| Our favourite restaurant in New York | |
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21 Club
Once a glamorous speakeasy, today '21' is one of the most celebrated restaurants in New York City. In addition to its two restaurants, the Bar Room and 'Upstairs', this four-story townhouse features ten private dining rooms, including the legendary Prohibition-era Wine Cellar.
Rating: 
Why: If walls could speak, this would be the place to sit very still and listen, preferably at the favorite tables of Humphrey Bogart, Robert Benchley or Richard Nixon.
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New York Attractions
'New York, New York, a helluva town', so said Comden and Green in the famous Bernstein song of 1945. If it was a helluva town then, the sentiment has certainly grown through the latter half of the last century, making today's New York one of the best-loved and most exciting cities in the world. Walking through town is an attraction in itself and, surprisingly, even first time visitors may find themselves looking at familiar sights - for the people and fabric of the city have appeared in thousands upon thousands of films and television programmes.
For those who enjoy luxury, the New York art world has some extra-special treats. Top museums like the Metropolitan, the Museum of Modern Art and the Guggenheim offer special donor programmes, which allow generous givers special access to their remarkable galleries and cafés.
Fortunately, most of the special sights of New York are concentrated on the island of Manhattan, though there are some elsewhere. In Manhattan, the top sights are distributed north, south, east and west, though with more in midtown than elsewhere. But New York is so rich in intriguing attractions and romantic atmosphere that visitors rarely manage to satisfy their curiosity in one trip. For it is a city to be visited time and again, constantly growing and changing and keeping itself at the pinnacle of the world. Below we list some of its most outstanding sights. On a visit to the city you will no doubt find many more for yourself. If you don't have a limo to hand when exploring then ask your hotel concierge for the number of a reliable NYC taxi cab firm - one that uses yellow cars carrying the Yellow Medallion - and move around New York the traditional way.
If you only have a limited time in New York, the marquee attractions are the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Intrepid Museum, United Nations HQ, Rose Center for Earth and Space, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, FAO Schwarz and Metropolitan Museum. But one could devote a whole day to the visual arts on a trip to Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue, with nine cultural treasures between 82nd and 104th Streets, and some of New York's most distinguished architecture.
From the poignant landmarks of Ground Zero to the spectacular views atop the Empire State building, New York is a city packed with special experiences: from the glamour of a Broadway show to the riding the Staten Island ferry; watching a ball game or rollerblading Central Park; dining in style at Alain Ducasse's Essex House restaurant or sipping cocktails in the Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room; strolling through trendy Greenwich Village or over the historic Brooklyn Bridge. New York has it all.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, New York,
New York 10028-0198
Tel: +1 212-535-7710
New York's most popular tourist attraction contains approximately three million exhibits making planning a necessary part of any visit. Superb floor plans and descriptions of installations and exhibits are available in the Great Hall.
Guggenheim Museum
1071 5th Avenue at 89th Street, New York City,
NY 10128-0173
Tel: +1 212 423 3500
This beautifully constructed building is a work of art in itself. Visitors start at the top and spiral down and around the building viewing artefacts on the way. The recent addition of a ten-story wing makes the Guggenheim's collection one of the largest in New York. Closed Tuesdays.
The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53rd Street, New York City,
NY 10019-5497
Tel: +1 212 708 9400
'MOMA' is one of the most popular galleries in the United States, loved for its simple layout, superb collections, people-friendly atmosphere and annual retrospectives. Some of the world's finest art is on display here including Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' and Monet's panelled 'Water Lilies'. Closed Wednesday.
The Cloisters
Fort Tyron Park, Washington Heights, New York City,
NY 10040
Tel: +1 212 923 3700
Medieval art and architecture. Part of the Metropolitan Museum. Open Tuesday to Sunday. 09:30am - 5:30pm. Closes at 4:45pm November to February.
Empire State Building
350 5th Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets, New York City,
NY 10118
Tel: +1 212 736 3100
Built in 1931 as an office complex, it was said to have helped pull New York out of the depression. King Kong climbed it on celluloid in 1933 and it is still open today - for vertigo-free visitors. Go early in the morning or late in the day to avoid queuing. Open daily.
Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island, New York City, NY
Tel: +1 212 269 5755
New York's gift from the French in 1886, the Statue of Liberty stands 151 feet high. Lifts and steps take visitors to the top but queues can be extremely long. Go in the morning and be prepared to spend most of the day waiting, particularly during the summer.
Intrepid Museum
Pier 86, 12th Ave. & West 46th St., New York,
NY 10036
Tel: +1 212 245 0072
One of New York's top children's attractions, US aircraft carrier USS Intrepid is the country's largest armed forces and space program museum. Flight simulators, a replica Revolutionary War submarine, an A-6 Intruder cockpit, and monthly family activities. The USS Edson and USS Growler are also docked beside the Intrepid.
United Nations Headquarters
First Avenue at 46th Street, New York,
NY 10017
Tel: +1 212 963 8687
Guided tours leave every half hour around the site of the UN's New York HQ, established to foster governmental co-operation in politics, economic and legal affairs. Significant events in the UN's somewhat checkered history include the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the Millennium Summit in September 2000.
Central Park
Between 59th& 110th St, & Fifth Avenue - Central Park West
Tel: +1 212 310 6600 (Central Park Conservancy)
Green lung of the city, the park's 843 acres host a range of attractions: zoos, skating rinks, a boating lake, baseball field, theatre and restaurants, as well as being a venue for headline music acts. Eye-catching buildings line the streets around it. The world's most famous park owes much of its global reputation to a handsome list of film credits: Breakfast at Tiffany's, When Harry Met Sally and Ghostbusters amongst them.
Rockefeller Center
Between 47th and 51st St, from Fifth to Seventh Ave,
New York
Tel: +1 212 332 6868
The charming winter ice rink at the Rockefeller Center is just one of the attractions in this vast entertainment and business center located in Midtown Manhattan. A National Historic Landmark, the Rockefeller Center has so much upmarket shopping, dining and entertainment that it has been given the moniker of New York's 'city within a city.' It also houses NBC Television Studios and Radio City Music Hall.
Grand Central Terminal
100 East 42nd Street and Park Avenue, New York,
NY 10017
Tel: +1 212 340 2583
An architectural masterpiece, Grand Central Terminal boasts a classical façade and superb interior - notably in the main concourse with its striking blue-green sky ceiling and grand marble staircase. Restored to its original 1913 condition, Grand Central Terminal is again one of New York's premier attractions, with a choice collection of shops, restaurants, art and events making it one of the city's premier attractions as well as handling millions of commuters every week.
Chrysler Building
405 Lexington Avenue (42nd Street),
New York
New York's finest Art Deco monument was once the world's tallest building and is still the tallest brick building. For years a car showroom, this iconic, needle-spired structure was restored in the 1970s. The striking chrome lobby is open to tourists, though not the upper floors.
FAO Schwarz
767 Fifth Avenue (at 58th Street) New York, NY 10153
New York, NY 10153
Tel: +1 212 644 9400
New York's definitive toy store emphasizes interactivity, with its famous 22-foot "Dance-On" piano as well as a millions of toys, games and sports gear. Reopened in 2004 after refurbishment.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage
36 Battery Place, New York
NY 10280
Tel:+1 646 437 4200
Around 2,000 photographs, plus extensive documents and films charting the Holocaust of World War 2. Permanent exhibits are 'Jewish Life a Century Ago', 'The War Against the Jews', and 'Jewish Renewal'.
American Museum of the Moving Image
35th Ave. at 36th St., Astoria, New York,
NY 11106
Tel:+ 1 718 784 0077
This treasure trove for movie lovers in Queens contains the country's largest permanent collection of moving image artifacts. The AMMI examines the way films have been made and their impact on society. Experts in film editing, special effects and animation can be seen at work; there are also free film screenings, guest appearances and exhibitions. (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, except for public holidays.)
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Avenue, by 112th St., New York,
New York 10025
New York
Tel:+1 212 316 7540
The world's largest Gothic cathedral is not, surprisingly, in France or Italy, but in New York - St. John the Divine. (Although the church of St. Peter's in Rome is larger, it is not a cathedral.) St John's is noted for its services and for musical events such as its New Year's Eve concerts. Regular public tours are available, and visitors who take the (infrequent) Vertical Tours to the top of the church will see sensational views over the city.
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