Solo in NYC: 47 Must-Do Experiences to See, Eat, Drink & Explore Alone
There are plenty of upsides to being a party of one in New York City. You can create your own agenda, move fast or slow, and take it all in as you please. These 47 terrific solo adventures (organized into nine kinds of activities) will have you happy as a clam in the Big Apple.
1. Hang out with a cool group. (Indie tours beat generic sightseeing.)
Scott's Pizza Tours
A young pizza-obsessed local takes you for slices in all the boroughs.
Hush Hip-Hop Tours
If it was good enough for Grandmaster Caz's birthday, it's good enough for us.
Accomplice
Interactive theater and walking tour where musical theater types perform kitsch on the street.
Brooklyn Brewery
Free tour in a cool neighborhood where cool beer is served to cool people.
Culinary Backstreet’s Queens Street Food Tour
Eat your way around the world under the 7 train tracks.
2. See a live show in a tight space.
Joe's Pub
For cabaret by the up-and-coming and already famous.
The Iridium
Iconic music landmark for rock, jazz, and blues with an old-school atmosphere.
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Indie rock and hiphop outpost.
Baby’s All Right
A Williamsburg classic featuring alternative bands.
Brooklyn Night Bazaar
Warehouse venue modeled after eclectic Asian street markets with food vendors and DJs.
3. Take a seat at a lively bar.
Minetta Tavern
Keith McNally's celeb-heavy, old-world restaurant continues to deliver perfection, as does sister restaurant Balthazar in Soho.
Ear Inn
The 200-year-old Prohibition watering hole is not only still standing but totally thriving.
Little Branch
A modern basement speakeasy with a 1920s feel.
Diner
The restaurant that put Williamsburg on the map still serves good music and strong drinks to hipsters.
Maison Premiere
Elegant New Orleans-style absinthe bar with a beautiful backyard and a killer oyster selection.
Cafe Luxembourg
An uptown brasserie for the uptown theater set, from the team behind another classic, The Odeon, in Tribeca.
4. Eat at tiny, crowded places.
Shopsins
Old-school, diner-style kiosk inside the Essex Street Market.
Prune
A wildly popular brunching spot with an eclectic, artisanal menu.
Estela
A modern pioneer serving inventive dishes. Come for the bustling vibe and the tight bar.
Pietro Nolita
Millennial-pink-everything decor serving healthy Italian cuisine.
5. Have a home-cooked meal. Join an underground dining club.
Tasting Collective
Chef-led family-style dining events at top restaurants.
Niche Niche
Designed to feel like your cool-friend-who-knows-about-wine dinner party.
A Razor, A Shiny Knife
Infamous for serving six-course lunches on the L train.
Wednesdays
Husband-and-wife chef and mixologist making fine food and fun.
The Victory Club
Sit-down meals in museums, galleries, and artists’ homes.
6. Mix and mingle at a piano bar or karaoke lounge.
Marie's Crisis
The West Village stalwart piano bar where you can expect a lot of Andrew Lloyd Weber.
Alligator Lounge
It's fun and games at the Williamsburg local, with karaoke, 90s singalongs, bingo, and skeeball.
The Rum House
It’s been refurbished by fancy cocktail barkeeps, but they kept the piano.
Baby Grand
Japanese-style up-close-and-personal communal karaoke.
Sid's Gold Request Room
The piano player takes your requests, and everyone's a star on this Chelsea stage.
7. Spend the day taking care of yourself.
Aire Ancient Baths
A stunning subterranean spa with candlelit pools and steam room.
Aida Bicaj Skin Care
Inconspicuous Park Ave location, cult facial following.
Exhale
Exercise classes, cafe for post-workout fuel, and luxury spa treatments.
Chelsea Piers
Gym, pool, tennis courts, sailing expeditions, and an ice skating rink overlooking the Hudson.
MNDFL
Meditation studio with thematic classes for every New-York-minute need.
8. Eat in a classroom setting.
Eataly
Nonna's secrets revealed in classes and tastings at the Flatiron store.
International Culinary Center
Serious foodies get serious instruction in amateur classes.
Astor Wines & Spirits
Weekly cocktail teachings and tastings.
Murray's Cheese
Dairy gets historical.
Pizza School NYC
Genuine tips for pizza making in a home oven.
Milk Bar
Addictive cookie and crack pie recipe secrets included in workshops at the Williamsburg bakery.
9. Get Sporty
Bike and Roll
Bike rental, including helmet, lock, map, and storage bags, located in Central Park and downtown. (Find our favorite bike routes here.)
Five Boro Bike Tour
See NYC like you never have before with 40 miles of car-free biking.
Hudson River Greenway
Run/walk/jog the path that runs from the Bronx all the way down to Battery Park.
Run All Five NYC Bridges
Rather go island hopping? This five bridges route criss-crosses three boroughs and is perfect for the seasoned NYC runner who is ready for a little adventure.
Brooklyn Boulders
Urban rock-climbing gym with intro classes and workshops.
ClassPass
Fitness app with a one-month free trial with access to hundreds of boutique studios.
Keep Exploring NYC
When Parents Come to Visit NYC
It's My First Time in NYC
New York City Guide
