Cheap Things to Do:

Cheap things to do:

– Walk the Highline – outdoor walkway on an old train line – takes you from where you guys are down to Chelsea Market (indoor restaurants/shops) in the Meatpacking district
– Visit the Met (they’ll take any suggested donation)
– Wander around Central Park (Imagine sign, skating park, etc.) & visit the Plaza Hotel (Anyone know Eloise?) Food market in the basement
– Rockefeller Center – Take in views of Central Park/Empire State Bldg/Chrysler Bldg from the rooftop or just check out the plaza.
– Find the bull on Wall Street and take the free ferry to Staten Island: great view of the Statue of Liberty but be prepared to wait 30 min. before the next ferry back. Bring snacks!
– Times Square (at night it’s as bright as day)
– Bryant Park/Library/Grand Central Station – that ceiling!
– Check out Union Square Park/Madison Sq Park (Flatiron building)

Places to Eat:

Multiple locations:
$ Vivi Bubble tea for the popcorn chicken and bubble tea – I like the salt and pepper as well as garlic chicken and 3Q Milk Tea – for those who like grass jelly!
$ Magnolia Bakery (banana pudding) – West Village, near Rockefeller, etc.
$ Amy’s Bread (one in Hell’s Kitchen near Times Square and one in the West Village) – the breakfasts combos are good, like coffee and bread twists/country biscuits – get it toasted!
$ Alice’s Teacup – SCONES (and adorable-ness) – Upper West Side – 2 locations, Upper East Side – Alice in Wonderland-themed place – if you’ve got 3 people, the Madhatter’s Tea Service for 2 plus an extra scone & pot of coffee isn’t too expensive.
$ Five Napkin Burger (chain place with solid burgers & drinks)
$ Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee (ironically, only in Manhattan and Queens) – really, really great bagels with generous cream cheese/tofu spreads

Upper East Side:
$ Serendipity 3 (frozzzen hot chocolate)

Times Square/Hell’s Kitchen:
$ Rudy’s Bar & Grill – old school dive bar with a pig out front. Cheap beer that comes with a free hot dog if you request it
$ 0.99 pizza place (that was actually fine) at 41st St & 9th Ave – I’m not sure if it’s there anymore…
$ Halal Cart on 45th & 6th SOUTHWEST corner (kati rolls)
$ Shake Shack (there’s one near Madison Square Park, too)

Penn Station/Herald Square:
$-$ K-town – all along 32nd St between Broadway and 5th Ave (Ave of the Americas) are Korean places from bakeries to Korean BBQ (open late) to Karaoke. I like Wonjo for food (open 24/7) and Grace St for the ho-duk (cinnamon/sugar/nut-filled donut – get it with ice cream).
$-$ Pioneers Bar on 29th – informal bar where lots of improv (UCB, Pit, etc.) people hang out. Free popcorn and giant jenga

West Village:
Joe’s Pizza (slices, eaten standing) – the plainer the slice, the fresher it is. Open late.
John’s Pizza (pie with toppings, eaten sitting, no slices)
Fat Cat’s – bar where lots of NYU students go to play pool and ping pong and listen to jazz. $3 cover I think, but I think you can get in if you’re under 21
Trattoria Spaghetto (Italian food)

Union Square/Madison Square Park:
$$-$$$ Eataly – gourmet supermarket with eating areas inside from pizza to seafood, take the elevator in the back to go up to the rooftop restaurant La Birreria
$ City Bakery – hot chocolate with homemade marshmellows
$$ Republic – Asian fusion noodle place
$-$$ Bao Haus – Eddie Huang’s (Fresh Off the Boat) bao place
$$$ ABC Kitchen

Astor Place (south of Union Square):
$$$ Angel’s Share (speakeasy) – near Astor place – go up the stairs to the second floor ramen place and then through a big wooden door to your left. Not good for big groups

Lower East side:
Katz’s Deli – old school NYC deli – open late

Chinatown (also really close to little Italy):
$ Shanghai Heping Restaurant, 104 Mott Street – rice cakes, fried bao, cash only & cheap
$ Taiwan Pork Chop House at 3 Doyers Street (amazing fried chicken/pork chops over pickled cabbage and rice)
$ Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory