Well friends, NFT.NYC 2022 has arrived. Our SuperBowl. Our Woodstock. Our Olympics. Okay — maybe we’re getting carried away. Can you blame us? This is the single largest NFT conference in the world.
And it’s in one of the greatest cities in the world: New York. Which makes attending the conference the perfect opportunity for not only attending events and meeting new peeps, but also for exploring NYC while you’re there. With so much awesomeness packed into one place, knowing where to begin can get overwhelming.
We got you. Making a comprehensive guide to the biggest American city is a fool’s errand — there’s just no way to capture it all — so we didn’t. But we did pull together a selection: a dozen of our favorite places to visit in New York City, right now. 🍎🗽
Are you excited? We’re excited.
Yes, This Guide is Almost 50% Food. Just Go with It.
Mamoun’s Falafel
Greenwich Village (119 Macdougal Street)
If we’re being real, halal is something of a New York specialty. It’s a city where you can walk up to pretty much any halal cart and trust that the food will be good. That said, we’re partial to Mamoun’s on Macdougal, where you can enjoy your falafel sandwich to-go nearby in Washington Square Park.
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
Chinatown (13 Doyers Street)
Established in 1920, this is the oldest dim sum restaurant in New York City. So you know they know what they’re doing. During weekend rush, lines are often out the door, but everything on the menu is worth the wait. Nom Wah also has two outposts (in Nolita and at the Essex Market), but the OG location on Doyers is where to go for a vintage Cantonese dim sum experience.
H&H Bagel
Upper West Side (526 Columbus Avenue)
New Yorkers love their bagels. A fact bordering on stereotype at this point, but it’s hard to argue — this city’s home to the best. That said, if you do want to start a debate, just announce that you know the best bagel spot in town. You’ll be arguing for hours with no resolution in sight. We’re not trying to get into it, but founded in 1972, H&H is an institution and their tagline is “Like No Other Bagel in the World.” Just stating facts here, people.
BonBon
Lower East Side (130 Allen Street)
Where else can you find a candy shop open till midnight? The hours alone give us a sugar rush. In the city that never sleeps, load up on premium Scandinavian candy at BonBon, and you won’t either.
Joe’s Pizza
Greenwich Village (7 Carmine Street)
Best pizzeria in the city? File under: New York debate topics we won’t touch with a 10-foot pole. NYC is pizza-rich, meaning you can get above average pies almost anywhere in the city, and your options range from the quintessential dollar slice to grandma-style to coal-oven realness. For a reliable and classic street slice, head over to Joe’s, a popular West Village institution. The storefront awning doesn’t read “Famous Joe’s Pizza” for nothing.
What’s On: The Future of Art
SuperRare Gallery
Soho (417 W Broadway)
The first-ever SuperRare pop-up gallery just happens to be in NYC, and since it’s planned to close in August, you should stop by while you’re in town. Its new exhibition, Digital Identity, opens this week and will be on view through July 9.
ARTECHOUSE
Chelsea (439 W 15th Street)
NYC is home to a lot of incredible cultural institutions, but this is one pushing the boundaries of art as we know it. ARTECHOUSE specializes in bringing together art, science, and technology. With immersive exhibitions and an extended reality app, it feels like a guarantee that this is one museum experience you won’t find anywhere else.
Commune with Nature (Without Leaving the City)
High Line
Chelsea (multiple entrances)
TBH, there’s no competing with Central Park, the crown jewel of NYC’s parks. (To all the Brooklynites ready to make an impassioned case for Prospect Park: we hear you, but not now.) That’s what’s great about the High Line: it’s not competing. It’s something else entirely. Stretching from Gansevoort Street all the way up to Hudson Yards, this elevated path weaves lush greenspace between West Side skyscrapers.
When You Want to Treat Yo’ Self
The Strand Bookstore
Union Square (828 Broadway)
If you scroll through any NYC must-see list, this is probably on it. And with good reason. Four floors carrying more than 2.5 million books. Old school comics, contemporary fiction, occult texts, rare collectibles. You know those Weekend Update sketches from SNL? The ones where Bill Hader’s Stefon character would say, “This place has EVERYTHING.” This is one of those moments. The Strand has everything. Go forth.
Nintendo NY
Midtown (10 Rockefeller Plaza)
With 10,000 square feet over two floors, this place isn’t just a store — it’s a whole experience. But if you can tear yourself away from the gamer lounge (good luck with that) you’ll still find all the games and merch you could ever want.
Is It Happy Hour Yet?
Barcade
Williamsburg (388 Union Avenue)
What do NFTs and this bar have in common? Authenticity. Sure, the arcade plus bar concept might not be revolutionary anymore, and Barcade itself may have opened other locations in Manhattan, but this? This one is the OG, the Barcade that started it all. It’s worth venturing to Brooklyn for a night out with classic pinball machines and arcade games and craft beer on tap.
The Flower Shop
Lower East Side (107 Eldridge Street)
There’s a dining room on the first floor and the menu has been Michelin-recognized, but it’s really about the bar and the downstairs lounge. The vibes are 70’s nostalgia and abundant. You’re likely to see a range of people here depending on the hour, especially since it doesn’t close until 2am.
Gain XP IRL
Tidal Force
Chelsea (289 7th Avenue)
An arcade level-up. Here, you don’t just play games, you immerse yourself in them. And the team at Tidal Force creates all of their VR games and experiences in-house! They also specialize in multiplayer experiences, so you can take all your new NFT NYC friends.
The “Do It for the ’Gram” Spot
Pebble Beach at Brooklyn Bridge Park
DUMBO (Main Street)
There’s probably an argument to be made that you can find something Instagram-worthy anywhere in NYC. We don’t disagree. But we do recommend one outside of Manhattan. Spend enough time in the city and you can forget where you are — the immensity of it, the beauty of the place. It’s worth the trip across East River just to stand on the shoreline and take in the Manhattan skyline in all its glory. The sights and sounds of downtown Brooklyn are a nice bonus though.
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Wow, we’ve just written ourselves into NYC FOMO, and that’s even without mentioning all the cool stuff going down at NFT NYC. Must mean this is a pretty solid guide, right?
We’ll be with you in spirit. And online. (Of course.) Have a blast taking on the town this week, post your highlights from #NFTNYC2022, and tag us when you stop by our favorite spots! We’ll see you soon. 💚
