& New Jersey
Family Reunion Travel Guide
Welcome to New York
About This Guide
The guide below is a curated list of restaurants, attractions, and activities located in New York and in New Jersey. New York and New Jersey are sister states that is separated by the iconic Hudson River. They even split half of the Statue of Liberty! As for many residents of these two states, we typically travel between the two to enjoy everything wonderful the Northeast has to offer. This guide presents to you great finds from decades of experience and top tier recommendations for you all to also get that amazing experience. There is so much both of these wonderful states have to offer outside of the greatest hits.
Enjoy!
This guide will be updated frequently leading up to the family reunion so please make sure to check back closer to the family reunion start date to se everything!
The Key
Historical
Family Approved
New York / New Jersey Staple
Fun Fact
Reservation Only
Typically Has Lines
The guide is separated by neighborhood to make it easier for you to plan your stops.
New York
Midtown Manhattan
{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 34th Street - 59th Street}
The home-neighborhood of Elka, Jason, Kaia, Zion, and Zenith!
Restaurants & Food Joints
Miss Nellie's
321 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
American Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner
$$
{Theatre District}
Family Approved!
Del Frisco's
1221 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
American Cuisine - Steakhouse - Dinner - Date Night
$$$$
Family Approved!
There's also one in Hoboken.
Very close to the Broadway theaters!
Giulietta NYC
200 Park Ave, New York, NY 10166
Italian - Breakfast to Dinner
$$
Crab House Times Square
218 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018
All You Can Eat Seafood
$$$
Crab House NYC on the East Side of Midtown is cheaper.
Dallas BBQs Times Square
241 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
American Cuisine - Barbecue Chain Restaurant - Lunch to Dinner
$
Family Approved!
Serendipity 3 Times Square
157 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
Has American Cuisine but Specializes in Dessert - For Kids
$$
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
A block or two away from Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street. Convenient when taking the bus into NYC.
Izakaya MEW
53 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
Japanese - Dinner
$$
Le Café Louis Vuitton NYC
6 E 57th St, New York, NY 10022
Cafe - An Experience
$$$
Family Approved!
You need to have a reservation.
It's best to have a reservation.
Los Tacos No. 1
201 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10119
Mexican - Quick Bites - Fast Food
$
Bar Lola
346 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036
Cocktail Bar - Brunch to Dinner
$$$
A block away from Madison Square Garden
New York Staple
Breakfast at Tiffany's
6th Floor, 727 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022
Blue Box Cafe by Daniel Boloud
$$$$
Chez Josephine
414 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
French staples pair with piano music at this opulent restaurant, a tribute to Josephine Baker.
$$
{Hell's Kitchen}
By reservation only. Typically difficult to get a reservation.
French Cuisine - Tea Time
Sight Seeing
The EDGE
30 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
Observation Deck with a One-of-a-Kind View of Manhattan
$49 per person
{Hudson Yards}
Rockefeller Center
45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
Historical Landmark with an Underground Market
Family Approved!
New York Staple
Radio City Music Hall
1260 6th Ave, New York, NY 10020
One of New York's Most Iconic Entertainment Venues
Carnegie Hall
57th Street and, 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019
One of New York's Most Iconic Entertainment Venues
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Check for concerts, events, and tours or stop by just for a photo-op!
Check for concerts, events, and tours or stop by just for a photo-op!
Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Cir, New York, NY 10019
Historical Landmark - Marks the End of Central Park
Madison Square Garden
4 Pennsylvania Plaza
(7th Avenue between W. 31st and W. 33rd Streets) New York, NY 10001
Historical Landmark - Iconic Entertainment Venue - Highly Recommended to Visit During Our Championship Reign!
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Across from the Landmark is a Mall with All Kinds of Shops (The Shops at Columbus Circle)
Grand Central Station
89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Historical Landmark - One of the First Transportation Terminals
Macy's Herald Square
151 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001
Iconic Flagship Store with Creative Window Displays - Sometimes Holds Events
{Avenue of the Americas}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
They are shops and restaurants inside as well!
Activities
The Museum of Broadway
145 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Museum - Kids Friendly
$45/person
{Theatre District}
Family Approved!
