The best place to see a dramatic sunset is right by Valentino Pier in my neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. This was right after a storm. It's wild and brilliant and peaceful all at once.

Tucked away on the second floor, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of Manhattan. Order the Ika geso (squid legs) and the nankotsu (chicken cartilage), my personal favorites. You might notice people waiting around a nondescript door inside the restaurant; this is actually the entrance to the speakeasy bar Angel’s Share.

A stunning place to watch the ocean.

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 like coming down here with friends when the weather permits and drinking on the beach or on the rocks when the tides come in.