Where to Stay and Play in New York City for Any Kind of Traveler

Part of what makes the perpetually evolving metropolis of New York City such a compelling destination is that there are so many different versions of it, all coexisting across its five boroughs. Ask two New Yorkers what the city means to them, and you’ll get radically different responses. More than 800 languages are spoken here, after all, and the sheer diversity of cultures and lived experiences is enough to make the mind reel.

While New York can sometimes feel overwhelming for uninitiated travelers, it doesn’t have to be. The key to thriving in the Big Apple is knowing exactly what you want and being unafraid to go for it. Maybe you’re looking for a cultural deep dive, complete with world-class museums and art galleries. Or perhaps you’re hoping to catch a Broadway show and paint the town red. Or maybe you’re looking for an action-packed family vacation that you and the kids will talk about for years to come.

Consider this a primer on what to do on your next visit to New York City. Whether you’re seeking romance, music, or simply an urban adventure, you’’ll find it here. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

For First-Timers: Times Square

There’s no neighborhood more synonymous with Manhattan than Times Square, and if this is your first visit, it belongs on your list. Yes, New Yorkers love to scoff at their most famous location — and between the crowds and the barrage of whirling selfie-stick platforms with “Empire State of Mind” blasting on loop, it’s easy to see why.

But don’t let the jaded naysayers get you down. Staying in Times Square means that all of Broadway —, not to mention Radio City Music Hall, the Ed Sullivan Theater, and all sorts of other cultural venues —, is at your fingertips. Plus, you’re at the nerve -center of the transit system, making it a breeze to hop around the other boroughs.

There’s also a whole lot more to Times Square than the M&M store. Stay up late to catch the “Midnight Moment,” in which a single, rotating art installation takes over all the LED screens. Rub elbows with off-duty Broadway legends at Sardis or Bar Centrale, or squeeze your way into the Rum House for live jazz.

There’s also great food to be had pre- or post-show, including superb Greek sweets at the century-old Poseidon Bakery, al pastor tacos on house-made corn tortillas at Los Tacos No. 1, ultra-crispy Thai-style fried chicken at Three Roosters, and next-level soup dumplings at the palatial Din Tai Fung. The ever-popular Joe’s Pizza has an outpost in midtown, or you can skip the line and grab an excellent pie at the sit-down See No Evil Pizza, hidden away right before the turnstile at the 50th Street subway station.

The key to enjoying your stay in this part of town is having a peaceful place to unwind at the end of the night. That’s why citizenM New York Times Square has blackout blinds, rain showers, and XL king beds in every room.

For Couples: Central Park

If you’re looking to channel “When Harry Met Sally,” there’s no better place to do it than right in Central Park. Considered one of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s greatest masterpieces, this sprawling urban green space feels a world apart from the skyscrapers that surround it.

Wander through the Ramble, a 36-acre woodland sanctuary for bird species, with your beloved in the summer, or hold hands on the ice-skating rink in the winter. Pay a visit to the playful sea lions at the Central Park Zoo, a hallmark of urban planner Robert Moses’ revamp of the park, or have your own fairy- tale moment at the 19th-century Belvedere Castle. Cinephiles should be sure to book a tour of famous filming locations in Central Park, which includes spots seen in everything from “Sex and the City” to “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

During the warmer months, the Central Park Boathouse is suitably swoon-inducing. Reopened after an extensive refurbishment in 2024, the restaurant is better than it needs to be, given its enviable location. Order a shrimp cocktail and a round of warm Parker House rolls with flaky salt, accompanied by a bottle of bubbly, and watch the rowboats go by.

An essential component of a romantic getaway is treating your beloved to a little bit of extra pampering. Wake up to sweeping views of the park at JW Marriott Essex House New York, a luxe haven housed in an art deco gem. Bourbon Steak New York, the hotel’s signature restaurant by Michael Mina, features a wood-fired grill and locally sourced products. Dinner here is a truly indulgent affair, featuring 40-day dry-aged steaks, caviar service, and seafood platters fit for a robber baron.

