When it is this difficult to get a table, you know something has to be special about Balthazar. A recreation of a French brasserie, it is bold, loud and exciting. The space is dominated by red leather banquettes with retro mirrors adding to the room's spaciousness. The restaurant is the creation of Keith McNally, who also owns Pastis in the Meatpacking District. Balthazar serves such excellent dishes as rillettes of rabbit with marinated mushrooms. Call or check the website for hours. ...more

This museum is filled with splendorous items that the Forbes family collected over the years. Its Faberge Imperial Easter Egg collection is the largest in the world; these precious and bejeweled eggs were gifts from Czar Nicholas to his wife. Some rooms in the museum are devoted to other collectibles-toys, presidential memorabilia, paintings, and so on. It is an eclectic and fascinating display from one of the United States' elite families. Admission is free. ...more

Flatiron, known for its designer cocktails, is housed in a historic building from the Twenties. This is a gorgeous dining lounge in classic old New York style, with sleek banquettes, dark wood and solid wrought ironwork. The bar is 30ft-long and serves yummy cocktails that will keep you coming back for more. ...more

As the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood has continued to become gentrified over the last 10 years, sleek new places like Eatery have continued to open. This restaurant serves up tasty New American food in a downtown setting, which appeals to locals looking for a hip dining experience in their own neighborhood. The affordable menu offers such diverse choices as Macaroni and Cheese Topped with Onion Rings, and Wild Mushroom Pierogies. The decor is minimalist, with bare walls and dark green booths. ...more

Gray Line New York Sightseeing offers the signature hop-on, hop-off bus tours throughout New York City. With a fleet of new double decker buses, visitors can enjoy the All Loops Tour, which includes The Uptown Loop, The Downtown Loop, The Night Tour, Brooklyn Loop accessible for 48 hours, Manhattan Comprehensive, The Classic New York and an insider's tour called the NYC Showbiz Insiders Tour. Other services such as group and private motor coach charters, multilingual-guided tours, and day trips to Niagara Falls, Washington DC, Coney Island and Philadelphia make it both convenient and enjoyable for the New York tourist. ...more

This is a must for any visitor to New York City. The official visitors' bureau is innovative with a Video Wall where you can view photos or hear advice about what to do in New York. The center also provides the most up-to-date information on where to go, what do and what to see. There is a multilingual service for foreign-speaking visitors and touch-screen information kiosks for creating itineraries and navigating the city. The center is conveniently located at the edge of the Midtown Theater District. ...more

This midtown eatery includes a popular bar and a chic clientèle. Located near the Museum of Modern Art, the food alone is worth a visit here. The service and ambiance are also among the best in the area. Dishes to note include onion soup, bouillabaisse, duck cassoulet, lobster salad, salad Nicoise, roasted chicken, a seafood plateau, and Steak Frites. Check the website for timings. ...more

This massive cathedral, situated across from Rockefeller Center on Fifth Avenue, is the largest Catholic cathedral in the United States. With its two soaring 330-foot spires, St. Patrick's Cathedral is also one of the city's most spectacular architectural sights. Construction on the neo-gothic structure had started in 1850 and completed in 1878. Inside, it boasts a seating capacity of 2,500, numerous altars and stained glass windows, and a giant organ with over 7,300 pipes. Services are held throughout the day, and many New Yorkers stop in for a moment of serenity in their otherwise hectic lives. ...more

The Dahesh Museum of Art is devoted to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting works by Europe's academically trained artists of the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are 2,000 pieces of art including prints, photographs and books made by academicians. Visitors can also avail of Café Opaline overlooking Madison Avenue with lunch from 11a-5p and afternoon tea beginning at 2:30p. ...more

This cafe is named after the founder of the Neue Galerie museum Serge Sabarsky, and is an ode to the Viennese cafes where intellectuals are often found engaged in discussion. The Austrian menu includes Sabarsky Frühstück, linzertorte and strudgel. The decor, comprising classic furniture and lighting, is befitting the premises. A grand piano sets the stage for classical music on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. ...more

This popular attraction is the largest Natural History Museum in the world. It is bursting with artifacts, displays and exhibits, all geared to let out secrets about the beautiful natural world. The visit begins with dinosaurs, which welcome you as you enter the main hall. Other points of interest include the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution, the Hall of Meteorites, a vast collection of gemstones, an IMAX theater and the Rose Center for Earth and Space planetarium shows (at extra cost), as well as a research library. ...more

Located in Central Park, this outdoor rink is one of the city's premier ice skating spots. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed, and amateurs are certainly welcome. There is a snack bar and lockers available. Try to visit on the weekdays, as the weekends bring large crowds and lines. Skate rentals and lockers are available. During the off-season, the space becomes a roller rink (call for hours and details). ...more

Need to start your day with a breakfast platter laden with goodies, head straight to Nice Matin. It is named after the largest daily newspaper in the South of France. It offers French and Mediterranean cuisine in an ambiance of casual elegance. The menu is diverse and includes everything, from vegetables stuffed with braised beef to Roast Codfish and Pissaladiere. Go ahead, try anything! All dishes are superb and very well-presented. ...more

On the opening night of this famous music house, Tchaikovsky conducted and New York's elite waited in line to enter. Carnegie Hall quickly became an international Mecca of classical music, attracting the brightest stars from Bernstein to Toscanini. Today, over a hundred years later, top orchestras and modern music share this venue. The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and Frank Sinatra have all headlined here. Many musicians claim it has the best acoustics in the world. Tours are available during the day. Call for information. And you don't have to 'practice, practice, practice' to get here either! ...more

Scented candles and soothing colors welcome you to the Spa at Four Seasons Hotel. The place offers a unique treatment menu, where modern technology blends with Aromatherapy and Asian traditions. Opt for a cool scrub or a soothing scalp method and put your tired muscles to rest in the cozy treatment room. Special offers include Shiatsu, Asian Scentao Hot Stone Massage, Microcurrent Lifting and DNA Molecular Regeneration. If you are staying at the Four Seasons Hotel, just buzz the reception and ask for all the luxury at your doorstep. Call for details on rates. ...more

The rich confluence of cultures in the Big Apple are evident in the food and ambiance at Town. The authentic menu changes every month with chef Geoffrey Zakarian creating wonders with his innate culinary expertise—especially with the divers scallops. Also check out the soft shell crab with golden raisins and quail in Arugula sauce. This fine dining experience comes at hefty price, so prepare yourself! Private party and catering services are available too. ...more

The opening of the Top Of The Rock observation deck adds to the many facets of Rockefeller Center's worldwide attraction: its skating rink, NBC studios, the famous Christmas tree. The Top Of The Rock observation deck sits serenely at the 70th floor of Rockefeller Center. With its awesome views of Central Park, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and northern Manhattan, you'll be transported to a more peaceful state of mind. While away the hours soaking in a gorgeous sunset or experiencing the hands-on, multimedia exhibits. The innovative ticket reservation system claims to guarantee a comfortable, never overcrowded atmosphere. There's no other place in New York like it. ...more

Hosted by the fabulous talking robot, B.B. Wonderbot, Sony Wonder Technology Lab is an interactive hi-tech playground which is a great place for kids, and the best part is that it is free. With rotating exhibits on audio, robotics, networks and more, children get hands-on experience making their own music videos or tracking the weather or participating in any number of technology education programs. It is fun for the parents, too, as it is attached to the Sony Style retail store, where there is plenty of cool stuff for grownups to play with. ...more