Our staff knows just where to go!

Getting off the beaten path and discovering hidden gems is one of the wonders of travel. But how do you find those special places? Ask a local. The Muse Hotel helps you make the most of your New York stay by sharing our staff's favorite picks and insider tips.

We asked our intrepid staff: If you had only two days in New York, what would you do? Take a peek, have some fun and Live Like a Local.

Eat

Chef Massimo De Francesca - Local for 2 years
Executive Chef

• One of my most favorite foods is pizza. Adrienne’s Pizza Bar in the financial district makes the city’s best pizza , at least to my palette. They offer a pizza that is called “Old fashioned pizza” AKA; a hand stretched dough layered with a proper marinara sauce, the rest of the topping is left up to you, but tend to stick with fresh mushrooms, red peppers, onions and basil. They serve it in the baking tray in which it cooks in…just as my nonna used to do and my mother still does! It’s best to pair, with a Birra Moretti on tap and eaten outside on their patio tables right on Stone st.

• There is a place in Brooklyn called Mile End that creates a food which brings me back to my roots growing up in Toronto. The famous Montreal smoked meat sandwich has got to be my favorite comfort foods. At Mile end, they brine, and slowly smoke the meat in their basement kitchen of their small delicatessen. The moment you walk in, you will notice a light smoky aromatic perfume of meat coming from the basement; is enough to satisfy anyone’s curiosity. So when I go, I order a smoked a Montreal meat sandwich on Rye, and Dijon mustard, a side of Quebec’s famed food “Poutine” crispy fries topped with brown chicken gravy and fresh cheddar cheese curds and a an artisan style cream soda. Makes for a best day off anyone could possibly have!

Drink

Darius Shalforoosh - Local for 2 years
Guest Services Manager

• I love a good local beer. Heading to the Brooklyn Brewery and sampling their different brews certainly makes for a good day!

• On a nice day grab a coffee or lemonade at Chelsea Market, make sure to get it “to-go” so you can sip while you walk along The High Line. These old elevated freight train tracks turned public park and garden for all to enjoy.

Wellness

Ginger - Local for 10 years
Director of Pet Relations

• Ginger loves the Central Park dog run as well as her yoga doggie classes in central park, where she does her favorite pose "the downward dog." Ginger is very flexible!

• Checkout Urban Hound for a list of dog runs in NYC and surrounding areas

Retail Therapy

Dagmara Barecka - Local for 4 years
Executive Assistant

• Roni is one of my favorite contemporary boutiques downtown NYC. I stumbled across one of its three locations about 2 years ago while dress shopping. I love their selection and prices, not to mention that the service is friendly and the ladies that work in the store are very attentive. Enjoy Roni!

• NYC is known for its great sample sales. There are a ton of websites that offer all of the info, but The Vogue City covers it all; from shoe sample sales, clothing sales, accessories, events, promotions, etc. You can’t beat the prices, and for that very reason you must visit the Armani shopping soiree, which is listed on the website as amazing fashions at unbelievable prices. Of course as long as you’re willing to wait in line for a little while and be brave enough to try on the clothing on in one huge fitting room. Go to Vogue!

Play

Cory Chacon - Local for 20 years
Area International Sales Coordinator

• Chelsea Piers on the west side of Manhattan is a world class sport and entertainment complex. Their award-winning athletic and workout facilities include a quarter-mile indoor track, the biggest indoor rock climbing wall in the Northeast, and a twenty-five yard pool overlooking the Hudson River. Sport-specific venues include dedicated areas for golf, hockey & ice skating and bowling, or you can pamper yourself and indulge in a treatment at their highly-acclaimed Spa.

• Slate, conveniently located in the trendy Flatiron district is a grown-up version of playland. In an upscale, multi-level lounge atmosphere, you can shoot pool in the billiard room, watch the game on their massive TVs, play a friendly game of ping-pong or enjoy a burger and then some in their restaurant.

One of a Kind

Ashlee Thomas - Local for 12 years
Area Sales Manager, Kimpton Hotels of New York

• Escape for the day to the Lower East Side for some true ‘local’ shopping at the unique LES boutiques and stay late to enjoy the vibrant nightlife.

• Take a break from 5th Ave and hope on the L train to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to enjoy this shopping haven with vintage Mecca’s to high-end boutiques. You will find most of the action is on Bedford Avenue, with the cross streets leading to lesser known, but more exclusive and avant-garde like Beacon’s Closet for vintage finds, Oak menswear with a British bent, and Nom De Guerre for minimalist designs with a Japanese touch.