For Families: Chelsea

Navigating the bustle of Times Square with children can be a hassle, which is why it pays for families on vacation in NYC to stay a little farther downtown. There’s also an incredible amount to see and do right in Chelsea. Order gelatos for the little ones and walk along the High Line, pausing to take in the large-scale sculptural installations. You’ll find even more art at Chelsea’s string of blue-chip galleries: David Zwirner, Gagosian, White Space, Pace, and other heavy hitters are all clustered in the neighborhood, often featuring large-scale works that rival those in world-class museums.

On a blue-skied day, pack picnic supplies and take the whole family to Hudson River Park, a 4.,5-mile green space that hugs the waterfront. Kids will love watching for passing helicopters and boats along the river. If the littles need to stretch their legs, go for a scenic, riverside stroll south from Chelsea, and head east to the brownstones and café-lined streets of the West Village. Or continue hall the way down toward the lower tip of Manhattan for a terrific view of the Statue of Liberty.

Travelers of all ages will love exploring Little Island, a 2.4-acre public park in the Hudson River. Not only does this rather whimsical installation showcase 350 different species of plants, but there’s also an amphitheater featuring all sorts of family-friendly concerts in the summer.

If energy levels are flagging after all this activity, fuel up with snacks or a meal at Chelsea Market. With more than 40 stalls serving everything from made-to-order mango sticky rice to fresh pastas to tacos, even the pickiest eaters are guaranteed to find something they’ll love. While you can absolutely just walk in, the sheer number of delicious options here can be overwhelming to a newcomer. A guided tour of Chelsea Market and the High Line offers the chance to try all sorts of different treats while also learning about the people who make them.

With spacious studios that can accommodate up to four guests, SpringHill Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Chelsea allows parents and kids to stay together.

For Business Travelers: Midtown 

More than 12 million business travelers visit the Big Apple each year. If you happen to be one of them, you’re going to want to stay right in the midst of the movers and shakers. Although the Financial District, or FiDi, at the southern tip of Manhattan near One World Trade Center, may have its share of big meetings, the core of the action is still indisputably Midtown.  

Admittedly, this dense cluster of skyscrapers has a reputation for being all work and no play, but that’s not entirely true. As a matter of fact, one of the best things about a business trip here is that there are plenty of ways to kick back after a long day in the boardroom.  

For starters, you’re a stone’s-throw from Korea Town, with some of the best food in the city. If you’re on an expense account, walk into what appears to be an abandoned garage and ride the freight elevator up to Joo Ok, a phenomenal restaurant with two MICHELIN Stars where chef Chang-ho Shin ferments his own gochujang and makes his own perilla oil from leaves grown on his farm. If Italian is more your speed, grab a table at Ci Siamo, where live-fire cooking meets ethereal handmade pastas.  

If you’re looking to grab a drink with your colleagues, the options are endless. The splashiest one is the King Cole Bar, where the negronis are as good as always and the 30-foot mural makes for an unbeatable backdrop. For a more casual vibe, grab a cocktail or pint at Tanner Smith’s. 

Since you’ll want a minimal commute before your morning meetings, Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel is the perfect place to stay. Not only is its location a few blocks from Bryant Park ideal, but its stylish on-site bar is the perfect place to grab an after-work Manhattan. 

For Culture Lovers: Fifth Avenue

Walking along this iconic avenue will take you right past or near some of the biggest shops and finest art museums in the world. Start your cultural trek with the Morgan Library & Museum, built in 1906 for financier J. P. Morgan, nearby Madison Avenue and 36th Street. Rotating exhibitions spotlight the collection’s 100,000 rare tomes, not to mention other priceless artifacts ranging from Egyptian papyri to musical manuscripts. Then head north to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), leaving extra time to browse the design-forward offerings at the gift shop.

You could easily spend an entire day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where there’s always something new to see. After you’ve wandered through the Temple of Dendur, make your way to the Neue Galerie, a museum featuring works by Gustav Klimt and other renowned German and Austrian artists. While you’re there, stop for a slice of Sacher torte at Café Sabarsky before walking up to the Frank Lloyd Wright–-designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Finally, make your way up to 104th Street, where you’ll find the intimate El Museo del Barrio, showcasing works by Latin American artists. Right next door, you’ll find the charming Museum of the City of New York, which is small enough that you can combine it with an afternoon visit to its neighbor.

