Author: 
New York City. The Big Apple. Just saying the name conjures up images of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center, City Hall, and all its magnificent boroughs. But there’s much more to this incredible city than the usual tourist haunts. If you fancy getting off the beaten track, check out some of our NYC hidden gems for an authentic experience you will never forget.
1. European Charm in Stone Street
It might be located in Downtown Manhattan, but Stone Street feels more like old Europe. It was the first street to be lined with cobblestones in NYC, back when it was a small farming village called New Amsterdam and is hidden in plain sight in the financial district, nestled amongst the skyscrapers and office buildings.
Stone Street is a car-free zone, so you can wander without worrying about the traffic. Food vendors line the street, and there are alfresco dining options galore. For an authentic Irish experience, pop into The Dubliner, a classic Irish pub.
2. Stunning Views from The Elevated Acre
If you’re looking for a break from the busy city, head to Elevated Acre, a park in the sky located on Water Street above the chaotic streets of the financial district. This small urban oasis has astonishing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Hudson River, as well as a 50-foot light sculpture, AstroTurf lawns, and world-class landscaping.
The Elevated Acre recently added a full beer garden to its facilities, with several craft beers on tap. Grab a shady spot under a tree to enjoy your beer and those stunning views!
There are plenty of other secret gardens hidden between the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Our favorites include Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden at the Museum of Modern Art and Paley Park in Midtown Manhattan.
3. City Island Seaside Vibes
Located in the northeastern Bronx district, City Island is a little world of its own. With its cute, New England-style boutique shops and white-sand beaches, heading here on a sunny day feels like a holiday within a holiday!
City Island is packed with delicious seafood restaurants, often with waterfront views of the Long Island Sound. And for history buffs, you can check out the City Island Nautical Museum to learn about the town’s maritime history, and maybe even pick up an antique.
4. The Met Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park
The Met Cloisters is an extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is dedicated exclusively to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. The Met Cloisters houses an incredible collection of over 5,000 pieces of art, including the famed Unicorn Tapestries.
The Cloisters themselves were purchased in Europe by John Rockefeller, then dismantled and transported to the U.S., before being reassembled in beautiful Fort Tryon Park.
The park is one of the least well-known but most beautiful parks in the city, with eight miles of pathways offering hiking and walking trails that range in difficulty. The park features plenty of native greenery and is home to Manhattan’s largest dog run, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and ping pong tables.
The stunning views of the Hudson River from the west side make Fort Tryon Park the perfect setting for a picnic.
5. Lunch at Lexington Candy Shop
The Lexington Candy Shop has been serving lunches to New Yorkers since 1925 and is the picture-perfect image of vintage New York. It is located in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, just three blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Grab a seat at the soda counter where you can sip a root beer float and reminisce about days gone by.
Despite its name, there is very little candy on sale here! But you can have a hearty American breakfast, a big lunchtime sandwich, or a classic burger and fries. Seating in this popular haunt is limited, so be prepared to wait a while during peak times.
6. Ride the Roosevelt Tram
Riding the aerial Roosevelt Tram is undoubtedly one of the coolest experiences in NYC and is amazing value for money at under $3 each way! Board the tram at Tramway Plaza on 59th Street and Second Avenue, then get off on Roosevelt Island for gorgeous skyline views and beautiful parks.
The tram was created in 1976 as a temporary option to shuttle people from island to island. But it proved so popular that it has continued to the present day and the service now runs every 7-15 minutes. It is just under two miles long and a great way to check out a less touristy part of the city.
7. Grab a Pint at McSorley’s Old Ale House
The McSorley’s Old Ale House motto is “We Were Here Before You Were Born”, and they’re not wrong! Dating back to 1854, you’ll find McSorley’s in the heart of the East Village. This is one of the oldest pubs in NYC and retains a traditional feel with a cash-only policy and floors covered in sawdust.
McSorley’s ONLY serves its own light or dark ale brew, so don’t come here if you’re looking for wine and cocktails. Their classic cracker and cheese plate is the perfect accompaniment to the beer, with saltine crackers and slabs of cheddar cheese. If you’re lucky enough to be in NYC for St Patrick’s Day, this is the place to come for a proper Irish party.
8. Cocktails at a “Hidden” Speakeasy
Speakeasies were some of NYC’s worst-kept secrets in the prohibition era of the 20th Century. Nowadays, you don’t have to hide from the law to get a drink, but it’s still fun to seek out these quirky, hidden-away bars.
The PDT (Please Don’t Tell) sits behind the telephone booth of an adjacent hot dog store called Crif Dogs on 113 St Marks Place. Once you’re through the secret entrance, you enter a world of dimmed lights, weird taxidermy, and top-notch cocktails. If you want a table at PDT, call at 3 pm to make a reservation over the phone. You may struggle to get through, but be persistent; we promise it’s worth it.
