Our itinerary for finding Ethiopian coffee, energizing dim sum, superb pizza, and much more across the New York island.
If you want to see Manhattan like you never have before , you set out ta take the air it — all of it . Yes , the 13 - knot excursion from Inwood to Battery Park is a daunting one , but it ’s the only way to unfeignedly experience the flickering of neighborhood , each so distinct yet meld in succession . Popularized by shows likeBroad Cityand afew adventurous TikTokers , this concrete hike is something every New Yorker should try at least once in their life .
Having participated in the challenge myself , I experience it ’s imperative to trap a few stops on the mathematical function to prompt you along the room — especially ones that revolve around food for thought . This is your probability to enjoycrispy latkes at a Judaic delion the Upper West Side andscalding xiao long baoat a dumpling parlour in Chinatown , all in one day . Trust me when I say , you will require the caloric fuel .
A few thing to know before you go . There are many route you’re able to take , but I suggest startle from top to bottom so that you’re able to end with a victorious wave to Lady Liberty . You have the option to conserve your mileage by extend down a consecutive path on the west side ( Broadway is your respectable bet ) , or , for surplus dangerous undertaking , crossing through Central Park . Though I am by no means an athlete — I’d receive “ participant ” ribbons at middle school track meets — I chose the latter , squeeze up about 22 international nautical mile and zero regrets .
Bethesda Fountain in Central Park|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
It ’s heavy to say how much clip the journeying will take , as that depend on how long you stay at each stoppage , but expect roughly 12 minute . You ’ll become introduce with all the public restrooms this borough has ( ahem , fails ) to offer up , rule abatement in Chipotles and Whole Foods .
Resist eating that whole bagel , as unmanageable as it might be . Some semblance of portion control is important if you want a bite of everything . With all this activity , you might start to finger frantic at some point . For me , that opinion pass off while beak up some socks at a fluorescently lit Gap in Turtle Bay . It ’s all part of the playfulness .
Here ’s our itinerary for hitting the good food for thought and drink spot , both older and newfangled , across the duration of Manhattan .
Yetsom Beyaynetu Plate|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
Beginning the trek
9 am:Buunni Coffee
start out your day with a long , meditative journeying on the subway . If you ’re departing from low Manhattan , set up on set about to the very top , take the 1 train to 215th Street , or jockey a little and take the A to 207th . Once in Inwood , walk over toBuunni Coffee , an independent cafe specialize in microroasted edible bean and Ethiopian plates . possessor Elias Gurmu and Sarina Prabasi , earlier from Ethiopia , opened Buunni Coffee with the intention ofbringing dull coffee to NYC.The expansive yet welcoming space is really more of a residential district centerfield , where you ’ll learn all about the artsy goings - on of northern Manhattan . In fountain , dig into their particular Elmer Rice pudding , made with oat Milk River , inadequate grain Sir Tim Rice , cardamon , roasted pistachio , saffron , and refreshing pomegranate seeds . Wash it down with a individual - origin dripping .
From Buunni , explore the medieval sweetheart of theMet Cloisters , then get to knowFort Tryon Park .
1 pm:Absolute Bagels
From Fort George , make your way through the three Heights — Washington , Hamilton , and Morningside — arriving at Columbia University ’s campus . Fueled up on other morn energy and the promise of adventure , you , like me , might make it through this two - hour stretchability without hold on , entrance by the architectural grandness of those pre - war apartment buildings . But you ’ll likely become ravenous upon enter Columbia University , and there ’s no greater interlude thanAbsolute Bagels . The restraint of the organization — no table , no internet site , older - schooltime , slotted menu table — matches the simplicity of its bagel . The ratio of crunchy outside to piano interior is so double-dyed here that it take nothing more than ointment cheese — and I say this as a Francis Bacon , egg , and cheese rabid . There ’s almost always a descent out the door , but this one ’s deserving waiting for .
2 pm:Barney Greengrass
Congratulations ! You ’ve made it to the halfway mark . Stroll through the Upper West Side , stopping for a water - down coffee atBarney Greengrass , otherwise have sex as the “ Sturgeon King , ” on Amsterdam Ave and 86th . The great Anthony Bourdainonce wrote , “ Sunday breakfast at Barney ’s is one of those quintessential New York things to do : a crowded , ugly dining room , unaltered for decades , wonky table , brusque waiter , generic coffee ; but their egg scramble with dark , caramelized onions and their lox , serve with impertinent toasted bagel or bialy [ a Polish roll ] , is ethereal , and the hometeam crowd of Upper - West - Siders is about as ‘ genuine New York ’ as you may get . ” If you only have room for a snack , say yes to the onion - braid spud latkes that the waiters will force you to get for the table , or provide with a brash rugelach .
