While I may spend a fair amount of time in NYC, most of it is centered around Broadway plays, shopping on 5th Avenue, seeing a special exhibit at a museum, or attending lectures at the 92 Street Y. I rarely spend more than a day in the city. But that is starting to change after my recent 2 days in Tribeca.
We have lived in the New York City area for 22 years now. When my husband worked in the city, the last thing he wanted to do on weekends was go back. But being retired, the city has taken on a new appreciation. When I recently booked 2 events on consecutive nights, he suggested we stay for a few nights. I was not going to say no…
Although our evening plans were at 92nd Street on the east side, I decided there were some touristy things I wanted to do downtown. I chose Tribeca as our base, which would put us closer to the daytime sightseeing locations. Tribeca is probably most notable for the Tribeca Film Festival and Robert DeNiro. It was an enclave for artists in the 1960s and 70s and has maintained its creative roots. If you just wander like we did, you’ll find that the cast-iron buildings hold gems around every corner. You may even stumble upon a quiet bar, a pop-up clothing boutique, a Michelin restaurant, or an independent art gallery.
One of the biggest selling points for Tribeca is that it’s really not a tourist area. In fact, we were hard pressed to see any tourists. It has a real residential vibe. If you keep walking, you can visit downtown, the lower east side, and Brooklyn to the south. Then there is SoHo, the West Village, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Chelsea to the north.
The 2 days in Tribeca turned out to be so amazing that we decided we’re going to do this for many other areas of the city. Here’a our first venture into Tribeca…
NEW YORK CITY: 2 DAYS IN TRIBECA
Getting Around
NYC is known for its walkability. People pretty much walk everywhere. It mainly depends on how much time you have. For us, having a lot of free time meant we spent a great deal of it walking. For our night adventures which were clear across town, however, walking wasn’t an option. We could Uber, taxi, or choose public transportation. We opted for the subway and it couldn’t have been easier. Just a 10 minute walk to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station and then a direct train to 86th or 96th Street.
Where to Stay
I’m not a fan of huge hotels and luckily, that’s not what you’ll find in Tribeca. I chose to stay at a boutique-type hotel called the Duane Street Hotel. I actually chose it, because so many others were either fully booked or really expensive, like over $500 a night (an issue when you’re booking last minute). Searching best hotels in Tribeca online led me to a few possibilities. I gave a few names to my travel agent and she came back with her recommendation. Duane Street Hotel turned out to be a real gem.
I was a bit apprehensive when we first drove up as it sits on a busy corner of a nondescript area of Tribeca. It was very cute, but my first thought was it’s going to be noisy. When we walked in, any concerns went away. We found a modern decor with a cute bar (coffee and alcohol), sitting area, and very welcoming staff.
An Executive King Room at the Duane Hotel in Tribeca.
The Duane has 43 rooms on 6 floors. While our Executive King room was not large, it offered more than enough space. We were on the 5th floor and never heard a sound, especially from the street below. The rooms are decorated in chic black and white. They do offer special packages, so be sure to check before you book.
Amenities
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and hardwired high-speed internet access
- Flat screen TV and Chromecast which enables you to cast entertainment and music apps from your electronics to the TV
- L’Occitane luxury bath amenities
- Scandia bathrobes
- Hypo-allergenic duvets and pillows
- Mini bar service, refrigerator, and Keurig coffee machine
- Complimentary iPad
- 24-hour concierge service
- Valet parking for a fee
- Pet-friendly
- Complimentary gym passes to Equinox, 4 blocks away
- Restaurant on premises
- Free bikes on first come first serve basis
Duane Street is part of the IC group with hotels on the east and west coasts. Rates start around $200/night for a Superior Queen and will depend on time of year.
Other hotel options…
The Frederick Hotel, the Greenwich Hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Downtown, AKA Smyth Tribeca, the Beekman, and the World Center Hotel are a few other choices you should be happy with.
Things To Do
What to see will be very specific to what you want to do. We spent the few hours of our first afternoon walking the area to get our boundaries. We came across darling shops like the Mysterious Bookshop, Philip Williams Posters, and the Jenga building.
A few of our finds in Tribeca.
Since we had our nights planned with talks by Peter Sagal of Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me fame and Wendy Sherman and Madeline Albright at the 92nd Street Y, I only had to plan the days’ sightseeing. Top on our list has been the 9/11 Memorial, so that was our first priority.
Also within walking distance is the Brooklyn Bridge and on the lower east side, the Tenement Museum. I had been to the museum once before and loved it and knew my husband, the history buff, would, too. I had also walked across the Brooklyn Bridge on a glorious summer day a few years back and gladly agreed to do it again so my husband could be as fascinated by the views. Tickets for both museums are available online and I recommend you get them in advance.
9/11 Memorial and One World Trade Center
For the 9/11 Memorial, we did the tour which is outside and the museum which is subterranean and so should you. You learn things during the tour like why the names on the memorial are not in alphabetical order that we wouldn’t have learned otherwise. It takes about 40 minutes and then you go into the museum and can spend as much time as you like. Having tickets, we walked right in. Otherwise, there was a LONG line to purchase tickets. We spent about 2 1/2 hours in the museum and felt that was sufficient to see most. Of course, you could spend several more hours if you read everything. Up to you…
Part of the 9/11 Memorial Museum exhibit.