Another hidden gem is the Beauty and Essex on 146 Essex Street. This Lower East Side venue is actually a working pawn shop and has rare and vintage items available for sale. Head to the back of the shop, and you’ll enter a glittering world with a grand, wraparound staircase leading to the second floor and a larger-than-life chandelier. The cocktails are on the expensive side, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Further down from Beauty and Essex is Apotheke Bar on 9 Doyers Street. This fronts as an apothecary, and the theme runs through the décor and even the cocktail list. There is a ‘sophisticated’ dress code here, so get your glad rags on!
9. Catacombs by Candlelight
The first Basilica of St. Patrick’s Cathedral has been in its original location in Manhattan’s Nolita (short for North of Little Italy) neighborhood since 1809. The best way to see the catacombs is by joining the guided tour, which is informative and enthusiastically delivered by electric candlelight.
Tour tickets come with coupons for Lombardi’s, the oldest pizza restaurant in New York City. Unfortunately, the tour is not suitable for children, wheelchair users, pregnant people, or anyone over 80 years old.
10. Mmarvel at the Mmuseumm
Pronounced ‘Museum’, this curated display of artifacts is housed in a freight elevator. The tiny space of Mmarvel at the Mmuseumm features micro exhibitions that rotate between seasons, so you can visit again and again and see new tiny treasures each time. Unusual objects featured in the museum include the shoe that was thrown at George W. Bush at the Minister’s Palace in Baghdad.
There is a small gift shop and café next door to the Mmuseumm, where you can grab a coffee and browse through the souvenirs. Mmuseumm is wheelchair accessible.
11. Wonder at the Seaglass Carousel
The SeaGlass Carousel was inspired by the original New York Aquarium that operated from 1896 until 1941. The carousel comprises 30 enormous fiberglass fish in a large pavilion, lit up with color-changing LED lights that create an immersive experience of movement, music, and light. This is a great one for the kids.
Once you’ve been around the carousel enough times, head out to explore the rest of Battery Park, with its magnificent gardens and a United States Navy Memorial.
12. NYC’s Berlin Wall
No, this isn’t a typo. You can see the Berlin Wall in New York City! After the wall fell in 1989, pieces were divided up and sold, and some can now be seen in NYC: one in a garden near the UN building, one at the entrance of the Intrepid Air and Space Museum, one at Battery Park between the Gateway Plaza and North Cove Marina, and at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not in Times Square. They are now painted in a graffiti style, making them blend into their current landscape.
13. The Ganesh Temple of Queens
Located in Flushing, the Ganesh Temple wouldn’t look out of place in Southern India. Work on this incredible Hindu temple started in 1970, and it is now one of the most important spiritual places in Queens for the Hindu Community that live here.
Visitors are always welcome, though please note that there is a dress code (no sleeveless tops, no shorts, no short skirts, no leather, no furs), and photography of the temple’s shrines is prohibited. The canteen, located in the basement and accessible from Holly Street, is a massive draw and serves up some of the best South Indian food in the city.
14. Admire the Street Art
Street art and graffiti in NYC started in the 1970s, when kids from the Bronx and Brooklyn began tagging subway cars and buildings, even though it was illegal and dangerous. Eventually, this new art form spread and found its way into galleries and museums.
Street Art at the Welling Court Mural Project
The Welling Court Mural Project in Astoria features work from 150 artists from around the world. It is enormously colorful and really shows off the creativity of the city. It is also totally free to visit!
Graffiti Hall of Fame, Harlem
The Graffiti Hall of Fame in East Harlem has evolved into a place where classic graffiti styles can thrive. There is a real celebration of hip-hop culture, and the massive mural spelling HARLEM doubles as a storybook tour through the city’s street-art history.
Banksy, Hammer Boy
Banksy loves New York City. In 2013, he staged a month-long, citywide ‘show’ called “Better Out Than In.” Unfortunately, most of his work here has been covered over, torn down to be sold, or defaced by taggers. But this modest stencil piece, situated on 79th St. between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, is still intact, thanks to the building owner who installed a Plexiglas shield to protect it.
First Street Green Art Park
The First Street Green Art Park offers artists and designers space to show off their murals, sculptures, and other installations. The murals change frequently and in the summer months, there are art workshops and live music.
The Graffiti Tunnel at 191st Subway Station
For us, the graffiti tunnel at 191st subway station is one of the best hidden gems of NYC. It’s quite a distance away from the regular tourist attractions, so most visitors won’t see it. For safety, head here during daylight hours.
15. Seal Watching on Swinburne Island
Swinburne Island, located off of Staten Island’s eastern shore, is a haven for seals, with nearly 100 calling this island their home. It’s pretty secluded here; there are no beach walkers or barking dogs to disturb the seals.
Human visitors are allowed, but the best way to see the seals is to take a tour, which will get you close enough for some great photos. The American Princess offers guided seal-watching tours that depart from the Jacob Riis Landing in Queens.
Hidden Gems Worth Seeking Out
And there it is, our pick of secret and surprising things to do in New York City. Other hidden gems include the Smallpox Hospital memorial on Roosevelt Island, sampling international cuisine in Chinatown, and people-watching in the tree-lined street of Greenwich Village. Whatever you choose, there are hidden gems around every corner; you just need to know where to look!
Featured Image Credit: TTstudio
