Behind the Big Apple – the best hidden New York

Forget the Statue of Liberty. Ignore the Empire State Building. Skip Times Square. For shopping, bars, restaurants or sightseeing, it’s New York City’s hidden gems which should be top of your list.

1. Big Apple greeters
Who knows New York better than a New Yorker? But if you don’t know a local, you can still get a private tour of the city courtesy of the Big Apple greeters – volunteers who provide information and visits to various neighbourhoods. Normally lasting two to four hours, you do need to book in advance, but it’s completely free. Perfect if you want a beginner’s guide, from riding the subway to getting your bearings, or a closer look at the city to discover local favourites that only New Yorkers know, the best local restaurants, fun shops and little-known sights.
www.bigapplegreeter.org

2. La Esquina restaurant
From the outside, you wouldn’t look twice at La Esquina. More like a Mexican greasy spoon and takeaway than a must-visit place to eat, the restaurant’s success comes by staying underground. Quite literally. Knock on the ‘Employees Only’ door and you’ll be asked if you’ve got a reservation. If not, the stairs leading down will be your only sight, but if you’ve booked in advance, you’ll be conveyed under the cafe, through the kitchen – to shouts of welcome – and into the fun, cellar-style restaurant. Start with a cocktail – there’s a daily special for $14, as well as various margaritas – then choose from fantastic tacos or some amazing fish.
www.esquinanyc.com

3. Peter Luger Steakhouse
Open for over a century, and rated New York’s No 1 steakhouse for 24 years in a row, Peter Luger might struggle with the secret tag, but based out in Brooklyn, it’s not somewhere most visitors venture. Which is a real shame, as the steak is truly spectacular. There are alternatives, including daily specials, but that would miss the whole point of eating there – the amazing meat. Start with the sliced tomatoes with Luger’s special sauce, ideally with the restaurant’s thick slices of bacon, and then get stuck into the steak. Four tips though - first, if you can get a table in Otto’s area, make the most of chatting to him, as he’s been working there for decades. Do go with a big appetite, do take cash as they don’t accept cards (although there is an ATM outside) and do be prepared for a hefty bill, around $100 a head .
www.peterluger.com

4. PDT bar
PDT stands for Please Don’t Tell – so I should apologise for revealing the secret of this East Village bar. But there’s few places which can beat the fun of entering through a phone booth. At 113 St Mark’s Place, you’ll be confronted by Crif Dogs, a fast food style hotdog joint. Once through the door, on your left before you reach the counter, is an old-fashioned phone booth – step in, pick up the handset and if you have a reservation, or you pass the onceover from the camera operated from the other side of the door, you’ll be admitted to the bar. The cocktails work on a seasonal menu, and there’s some unusual concoctions – plus, if you’re hungry, you can order food in from next door.
www.pdtnyc.com

5. Angel’s Share bar
Another cunningly disguised cocktail bar that you’ll be glad to make the effort for. Also in the East Village, this one on 8 Stuyvesant Street, you walk in through a Japanese restaurant. But head up to the second floor, ignore the noodles and communal wooden tables, and at the top of the stairs, head straight for the anonymous looking wooden door which leads into the compact bar. There’s no standing room, groups of more than four aren’t allowed in, and you’ll be instantly reprimanded if you try taking photos with flash, but if you can get a table, the cocktails are some of the best around and the view from the huge windows onto New York makes for a fantastic evening.
Tel: +1 212-777-5415

6. Jacques Torres Chocolate Factory
Another Brooklyn delight, Jacques Torres is almost in the shadow of the famous Brooklyn Bridge and around the corner from Grimaldi’s restaurant. If you stop in for a pizza first, make sure you leave room for the handmade chocolate, cookies, truffles, or hot chocolate. There are a couple of tiny tables, if you’re lucky enough to get a seat, as well as several other stores across the city, or grab a selection to take away. A fantastic stop in winter, there’s chilli chocolate as a great warmer against the New York weather.
www.mrchocolate.com

7. DSW
New York is rightly famous for its shopping, but away from the main chains, there’s some fantastic bargains to be had. DSW, short for Discount Shoe Warehouse, has three branches in the city, including one on Union Square, and it’s an essential stop for shoeaholics. Packed with designer names from Prada and Miu Miu to Steve Madden and Nine West, the mark downs are great and there are extra discounts in the sale section. Warning – this isn’t a quick stop-off! Come prepared to lose a couple of hours testing, trying and rummaging. And even the most unwilling partner can be converted with a surprising selection of men’s shoes.
www.dsw.com

8. Filene’s Basement
Another US chain crammed with designer bargains at a great price, there’s several branches including one next to DSW. Leaning heavily to eveningwear and more classic styles than the latest fashions, there’s still some unexpected finds – dVb jeans (Victoria Beckham’s own brand), French Connection, as well as the big name designers. With menswear, and interiors to look through, it’s another one to set time aside for as you’ll need to leaf through piles and racks to find the top buys.
www.filenesbasement.com

9. Century 21
One of the better-known discount stores in New York, if you’re in Downtown, it’s still worth a visit for the huge selection at the Manhattan branch. With five floors, there genuinely is something for everyone, from the beauty department at street level to luggage, as well as floors of clothes. There’s even a separate, attached annex for shoes. Given the amount of choice, it’s probably a good thing there is a chance to buy another suitcase.
www.c21stores.com

10. The Jane Hotel
Built as a hotel for sailors back in 1908, The Jane has been transformed into one of the city’s hottest boutique hotels, without the usual accompanying price tag or losing any of its quirky history in the process. The survivors of the Titanic stayed there after the ship’s sinking in 1912 and in more recent times, Kirsten Dunst has been spotted in the bar – in between it’s been a YMCA and a hostel. Today the rooms still have a nautical theme, and although inflation has pushed the price up from its 25 cent original cost, at $99 it’s still a bargain for New York. Unless you go for the Captain’s cabins, there’s no en suite – but there is a DVD player and iPod deck.
www.thejanenyc.com