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Visiting New York is an incredible experience and there is always so much to see and do; you could spend years in the city and not experience half of it. If you are in New York for a short visit it can be difficult to know what to see or put off until your next visit. We at Fitzpatrick Hotels have compiled a mini guide for first timers visitors to New York City compromising of some of New York City’s most famous and well known landmarks.

The Statue of Liberty:

Globally recognised as the symbol of freedom the statue of liberty is a must visit destination. Gifted to America form France in 1886 this iconic monument is located on Liberty island in Upper New York Harbour. To get to the Statue of Liberty you will need to take a short ferry which will bring you directly to the island. From here you will begin your tour which lasts for 30-45 minutes. The tour provides a general history the island, the statue and of the many emigrants who’s first sight of America was of the Statue of Liberty. A visit to the Statue of Liberty is a must for any tourist visiting New York.

Empire State Building:

The majestic Empire State Building is one of worlds largest skyscrapers. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York, and it dates back to the 1930’s. The observation deck on the Empire State Building is one of the most popular in the world and has been visited over 110 million times by people from all over the world.
On the second floor of the Empire State Building is a motion simulator attraction which was opened in 1994. This is a cinematic presentation that provides a virtual aerial tour of New York lasting approximately 25 minutes.
Queues to enter the Empire State Building are legendary and a trick to beat the crowds is to arrive between 8am and 11am.
While in New York a visit to the world famous Empire State Building is a must and it is an experience that you will never forget.

Grand Central Station:

Often referred to as Grand Central Terminal, Grand Central Station is a commuter and railroad terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. This station is a throwback to the olden days of incredibly detailed architecture. Look in wonder at the incredible ceilings or have some drinks in the legendary Oyster bar. Visit the Whispering Gallery and tell your partner a secret or visit the gourmet culinary market and try exotic and different food. Even if you are not taking a train anywhere you can spend hours exploring the magical Grand Central Station which has loads to see and do. You can also take the grand tour of the station which is provided daily.

Central Park:

The world famous Central Park is an urban park located in middle upper Manhattan. It is the most visited park in the United States with over 35 million visitors per year. The park is a beautify and welcoming hiatus for tourists and New Yorkers alike who might be looking to get away from the busy city for a while.
There are many ponds and lakes in the park and during the winter months there are two ice rinks open.
The Central Park Zoo, Strawberry Field gardens (named after the famous Beatles song) and Belvedere Castle are also some of the many things to see in Central park. Central Park is free to explore and with only a few amenities inside the park charging an entrance fee. Well worth a visit Central Park is a unique attraction of outstanding beauty.

To find out more about Fitzpatrick Hotel Manhattan as well as the other hotels in the Fitzpatrick Group please click here and book your stay today!

The area around Grand Central serves not only as one of the busiest transportation hubs in the world but is a great destination for shopping and dining. The Fitzpatrick Grand Central hotel is only a stones throw away from the iconic landmark and the exceptional shopping facilities that come along with it.

Grand Central 

The Grand Central Terminal is one of the largest train stations ain the world as well as a cultural icon, having been the backdrop of many historic event and films. The iconic building  is renowned for its beautiful Beaux- Arts architecture; it was designed in 1912 and is a magnificent historic landmark.

Shopping at Grand Central

Why not indulge in some retail therapy while you are staying in Grand Central. Pick up a souvenirs in the array of gift shops and convenience stores available or shop in the popular boutiques of Banana Republic, the Apple store, Kenneth Cole, Aveda and Hermes. There are also toy stores and children’s apparel to keep the kids happy as well as a range of cosmetic, hair care, speciality food stores and electronic and service stores to cater to all your shopping needs.

Dining at Grand Central

All that shopping will make you work up a healthy appetite and thirst. Luckily there are a number of great restaurants available in the busy station with an Oyster bar, Café Spice and Manhattan Chilli Company to name a few. 

