Robdude

Hi everybody, I'm new to this site, so I hope you can help me! Just planned a week in NYC with a friend, who now can't make it... so going alone. I've never been before so I don't want to end up wandering around lonely trying to fill up my time. Can anyone suggest some good places for the solo traveller to go, especially friendly places to meet other people?

GoTravel

Lonely in NYC? Not at all, you'll have the time of your life.

I like to eat at the bars in restaurants when I travel to NYC single. Trattoria d'ell Arte, Shellys, Oyster Bar at GC, Foley's Fish House, Schillers, Turkish Kitchen, and Artisnal are all execellent places for a single to eat.

All the museums are fantastic.

For nightlife, www.sheckys.com

Staten Island Ferry is a must for views of the Statue of Liberty.

The best place to meet people is downtown; SoHo, Village, East Village, Tribeca, LES.

If you want to meet locals, volunteer for something.

When are you going to NYC?

Robdude

Thanks for the advice... going really soon actually - this Thursday! I'm really looking forward to it, despite going on my own - I just want to make sure I have a full, fun paked week and see and experience as much as I can!

GoTravel

You'll have a blast.

I suggest you take a walk through Times Square first.

Where are you staying?

Head to Midtown West. Broadway and 42nd street to be exact. Don't worry, you'll see and hear Times Square long before you get there.

Gekko

I'd strongly suggest you sign up for a walking tour, gallery tour and/or scavenger hunt (scavenge for knowledge, not things). All three are a great way to see the city AND meet interesting people.

I'm a big fan of Watson Adventures' scavenger hunts. When you arrive, you'll be placed on a team with 4 or 5 other people who will become fast friends.

http://www.watsonadventures.com/

If you like cutting-edge art, I also enjoy NY Gallery Tours of Chelsea:

http://www.nygallerytours.com/

Walking tours that involve food or drinks are also plentiful.

For dozens of options, pick up a copy of Time Out New York.

Enjoy!

wantsomesun

It NEVER fails to amaze me what an AMAZING fountail of knowledge is here on this site.

Everytime I come here, I learn something new about somewhere I have been or somewhere I want to go.

Kudos to all of you for continuing to share this vast encyclopedic knowledge.

MikeT

If you aren't comfortable sitting alone at a table, eat at the bar or in an upscale diner at the counter. Because there is no smoking in NYC, bars are a great way to not feel isolated while eating alone. Also, bartenders are fun to talk to and usually give great service.

I like eating along at Mayrose, which is near Union Sqaure. They have a counter with lots of newspapers and other people eating by themselves.

Think of this as a time to do what you want. If you want to sleep in, no one's forcing you to get up. You can see what you want at museums, you can shop where you want, you can stop anytime you want to sit on a bench, grab some coffee.

Also, you can often get single tickets to shows easier than getting two seats.

GoTravel

Mike, great advice. Eat at the bar.

Robdude

Wow!

Never expected so much good advice! Because I'm on my own I've decided to stay in a hostel - no point in spending loads on a hotel, if I'm on my own, when I could spend it on enjoying NY! (From past experience a hotel in one country is much the same as another and I don't mind roughing that bit to free up a few hundred pounds to spend on the streets!) Before anyone warns me though, I have done quite a bit of research into the hostels and chosen one with good independant reviews and haven't just gone by their own description. There seem to be some howlers out there!

I will definately look into the walking tour and eating at the bar is a great idea! I think I'll have to print out all these suggestions... it's amazing - earlier this evening, when I first asked for advice, I was concerned about filling up my time... now I'm not sure I'll fit it all in!!

emd

The walking tours are ag reat idea. Also, I met some people on a tour at the Tenement museum and ended up having lunch at that big deli close by w/them. I remember it because I had just seen Into the Woods and as we chatted at lunch it turned out that this lady's son-in-law happened to be the person playing the cow in that play. you never knwo who you'll meet. I ahve also met some very nice people on those art walks that happen in the spring. Tribeca's Art Walk where you can walk from artist sutdio to artist's studio all day long is a great way to meet people.

Robdude

I've just been trawling the internet for walking tours... there seem to be loads! Can anyone recommend a good one with a young (20s -30s) crowd? Perhaps, as suggested by Gekko, one involving some eating and drinking?

michelleNYC

As usual, great suggestions gekko.

Gekko

First choice -- Watson Adventures -- in my experience, their scavenger hunts have been heavily weighted to people in their 20's and 30's. After the last tour, my team of new friends went to a bar on W. 4th Street for drinks.

The gallery tours that I referenced genarally have a broader range of ages.

Again, the best source for up-to-the-minute tour info is Time Out New York magazine. Pick up a copy when you arrive and you'll be set. (The listings almost always have a number to call. I've never had a problem reserving a tour "day of".)

lisettemac

The noshing tour of the Lower East Side by Big Onion Walking Tours is a great one and it will give you a good view of a neighborhood that has lots of great, hip bars and restaurants.

KikiLee

OK, this suggestion has little cultural value, but as I think you are coming from the UK (from the pounds reference), I strongly suggest a weekend afternoon of watching American football (college games are on Saturdays, pro on Sundays). Pick a bar on the UES (Blondie's, Brother Jimmy's, etc. - basically anywhere on 2nd or 3rd ave in the 70s through 90s) or the UWS (Jake's Dilemma, Gin Mill, etc. - Amsterdam ave in the 70s and 80s). Order wings and beer. Make friends. (As a local 20-something, this is how I often spend my fall weekends.)

You're here this weekend? Don't miss the Halloween parade in the EV. But be advised that Halloween Saturday is generally one of the hardest nights in the year to find a cab - you'd be well advised to familiarize yourself with the subway.

Have an amazing time and let us know if you have any further questions.

Robdude

Thank you all so much for your advice! I really looking forward to my trip and I will try to fit in all your brilliant suggestions! I like the idea of the American Football... I managed to see a baseball game a few years ago in the States and had a great time - American Footie this time then!

I'll let you all know how it went!

Gekko

For football watching, I'd strongly suggest Park Avenue Country Club, on Park Avenue South at 27th Street. It's HUGE and attracts a crowd from all over Manhattan (and beyond).

Bokhara

ttt

KikiLee

Park Avenue Country Club is fantastic! (And, despite the name, it is a sports bar.) If you decide to go there, you might want to start your day a few blocks north with lunch at Artisanal – one of my favorite places for a solo lunch at the bar (although, yes, it does smell like cheese). If it’s still raining, I highly recommend the French onion soup. I don’t think it is actually on the brunch menu, but they’ll make it if you ask.

My only caveat about PACC is that it is indeed huge, and tends to be filled with larger groups sitting at tables. This might make it more difficult to strike up conversations. The uptown bars definitely have more of a frat-house feel to them. I realize that many people do not see this as a good thing, but it may be more conducive to meeting people. And since there are dozens of sports bars uptown, you can always move on to the next one if the current one isn’t satisfactory.

Whatever you choose, have an amazing time!

Gekko

I was thinking just the opposite, KikiLee. The uptown sports bars, including my favorites Ship of Fools, Back Page, and Blondie's, tend to attract a neighborhood crowd -- mostly friends who reserve tables and sit together. Of course each place also has a bar . . .

And Park Ave Country Club has the largest bar area of them all -- hence the largest social area for people not at a table with a group.