Museum of Modern Art (MoMa)
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
Museum and Art Gallery
$30/person - Kids are Free
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
The Ideas of Africa Exhibit runs during our Family Reunion!
Madam Tussauds NYC
234 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
A Collection of Wax Statues of Prominent People
$34+/person
Family Approved!
M&M World (Flagship Store)
1600 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
For Kids and Lovers of Chocolate
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Birdland Jazz Club
315 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Iconic Jazz Club
$35+/person
Family Approved!
Tea Around Town
Departure Point: 42nd St between 5th & 6th Ave across the street from 11 W 42nd St
High Tea Bus Tour
$79+/person
New York Staple
{Theatre District}
Lucky Cheng's Drag Queen Showplace
570 10th Ave (4th floor) - In Green Room 42 Supper Club FKA Green Fig inside the YOTEL NEW YORK Times Square
Supper & Drag Performance Entertainment - Has Brunch Options as Well.
$29+/person
Family Approved!
The Lego Store
636 5th Ave, New York, NY 10020
Large Lego Store with Amazing Displays - For Kids
New York Staple
Located in Rockefeller Center. There's also one in the Flatiron District (W 23rd Street 5th Ave)
Harlem
{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 110th Street - 155th Street *Includes both East and West}
Where the New York branch of the family started!
Restaurants & Food Joints
Red Rooster
310 Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10027
Black Owned - Soul Food - Brunch to Dinner
$$
New York Staple
Lucille's
26 Macombs Pl, New York, NY 10039
Jazz Club - Date Night - Brunch to Dinner
$$
Sugar Hill Creamery
184 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Black Owned Ice Cream Shop - A Few Blocks Away from The Studio Museum in Harlem
$$
Dinosaur-Bar-B-Que
700 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
BBQ Restaurant - Preferred Over Dallas BBQs in Times Square
$$
Family Approved!
Melba's
300 W 114th St, New York, NY 10026
Black Owned Soul Food Restaurant
$$
Lido
2168 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Black Owned Italian Restaurant
$$
New York Staple
Bixi
2164 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Black Owned Asian-Inspired Restaurant
$$
Amy Ruth's Harlem
113 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026
Soul Food - Harlem Chicken & Waffles - Black Founded
$$
New York Staple
Saint Louis Restaurant
381 Lenox Ave New York, NY 10027
Senagalese Restaurant
$$
Harlem Bistro BLVD
2149 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Black Owned Soul Food Restaurant - Brunch to Dinner - Happy Hour
$$$
New York Staple
Sight Seeing
The Apollo Theater
233 W 125th St 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10027
Legendary Theater for Black Art and Entertainment
Langston Hughes' House
20 E 127th St, New York, NY 10035
Historical Landmark
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Historical
Ticketed Events and Tours
Historical
Riverbank State Park
679 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10031
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Blvd. Manhattan, NY, 10037
Black Research Library with Exhibits
Family Approved!
New York Staple
Historical
A Park by the Hudson River with Lots of Events and Activities
{Sits between Harlem and Washington Heights}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
Activities
The Shabazz Center
3940 Broadway New York, NY 10032
Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Museum
Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market
52 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026
A Flea Market with Black Vendors and Black Owned Businesses in Honor of Malcolm X
Family Approved!
New York Staple
Historical
Harlem Summer Nights {Uptown Night Market}
The Old Fairways Parking Lot, 2328 12th Ave, New York, NY 10027
Bill's Place
148 W 133rd St, New York, NY 10030
Bill Saxton's Jazz Club
New York Staple
Historical
Free to visit but RSVP required. RSVP on their website.
Black Food Festival and Night Market
$38/person
Caribbean Cultural Center
120 E 125th St, New York, NY 10035
Cultural Center with Exhibits
Family Approved!
National Jazz Museum in Harlem
58 W 129th St Ground Floor, 2203, New York, NY 10027
Museum
Admission is Donation-Based with a Recommendation of $10
New York Staple
The Village
{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 14th Street - Houston Street *Includes both East and West}
Restaurants & Food Joints
Miss Lilly's
109 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Black Owned - Cocktails & Jamaican Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner - Happy Hour
$$
{East Village}
Family Approved!