Shopping near Grand Central

For many visitors no trip to New York would be complete without a visit to New York’s most famous shopping district Fifth Avenue.  Within a short walking distance of Grand Central and in the heart of Manhattan, Fifth Avenue has a mix of exclusive high-end fashion stores as well as the more high street commercial stores.  Visitors to Fifth Avenue are spoilt for choice for shopping, dinning as well as taking in some of the New York’s landmark buildings such as the Rockefeller Center, St. Patricks Cathedral, the Empire State Building and the Public Library.

Fitzpatrick Grand Central

The Fitzpatrick Grand Central is as its name suggests next to the famous station with its appealing retail shops. Like its sister hotel 12 blocks away, the Fitzpatrick Grand Central prides itself in providing a warm Irish hospitality in an elegant atmosphere against the backdrop of the bustling city. Situated directly opposite the Grand Central station visitors can benefit from the easy accessibility to all parts of Manhattan. The hotel is also within walking distance of New York’s most famous attractions such as the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center as well as the Theatre District.

The newly renovated hotel consists of 144 deluxe rooms and 11 suites. The rooms are ideal for both business and leisure visitors to the city, visitors can relax in their spacious and comfortable surroundings, luxurious canopied beds, separate sitting areas and work stations.

The Wheeltrapper Pub is located just off the hotel’s lobby and is a popular destination for both locals and hotel guests alike. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the pub daily and the heated outdoor Patio.

For more information on Fitzpatrick Grand Central and our sister hotel Fitzpatrick Manhattan please visit our website and book that New York shopping trip you have been day dreaming about today.

New York Manhattan

New York is made up of five boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. While Manhattan may be the smallest in size of all the five boroughs, it is packed with New Yorks biggest attractions, dining and unforgettable views. It is in many ways the center of the action in New City.

Manhattan Hotels

When visiting New York you will be spoilt for choice for accommodation. Manhattan offers the most comprehensive range of hotels in New York. Stay in the heart of the action and within walking distance of all the main attractions and landmarks. The Empire State Building, Central Park, the United Nations, Rockefeller Center are just some of the top attractions inextricably linked to Manhattan.

Fitzpatrick Manhattan

You will find the Fitzpatrick Hotel Manhattan in the heart of midtown Manhattan. The hotel offers a blend of luxury and Irish charm in a refreshingly classic atmosphere. The hotel is located on Lexington Avenue and is neighbour to some of the city’s most popular museums, theaters and shopping districts not to mention Central Park. Staying in this prime location makes sight seeing and visiting the unique cultural attractions all that easier as they are right on your doorstep. Famous landmarks like St. Patricks Cathedral, and tourist attractions like the Russian Tea Rooms and Carnegie Hall are moments away.

If you are looking for exceptionable experience and a calm oasis from the city outside you need look no further then Fitzpatrick Manhattan. The intimate size of this boutique hotel allows staff to focus and provide for its guests on a personal level of service akin to the finest Irish country house. The comfortable, modern amenities and personalized service make it ideal for both leisure and business travellers. Our boardroom the Vico Room seats up to 14 around a cherrywood boardroom table that includes a “65 inch flat panel LCD television.

The hotel’s popular bar and restaurant the Fitz features an extensive menu that offers a wide variety of delectable choices making it perfect for breakfast, a quick business lunch or some leisurely cocktails with friends, the Fitz bar and lounge suits all occasions.

Fitzpatrick Grand Central

The Fitzpatrick Grand Central hotel like its sister 12 blocks away provides warm Irish hospitality in an elegant atmosphere. Located next to the world’s largest and most famous train station, guests staying here have the advantage of easy access to anyway in Manhattan. The hotel is within walking distance of the Theatre District, Times Square, the United Nations as well as the must-see attraction of the Empire State Building, the Rockefeller Center and the iconic shopping on Fifth Avenue.

