NYC Summer Itinerary: Long Girls Weekend in New York City
New York City is one of my favorite places. My most favorite time to visit this city is around the holidays. When the large Rockefeller tree is up, buildings are lit up and lined with red ribbons and wreaths, and I am wrapped in a warm coat and scarf strolling the snow-sticken sidewalks. However, one can’t overlook New York City in the summer.
We always stay with our friend from college that lives in an apartment in the West Village, however; if you are looking for place to stay, check out my post, Top 18 Hotels to Stay in NYC.
The city never sleeps and certainly does not stop in the summertime. Here is my NYC Summer Itinerary for a long weekend if you’re looking for some good eats, things to do and explore in NYC this summer.
Thursday
The NYC Summer Itinerary starts with actually getting to New York. I highly recommend Amtrak. We took off at 6 AM from Richmond to Moynihan Train Hall NYC. I made a charcuterie board for the train ride there and my friends absolutely loved it! This makes the time go by and is fun if you are traveling with a group. This has now turned into a tradition for us. I got all of the items from Trader Joe’s!
Upon arriving in Moynihan Train Hall, we dropped off our bags at a friend’s apartment in the West Village and set out to explore. We were starving, so we headed to Faicco’s Italian Specialties for one of the biggest Italian subs I’ve ever seen.
Then, we took our subs and made our way to a beloved Mexican spot on the corner of Cornelia Street, Tacombi, where we enjoyed margaritas, chips, and guac in their lovely outdoor seating area. This place is so good, the past three times I have visited New York, I have eaten here! It’s a nice switch up from all of the yummy Italian food in the city. Also, it’s rumored that Taylor Swift loves Tacombi as well, her old Cornelia Street apartment is just down the street!
To top it off, I spotted Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds strolling by! He was super friendly and even took a photo with me.
Next, we visited the iconic “Friends” apartment and strolled through charming boutiques, including Little Words Project.
We also found a cute wine shop adorned for fall and picked up a bottle to sip on before dinner.
As the sun set, we headed to Hudson River Park and walked down Pier 45 and 46 along the Hudson River. The views were breathtaking—Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty—you name it! So many people were out and about on the trail and taking in the views. It’s a perfect spot for a date–whether you want to take a stroll or bring a blanket and some snacks and set up in the grass alongside the trail. Many runners were getting their miles in as well!
We made a pit stop at The Drift In for a refreshing spritz before heading back to our place to freshen up for dinner. This is also a cute spot for a summer date night with string lights draping over the outdoor dining area and bar.
Dinner was a highlight: delicious homemade pasta at the cash-only Bar Pitti (you’ll want to check this place out!). The nice thing about a lot of restaurants in New York, especially during the summer, is they open their windows. We sat inside on the edge of a window, and its beautiful views of people walking by and buildings in the background, plus the crisper, cooler air that the night brings.
Friday
Breakfast
Next up on the NYC Summer Itinerary is some of the best coffee in the city–and that is coming from a local (my friend)! We started our Friday with a visit to Fellini Coffee for coffee, hot chocolate, and a dirty chai to fuel our day. Afterward, we stopped by Liberty Bagels in Midtown for their famous rainbow bagel.
Happy Hour
The foggy weather kept us from heading up the Empire State Building, but we made the most of it with a drink at Zou Zou’s while waiting for a friend to finish work.
Next, we strolled the High Line and found ourselves at Chelsea Market.
Lunch
After grabbing a spicy pepperoni and vodka square slice from Made In New York Pizza (which I returned to two more times over the weekend—it was that good), we got ready for the US Open!
Check out my blog post, the Ultimate Guide to Attending the US Open, for more tips on attending the US Open from the city.
Saturday
Breakfast
We started our day at Cafe Kitsuné in the West Village, but if you prefer smoothies, Joe & The Juice is right across the street. Next, we grabbed takeout at Apollo’s Bagels—delicious sourdough bagels with tomato and chive cream cheese.
After a morning of bagels, we headed to Chinatown, took the train to the Upper East Side, and stopped at Ralph’s Coffee for a second cup. This was my first time trying Ralph’s and it was delicious! I wish I would have gotten a souvenir mug, but will save that for next time. Mochas in hand, we strolled through Central Park, until we realized we should probably be running to catch the subway to have time to get ready for dinner reservations!
Dinner & A Show
It was back to West Village for dinner at Connetta NYC. Afterward, we found a local sports pub for cider and beer.
The NYC Summer Itinerary would not be complete without a night of laughter at Gotham Comedy Club. We always hit a comedy club every visit to New York at Comedy Cellar or Gotham. We finished off the night by subwaying to birthday party in the Upper West Village and barhopping the rest of the night.
Sunday
The final morning of your NYC Summer Itinerary, grab coffee and bagels at Moynihan Train Hall before boarding the train home. They actually have really great options! I recommend grabbing your coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee or Maman. Both offer amazing options for your caffeine fix before your journey.
And that’s a wrap on a perfect long, summer weekend in NYC 🫶🏻 I hope our itinerary inspires you to plan a trip to NYC next summer! If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or reach out!