L'Industrie Pizzeria
104 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Pizzeria
$$
{West Village}
Recent New York Staple
New York Staple
Individual slices range from $4.25 - $7.50
Usually Has Lines But Moves Pretty Fast
Ramen by Ra
70 E 1st St, New York, NY 10003
Black Owned Ramen Spot
$$
Mamoun's Falafel
119 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
New York’s Oldest Falafel Shop
$
Family Approved!
Recent New York Staple
New York Staple
{East Village}
Usually Has Lines But Moves Pretty Fast
{West Village}
Pasta de Pasta
165 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Quick, Italian Cheese Wheel Pasta
$$
Randy's Donuts
185 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
Los Angeles' Iconic Donut Spot Came to NYC!
$
{East Village}
{West Village}
Cha Cha Tang NYC
257 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014
Authentic Cantonese Cuisine
$$
Benji's Buns
122 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Cinnamon Bun Shop
$
{West Village}
{West Village}
Sight Seeing
The Stonewall Inn
53 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
Gay bar & National Historic Landmark, site of the 1969 riots that launched the queer rights movement.
{West Village}
Washington Square Park
5 Ave, Waverly Pl., W. 4 St. and Macdougal St.
Historical Monument & Park with an arch gifted by the French - Events Frequently Happen Here
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Historical
Historical
Jefferson Market Garden & Library
10 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011
Public Library with a Garden
{Greenwich Village}
Christopher Park
38-64 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
National park across from the storied Stonewall Inn featuring the Gay Liberation Monument.
{West Village}
New York Staple
Activities
Strand Bookstore
828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Landmark Book Store
{Greenwich Village}
Historical
Blue Note Jazz Club
131 W 3rd St, New York, NY 10012
Legendary Jazz Club - Ticketed Events
$30+/person
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
IFC Center
323 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014
Art House Movie Theatre
$20/person
Marie's Crisis Cafe
59 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Broadway Showtunes "Sing-along" Piano Bar
2 Drink Minimum Per Person
{Greenwich Village}
{West Village}
(Le) Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
An eclectic multimedia art gallery dedicated to the fusion of theater, dance, fine art, film and music, making it a state-of-the-art performance venue with great entertainment.
$27+/person
Terra Blues
149 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012
Blues Music Club
$20-$50/person
{Greenwich Village}
{Greenwich Village}
Lower Manhattan
{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 34th Street - Wall Street *Includes Noho, Soho, Financial District, and so on}
Restaurants & Food Joints
Avra
398 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001
Greek Cuisine - Brunch on Saturday and Sunday
$$
Godunk Thai Street Food
332 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
Thai Street Food with a Cinema Themed Ambience
$$
{Bowery}
Tipsy Scoop
217 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010
Boozy Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
$$
Prince Street Pizza
27 Prince St, New York, NY 10012
Iconic Pizzeria
$
New York Staple
{Nolita}
{Lower East Side}
Sight Seeing
Union Square - 14th Street
Broadway 14th St New York, NY 10003
14th Street Train Station that can lead to Union Square Park, Union Square Farmer's Market, and multiple other shops and experiences.
The Highline
Entry Point: W 30th Street & 10 Ave
Built on a once-abandoned elevated rail line, the green space offers unparalleled views of Manhattan’s far west side. With places to sit and people-watch, patches of grass, seasonal blooms and fascinating architectural features throughout, it’s a great place to relax, and makes for an envy-inducing photo backdrop.
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Chelsea Piers
23rd St. & Hudson River Park, New York, NY 10011
Sports Complex on a Pier on the Hudson River
{Chelsea}
South Street Seaport
19 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038, USA
A Neighborhood Along the Southern Tip of Manhattan with Great Shops and Events During the Summer.
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Activities
Duane Park Supper Club
308 Bowery, New York, NY 10012
Burlesque Supper Club + Live Performance & Dinner
$145/person (food + entertainment) // Ages 21+
{Bowery}
Family Approved!
