Offbeat Adventures: Hidden Gems Of New York To Discover

Discover the best-kept secrets of New York with this quick guide.

Published On Jan 23, 2025 | Updated On Jan 24, 2025

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We know you will visit the Statue of Liberty and Times Square the moment you get to the Big Apple. But to actually experience NYC like a local, you have got to know New York’s hidden treasures! Here is a list of all the unique things to do in New York that will make you feel like a local!

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Three adjacent Manhattan neighborhoods—Gramercy, Union Square, and Flatiron District—are quite close to one another.  Gramercy is a peaceful area with tree-lined avenues and tidy brownstones.  At the heart of Union Square lies a park with the same name, which attracts a diverse crowd.  The Flatiron District is a business district that is named after the famous Flatiron Building. High-rise buildings, trendy bars and food trucks inhabit it. Madison Square Park is also home to the first Shake Shack! Walking through these neighbourhoods is truly one of the best unique things to do in New York!

"Underground Overground Comedy" has performed in some very unusual places, including rooftops, music studios, and even a barbershop in a train station. Its makers are passionate about providing a fresh take on comedy in New York City's fantastic public places. They don't precisely promote their events to give them an air of mystery and the enchantment of New York. They keep track of their continuing guest list by using Instagram to notify fans and collect names via direct messaging. Guests on the shows have included Napolean Emil, Kerry Coddett, Josh Gondelman, and Jordan Jensen. Truly one of the best unique things to do in New York!

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The 9- 11 Memorial and Museum commemorates both the 1993 bombing and the events of September 11, 2001. The Museum's weighty collection includes audio recordings from passengers on the 9/11 aircraft, accounts of those impacted, artefacts from the disaster's aftermath, and much more. The memorial outside is a moving homage to the lives lost. While visiting the monument and museum may be a sombre affair, it is worthwhile, and is one of the most unique places in New York!

Outside, you should be able to see a sign, but it's not very clear at one of New York’s hidden treasures! This little Japanese bar has an excellent sake selection and is well worth the wait, although it's almost assured that you'll have to wait for a seat. As you are led into the shadows, you will find yourself crammed into tight quarters with other sake drinkers for an extravagant, subterranean adventure. Truly one of the best secret spots in New York!

During the day, Cactus Shop in Williamsburg is a plant shop but at night, it transforms into a Mexican speakeasy cantina and is one of the best New York’s hidden treasures!. The beautiful outside courtyard is ideal for the spring-like evenings that have just come to New York. Even while it doesn't really function as a speakeasy, it gives off the impression that it does. Inside, guests may enjoy lively but welcoming décor derived from Mexico, as well as equally genuine drinkware (think black clay and hand-blown glasses). To honour Mexico's Day of the Dead festivities, be sure to look closely at the sugar skulls and skeletons scattered across the site. Truly one of the best unique things to do in New York!

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The Staten Island Ferry connects Manhattan and Staten Island and is free to travel. The boat travels an 8.5-kilometre journey and departs every 25 minutes.  Riding the Staten Island Ferry, which goes past Lady Liberty, is a great alternative to spending half a day on a trip to see the monument. As you float along on this boat, take in the breathtaking views of the New York City skyline. One of the scenic unique things to do in New York!

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Theatregoers go from far and wide to see a Broadway production.  The two are often mentioned together since Broadway runs diagonally across Times Square, and visiting here is one of the best unique things to do in New York!With all the programs available, you're sure to discover one that piques your interest. The original Broadway musical, Wicked, may still be playing somewhere if you're fortunate.

Continuing to expand his empire of underground bars, Adrien Gallo, a veteran of the hospitality industry, has opened See No Evil Pizza on the concourse level of the 1 train station, which is headed downtown and is located at 50th Street and Broadway. The area was formerly occupied by a Dunkin' Doughnuts. He keeps it on the same level as his Tiny Dancer Coffee. In the 1,100 square foot space, Gallo managed to squeeze a full restaurant with 40 chairs, a bar and an open kitchen. It is one of the best unique places in New York!

Upstairs in Fraunces Tavern, one of the oldest watering holes in New York City, you'll find a piano bar. Panelled walls in a shade of cerulean bathe the tiny area above The Independence Bar, while tufted crimson banquettes and gilded picture frames provide splashes of colour. Snacks, appetisers, and entrees that appeal to a wide variety of palates are on the menu, along with beer, wine, cocktails, and a special selection of gin and tonics. There will also be live piano music.


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