The Peruvian pisco sour cocktail is among my favorite aperitifs - you won't find it better than here. A lot of people know this bar which has been around for many years, what they don't know is that the dinning is actually really good. Blinis & caviar with some bubbles are the perfect way to continue after the aperitif :)

The oldest still-operating restaurant in New York City, still in the family of the original founders. At Christmastime, it's decorated to the nines. Go with a big group: portions are large and the wine flows liberally. Look for the little buttons on the walls: in the old days, the mafia would hang out in the back room, and if diners saw the cops come in, they'd press the buttons so the mafia guys could run out the back.

This quaint shop boasts an artfully arranged and tastefully curated selection of jewelry, pottery, books and art. I have to keep myself from going there too often, because I have trouble leaving without making a purchase.

This is one of my favorite bars in Manhattan. It has a courtyard in the middle and they only serve a large selection of Belgian beer. It's always dark with red lights so it's like a giant darkroom with everyone developing hangovers instead of film. The courtyard creates a front bar that is open on the weekends, so if you get cornered talking about architecture you can escape over to the front bar and watch people walk down 4th street.

Niche cinema for people who care too much about film and like obscure things. The restaurant/bar upstairs has great food, drinks, and skylights too.