The comfortable guest rooms and suites consist of 144 deluxe rooms and 11 suites. They are ideal for both leisure and business travellers with separate sitting areas and work stations and luxurious comfortable beds.

As a guest of either hotel you can enjoy complimentary access to New York Sport Club located three blocks away. The club offers a wide range of equipment as well as a sauna and steam room so you can continue on your fitness routine while you’re away.

The Wheeltrapper is located off the hotel’s lobby and is a very popular destination for both locals and hotel guests alike. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served throughout the day with a heated outdoor patio making it the ideal spot no matter what time of year.

For more information on these Manhattan hotels please visit the Fitzpatrick site by clicking here.

New York consistently ranks in the top ten list of city breaks for tourist and its easy to see why.  With so many  places to visit and things to do it can be difficult to know what to see and do and it would be impossible to pack it all into a short or even a long stay.  Here at Fitzpatrick Hotels we have compiled a list of some of the hidden tourism gems that Manhattan has to offer, places that might not be on everyones radar but places that should be visited none the less.

Ghostbusters Firehouse

Manhattan is filled with famous movie locations but few are as iconic as the firehouse from the 1980’s classic, Ghostbusters. If you are a fan of the movie then a visit here a must. Still a working firehouse the exterior of the building hasn’t changed since the days that the Ghostbuster were residents.
The firehouse also appeared in the 2005 movie Hitch, an episode of Seinfeld and the 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters.
If you would like to see more movie or television show locations in Manhattan you can book a tour here and you will see where many world famous movies and TV shows were filmed.

David Zwirner

David Zwirner, one of New York’s better know galleries.  This a large space, taking up the ground floor of several buildings. If you happen to be here for an opening, you’ll be brushing up against  hipsters and business people alike with a bottle of beer in hand, always generously served from iced trash cans. The gallery often shows minimalist art such as Donald Judd’s empty cubes or John McCracken’s colourful planks, and lots of photography ranging from Thomas Ruff’s abstractions to Philip-Lorca diCorcia’s fashion.  For more information click on David Zwiner click here.

Children’s museum of Manhattan

Where better to bring children on a trip to Manhattan than the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.  A place that emphasizes early childhood education, creativity, health and world culture there is something that will attract the interest of any child.  The museum was founded by Betty Koram in 1973 and it continues to grow from strength to strength. Classes and exhibitions run frequently and they are a fun and creative way to learn and interact with other Children. This is a truly magical place that children and adults love.
For more information on the children’ museum of Manhattan click here.

Ripleys Believe It Or Not 

Definitely more offbeat than obscure, this destination will leave you amazed, intrigued, confused, and possibly even a tiny bit grossed out. While the building exterior may not be as wild as some of the other Ripley’s locations, inside it spans two massive floors and is a great way to kill an hour or two. If you have never tour a Ripley’s museum before, well then you might as well start with what is arguably one of their best. It’s located at Times Square and is imposible to miss.  For more information click here.

So after a long day of sightseeing don’t forget to visit Fitzpatrick Hotels and relax, unwind and have  something to eat or drink.  Our gorgeous rooms also make for a comfortable place to stay on your visit to New York.

 

All over America there are fantastic events to celebrate the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day and here in New York City it is no different. Throughout his life Dr. Martin Luther King Jr dedicated himself to civil rights, non violent opposition and community service. Since January 1986 when it became a nationwide holiday the people of New York City have commemorated his life by holding events and carrying out volunteer work all over NYC. If you’re visiting one of the Fitzpatrick Hotels in New York in January be sure to get involved and remember legendary Dr. Martin Luther King Jr at some of these events.

One of the great things about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day in New York is that there are fun and educational events for all the family. Now in it’s 29th year, the 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative March by Manhattan Country School eight – graders is a lovely example of events for all ages. The kids take to the streets of Manhattan and march to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The march is a inspiring demonstration of speaking out for civil rights with young kids giving speeches along the way and a perfect way to show our children what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr stood for. This year the theme is “ We Will Not Be Silenced: A Call To Action” starting at 10am at Riverside Church and finishing at Manhattan Country School at 1pm with stops and speeches along the way.

