Despite only being ~13 miles long, Manhattan is home to a massive amount of things to do. Although it’s beyond exciting, NYC can feel overwhelming if you only have a limited amount of time here (especially if you are the one in your friend group who is responsible for planning). I’ve crafted a three-day itinerary for any girls looking for a fun weekend in the city filled with good food and aesthetics. Whether you are local or visiting, this post will hopefully take the planning off of your plate, so you can sit back and enjoy the weekend!
I don’t include any typical attractions that draw tourists in NYC – the Empire State Building, Times Square, et cetera. This itinerary is more tailored towards groups who want to experience an authentic weekend in New York City, as a local would live it. If I had friends visiting me in NYC from out of town, this is the exact itinerary I would prepare for them.
Friday
Depending on what time you or your guests are arriving, you might not have time for activities in the first half of the day. Feel free to pick this day up at whatever point works for you.
Morning
Start the weekend off slowly with a cappuccino.
Head to my favorite chain of coffee shops/bakeries, Maman. Spend the morning here catching up with friends, or working remotely (if you can). The aesthetics of this place are adorable – so much blue and white! Beyond coffee and pastries, they also have an excellent lunch menu.
Afternoon
Get yourself a little treat to celebrate the beginning of the weekend! My favorite dessert in NYC is Caffè Panna, which serves the best ice cream in New York (and possibly in the country). The line here is always massively long on weekends and in the evenings, so if you find yourself in the area on an off-time (i.e. 3pm on a Friday) you should definitely stop by for a scoop.
While you’re in the area, walk to Gramercy Park (I highly recommend this if it’s spring, so you can admire the beautiful gardens – Gramercy Park is not open to the public, so the gardens are impeccable). Madison Square Park is also nearby, with an adorable dog park to visit.
The Union Square farmer’s market is also right nearby. Only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Wednesdays, this is a cute place to check out local produce and crafts.
Evening/Night
For your first night in NYC, you should look for something that’s fun, but not too logistically challenging. For this reason, I recommend combining dinner and a night out dancing into one. For this, my go-to is always La Esquina Brasserie in SoHo.
I love this spot, because it checks every box I would want for a night out with friends. The restaurant is (sort of?) a speakeasy, with the top being an unassuming fast-food taco joint, and the basement being the restaurant. The food is delicious (get the queso fundido) and the bar has a perfectly sized area for dancing, which gets going at around 9/9:30.
Saturday
Morning
Brunch is a New York City tradition. There are a million spots you could try, but I’m going to recommend either Sant Ambroeus in SoHo, or Rosemary’s in the West Village. Both are busy (I’d recommend making a reservation in advance), but not too loud/crazy, and have menus that will cater to a wide range of dietary preferences across a group.
Other brunch spots to consider:
- Friend of a Farmer, Gramercy (walk-ins only for brunch)
- RH Rooftop, Meatpacking (at the top of Restoration Hardware)
- The Dutch, SoHo
Afternoon
Get matching permanent bracelets at Catbird
Catbird is a jewelry brand, but at several locations in NYC, you can make an appointment to stop in with your girlfriends and get “zapped,” meaning they will apply a permanent bracelet to your wrist. There are multiple styles, metals, and options to choose from. It’s an adorable memento from the weekend that will be with you for a long time (I’ve had mine on for 2 years and counting).
Bonus: if for some reason your permanent bracelet does fall off, Catbird will replace it for you free of cost.
If you go to the downtown location of CatBird, you can walk around SoHo and do some shopping as well, which easily fills a few hours given how many shops are in this area.
Evening
For dinner, I’d recommend a spot that’s downtown (SoHo, West Village, or similar) so it’s easy to transition into a night out. My top recommendation is probably Little Ruby’s or Lola Taverna – for a group of girls, both spots deliver across ambiance, cocktails, and energy.
Other dinner spots to consider:
- 12 Chairs Cafe, SoHo
- Baby Brasa, West Village
- I’ve tried a lot of restaurants in New York City….check out some of my other favorite dinner spots here and here
Night
NYC has tons of options for where to head for a night out – tailor it based on the group you’re with and what people want to get out of the evening.
If you want to dance:
- The Blond, SoHo
- Wiggle Room, East Village
- Kind Regards, Lower East Side
If you want drinks and good vibes:
- Oscar Wilde, NoMad (never fails to impress out-of-towners)
- Dante, Greenwich Village
- Dear Irving, Gramercy
If you want a view of the city:
- JIMMY, SoHo
- Azul Rooftop, SoHo
- See my earlier post on Top Ten Rooftops to Visit in NYC
If you want to mingle:
- The Spaniard, West Village
- Bar Pisellino, West Village
- Short Stories, NoHo
Sunday
Morning
Work up a sweat at Forward Space
This is actually my habitual weekend routine, whether I have guests visiting me or not. I am a regular at Forward Space in SoHo, where you can take a 50-minute cardio dance class and burn off all the alcohol from the night before. If you make it to a class on a weekend that I’m in town, there’s a good chance you’ll see me there…say hi!
Don’t worry if you don’t think you are the best dancer. All levels are welcome at these classes. Also…the lights are dimmed, the music is loud, and no one in the class is looking at you. I promise!
Afternoon
If the weather is nice…go for a picnic in Central Park
This is my absolute favorite thing to do in New York City when the weather cooperates. Grab a blanket, stop at the supermarket for cheese and wine, and take the subway to Central Park. It’s an easy way to get away from the bustle of the city.
If the weather isn’t picnic-friendly, you can still head uptown – immerse yourself in art at either the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Guggenheim. Both museums are huge and could easily take up several hours of time. My favorite is the Greek exhibit at the MET, if you need inspiration.
Evening
Keep it low-key with a good dinner that will close out the weekend with everyone enjoying each other’s company. I’d recommend Boucherie (multiple locations – but I prefer West Village), Barbuto in the West Village, or Upland in Flatiron. All of these restaurants have delicious food in a homey atmosphere. Order a bottle of wine, and reflect on your amazing weekend with friends.
Other ideas for your girls’ weekend itinerary:
- Head uptown for a Yankees game (root, root, root for the home team!). Start off with some drinks at Billy’s Sports Bar (next door to the stadium) ahead of the game.
- Paint-and-Sip: another of my absolute favorite activities. I usually go to Paint-n-Pour in the Lower East Side.
- See a Broadway play. This is the one touristy thing that I will do fairly regularly – my favorites are Hamilton, Phantom of the Opera, and Hadestown.
- Grab a NYC slice. The most popular are probably Joe’s Pizza (Union Square), Prince Street Pizza (SoHo), and Emmy Squared. Honestly, I don’t think you could go wrong with a 99¢ slice place either.
- See a comedy show. Comedy Cellar, Fat Black Pussycat, and The Stand are all fair game for a fun night out. Make a reservation in advance if you have a large group.
- Work on your creative/culinary sides: try a candle-making class (like Wick and Pour) or a pasta-making class (like Aunt Jake’s)
Hopefully this itinerary helps you plan your next girls’ weekend in New York City! Let me know what you think.
