Upper West Side, version 1

Written By Ariel Mitnick

When to go: when the weather’s nice

Start your day with coffee at Irving Farm on 79th St and Broadway. Then, head to the Natural History Museum and the Planetarium to see some dinosaur skeletons and some amazing exhibits on outer space!

For lunch, try Peacefood Cafe for fresh vegan food. Don’t miss the chickpea fried! And their chai is delicious. Also nearby is Thyme and Tonic. And if you wrap up at the museum in time for dinner instead, try Bustan. Don’t like these options? Just wander up Amsterdam Avenue starting at 79th St - you’ll find tons of restaurants of all stripes.

In the afternoon, if you’re in a shopping mood, head to 79th and Columbus and start walking down. You’ll find a mix of affordable-ish (Allbirds, Madewell, Marine Layer) and high end (Iro, Sandro, Vince., Theory) shops.

If you’re more in the mood for the outdoors, head to Central Park! The park is designed to feel even bigger than it is, with meandering routes. Just wander, get lost, and enjoy! If you want some destinations to aim for, look for turtles at the pond in the 70s, or head to the Ramble to get truly lost.

If you’re planning in advance, get a reservation at Sushi Yasaka for dinner - it’s an Upper West Sider’s best kept secret! Amazing fish. Get the sushi special or sushi deluxe for an excellent value for quality meal. If you’re looking at this post day-of, here are some of my other favorite UWS dinner spots. If it’s a Thursday through Saturday night, check OpenTable or call ahead to check for availability.

  • Bustan (Israeli)

  • Sala Thai (Thai)

  • Chama Mama (Georgian)

  • The Ellington (American)

  • Café Du Soleil (French)

  • Elea (Greek - upscale)

  • Symposium (Greek - down to earth)

  • Han Dynasty (Szechuan Chinese)

Ariel Mitnick
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