If you’re planning to museum-hop, stay at Le Méridien New York, Fifth Avenue, a stylish urban escape situated within easy walking distance of the Morgan Library & Museum.

For Night Owls: The East Village

Still bohemian after all these years, the East Village truly comes to life after dark. From fairy- light-strewn dive bars to swanky cocktail dens, you’ll find near-endless options to burn the midnight oil here. The neighborhood is a mix of decades-old classics, like Ukrainian restaurant Veselka, and hipper newcomers like the packed Mister Paradise.

Start your evening off with dinner at 886, a neon-drenched Taiwanese eatery; Somtum Der, an Isan-style (northeastern Thai) restaurant brought over from Bangkok; or Ruffian, a slick wine bar. If a dark, brooding speakeasy with Prohibition-style libations resonates, get in line for Death & Co or Please Don’t Tell, two of the bars that defined the city’s mixology renaissance in the aughts. For terrific live music, check out Nublu Classic for jazz or Berlin for indie rock. Meanwhile, KGB Bar, a former Ukrainian socialist club, hosts everything from burlesque to poetry readings to opera.

Moxy NYC East Village boasts an unbeatable location just a few blocks from St. Mark’s Place and an easy walk from the L train. The quiet, thoughtfully designed rooms provide a welcome oasis of calm in the middle of the action.

For Those Who Want to Travel Like a Local: Williamsburg

Locals may still refer to Manhattan as “the City,” but these days, at least some would claim that New York’s cultural gravitational center resides across the East River. Williamsburg is an undeniable bastion of cool, with one of the buzziest dining and bar scenes in the city. There are also plenty of green spaces, including the waterfront Domino Park in the shadow of the old sugar refinery, not to mention an endless array of vintage stores.

Grab dinner at Gus and Marty’s, an impossibly charming Greek spot near McCarren Park, or sidle up to the counter at Nami Nori for a procession of hand rolls made with top-notch seafood.

Bamonte’s, is a real-deal, century-old, red- sauce institution, while JR & Son, housed in historic digs, is a fantastic modern interpretation of one. The photos on the wall signed by the likes of Frank Sinatra harken back to its time as an Italian American supper club.

For a perfect martini and oysters, head to Maison Premiere, or go for cocktails and charcuterie boards over at Hotel Delmano. If you’re looking to dance, get in line for DJ sets at Gabriela or Desert 5 Spot, or head to Baby’s All Right for live bands. Should you find yourself up late — a very real possibility around here — grab superb mulitas (tortillas stuffed with cheese and meat) and birria tacos at the Birria-Landia truck, or hop into a booth at the 24/7 Kellogg’s Diner.

Located right near the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge, Moxy Brooklyn Williamsburg offers the best of both worlds. Guests stay in the heart of the neighborhood, but with the option to walk or rental-bike their way right into lower Manhattan.

For Travelers Just Looking for a Place to Sleep: The Lower East Side

From its rough-and-tumble days at the turn of the 20th century to its time as the epicenter of punk and live indie music, the Lower East Side (LES) has gone through all sorts of evolutions over the years. Despite the proliferation of upscale spots, it’s managed to maintain some of its grit and relentless energy. From legendary New York haunts like Katz’s Delicatessen to stylish options like Eel Bar, with its Basque-inspired small plates, there’s also an unbelievable number of drinking and dining options.

Check out iconic music venues like Arlene’s Grocery, Bowery Ballroom, and Mercury Lounge, all of which have hosted homegrown New York stars, from Lady Gaga to the Strokes. New York City’s live music scene is as vibrant as ever, and tickets are usually significantly cheaper at these venues than some of the larger ones across the city. You may just catch the next big act on their way to the top.

If you’re staying in the LES, you’re not likely to spend much time in your hotel room — there’s way too much to do at all hours of the day and night. The chic Moxy NYC Lower East Side offers a comfortable place to rest your head at the end of a very action-packed day.

In short, New York truly has something for every kind of traveler. Whether you’re seeking seclusion and a touch of luxury with someone special, an activity-packed getaway for the whole family, or the chance to cosplay as a local for a few days, this city won’t disappoint. All you need is the right hotel — one participating in Marriott Bonvoy, of course — and you’re ready for your adventure to begin.