For the first time in Manhattan we lived on 14th street – this nice and cozy café around the corner (on 16th) still is our favorite place for delicious breakfast or brunch... Think they have tons of meals on their menu, quite affordable for huge portions.. Plus, good music.

A good flat white is hard to find but this is one place in NYC that has coffee that tastes like it does back in New Zealand.

I've been coming to Blue Ribbon for many years, primarily for lunch, go simple with the house salad or all in with the Omakase

This is another neighborhood favorite, especially for Sunday brunch which is consistently great.

This is a pro tip, but also a summer tip, take the ferry from Lower Manhattan to Rockaway and spent the day. The beach is great and the area is impossible to gasp that it's 30 min from Manhattan (without traffic) - Eat as many tacos you can, cause it's the best in the state of New York!