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Now 400 years old, NYC’s still got it, says Hannah Roberts, who took a walk along the High Line, visited the NH Collection on Madison Avenue and Meatpacking District.
Yellow taxis weave in between rows of twinkling lights and concrete blocks. I tower above them, having grappled with my fear of heights to traverse New York’s fourth-tallest skyscraper.
Observing the city from One Vanderbilt’s observation deck, 1,207ft from the ground, is a knee-wobbling introduction to Manhattan. In its 400th year, the city is dynamic and vibrant. First established as New Amsterdam in the 1620s by Dutch colonists, the relatively small settlement grew in the 18th century following multiple immigration waves.
NYC’s most famous district is Manhattan, an area dotted with historical landmarks that produce feelings of dizzying awe. Eager to delve in, I’m there on a short break.
Jumping on to my hotel bed after a long flight, I turn my eyes to the window and catch a glimpse of the jewel in the crown. Once the tallest building in the city, the Empire State Building, renowned for its distinctive Art Deco facade, is an emblem of New York ambition, a reminder of a time when the city represented luxury, glamour and exuberance.
A highlight of staying at the NH Collection on Madison Avenue is gazing at the remarkable views. Situated in a century-old red-brick building, the hotel is a cosy haven that charms with its period features and decor.
Attached to the property is Italian restaurant Serafina, which provides a relaxed setting for a buffet breakfast and a lively dining experience at night. The hotel’s overall design scheme is mid-century modern, with little flourishes that transport you back to 1950s’ New York – think typewriters and historical knick-knacks.
Nearby, the High Line is a walkway that places you at eye level with the Manhattan buildings. The space, featuring swathes of greenery, built on a historic freight rail line that was abandoned in the 1980s.
As I walk through the “park in the sky”, I admire art installations and architecture, catching the scent of flowers or freshly baked bread from nearby bagel shops. I then make my way to Chelsea Market, a centre of food and retail in the city’s Meatpacking District.
The High Line trains that once delivered produce to the wholesale butchers of the area are now swathes of pungent eateries, a foodie’s idea of heaven. Opting for a more luxurious lunch, I dine at the rooftop restaurant at RH New York, another spot that boasts views of the Manhattan skyline. Mixing Mediterranean-style cuisine with American touches, the lunch menu offers grilled meats, signature salads and caviar three different ways.
Proof there’s much more to the restaurant scene than chips and burgers, abcV is a plant-based restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. I visit for the evening, enjoying the clean, white aesthetic and plates of impressive vegetables.
Places like this are representative of New York, welcoming the new while paying tribute to the old, with dishes influenced by the people and places that make the city what it is.
An area of New York steeped in tradition is the Bronx. The Ramirez brothers, who run the Bronx Beer Hall, are helping to change perceptions of the borough, which was often portrayed as being dangerous in the 80s and 90s. Their beer hall in Arthur Avenue Retail Market welcomes tourists and locals – old men roll cigars at the front and locals sell deli meats further back.
As the city’s financial district, Manhattan offers a more polished experience, but both are equally impressive. In fact, each borough offers something unique. While Queens is known for its international food scene and arty neighbourhoods, Staten Island has a more relaxed feel to it, dressed with green spaces that act as an escape from the throng of the city.
Then there’s Brooklyn, with its trendy coffee shops and historic brownstone buildings that attract Instagram influencers. On my last day in the city, I visit Central Park, a huge green space that acts as an oasis within the metropolis.
I recognise this park from films and TV shows – Friends, Home Alone 2, and Enchanted are just some that come to mind as I sit on a bench and eat a bagel packed to the brim with fillings.
Reflecting on my short stay, I wonder how long it would take for me to explore every brownstone building, skyscraper, bagel shop, museum and park. Wildly different in so many ways, New York has also carved out a distinctive identity over the years.
All too often, fact never lives up to fiction – but New York is just as wonderful as I hoped it would be.
BOOK IT
Rooms at the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue hotel start at around £158 a night. nh-collection.com
GET THERE
Flights to New York City are available from airports across the UK.
MORE INFO
nyctourism.com