A little further afield but definitely worth the trip is the Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr presented by the Brooklyn Academy of Music. For it’s 31st year BAM welcomes Opal Tometi, a racial and immigrants rights activist to the Peter Jay Sharp Building to give his keynote speech at 10.30am. Tickets for the speech will be available from 8am in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House lobby. If you don’t make it for the speech that’s ok as the day is only beginning. As New York City’s largest celebration in honor of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, BAM offers many more world – renowned activists, poets, musicians and performers to make the day really special. Institutional Radio Choir and Sacred Steel band the Campbell Brothers are two that should not be missed. BAM is easily accessed by subway from either Fitzpatricks Manhattan or Fitzpatricks Grand Central so just ask us and we will be glad to point you in the right direction.

These are just two of the biggest events happening in New York City on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day to honour the great man but there are plenty more happening around NYC, so if you’re staying at a Fitzpatrick hotel or just dropping in, please ask and we will help you find the event that suits you.

 

For a city that is so far from Italy, New York City has a lot of really good pizza restaurants. That’s because New Yorkers love pizza and at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York it is no different, we really love pizza. So it is no surprise that we look forward to National Pizza Day every year and this year we thought we would share our favourite pizza restaurants in New York City with our guests. Now you will have no excuse not to celebrate this great day with some of the best pizza NYC has to offer.

Up first we have Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village. Joe’s has been open since 1975 and has been delivering us with great New York Style pizza since. Always made fresh means that the slices are mouthwateringly hot with Joe’s own pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese. Available to sit in but I wouldn’t get your hopes up, Joe’s is small and because of the quality, always has a lot of business. Joe’s would be perfect for anyone staying in the Fitzpatrick Hotel Grand Central and wanted to head out to grab a quick slice or two on the go.

Next up is Kesté Pizza & Vino, another fabulous pizza establishment in West Village. Kesté Pizza & Vino was established in 2009 by Roberto Caporuscio. Born and raised outside Naples, Italy, Roberto knows a lot about Italian pizza and more importantly, he knows a lot about making Italian pizza. Kresté offer Neapolitan pizza with a wide range of toppings cooked in a wood fired oven to give them a real authentic Italian finish. Reasonably priced and not to far from Fitzpatrick Hotel Grand Central, Kresté Pizza and Vino is one of the staffs favourite in Fitzpatrick Hotels NYC.

Located in Brooklyn, Roberta’s is a little bit further afield from our Manhattan Hotels and even with the queues that can sometimes last hours rather than minutes, we still had to include it. Labelled on Google Map’s as “Hipster Italian dining plus takeout”, Roberta’s is certainly different with graffiti on the walls and picnic tables but the reason Roberta’s gets on our list is how good the pizza is. With really creative toppings, Roberta’s never fails to satisfy that pizza craving. We definitely recommend making the the trip and sticking out the queue.

How could we finish our list of best pizza places in New York City without mentioning the first pizzeria in the United States. Located in the Little Italy area of Manhattan, Lombardi’s New York City was founded in 1905 and the pizza is still great. With great pizza and good atmosphere, Lombardi’s is a good one if you are visiting New York as a family.

So there you are, no excuses to not embrace National Pizza Day and get stuck into some of the best pizza New York City has to offer. As always, just ask us in one of our Fitzpatrick Hotels NYC if you need any assistance or if you need to wash down all that pizza with a drink we would love to have you. Enjoy.

Presidents’ Day weekend has arrived! If you are visiting New York for the weekend you are in for a treat as it is Presidents’ day weekend. This public holiday is celebrated every year on the third Monday of February. This holiday was originally dedicated to the first President of the United States, George Washington, but now this day is an occasion to honor all persons who have served as President. There are a number of events and activities happening in New York over the course of the weekend. We have created a list of the best kid friendly activities for this long weekend.