Sticking to the west side
4 pm:Los Tacos No. 1
If you decide to stay on the Mae West side , you might as well take a slight roundabout way through Times Square — this is a very I <3 NY solar day after all . turn back for a bite atLos Tacos No . 1 , a small Manhattan chain boasting one of the best tacos in New York City — and by that I signify the Adobada , an unbelievably spicy greaser made with red chile – marinated pork that ’s charred on a spit , carved , and serve with sourish strip of pineapple . If you ’re still thirsty , it ’s worth delving into the other protein on the pared down menu — Carne Asada , Pollo Asada , and Nopal — but I guarantee it ’s the pork you ’ll be dreaming about . The only downside : They call them taco stand for a reason , so do n’t bear to sit . But is there anything more intimate than sharing a counter with a unknown , unleash the messiest of morsel , and avoiding eye contact ?
6 pm:John’s of Bleecker Street
Next , make your mode through Chelsea and into the West Village , where you ’ll stop at the unofficial “ pizza blocking ” of Bleecker Street . It ’s bookended byJoe ’s Pizzaon one side andBleecker Street Pizzaon the other . Your dinner destination is located in the middle atJohn ’s of Bleecker Street , a historic origination that has been churn out coal - fired Proto-Indo European since 1929 . Here ’s the affair about New York pizza pie . Even if you ’re at the most revere slicing shop , sometimes what you get is really spectacular , and sometimes it ’s not . And that ’s because , with such long stock and immediate turnaround times , it might be that you gravel the last slice that was sitting out for a while , or it was n’t heated long enough . This will never happen at John ’s , though , because slices are forbidden . You are intend to sit down , order an entire Proto-Indo European — ensure you ask for it “ well done”—and enjoy itpipinghot while staring up at frames of famous people awkwardly posing with the proprietor . I ca n’t mean of a better style to wind down after a foresighted day of cardio .
Crossing Central Park
4 pm:JG Melon
So you ’ve ambitiously resolve to traverse Central Park . surely , you ’ll end up amassing a bunch more measure , but it ’s also like , how could you not reach Central Park ? After you stare at those petty common snapping turtle in Turtle Pond , devote a sojourn to Belvedere Castle , or dodge runners at the man-made lake , it ’s metre to enter the Upper East Side , where you ’ll block up forGigi Hadid ’s favorite burgeratJG Melon . By no mean value am I concur with Gigi ( for me , that honour goes to7th Street Burger ) . But this is aquintessentialpub , deserving jibe out for all the kitschy , watermelon - theme paraphernalia . There ’s something by all odds preppy about this place , which is fun to bask in when you ’re in the ground of trust funds , but with $ 13 burgers on the menu , it ’s far from exclusive . You ca n’t leave without rank a side of bungalow - fry white potato .
7 pm:Nom WahTea Parlor
After move through Midtown East , you might want to stop for a quick cannoli atVeniero’sin the East Village before settle for your second dinner atNom Wah Tea Parlor , Chinatown ’s very first dim sum lair . Established in 1920 , the bustling eating place is now helmed by first generation New YorkerWilson Tang , but it ’s still filled with old - humans charm . At this point in your journey , you ’re tired , you ’re athirst , and you ca n’t await to ensure off a assortment of dumpling with little pencils on a narrow-minded paper menu . Here ’s what to get : the Original “ OG ” Egg Roll , Shrimp and Snow Pea Leaf Dumplings , and Fried Sesame Balls with Lotus Paste .
The end is near
Nightcap:Overstory
Bonus: the next day
Unless you ’re a seasoned endurance contest runner , you ’ll probably ignite up later than common the next day , gloriously huffy . And that calls for the most filling breakfast at your local diner , where you ’ll banquet on corned beef hash , massive flapjack , and bottomless coffee , all while staring at some passerby through a curved glass window . You wo n’t take your eyes off of the change scenes , because ever since yesterday , Manhattan has never looked the same .
Adobada taco|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
Cheeseburger with cottage-fried potatoes|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
Snow pea leaf dumplings, turnip cakes, roast pork bun|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
Gyokuru Martini|Photo by Cole Saladino for Thrillist
