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Upper East Side Guide: The Best Things to do in Upper East Side New York City

Upper East Side

I’m so happy today to finally be sharing my Upper East Side Guide!  I’ve lived up here since I moved to the city in November of 2010 and I’ve been wanting to round up all of my favorite neighborhood spots for a while now. The thing is, every time I…

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L’Appartement 4F

115 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights

I casually visited L’Appartement 4F after hearing about it many times from my friend Meghan of Wit and Whimsy, and wow. I was not at ALL prepared for how amazing it is! I think this might actually be my favorite chocolate chip cookie in the city. Not to mention the almond croissant. Absolutely love this place and it’s 100% worth a visit to BK all on its own!

The Prettiest and Best Streets on the Upper East Side

Upper East Side

If there’s one thing I get asked more than anything, it’s where are the best streets on the Upper East Side to walk and find all of those pretty townhouses and buildings that I (and many others!) post on Instagram. So today I thought I’d share a few of the…

Dominique Ansel Bakery

Spring St. between Sullivan and Thompson

If ever there was a place that lived up to the hype, this is it. Dominique Ansel Bakery has been around for a long time, and not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I’ve been a fan since the very beginning. Of course Chef Ansel is best known for the famed and much imitated Cronut, and it is a good pastry, but for my money, there are better things at the bakery. The DKA is not to be missed, nor are the pillowy soft, lemon scented madeleines – fired off while you wait so you can eat them warm. The chocolate chip cookie is to die for, and I get their pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving every year (and I don’t even LIKE pumpkin pie!). Just so good.

Dominique Ansel Workshop

27th between Madison and Fifth

Pretty much anything French pastry chef Dominique Ansel does, I’m on board with. After closing his West Village outpost (RIP), he opened a new second NYC spot – Dominique Ansel Workshop – in Flatiron. And it is fantastic! Not only do they have great items everyday such as their delicious croissants and the brown sugar version of his DKA (my favorite), but they also do a different special item each weekend. The last I had was an apple cider cinnamon roll and it. Was. Amazing. Do not miss this spot!

Poppy’s

243 Degraw St. between Clinton and Thompson

If you find yourself in Cobble Hill (which you should, because it’s where Books Are Magic is), grab a cup of coffee at Poppy’s. It’s super cute and the coffee is great (and I love their cups!). And check out their website too, it’s really pretty!

Two Hands

Church Street between Leonard and Franklin

I absolutely love Two Hands! When I was on jury duty for a month I ate lunch at Two Hands pretty much everyday and never got sick of it. The food is creative (not the same old you see at any old lunch place), it’s healthy without feeling “healthy,” and it’s presented beautifully. A gem of a spot!

Prince Street Pizza

Prince Street between Mott and Elizabeth

You’ve probably heard of Prince Street Pizza, and I’m pleased to report that this place lives up to the hype. It’s a super tiny slice shop – you’re just gonna grab your slice and go. The pepperoni slice is my go-to and what they’re known for. After you get your pizza you can eat at their outdoor standing counters – they get crowded but I’ve always been able to squeeze in. There’s often a long line so plan accordingly (or go on a weekday). It’s also a bit messy so grab a lot of napkins. All that being said, it’s 100% worth it and I’d eat a slice every day if I could.

Stick With Me Sweets

Mott Street between Kenmare and Spring

I did a full post on Stick With Me Sweets when they first opened, but I figured I should bring them to the top of this NYC Guide! This is my absolute favorite place in NYC and I recommend them to everyone. Stick With Me is a chocolate shop where everything is made by hand, from scratch, with the highest quality ingredients. Their chocolates and treats are stunningly beautiful (too pretty to eat, everyone says), but most importantly, everything is incredibly delicious. This is THE best gift if you want to seriously impress and delight the recipient. I recommend the Macadamia Rice Puff bonbon, the milk chocolate truffles, the Remix Bar, the Pecan Pie bar, and the Snackers. But truly everything is amazing!

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