If you have a good pair of sneakers, a day to kill, and a big appetite, I highly suggest walking across Manhattan.
That’s exactly what my friend Kaylee and I did this past month, traveling along Broadway from the north to the south of our neighboring island.
Fun fact: Manhattan does not technically start on the island, but over the Harlem River in the tiny neighborhood of Marble Hill. So that’s where we began after a particularly sleep-deprived PATH ride, desperate for coffee and our first meal of the day.
After crossing over the Broadway Bridge, we made our first stop in Inwood at chocNYC. We anxiously awaited a bite of their caramelized croissant, a Yelp-favorite treat that we had both pinned our hopes and dreams on for weeks. And man, was it worth it – layers of crispy sugar melded with buttery dough and made for the perfect pairing with a salted caramel latte.
Our first couple miles brought some interesting sights. In Washington Heights, we passed through an open-air gallery of bird murals painted on garage doors and building walls. The project is an initiative from the National Audubon Society meant to bring awareness to species threatened by climate change. It was my favorite part of the trip and an absolute must-see if you’re thinking of following our footsteps!
Power-walking through upper Manhattan made us hungry, so Kaylee and I went classic with a quintessential New York lunch. We decided on Little Italy Pizza in the Upper West Side for a two-slices-and-a-Coke deal and ate at a sidewalk table. The only thing that could’ve made it more travel poster-perfect was a side of garlic knots, but that will have to be for another column.
After squiggling through stray tourists in Times Square, we decided to power up again. Like any self-respecting Hobokeners, we sought out an independent coffee shop for some fun caffeinated specials. We each tried a floral latte: Kaylee got lavender and I chose rose.
Kaylee suggested an NYU favorite for our next destination: the old world-themed Pommes Frites in Greenwich Village. The Medieval decor was like something out of Epcot, but their Belgian fries with Parmesan peppercorn sauce were out of this world. The portions were generous too; the pair behind us agreed that our shared order would be “far too much” for them. Hey, we’re walking here!
We took a quick detour to see the Ghostbusters Headquarters (did you know it’s an active firehouse?) and explore lower Manhattan. We took a quick trip into the new Sour Patch Kids store, which felt like a fever dream, and added new restaurants to my ever-growing bucket list.
As we neared Battery Park and the end of our journey, the sky blended into golden hour. We finished our walk–all eleven miles of it–with a sunset view of the Statue of Liberty. What better way to end the day with a celebratory meal?
Our last stop was the Financial District’s Broadstone Bar and Kitchen, which I had found while scouring the internet for restaurants near my summer internship office. We decided on three small plates to refuel on. Soft pretzels with mustard and beer cheese dip were a must-have as well as the short rib tacos. Our wild card order for the evening was the “Meat Candy,” maple-glazed brisket burnt ends topped with street corn. It was the perfect summer-to-fall transition snack.
Even though I woke up the next morning with jelly legs, I really enjoyed this adventure through Manhattan. The food was just an added bonus! If you’re looking for something to do and sights to see on a warm weekend, grab yourself a caramelized croissant and get walking.
The College Gourmet is an Opinion culture column written and created by Julia Dwight ‘22 to discuss cooking tips for students, explore local restaurants available to students, and more.
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