As it doesn’t have the keynote attractions that draw visitors to other neighborhoods in Manhattan, an interesting way for tourists to explore Harlem is with a food tour.

Taste Harlem takes groups through thirteen miles of Harlem on a quest for the neighborhood’s best food. The cuisine of the Caribbean and Africa are heavily represented, but so are the American soul-food renditions of the two.

The company’s most popular tour is the Harlem’s Tasting Tour. This four-hour tour, $95 per person, combines tastings at Harlem restaurants with an insider’s look into the history, architecture and contemporary art scene of the neighborhood.

Another, more focused, tour is the Soul Food Tasting Tour. As its name suggests, this tour takes visitors on an exploration of Harlem’s noteworthy soul food restaurants. The tour takes 2.5 hours and the cost is $55 and a countless amount of calories. Seriously. Anyone on a diet should probably not take the soul food tour.

While in Harlem don’t miss the opportunity to swing by the famed Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street. A stalwart in the African-American entertainment industry, this theater helped launch the careers of celebrated musicians like James Brown and Ella Fitzgerald.

After all of the Harlem eats and Uptown fun, come back down to our boutique hotel The MAve in NYC’s Midtown to give yourself some time to digest before your evening plans inevitably pull you back into the bustling and lively city.

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The 25-minute ferry ride is popular with tourists as it travels past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and offers panoramic views of Lower Manhattan, making it a fun and easy way to see the city from the water.

The ferry docks at St George on Staten Island, which is an up-and-coming neighborhood known for its historic buildings, diverse restaurants and inviting pubs. Tourists should definitely take the time to explore some of the neighborhood sights and have a meal before returning to Manhattan.

The St George Historic District is located near the ferry pier and is a charming enclave of almost 100 historic buildings and Colonial-era homes. Another historical attraction in the neighborhood is the St George Theatre. Built in 1929, this theater was one of the most extravagant theaters in all of NYC when it opened. It was recently renovated and is now once again hosting big names in music and entertainment.

Before departing on the ferry, stop in at Enoteca Maria for some of the city’s best Italian food. The restaurant is still relatively quiet despite having received critical acclaim from several of the city’s top food critics. The restaurant has a somewhat unique kitchen staff, as the kitchen is manned by a rotating crew of Italian grandmothers. The menu changes nightly, depending on who’s cooking, and the food could not be more authentic or delicious.

It’s incredibly easy to reach the Staten Island ferry terminal from our boutique hotel The MAve in Midtown, just take the train from 28th Street and Broadway to Whitehall Street Downtown. The total journey time on the train is only 20 minutes and the ferry runs 24 hours a day.

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Guests staying at our NYC hotel The MAve are in an excellent position to explore all The Village has to offer, as the hotel is situated in the adjacent Flatiron District.

One of the best reasons to visit the West Village is for all of the amazing restaurants. But while it’s easy to find a good restaurant in the area, there are still some hidden gems that are worth searching for.

Mary’s Fish Camp, on Charles Street, is an outright amazing seafood restaurant that is usually packed with locals who come for the fish tacos and other seafood delights.

Another place worth checking out is the Israeli restaurant Taïm. More of a takeout spot than a dine-in place, Taïm is popular at lunch time because of its sabich (eggplant and egg) sandwich, falafels and smoothies.

On Hudson Street the EN Japanese Brasserie is a great choice for dinner, as it has a quiet and romantic setting and services delicious Japanese cuisine featuring homemade tofu.

For some traditional New York street fare head over to John’s Pizzeria on Bleecker Street. One of the best pizza places in a city chock-full of pizza places, this pizzeria has a magical way of making sure every one of its pizzas comes out of its brick oven baked to perfection.

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No city has had more of an impact on contemporary culture than New York. Talented artists and authors have been flocking to the city for hundreds of years, drawn by the welcoming art scene and a city that is inspirational like no other. One of the great benefits to staying in our NYC boutique hotel The MAve is its central location in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. This makes it incredibly easy for travelers to explore the city and discover its wonderful art scene.

One area that is often overlooked by more mainstream tourists is the Bowery. Situated in the Lower East Side, this neighborhood packs a big artistic punch despite its small size. Once the home of writer William S. Burroughs and artist Mark Rothko, the neighborhood has been revitalized in recent years and has become quite the cultural gem.

The area’s centerpiece attraction is the New Museum of Contemporary Art, whose building was designed by the Tokyo architectural firm SANAA and is quite striking, as seven aluminum boxes staggered and stacked form its exterior. Inside visitors will find an intimate gallery that is more approachable than its larger uptown cousins. There is no permanent collection, so instead several visiting exhibitions are on display at any given time. Expect to see the works of alternative artists in the form of paintings, sculptures and digital installation art. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday and admission is $14. On Thursdays the museum stays open late and offers free entrance between 7 p.m. and 9.pm.

