24 Hours in New York City

The ultimate travel guide on how to spend 24 hours in New York City. I’ll show you where to stay, what to eat and what to do.

Last month I hosted my fourth blogging retreat, #HamptonsRetreat, which kicked off in one of my favorite cities on earth: New York City!

Whenever I plan a retreat, I always join forces with one or two other bloggers. This particular retreat took 11 months (and 600 emails!) to plan so having friends to help was essential. I was so very fortunate to be able to plan this retreat with the beautiful Gina of SkinnyTaste and Lexi of Lexi’s Clean Kitchen.

Before I dive in further about the Hamptons portion of the retreat, I wanted to start with my essential guide to 24 Hours in New York City. Afterall, whether you’re a blogger or not, who doesn’t love spending time in Manhattan?

Of course, the most essential aspect of any trip is securing a great hotel in a fabulous location. If you’re looking for high quality accommodations that are within walking distance from major attractions, I can’t recommend Lotte New York Palace enough. Located in Midtown Manhattan, this beautiful hotel was just blocks away from all of my favorite hot spots including Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Central Park.

Before you venture out for the day, start your adventure off on the right note with breakfast at Villard located on the lobby level of the hotel. Their inventive breakfast menu offers everything from fresh-pressed juices to indulgent bacon and banana beignets.

If you love farro like I do, I highly recommend the farro porridge. Creamy, chewy and oh-so-delicious. The breakfast pizza and fluffy pancakes didn’t disappoint either.

After breakfast, head outside for a stroll to take in all of the sites within walking distance of the hotel. You won’t be able to miss the breathtaking St. Patrick’s Cathedral located right outside the front steps.

Whether you’ve been to NYC 100 times or it’s your first visit, Rockefeller Center is always worth a visit. I’ve been there many times, during all times of the year, and I never get sick of it.

After all that city walking you will have built up quite the appetite. Hands down, one of the best Italian meals I’ve ever experienced was at Mamo NYC located in the SoHo neighborhood.

We enjoyed fresh salads, scratch-made pastas, truffle specced pizza and more. Every bite was worth every calorie and left you feeling happy and satisfied.

An absolute must during your next visit to New York City, be sure to include MAMO in your agenda.

After lunch, walk off the feast in Central Park, the ultimate urban sanctuary. The most visited urban park in the country, Central Park sees over 40 million visitors a year.

And for good reason! It is the ultimate peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city. I had so much fun walking around with two of my favorite bloggers, Gerry and Lauren.

For dinner head to Fig & Olive located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. Featuring fresh, classic and simple ingredients inspired by the South of France, there is something on the menu for everyone.

Spacious, light-filled and located in the heart of the trendy Meatpacking District, Fig & Olive is ideal for lunch or dinner. They also did a great job of accommodating our large group of fifteen.

Every dish that came out was better than the last. A few of my favorites were the burrata & asparagus, fig & olive salad, shrimp crostini and the sea scallops. But really, you can’t go wrong with anything off the dinner menu.

After such a fun and delicious day in New York City, you will be so thrilled to retreat back into your cozy guest room at the Lotte New York Palace. With breathtaking views of the skyline, you won’t want the day to end. I certainly didn’t.

What are your favorite places to eat, spots to visit and things to do in New York City? I’d love to hear from you!

Disclosure: I was not compensated to write this post. My meals were hosted during my visit to New York City. All thoughts are my own. Photography by Alejandro Photography.

Check out more destinations I’ve visited on my Pinterest board!