The Oculus is across the street from the museum and now houses multi-level shopping and the subway station. It’s a gorgeous building and the eye actually closes on 9/11 in commemoration of the event. One World Trade Center is now the tallest building in the world at 104 stories.You can to the top on the high speed elevator and see the world from the One World Observatory. Buy your timed tickets online.
Tenement Museum
Until last year, I had no idea the Tenement Museum was in NYC, yet it is one of the most popular sightseeing stops. During busy times of the year, tours easily sell out. The museum tells the stories of immigrants who started their lives anew on Manhattan’s Lower East Side between the 19th and 21st centuries through the recreated apartment and businesses of real families in two historic tenement buildings.
Visitors take guided tours of apartments that recreate immigrant life. Walking tours explore how life was for immigrants on the Lower East Side and how the neighborhood changed. We took the Under One Roof tour which details the lives of 3 families who lived in an apartment over the years. The tours last 1 – 2 hours. There is also a really nice gift shop on the premises.
Brooklyn Bridge
I did this a few years ago when I took a photography lesson. It was so much fun and amazing. You can start down by City Hall and end in Dumbo, Brooklyn or do the opposite. Take the subway over to Dumbo, spend some time checking out the area, including Brooklyn Bridge Park with its carousel. Then, walk back with the stunning views of Manhattan in your face. Any way you choose, the views from front, back, and all sides are mesmerizing and include the Statue of Liberty.
View of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge.
You can spend as much time as you want doing this, but plan at least an hour walking across – it is a mile. After all, you will have to stop for pictures. Sunrise or sunset walks are particularly spectacular.
Other options for things to do…
This area has some of the most famous sites in NYC. Think Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Federal Reserve Bank, Trinity Church, Brookfield Place for upscale shopping, and Stone Street with its cobblestoned streets and the Fraunces Tavern and Museum that dates back to George Washington.
Dining
There are tons of options for dining not only in Tribeca, but the surrounding areas. And if you don’t mind venturing out, you have the whole city at your disposal. For this trip, we wanted to stay local and walk. So, I searched Best Restaurants in Tribeca and came up with quite a few. We only had 2 nights so I wanted to choose carefully. Since we had to be at the 92nd Street Y by 7:15pm one night, I chose to have dinner down there. What we did find is that so many restaurants are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so if you can’t make it for dinner…
Marc Forgione
I highly recommend Marc Forgione restaurant. Everything about our experience made us happy. From the rustic decor to the atmosphere to the service to the food, it surprised and amazed. I’m a sucker for brick walls, so was sold when we walked in. But what always is a good indication of things to come is when your waiter asks right off the bat if you have any allergies or preferences that he needs to be aware of.
Food and ambience at Marc Forgione in Tribeca.
I’m vegetarian so he steered me right away to what I could have on the menu, but added that the chef would be happy to prepare a dish for me. The Kona Kampachi, Honeynut Squash Salad, and Halibut en Croute were impeccable. If you can share, go for the Chicken Under a Brick or the Porterhouse.
Tribeca Kitchen
This restaurant is open all day, but we tried it for breakfast which was perfect. Standard fair and no complaints. Not sure I would want to go for a nice dinner, but for breakfast and lunch in a casual atmosphere you can’t go wrong. Plus, always a good sign – it was filled with locals and people having business meetings.
The Odeon
We had been to The Odeon many years ago, so we knew what to expect. It has been an institution in the area since 1980. While it may not be a top restaurant, it is reliable bistro and fun to think about Andy Warhol having a martini at the bar! We went for breakfast and were quite pleased.
The Odeon in Tribeca.
A few we didn’t try, but definitely are on my list for next time…
Eataly NYC Downtown – I’ve been to the original Eataly in the Flatiron district and can highly vouch for it. This new one is located at 4 World Trade Center. It is an upscale Italian market with five themed in-house eateries, six takeaway counters, and two bars; one for coffee and one for wine.
Locanda Verde – I had heard really great things about Locanda Verde, but time ran out to give it a try. It used to be one of the hottest restaurants in town and is still noted to be one of the best. As the name implies, it is Italian. It’s also known to be a big celebrity sighting spot if you’re into that. I’m not, but can’t wait to try the food.
Graffiti Earth – Graffiti Earth is the latest restaurant from celebrity Chef Jehangir Mehta, a runner-up on Food Network’s Next Iron Chef. Graffiti Earth features vegetable-forward dishes with flavors rooted in Chef Mehta’s Indian roots and Persian heritage. a strong emphasis on sustainability. It is located in the Duane Street Hotel.
Then there’s…Smith & Mills, Frenchette, Racines, Little Park, and American Cut if you just have to visit a steakhouse.
Very excited for our next New York City adventure. Will it be Chelsea, the Upper West Side, or Brooklyn? So many choices….
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Sherry is one of the TriWivesClub and LifeDoneWell co-founders and contributes to multiple blogs. She is a former co-owner of the California Apparel News and had a career in the healthcare industry. Her passions include traveling, real food, the environment, and animal rescue/welfare. She lives a healthy lifestyle and has been a vegetarian since 1987. She and her husband are parents to two rescue pups and reside in Connecticut.
