (212.302.4111) or check The New York Times. For on the day tickets try the TKS half-price tickets. One is located at the center of Times Square on Broadway. Be aware that TKS, while discounted, takes cash only. Try Off -Broadway shows for the same professionalism at a lower price. TKS may have tickets for these shows as well. See: The Top 10 Things to Know About Broadway Shows. |
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| 2. Visit the Metropolitan Museum. |
| One of the greatest Museums in the world. It's a must for any trip to New York City. See: The Top 10 Museums. |
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| 3. Stroll down Fifth Avenue and up Madison for the greatest window shopping in the world. |
| You'll see the greatest collection of glamorous department stores, designer shops and jewelry stores in the world. So what if you can't afford any of it. It's a great show. See: The Top 10 Sights on Fifth Avenue. |
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| 4. Go to the top of the Empire State Building. |
| There is no better statement of New York City's grandeur than the Empire State Building. Once the tallest building in the world, it still is the most elegant. It commands the city with striking presence and grace. Visit the open-air observation deck on the 86th floor for spectacular views. This is a must visit and the best place in New York to have your picture taken with the city spread out below. See: The Top 10 New York Buildings. |
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| 5. Get lost in SoHo. |
| Wear your black turtleneck and shades to fit into the hippest neighborhood in the City. This is where it's happening today in NYC. See: The Top 10 Sights - SoHo/TriBeCa. |
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| 6. Enjoy the spectacle of Times Square at night. |
| It's colorful, noisy, exciting, and one of a kind. There are more theatres, taxis, limousines and excited people rushing to shows here than at any other place on earth. See: The Top 10 New York Must-See Areas. |
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| 7. Go to the ballet or opera. |
| You would never do that back home. See the best in the world. See: The Top 10 Guide to the Performing Arts. |
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| 8. Watch the taping of a television show such as the Today, Letterman, or Conan Shows. |
| Get up early and go watch the making of the Today Show at Rockefeller Center. Or call in advance for tickets to the David Letterman Show (Tel: 212.975.5853), Conan O'Brian (Tel: 212.664.4000), Saturday Night Live (212.664.4000), or MTV Studios (212.398.8549). |
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| 9. Take in Central Park. |
| Enter anywhere along Central Park South and you'll find a friendly, easy-to-get-around city park. One of the greatest in the world. With its carousel, zoo, ice skating rink, monuments, and interesting people, the Park is a delight to visit. See The Top 10 Things to See and Do in Central Park. |
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| 10. Have dessert in the Palm Court of the Plaza Hotel, drinks at the King Cole Bar, or lunch at the Carnegie Deli. |
| These great New York institutions provide memorable New York experiences. (Located at The Plaza Hotel, 5th Ave. and 59th St.; The St. Regis Hotel, 55th St. at 5th Ave.; 7th Ave. at 55h Sts.; respectively). |
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The Top 10 Things to Do With Children
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| Can children enjoy a visit to New York? You bet they can! It is full of sights and sounds they will never see anywhere else. Here are the Top 10 things you can do specifically with children. They will talk about them all the way home. |
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| 1. Take them to a Broadway Show. |
| The memory will stay with them forever. With Disney now on the Big White Way there is something for every age group. Call The Broadway Line (Tel: 212.302.4111) for show and activity listings. |
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| 2. Visit the Museum of Natural History. |
| This museum's huge skeletons of dinosaurs and interactive displays amaze children. Kids love this place! See: The Top 10 Museums for Children. |
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| 3. Go to the top of the Empire State Building. |
| It provides breathtaking views of the city from over 1000 feet. Its open-air observatory on the 86th floor is refreshing and has been featured in "tons" of movies. Take your children's picture with the city in the background. It's the best "I did New York" photo. |
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| 4. Visit the Statue of Liberty. |
| The boat trip into the New York Harbor is as exciting as the actual statue. See: The Top 10 New York City Must-See Areas. |
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| 5. Explore Radio City Music Hall. |
| Awesome is one word that comes to mind. The building was designed to be impressive due to its immense size. There is just no theatre or show like it and the overwhelming magnitude of everything is dazzling. |
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| 6. Take the NBC tour. |
| It's always interesting to see where television shows come from. |
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| 7. Take a double Decker Tour ride. |
| The different perspective will keep them and you mesmerized. See: The Top 10 Sightseeing Tours. |
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| 8. Take them to FAO Schwarz. |
| The world's biggest toy store (or so they say) will entertain not only your child but you as well. Be prepared to buy something, though, it's hard to leave empty-handed and the toys are not cheap. This paradise for children of all ages is located between 58th and 59th Sts. at 767 5th Ave. |
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| 9. Take in a zoo. |
| The Bronx Zoo is by far the best choice, but for a closer option, there is a small children's petting zoo in Central Park on the East Side. |
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| 10. Ride the Central Park Carousel. |
| It's one of the great carousels of the world. |
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