Chelsea Market
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
A Marketplace & Food Hall with Events
Historical
New York Staple
New York Staple
{Meatpacking District}
The Skyscraper Museum
39 Battery Pl, New York, NY 10280
Museum of the history of the city's skyscrapers and architecture.
Free Admission
The Whitney Museum
99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
An Iconic Art Museum at the End of the Highline
$30/person {Free for ages 25 and under, just need ID of some sort}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
{Financial District}
{Meatpacking District}
Museum of Ice Cream
558 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
Interactive Exhibits Museum - Kids Friendly
$39-$48/person
Color Factory
251 Spring St, New York, NY 10013
Interactive Exhibits Museum - Kids Friendly
$49/person
{SoHo}
{SoHo}
Upper Manhattan
{Borough: Manhattan - Streets: 110th Street - 155th Street *Includes Upper West Side & Upper East Side}
The home-neighborhood of your cousins Denise, Yvette, Mignon, Ra, and Tehja!
Restaurants & Food Joints
Jacob's Pickles
680 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025
American Cuisine - Cozy - Brunch to Dinner
$$
{Upper West Side}
Family Approved!
Maison Pickle
2315 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
French-American Cuisine - Dinner - Date Night
$$
Recent New York Staple
{Upper West Side}
Pio Pio 6
702 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
Peruvian Cuisine Restaurant
$$
Family Approved!
Peacefood
460 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
Vegan Restaurant
$$
Family Approved!
{Upper West Side}
{Upper West Side}
Glace New York
1266 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128
Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
$$
Carmine's
2450 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
Family Style Italian Food
$$
Family Approved!
New York Staple
{Upper West Side}
{Upper East Side}
Piccola Cucina Uptown
106 E 60th St, New York, NY 10022
Italian Restaurant
$$$
Magnolia Bakery
200 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023
American Bakery with a World Renowned Banana Pudding
$$
Family Approved!
New York Staple
{Upper West Side - but has multiple locations}
{Upper East Side}
Sight Seeing
Central Park - Seneca Village
Central Park, Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024
{Upper West Side}
West Side Community Garden
123 W 89th St, New York, NY 10024
Community Garden
{Upper West Side}
Family Approved!
Historical
Family Member Anna Grayson helped to start this garden!
Historical Landmark - A Historically Black and Irish Neighborhood in the 1800s
The Metropolitan Museum of Art {The Met}
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Iconic History and Art Museum
{Upper East Side}
5th Avenue
Start at E 86th St & 5th Avenue and Walk Downtown - Or Start After Your Visit at the Met
One of the Most Iconic Streets/Avenues in NYC with Designer Shops and Flagship Stores to Revel at Their Displays
{Upper East Side}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Historical
$30/Adult {Kids 12 & under are free}
Museum of Natural History
200 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024
World-Famous Museum - The Museum the Movie 'Night at the Museum' was Filmed In
Lincoln Center
Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023
Historical Landmark for the Arts - Jazz at Lincoln Center - The Met Opera - American Ballet Theatre & More
{Upper West Side}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Historical
{Upper West Side}
$37/Adult -- $22/Kids
Family Member Mignon Grayson and her father Milton Grayson Jr. have both performed here!
You Can Lounge Around the Plaza Without Needing a Ticket - Free Events Happen Here As Well
Activities
Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar
254 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023
Black-Owned Cocktail Bar with Live Entertainment
{Upper West Side}
Grand Bazaar NYC Flea Market
100 W 77th St, New York, NY 10024
A Fun Artisan Flea Market - Every Sunday from 10am - 5pm
Family Approved!
$$
{Upper West Side}
The Met - Costume Art Exhibit
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
The exhibit that the Met Gala theme was inspired by. Each Met Gala funds the Costume Institute at the Met to continue their research and studies.
{Upper East Side}
Museum of the City of New York
1220 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029
Museum About the History of New York City
{Upper East Side}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Historical
Honorable Mentions
{Other sites to check out that are in other boroughs}
Taqueria Ramirez
94 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
Mexican Food
$
Saint Michel: Cafe and Art
462 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Black-Owned Coffeehouse offering a wide selection of teas plus pastries, desserts, and merchandise with a fashion and art media library.
