24 Hours in New York (My First Vlog!)

Freeman Alley - 24 Hours in New York City

Things that will make you feel uncomfortable in New York: walking around the city with a selfie stick while talking to yourself on camera. Yes, I’ve done it. I was that person. The things you’ll find yourself doing as a travel blogger… But even though I was slightly embarrassed, New York is probably the best city to try vlogging. If a ‘naked cowboy’ can play guitar on Times Square, then me and my selfie stick are not so strange after all.

Central Park - 24 Hours in New York CityCoffee at Café Grumpy - 24 Hours in New York City

It’s no secret that I love New York. So I’ll take any chance I get to visit, even if it’s only for 24 hours.

Obviously, New York is not a day trip kind of city. There’s just too much to do, see and eat. But since I’ve been many times before, I decided not to worry about any of the sights you have to wait in line for, or to go on a shopping spree. I would just enjoy being in one of my favorite cities, walk around Manhattan (no time for Brooklyn), and stop for coffee and food. All I need to get my New York ‘fix’.

Where to stay in NYC: Refinery Hotel

Where to stay in New York: Boutique Hotel - Refinery HotelWhere to stay in New York: Refinery Hotel

In my last Stockholm post I mentioned how much I like to spend time preparing my trips, but in this case I didn’t plan much. I didn’t even know where I was going to stay until the day before. But to be completely honest, I had been stalking the Hotel Tonight app for a while and knew that no matter what, I would find a beautiful design hotel to stay at – for a much better price.

Where to stay in New York: Refinery HotelBoutique hotel in New York: Refinery Hotel

Of course there’s always a chance that a hotel you really like won’t be available anymore if you wait until the very last minute, but I was happy to see that I could get a room in one of the hotels I had set my eyes on: The Refinery Hotel.

I knew I wouldn’t have time to go to Brooklyn, so the hotel’s location on 38th Street, around the corner from Bryant Park, was perfect. I could walk around Midtown and with the metro I would be in Soho and the Lower East Side in a couple of minutes.

Boutique Hotel in New York: Refinery HotelBoutique Hotel in New York: Refinery Hotel

I had used the Hotel Tonight app before, but they’ve recently started a new concierge service ‘Aces’ which I thought was brilliant. On the morning of my arrival I received a personal message in the app to ask what time I was planning to arrive at the hotel and if I had any special requests. He then contacted the hotel to let them know and kept me informed via the app. So by the time I got to the hotel, I could get into my room straight away even though I arrived very early. Great!

Boutique hotel in New York: Refinery Hotel

When you’re in a city like New York, you’re not going to spend much time in your hotel room, so you could argue that it doesn’t really matter where you’re staying. But I just love trying out new trendy hotels when I travel. And my room at the Refinery was perfect.

I’d received a complimentary upgrade to the Deluxe Double Queen room. It had two beds, which of course I didn’t need, but it was super spacious, luxurious and with five windows it had lots of natural light coming in.

Boutique Hotel in New York: Refinery HotelBoutique hotel in New York: Refinery Hotel

Even when you’re not staying at the hotel, it’s worth visiting the Refinery Rooftop Bar. With a cosy fireplace, and an amazing view (including the Empire State Building) of Manhattan. Or enjoy a drink and live jazz performance at Winnie’s Jazz Bar downstairs.

Boutique Hotel in New York: Refinery HotelRooftop Bar at the Refinery Hotel in New York

24 Hours in New York: Addresses

Juice Bar & Café The Butcher's Daughter in New YorkJuice Bar & Café The Butcher's Daughter in New York

Refinery Hotel : 63 W 38th Street

The Butcher’s Daughter: 19 Kenmare Street

Café Grumpy: 224 W 20th Street

Doughnut Plant: 220 W 23rd Street

Freeman Alley: on Rivington Street

The Fat Radish: 17 Orchard Street

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