The Prettiest Itinerary for Autumn in New York City

As the gold and red hues of Fall paint the city, Manhattan transforms into a lovely tapestry of seasonal beauty. I have been playing the famous jazz song "Autumn in New York" and I love how the lyrics offer up the question: "Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting?". It really is such an inviting time of year there! Below I outline what we did on our three-night trip, and I hope it helps you plan your next getaway.

Our Recent Itinerary for an Autumn in New York City Trip

Thursday evening: Pizza + Jazz

My husband and I enjoyed such a fun and beautiful four days in the city, and we started our first evening at B Side Pizza + Wine Bar (370 W 51st St, New York, NY). We ordered the cacio e pepe cauliflower starter and then shared the Meat Packing pizza - it was all so delicious! I had to order a New York Sour as my cocktail, and I did not regret it (fun fact: New York Sour is my favorite cocktail).

After dinner, we headed over to the BirdlandJazz Club...I mean, can you really beat a pizza and jazz combo? Birdland Jazz Club is an icon in Manhattan and has a storied history that includes the Who's Who of Jazz greats and still attracts incredible artists. I highly recommend you add a visit to the club to experience some of the world's best jazz as they have new talent coming in every week.

For an after-dinner nightcap, we ventured to the Magic Hour Rooftop to see city views and enjoy the rooftop scene in Midtown. This rooftop location changes its decor for the season, so it is definitely worth visiting at any time of the year! We stayed at the Moxy Times Square for this trip because we wanted to be close to the Broadway theater scene, so this rooftop bar location was perfect. There are plenty of other great rooftop bars to explore in New York City in various neighborhoods, but this was a very fun option for what we needed.

Friday: Long Walks in Central Park, The Met, The Plaza, & Le Coucou

To start our next day in the city, we grabbed a pastry and coffee at Café D’Avignon and then had the loveliest two-hour walk through Central Park to take in all the beautiful changing colors of the trees. If you need a break along the way, you can grab a bite at the Loeb Boathouse located right on the pond. I was blown away by how stunning the Park was at this time of year!

After getting many of our steps in, we wanted to pop out of the Park to experience The Plaza. If you are not booking a room at the iconic Plaza Hotel, I would still recommend you stop in for afternoon tea or cocktails at their historic Palm Court. The Palm Court bar area has been around before Prohibition in the U.S. and has so much history to explore. We loved taking in the beauty of the hotel, and the mocktails were great as well!

If you are a museum nerd like me, then it will come as no surprise that I highly recommend you visit The Met during your next New York City visit. I was a little obsessed with the Egyptian Art Exhibit, but anyone can find something they are interested in at The Met! You could spend three days in The Met Museum and still not see everything you would like.

After we enjoyed several exhibits, we got ready for our favorite dinner of the trip at Le Coucou. There has been a lot of hype around this French restaurant in SoHo, and boy did it live up to its high expectations.

In 2016, Le Coucou was named "Best New Restaurant in the U.S." by the James Beard Foundation, and I can see why. My in-laws joined us, and we ordered the duck, foie gras (a group favorite!), tuna, filet mignon, broiled oysters, and black seabass. I mean it when I say, book the reservation! Even if you are not a foodie, the ambiance and interior design are quite breathtaking.

Saturday: French Brunch, Broadway Musicals, and Italian Dinner

I was still dreaming of Le Coucou the next morning, and we wanted to have brunch near Broadway to meet my in-laws before the musical, so Le Grand Boucherie (145 W 53rd St, New York, NY) was the perfect place for us. This is one of the largest restaurants in Manhattan, almost taking up an entire block. It is famous for its extensive menu and vibrant, bustling atmosphere, and the French toast was the best thing we ordered!

After a (very) filling brunch, my in-laws, husband, and I walked over to Broadway to experience Merrily We Roll Along! If you are a Hamilton or Harry Potter fan, this play is for you because it stars both Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff. What an exceptional duo to see live! Regardless if you are a fan of those actors, you should never leave Manhattan without seeing a Broadway play!

Post-show, we enjoyed an exceptional meal at Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant, and actually got to meet Chazz (the owner and actor) because he was there that evening as he was entertaining some friends in his restaurant - such a unique experience! I highly recommend the mushroom ravioli if you are a pasta lover.

Sunday: More Broadway & Greenwich Village

As luck would have it, my husband and I were able to also score last-minute tickets to the musical &Juliet, so we saw two shows this trip boasting phenomenal talent! This musical was upbeat and showcased a creative take on popular songs intermixed with a "what could have been" storyline for Romeo & Juliet.

After enjoying another fabulous show on Broadway, we decided to walk to my favorite part of the city - Greenwich Village. On the way, we enjoyed coffee and lunch at Balthazar. I absolutely loved the macaroni au gratin and my husband raved about the pastry eggs (so decadent). The interior decor of Balthazar was a sight to behold in itself - especially the mosaic floors.

To walk off the richly flavored dishes, we explored the Jefferson Market Library, which is in a restored building that used to be a courthouse in the Village - it is a National Historic Building, and I highly recommend you spend some time wondering about the library.

Before we had to catch our flight, I did do some shopping at Mackenzie Childs and Jonathan Adler (had to make sure anything I bought was able to be on the plane!). I look forward to sharing my NYC home decor finds with you on @theeverydaymaximalist Instagram.

This November trip was a beautiful time, but obviously, there is much more to explore in Manhattan. I hope these recommendations inspire you as you think about a possible itinerary for autumn in New York City in the future. In previous trips to the area, I have loved seeing Brooklyn, Chelsea Market, the High Line, and more, but you can only fit so much into 4 days, so until next time!

Travel far, sip tastefully, live purposefully,

Cassie Ann