At the height of the pandemic, New York was a city under siege. Broadway was shuttered indefinitely, subway trains were deserted, and supermarkets painted lines on the sidewalks to help shoppers socially distance.

But armed first with masks, then vaccines, it wasn’t long before New Yorkers ventured back out of isolation, clamouring for tables in the succah-like sheds that restaurants built for outdoor dining and buying cocktails via newly opened takeaway windows.

And now the city that never sleeps is welcoming visitors once again, with a whole string of new reasons to head back.

New sights (and heights)

Like the ever-popular Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, the city’s newest high-profile sights focus on that quintessential New York City attraction: the views. Midtown’s SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and The Edge both incorporate glass-walled (and some glass-floored) ledges, elevators, and stairs into their viewing areas for dazzling, if unnerving, perspectives on the city below.

Edge at Sunset - Courtesy of Related-Oxford (1)

Edge at sunset (Photo: Related Oxford)

The Edge is also home to City Climb, where thrill seekers — clad in safety harnesses and led by guides — can clamber around a skyscraper while up to 1,271 feet in the air. Located in Hudson Yards, you can also discover the rest of this much-hyped new development that boasts open-air public spaces, the non-profit arts centre The Shed, and a climbable landmark known as The Vessel.

There’s shopping too. At the multi-level Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, you’ll find everything from toy store/play space Camp to luxury jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels to b8ta, where you can try out tech products otherwise only available online. At Beyond the Edge at Vessel Shop, you’ll find exclusive, Hudson Yards-themed gifts to remind you of your visit too.

Art & culture

The newest additions to the city’s cultural scene focus on popular and contemporary art. The Museum of Broadway, opening in summer 2022, highlights the history of the American musical, while Poster House — the first museum of its kind in the US — explores posters in fine arts, design, and advertising.

The New York branch of international museum of photography Fotografiska showcases the work of artists including Andy Warhol and Sarah Moon; Anders Petersen’s Cafe Lehmitz series is also on display until March 6.

There are big names coming to some of the biggest NYC museums too, with Henri Matisse: The Red Room at the Museum of Modern Art from May 1 until September. The show will feature the artist’s seminal 1911 painting, along with related artwork and archival materials.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, new shows include The Costume Institute’s In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, with the second part of the hit exhibition — In America: An Anthology of Fashion — opening on May 7, also until September.

There’s a gallery for special exhibits in the Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals too, following a major renovation at the American Museum of Natural History, where the 20.46-carat Ovango blue diamond is on display.

In the last few years, immersive art experiences have delighted crowds as well. Artechouse, home to tech-driven installations like Machine Hallucination: NYC — a stunning look at the city over time — is permanent, but there’s a constant stream of short-term and recurring attractions.

Color Factory collaborates with artists to create interactive, colour-themed exhibits, while at the Museum of Ice Cream, you can investigate 13 different spaces, including the three-storey ice cream portal, the rainbow tunnel, and a sprinkle pool (treats included). There’s also Arcadia Earth, an immersive art project devoted to environmental education.

Theatre lovers can rejoice too: Hugh Jackman and Tony award-winner Sutton Foster star in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man, opening February 10. Tickets are currently available until November 6, although the show’s run could be extended further.

There’s also a new venue on the horizon: the Victoria Theater, affiliated with Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater, opens in March.

Where to eat (and drink)

Always at the forefront when it comes to setting food and drink trends, the pandemic hasn’t changed things when it comes to novelty and choice.

If you’ve ever dreamed of dining in a Michelin-starred restaurant housed in a luxury car showroom, you’re in luck. At Genesis House, an offshoot of Seoul’s famed Onjium restaurant, you’ll find innovative takes on the royal cuisine of Korea, not to mention a spectacular three-dimensional ceiling. In this expansive, light-filled space, you can try the tasting menu or a la carte options, relax in the tea pavilion and library, and gawk at expensive cars.

The city recently approved year-round outdoor dining too, and with covered patios, portable heaters, and wooden booths, diners can now eat outside in comfort all year long.

You’ll need plenty of caffeine to tick off all New York’s attractions; fortunately, visitors have an excellent and ever-expanding list of options, with NYC’s trendiest new coffee/teahouses emphasising unusual ingredients.

Memo serves dark (fermented) tea, sweet milky drinks, and coffee-fruit juice hybrids you’re unlikely to encounter anywhere else, while at Felix Roasting Co, the city’s most luxe coffee bar, the signature espresso tonic includes Campari.

Meanwhile, Split Eights’ coffee menu includes a butterscotch latte (served until 3pm), or after 5pm you can thrill your taste buds with cocktails like Border State, made with aquavit, chipotle, marmalade, and absinthe. And uptown, newcomer La Diagonal has an unusual specialty: agave-based drinks.

Medsker Cadence Nov 006 CREDIT Eric Medsker

Cadence (Photo: Eric Medsker)

The Insider hot list

It’s not just the big name attractions which should be on your New York wishlist — half the fun is finding the city’s hottest new hotspots, the secret locations only the insiders know. So we’ve persuaded a few of them to share their top tips.

• Check out Hudson River Park’s newly-opened Little Island, says Britt Hijkoop, Senior Director, Communications – International at NYC & Company, built on what was once Pier 54 — where the RMS Carpathia delivered survivors of the Titanic shipwreck to safety. “Little Island’s unique design and topography, stellar views, interactive programming and more all make it a new gem.”

• After a long day of sightseeing, Jeremy Wilcox of Custom NYC Tours recommends SAGA, atop 70 Pine Street. “A landmarked Art Deco skyscraper in the Financial District. Come for the cocktails, stay for the beautiful 1930s architecture and the views!” If you prefer beer, Yard House stocks the world’s largest selection of beers and has just opened a Manhattan outpost.

• Food and dining consultant Diana Edelman of Vegans, Baby is looking forward to the expansion of Cadence, in the East Village. “This amazing vegan soul food restaurant has garnered some serious accolades,” she says; the additional seating should make reservations a little easier to get.

Getting There

Return flights to New York cost from £275 from Heathrow and Manchester during February, with airlines including Virgin Atlantic.

For the most up-to-date Covid guidelines, check the Coronavirus Information and Resources page from NYC & Company, including details of vaccination requirements for adults and children. Bear in mind that many attractions currently require prebooked and timed entry tickets.

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