The New York Historical Society Museum and Library

The New York Historical Society are holding a number of President themed events over the long weekend. There will be a Presidential Scavenger Hunt daily, kids of all ages can search for images and objects relating to presidential history inside the museum. Children will also be able to show off their creative flair by making portraits of Presidents allowing them to flex their arts and crafts skills.  For more details click here.

The Big Quiz Thing’s Presidents’ Day Family Trivia

This quiz is a fun and challenging quiz on U.S history with a focus on past, present, and future U.S. presidents. Kids ages 6 and up and their parents take part in “figureoutable” trivia questions and video and audio puzzles (everyone gets to play), culminating in the stupendous Buzzertastic Finale. There are fantastic prizes from the New York Historical Society.
This event is hosted by Andy Peeke and is a fun activity for all the family.  For more details click here.

Teddy Bears for Teddy Roosevelt at the Museum of the City of New York

A little known fact is that teddy bears got their names from Teddy Roosevelt. Celebrate Presidents’ Day at the Museum of the City of New York, where you can learn about President Roosevelt’s time as the Police Commissioner of New York, discover his friendship with Jacob Riis and make your very own teddy bear. This event is educational and fun and kids will love it. Suitable for ages 6-12, it runs from 11am – 5pm with entry free with museum admission.
For more details click here.

After your activity packed day, you can relax in your oasis of calm in the Fitzpatrick Manhattan or Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel. Book and stay before March the 5th and receive 20% off for Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel.

St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Irish culture and if you are in New York for March 17^th you are in for a treat as the city celebrates everything Irish. The date is marked by the death of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s most celebrated patron saint who brought Christianity to Ireland.

 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

There are a number of events being held throughout the week and on St. Patrick’s Day itself, the most famous and noteworthy being the St. Patrick’s Parade. New York is the host of the world’s oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day parade taking place every year since 1762, before the declaration of Independence was even signed! The parade is one of the biggest events in New York in March, it starts at 11 am on 5^th Avenue and runs between 44^th and 79^th. It marches past a number of New York attractions such as St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Central Park, before finishing at around 5:00 pm at the American Historical Society at East 80^th Street. Pop on your finest green attire and celebrate one of New York’s oldest traditions.

Annual St. Patrick’s Day Open Day

Join the Irish Arts Centre as it welcomes visitors with open arms for a fun filled day celebrating Irish culture. Visitors can enjoy watching traditional dance and music performance,  they will also have the opportunity to learn how to play the tin whistle and pick up a few words in Gaelic Ireland’s native language, as well as some football skills. With face painting as well as Irish music, dancing, craft workshops and a delicious Irish tea flowing, this is set to be a day the whole family will enjoy.

Sober St. Patrick’s Day

Celebrate the Irish Culture without the Irish Whiskey’s and pints of Guinness at the St. Patrick’s Youth Center Gym. There will be just as much Irish fun with Irish step dancers, traditional music, food and refreshments and more. Acts will include John Whelan Band, Fiddler Dylan Foley and dancing by the Donny Golden School of Irish Dance. Located at 270 Mulberry Street. Don’t miss out and join in the fun.

St. Patrick’s Day at Fitzpatrick Hotels

In Fitzpatrick Hotels we are marking the occasion with a week long festival celebrating all things Irish. Join us in the Fitz or the Wheeltapper and not only will you receive a great Irish welcome, depending on the day, there will complimentary samples of whiskey offered on arrival or activities such as Irish cocktail making classes. The Wheeltapper, which was named one of the Top 5 Irish restaurants in NYC by Time Out NY Magazine will be holding its annual Party All Day Long on St. Patrick’s Day with our special St. Patrick’s Day Menu full of Irish specialties. Help us celebrate all things Irish and join us for a mighty good time!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York.