Changing the pace a bit is the Bowery Poetry Club or BPC. This club has become an institution on the New York literary scene since its inception in 2002. Far from boring or pretentious, poetry readings at the club are laid back and fun. The club has a bar that serves fun drinks and it’s a popular place to spend the evening. So who knows, you just might find yourself visiting for the poetry slams, but staying for the atmosphere.

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Manhattan may be an island that’s only 13 miles long and 2.3 miles at its widest point but it’s still a pretty small world at every turn. Densely populated with old neighborhoods, epic landmarks, and multicultural splendor–it can feel like one tiny nation with an overwhelming amount to see and experience. To take in the highlights of this Empire City, here’s why staying in the Flatiron is a very smart move.

1) Location Location Location

Named after the Flatiron building at 23rd Street, this district is like the heartbeat to the body with veins, or streets, that branch out in every direction. From the north side of New York where you’ll find Spanish Harlem, Columbia University, the Upper West Side, and Central Park North, to the south end of the island (Wall Street, Battery Park, Statue of Liberty, etc)–there’s so much to see and do. The Flatiron District, home of the MAve Hotel, is centrally located between downtown (considered below 14th St) and Midtown where you’ll find 5th Ave shopping, Times Square, and Broadway. If you’re in town for work or even a publicity tour (lucky you), the MAve sits on Madison Ave. home to many ad agencies, PR, and publishing houses.

2) Rich Residential History

Somewhat corporate, yes, but the Flatiron is also a unique historical neighborhood filled with elegant townhomes, hotels, and buildings that were once home to greats like Edith Wharton, Thomas Edison, and John Steinbeck. The Flatiron is also the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt, which is a national historic site.

The Gramercy neighborhood, on the east side of the Flatiron District is now the address for celebrities like Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman.

3) Shopping and Killer Eats

Between the Civil War and World War I, our neighborhood was home to some of New York’s most famous department stores: Lord & Taylor, B. Altman, W. & J. Sloane, Arnold Constable, and Bergdorf Goodman. Now preserved under the title “Ladies’ Mile District”, newer stores have popped up like Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, Club Monaco and Origins, and big box retailers dominate Sixth Avenue.

For a quick carb or sugar fix, load up on adventure fuel from nearby bakeries like: The City Bakery, Hot Blondies, Crumbs, The Protein Bakery, Alice’s Tea Cup, and Cafe Prague.

Finish the evening at one of the Flatiron favorites like farm-to-table ABC Kitchen, Greek lovers “Barbounia”, or upmarket Indian food at Junoon.

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1. Pete’s Tavern – 129 East 18th St.

A Civil War era survivor, this old staple draws in neighborhood types along with hotel guests in search of that old New York feel. Pete’s Tavern, the oldest operating restaurant and bar in New York, continues to serve Italian-American cuisine along with its famous 1864 House Ale.

The old creaky bar is traditionally decked out around the holidays with lots of festive garland, a twinkling bulb-lit ceiling and Christmas lights dripping around the old mirrors.

Belly up to the bar for standard suds that include 16 beers on tap in bubbling frosty mugs, and a special homemade eggnog around the holidays.

2. Old Town Bar – 45 East 18th St.

One of the oldest bars in New York, Old Town Bar is one of the last reminders of a thriving German community that faded in the 1960s with the old Union Square neighborhood. Old Town was frequented by greats such as Andy Warhol, Bill Murray, Keith Richards, and others. With close proximity to the Broadway rehearsal studios, many actors enjoyed gathering here along with legendary writers whom the owner built great relationships with.

A bit of Old New York is felt in every square inch of this den from the beveled lights and mirrors, to gaslight fixtures, to call buttons at the tables–all under its towering 17-foot ceilings.

You may recognize the interior of this bar from movies like The Devil’s Own, Bullets over Broadway, and Last Days of Disco.

3. Gramercy Park Hotel (Rose Bar, Jade Bar + Gramercy Terrace) - 2 Lexington Avenue

A landmark in NYC, the Gramercy Park Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel that first opened its doors in 1925.

With a retractable roof seventeen stories above the city, Gramercy Terrace Bar features a series of intimate and whimsical spaces that seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor space, with a seasonal menu of favorite American dishes. The Terrace is open to the public daily until 3pm.

The Rose Bar and Jade Bar inside the Gramercy Hotel are two incredible candlelit spaces with an edgy sophistication. Hearkening back to the golden age of the cocktail hour–the small menu ranges from classic aperitifs to fanciful drinks to modern classics.

The ever-changing music from custom designed playlists features DJ’s from New York to London to Rome.

Reservations are required after 10pm for both the Rose Bar and Jade Bar. Reservation requests can be sent to Rosebar@gramercyparkhotel.com.

They will respond within 24 hours if there is availability.

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