I enjoyed Luma Hotel. Right in Times Square and have rooms with 2 king beds, which is not the norm in NYC. For restaurants, Piccola Cucina is the best Sicilian restaurant I’ve ever been to. Ellen’s Stardust Diner was really fun. Actors and Actresses aspiring to make it on Broadway are waiters and take turns singing famous Broadway musical songs. I echo the other guy about Hamilton. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it. Down the street from Luma Hotel is Bryant park. They have an outdoor ice skating rink. It’s also next to the New York Public Library. Since you are going in December, you have to go to Rockafeller Center to get some photo ops with the big Christmas setup there. I found Summit One Vanderbilt to be a cooler skyscraper view experience compared to Empire State. Since you have boys, maybe a tour of Yankee Stadium. People watching in Times Square can be fun. There are always various performers there. Maybe checkout Little Italy before it disappears forever. It used to run multiple blocks, but now is only 2 blocks. Chinatown is huge.

Prepare to smell weed EVERYWHERE! You will see the occasional crack head/homeless person on the subway, but they keep to themselves. I think the media exaggerated the issues in the subway a good bit. Just talk to your family about being aware of their surroundings and you’ll be fine.

This post was edited on 8/27/22 at 8:38 pm

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Posted by ned nederlander

Member since Dec 2012

4372 posts

Posted on 8/27/22 at 11:19 pm to Geauxnoose

Avra is a Greek restaurant we love for dinner. Does family style meals great for sharing. Terrific seafood. Would be a good option if you want a “nice” but not pretentious dinner option with the family.

Ippudo is a Japanese/ramen restaurant that we had a lot of fun at. We skipped the ramen, ordered every appetizer and loved in.

Korea town is small but has some terrific Korean BBQ restaurants that are open very, very late and, like korea, are on the 3rd and 4th floors of the building requiring you to walk up bizarre stair wells wondering where the “hell are we.” If you take the kids out to a show or have an otherwise “late” night with them, this is a great spot to start dinner or have a night cap at 10:00 pm and give the kids a taste of 24/7 New York.

For lunch one day you find a dumpling house close by to a counter pizza shop and hit up both. Vanessa’s dumplings is a dumpling house we’ve liked.

It’s touristy for sure, but Eatily is a crowd pleaser and I believe that building has an enclosed rooftop beer garden and restaurant.

Russ and daughter a good bagel and lox spot.

I think the tenement museum and the frick are two highly underrated museums that do not have the crowds of the big ones.

I love Broadway and think you should take your kids to see Broadway. New York is better at food and theater than any other city in the world so indulge in some theater.

Pick any cuisine you don’t have in your hometown and NYC no doubt has a stellar offering.

Edited - I see the youngest is 7. I restrict my rec. of the tenement museum and the frick. I stand by everything else.

This post was edited on 8/27/22 at 11:49 pm

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Posted by Auburntiger