Aman devotees rejoice: the hotel group beloved for its quietly luxurious, wellness-focused properties opened Aman New York on Fifth Avenue in 2022. It lives up to the hype, with just 83 suites, an immersive three-floor spa, Japanese fine dining and a dreamy Italian eatery on the garden terrace overlooking Central Park.

Launched in 2021 as part of the Hudson River Park revitalisation program, Little Island at Pier 55 hovers over 132 tulip-shaped “pots” rising out of the water. The undulating Thomas Heatherwick-designed haven hosts a busy calendar of events such as free concerts, talks, kid’s dance classes and theatre performances.

Towering 93 floors over Grand Central Station and Madison Avenue, Summit One Vanderbilt promises Insta-worthy views of the Big Apple’s icons including the Empire State building and Midtown. Opened in 2021, there’s a glass-bottomed elevator to ride, the main mirror-clad observation deck to explore and a sleek eatery for sipping sunset cocktails on the wrap-around rooftop terrace. 

As the name suggests, Panorama Room on the 18th floor of the Graduate Roosevelt Island hotel boasts unobstructed 360-degree views of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Opened in 2021 and outfitted with a marble bar, acrylic chandeliers and lush banquette seating, guests can partake in oscietra caviar service for brunch and an extensive cocktail menu – try the Roosevelt Island Yacht Club, a confection of lychee-infused gin and vanilla.

There’s never been a shortage of world-class contemporary art at MoMA in Midtown Manhattan, but renovations completed in 2019 have delivered new performance spaces, fresh dining options and more breathing room for viewing van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Bonus: the gift shop is even bigger and better.

Ready to live the high life? Snag a suite at the glamorous Ritz-Carlton NoMad. The 250-room hotel, which opened in mid-2022, is home to a restaurant from Michelin-starred chef José Andrés, a swanky spa menu that includes custom Augustinus Bader facials and knockout 180-degree views of downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

Housed in a converted factory in trendy Williamsburg, Bathhouse has soothed many a tired muscle since opening in 2019. Treatment highlights include a modern take on a Moroccan Hammam scrub (you’ll be slathered in CBD moisturiser, post exfoliation) and a steam room where the night sky is projected onto the ceiling. 

In 2021, Carrie Bradshaw’s favourite shoe designer unveiled an opulent new flagship on Madison Avenue. Furnished with vintage chandeliers sourced from Paris, classical columns, candy-coloured velvet seating and a brass-topped bar, the store also carries a capsule collection of exclusive styles.

When you’re ready to recharge, head to QC NY on Governors Island, a 5-minute ferry ride from downtown Manhattan. After a dip in the heated spa pool overlooking the Manhattan skyline, indulge in a deep-tissue massage, aromatherapy sauna and cold-pressed juice (or an aperitivo) from the sanctum’s bistro. 

Travelling through Penn Station has gotten a whole lot more enticing since the unveiling of the glossy Moynihan Train Hall in 2021. Connecting the Amtrak train lines, Long Island Rail Road and New York City subway, the US$1.6 billion revamp includes a new food hall with NYC faves such as Magnolia Bakery and H&H Bagels.

A short ride south on the A-train, this beachy community in Queens is a low-key alternative to the Hamptons. The Rockaway Hotel, a hip hangout since 2020, is a great spot for a lobster roll overlooking the ocean. Plus there’s a spa, daily yoga classes and 53 coastal-chic rooms if you fancy staying a night or two.

Spanning six city blocks and 16 restaurants so far, the Rockefeller Centre is in the midst of a major culinary overhaul. Standout arrivals in 2022 include Lodi (high-end neighbourhood Italian), Naro (modern Korean), Five Acres (farm-to-table fare) and Le Rock (a huge French bistro).

Pendry Manhattan West, which began welcoming guests in 2021, offers a touch of California cool in Midtown. Think: 164 beige and blond timber rooms decorated with lush indoor plants, 30 light-filled suites and low-key luxe dining options that include the Garden Room café overflowing with greenery.

No two nights at Ostudio – a Brooklyn-based creative co-working-space-meets-natural-wine-bar – are the same. That’s by design, as the indoor/outdoor restaurant, which opened just this year, hosts an eclectic rotation of food pop-ups, ranging from one-night-only events to month-long chef residencies.

Less than a block from breakfast you’ll find the West 23rd entrance to the High Line, a set of industrial elevated tracks that have been transformed into one of New York’s most beloved green spaces. An astonishingly verdant urban garden fusing nature, mural art and design, it has a bird’s-eye view of the busy streets below – one of the few places in the city to feel part of the skyline yet worlds away from the bustle. For a real NY moment, walk downtown towards the Tenth Avenue cut-out near 17th Street, where everyone else sits in the bleachers, and turn the opposite way to catch a little-seen glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.

New Yorkers take the Jewish bagel seriously. Russ & Daughters café opened because lines of loyal noshers at the century-old Russ & Daughters food store were getting out of hand – and the owners figured seats would be welcome. Order the traditional rolled bagel with mensch, a mix of sturgeon, butter, tomato, onion and capers and you’ll understand the obsession.

This city’s fashion pulse beats loudest among the cobblestoned streets, cast-iron façades, high-end art galleries and boutiques of SoHo. Internationals such as Céline, A.P.C. and Isabel Marant are all here but, for designs that capture the local vibe, check out Opening Ceremony and its meticulous collection of men’s and women’s clothing. The Webster on Greene Street offers fashion-meets-art specialty pieces across six floors designed to feel like a luxurious condo (complete with gallery-calibre art), while The Apartment by The Line is the cool kids’ go-to for homewares and apparel.

The divine Loeb Boathouse has occupied the shore of Central Park’s picturesque lake since 1954. In sunshine, the alfresco patio’s striped awnings and flowerpots frame romantic views of weeping willows and rowboats, while the more formal indoor space provides a cosy place to watch falling snow turn the park into a fairytale scene during winter. You won’t find any newfangled or deconstructed dishes – order the traditional cast-iron chicken or roasted pork loin.

Urban Hawker opened in Midtown in 2022 and is a bustling 1000-square-metre food hall inspired by Singapore’s iconic open-air bazaars. Vendors include chefs from the food-obsessed city-state itself as well as NYC eateries, serving everything from chilli crab and barbecue sambal stingray fried rice to mango sago cake.

Jane’s Carousel, right by the river in Brooklyn Bridge Park, is one of the Big Apple’s sweetest surprises. Fusing an unbeatable bridge view with a fun-fair feel and award-winning design, the ornate and gorgeously restored 1920s carousel spins all year round inside a minimalist pavilion that closes its see-through walls in winter and sparkles at night. Pure Instagram candy.

On weekends Brooklyn booms with America’s largest open-air food market – Smorgasburg. It’s held at the Williamsburg waterfront on Saturdays and on Prospect Park on Sundays. Snack, drink and then amble to the North Williamsburg wharf and hop the ferry to East 34th street in Manhattan. The photo opportunities of Brooklyn Bridge beat walking across it by far.