Forget Manhattan – nibble at the edges of the Big Apple for alternative urban flavours, says Chloe Berman
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The Empire State Building? Tick. Central Park? Tick. Your clients might think they’ve done New York, but a stay outside the traditional tourist area of Manhattan can give them a whole new perspective on the Big Apple.
Vibrant and often more affordable areas, such as Queens, The Bronx and Brooklyn, are perfect for returning visitors who want to see a different side of New York, or first timers with a desire to experience the glamour of the city without the hefty price tag.
BROOKLYN
Why?: Brooklyn has transformed from Manhattan’s less cool cousin to one of the trendiest places in the US; a land of art galleries in converted warehouses, cafes serving local produce and locals so chic they’d make Parisians jealous.
What to do: With an area about the size of Dutch island Aruba, and 2.5 million residents, Brooklyn has its own distinct neighbourhoods, each with a very different feel. Advise clients to book a tour to make sure they soak in the rich variety of the borough, from the gorgeous brownstones of Brooklyn Heights – the setting for the HBO series Girls – to the bohemian cafes of Bushwick.
Do Something Different’s four-hour walking tour, Best of Brooklyn – Sightseeing, Food and Culture, starts from £62 per adult and £49 per child and explores the area sampling local delicacies on the way. Attraction World’s Brooklyn TV and Movie Sites tour (£29 per adult and £17 per child) is a bus tour showing Brooklyn’s famous sites on the big and small screen.
The new Brooklyn Bridge Park, which is opening in phases, is a great place for a walk and a picnic on a sunny day, with stunning views of Manhattan.
But the biggest news in Brooklyn is the new Barclays Center (barclayscenter.com), which opened in September. The sports and entertainment venue is home to the Brooklyn Nets and has already hosted performances by Brooklyn natives Jay Z and Barbra Streisand.
Where to stay: The Wythe opened in Williamsburg in May in a former textile factory dating back to 1901. Rooms are pared-down but comfortable, and offer picture-perfect views of Manhattan. Its restaurant, Reynards, run by the team behind some of Williamsburg’s most popular eateries, is also worth a visit.
QUEENS
Why?: It may not be on everyone’s wishlist, but for clients keen to experience the ‘real’ New York, this is the place. Queens is the ultimate melting pot, where more languages are spoken than anywhere else in the world, making for an exhilarating visit.
What to do: The area is a haven for foodies, thanks to its incredible ethnic diversity, with everything from tacos in Corona to curries in Jackson Heights. The areas of Flushing, Astoria, Rego Park and Jackson Heights each have their own flavours to discover.
Culture lovers will be happy too, with Moma PS1, the Museum of the Moving Image and the New York Hall of Science all based here. Not to mention the home of jazz legend Louis Armstrong, where 40-minute guided tours (louisarmstronghouse.org) give a fascinating insight into the musician’s humble roots.
Where to stay: Long Island City is a new enclave of hotel development just across the East River from Midtown Manhattan and within a 10-minute subway ride of Times Square. The hotels tend to be up to 25% cheaper than those on Manhattan, so a life-saver for clients looking for an affordable option.
As well as many chain hotels, there are several boutique properties such as the Z NYC, the Verve Hotel and the Ravel Hotel, which offers a Mercedes shuttle service to the subway and a rooftop restaurant with views over Manhattan (ravelhotel.com). NYC & Company has just launched a Long Island City Neighbourhood Tool Kit for the trade (nycgo.com/traveltrade).
THE BRONX
Why? Al Pacino once said: “I don’t need bodyguards. I’m from the South Bronx.” New York’s northernmost borough might have a certain reputation, but there’s no better place to get to grips with an authentic, colourful side of the city.
What to do: Like Queens, restaurant guide Zagat has declared the Bronx one of the city’s “must-eat” neighbourhoods. The best place to head for is The Bronx’s own Little Italy – on the intersection of 187th Street and Arthur Avenue – where you’ll find a string of family-owned trattorias offering huge portions of mouth-watering pizzas and pasta.
No visit to the Bronx would be complete without a tour of the Yankee Stadium, but clients should also make time for Edgar Allen Poe’s cottage in Poe Park, the Bronx Zoo, and the Grand Concourse – considered the Champs-Elysées of the Bronx thanks to its art deco apartments.
The Bronx is considered the birthplace of hip-hop. Tours are available to take clients back to the early 1970s when DJs were developing a new method of cutting and mixing music. Hip-hop, graffiti art, breakdancing and beatboxing are still part of the borough’s street life. New York expert Matt Levy and his family offer bespoke commissionable tours (matt@levysuniqueny.com). His three-hour tour The Bronx: Hip-Hop History to Yankees Glory costs $250 for two people.
Where to stay: For now, choices are limited to a Ramada and Days Inn, but two projects are taking shape that will bring the borough’s first Residence Inn by Marriott to the northern tier and a new boutique at the site of the Beaux Arts Bronx Opera House in the south.
HARLEM
Why? In the northernmost section of Manhattan, Harlem has historically been considered a no-go zone for tourists. However, the area is on a mission to establish itself as a must-visit destination for visitors to New York and has seen something of a renaissance in recent years.
What do to: Music is part of the area’s DNA, so a trip to the famous Apollo Theater where Ella Fitzgerald made her singing debut is a good place to start. Clients can join one of the daily tours or go in the evening for some live music and a Cajun dinner (apollotheater.org/programs/tours).
Learn about the history of the area’s African American community at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture on Malcolm X Boulevard. Afterwards, visit a Baptist church and don’t forget to try some soul food at Miss Maude’s Spoonbread Too or Jacob’s Restaurant. Need some souvenirs? Harlem’s African Market is full of traditional arts and crafts.
Intrepid Travel has a three-hour Harlem Experience Urban Adventure tour from £25, taking in the Apollo theatre, the soul food kitchens of Lenox Avenue and Malcolm Shabazz African Market (urbanadventures.com)
Where to stay: The Aloft Harlem opened in February last year – the area’s first major hotel opening since 1967. The hotel is five storeys high – the rest are apartments – and has a W XYZ bar serving up quirky cocktails and a pantry-style restaurant.
