Hey you! Back in November I flew into NYC for a quick little weekend getaway thanks to my friends at Hotel 48LEX. I wanted a quick burst of cold, and boy did I get it. It was a short trip, but I managed to squeeze in a handful of fun things right around the hotel! You never have to venture very far over there. Here’s a fun little New York City weekend guide.
Bonus – click here for a special discounted offer to stay at Hotel 48LEX!
STAY
I always like to try new hotels around NYC. That tiny little island of Manhattan is bursting with so many different neighborhoods! Hotel 48LEX is located in East Midtown. If it’s your first time in NYC, then I highly recommend this location, because it’s near a lot of big landmark spots that are usually on every first-timer’s list (which I’ll get to in a bit).
Hotel 48LEX isn’t super big, which to me is a plus in NYC. You’re out and about with tons of people all day, so coming “home” to a quiet lobby and zipping up the elevator to your room is a nice change of pace at the end of the day.
I arrived early morning after taking a red eye flight, so was able to use the hotel lounge bathroom on the second level to freshen up and relax. There are couches and tables for guests’ enjoyment, plus juice assortments and pastries in the morning for you before you start the day. After a long flight, a place to stretch out and refresh before taking on the big city was just what I needed.
I was put in the King Salon Room and let me tell you; it was a fabulous room by ANY city standard, but especially in NYC. Most hotel rooms in NYC, for lack of better wording, are small boxes. It’s something I’ve just grown used to traveling there are the time. But not at Hotel48 Lex! I got a mini kitchenette with a small fridge, a sink, and even a tiny dishwasher! The room was super spacious, with floor to ceiling windows for lots of light, which I adore in a city like NYC. They also provide Malin & Goetz shower products, and if you’re a beauty junkie like me, you’ll appreciate that.
A special thanks to Hotel 48LEX for hosting me during my weekend stay so that I could get out of LA for a taste of fall. 🙂
EAT
Connected to Hotel 48LEX is a cute, almost retro-feeling restaurant, Lexington Brass. It was always busy when I came to and from my room, so I woke up early one morning to enjoy a nice quiet breakfast. Pro tip: order the cinnamon roll pancakes, they were phenomenal.
They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but I appreciated that they were open early on the weekend to eat since most places in the city tend to open later on Saturday and Sunday for the brunch crowd. If you’re not in the mood for a full meal, they also had a bar in there that would be a fun stop before a show or something else.
If you want something lighter, but quintessential New York, try Ess-a-Bagel. It’s about 4 blocks away and serves up the best NY bagels. Cinnamon Raisin, toasted, plain cream cheese, and strawberry jam. Done.
SEE
There are a ton of iconic places around Hotel 48LEX. You can walk to a lot of them in about 10 minutes (Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal) but venture out by cab or a short subway ride to Central Park.
I have been to NYC so many times I don’t have enough hands or toes to count, and Central Park never gets old. It’s equally beautiful in all seasons, and it also provides a unique peacefulness that you can’t get anywhere else.
I love walking through Central Park, listening to music on my headphones, and reading the park benches. (Lots of the benches have plaques on them with dedications to family members, friends, etc.). This is hands down my favorite thing to do in NYC, and maybe my favorite place on earth.
SHOP
It goes without saying that the shopping is absolutely endless in NYC. A New York City weekend guide wouldn’t be complete without some shopping, right? Hotel 48LEX is a few blocks away from the most iconic luxury shopping in the world: Fifth Avenue. Visit the flagship Tiffany & Co store to have your Breakfast at Tiffany’s moment, get lost in Saks Fifth Avenue, or honestly just roam the street and you’ll find plenty of shopping.
But I want to share another fun little shopping spot that only happens once a year: the Bryant Park Holiday shops. From October 31 until early January, Bryant Park turns into a Christmas market wonderland.
Rows and rows of pop-up stores are mixed in between hot chocolate stands, a food court, and an ice-skating rink. All of these “tents” house local artisans selling unique goods that you just can’t get up the street on Fifth Avenue. This was my second time visiting Bryant Park during the holidays, and I picked up a couple of NYC made candles and gifts for friends and family.
DRINK
In case you can’t tell already, I love a classic New York moment. I’m a huge Sex and the City fan. Like, I know all episodes, all NYC references. If you’re like that too, then you’ll appreciate the fact that Monkey Bar is a 10-minute walk from Hotel 48LEX. (Carries goes there with Big, yadda yadda yadda.)
If you have no clue what I’m talking about, let me back myself up with some facts about this place. Monkey Bar opened after the repeal of Prohibition in 1936, so this place has stood the test of time well past the jazz-age. It’s the famous spot where Tennesse Williams choked and died on a bottle cap, the backdrop for Mad Men, and the original hand painted murals of monkeys still wrap the walls. Think Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, and Eva Gardner as bar-goers back in the day. And it still has that romantic feel to it. Maybe it’s cheesy, but I’m here for it and I love this place. I only wish the walls could talk.
There you have it! A fun little New York City weekend guide packed with a ton of activities all within either a 10-minute walk or cab ride from Hotel 48LEX. Happy travels!