$
New York Staple
{Brooklyn}
{Brooklyn}
Typically has lines. No Dine-In.
Museum of Contemporary African Disaporan Art
21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Mix Your Own Frangrances
TikTok Review
Luna Park at Coney Island
21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Black Owned Art Gallery
TikTok Review
{Brooklyn}
Family Approved!
New York Staple
New York Staple
Family Approved!
Historical
{Brooklyn}
New Jersey
Jersey City
Restaurants & Food Joints
Surf City Bar
1 Marin Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Seafood Restaurant & Bar Right on the Water
$$
Solaz Mediterranean Cuisine
21 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
Meditteranean Cuisine
$$
Korai Kitchen
576 Summit Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Bangladeshi Cuisine
$$
Must Have Reservation
Departed Soles Brewing Company
150 Bay St #2a, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Jersey City's Staple Brewery
$$
New Jersey Staple
Sight Seeing
Liberty State Park
1 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City, NJ 07305
You can see the Statue of Liberty at this park.
NY/NJ Waterway
Paulus Hook Ferry Terminal - Hudson St. @ Exchange Place Jersey City, NJ 07302
Boat Transportation Between New York and New Jersey Across the Hudson River - 8 Minute Walk From Hotel
$9.75/adult - $5.75/Kids over 5 - Kids under 5 are free
Family Approved!
New Jersey Staple
New Jersey Staple
Jackie Robinson's Statue
Next to Deli plus 27A Concourse level, 1 Path Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Historical Landmark That Mark's Robinson's First Game in the Minors
Loew's Jersey Theatre
54 Journal Square Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306
Historical Landmark with 1920s Art Deco Architecture
Historical
Historical
Activities
Liberty Science Center
222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Interactive Science Museum for Kids - In Liberty State Park
$31/adult - $26/child ages 2-12
Family Approved!
Newport Mall
30 Mall Dr W, Jersey City, NJ 07310
Jersey City Mall
New Jersey Staple
The Rest of New Jersey
Restaurants & Food Joints
Blu on the Hudson
1200 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken Township, NJ 07086
Seafood and Fine Dining - Intimate Environment - Date Night - Happy Hour - By the River
$$$$
{Weehawken}
Family Approved!
Haven Riverfront Restaurant & Bar
2 Main St, Edgewater, NJ 07020
American Cuisine - Dinner - Date Night
$$$
{Edgewater}
Family Approved!
Antique Bar & Bakery
122 Willow Ave, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Coal-Fired Seafood and Stake Cuisine with a Famous Bread Pudding
$$$
Dear Maud
205 1st St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Cocktail Bar & Brunch Spot
$$$
{Hoboken}
{Hoboken}
Carlo's Bakery
95 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
"Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro's bakery, known for a variety of cookies, cannoli & elaborate cakes.
$$
Insomnia Cookie
56 Newark St., Hoboken, NJ 07030
Cookie Shop
$
{Hoboken}
{Hoboken}
Sight Seeing
Sinatra Park
Sinatra Dr, Hoboken, NJ 07030
This waterfront park offers a kayak launch, soccer field, an amphitheater & views of Manhattan named after Frank Sinatra himself.
{Hoboken}
Weehawken Dueling Grounds
Weehawken Township, NJ 07086
Wooded green space above the Hudson River where Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton in 1804.
{Weehawken}
Historical
New Jersey Staple
Activities
American Dream Mall
1 American Dream Wy, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
2nd Largest Mall in American - Kids Amusement Park Inside - Right Next to MetLife Stadium - Has World Cup Activities
{East Rutherford}
Family Approved!
Sea Life Aquarium
In the American Dream Mall
Aquarium - Kids Friendly
$30/person
New Jersey Staple
Sojo Spa
660 River Rd, Edgewater, NJ 07020
Korean Style Spa & Bath House
{Edgewater}
NJPAC
1 Center St, Newark, NJ 07102
Performing Arts Center with Events
{Newark}
Family Approved!
$100+/person
New Jersey Staple
Family Approved!