Looking for ideas for the most epic girls trip to New York City? In this Girls Guide to New York City, you can find the best things to do in NYC with girlfriends, including all you need to know in order to have the most epic girls weekend in New York City! This girls weekend in NYC itinerary was curated by a Native New Yorker.
There’s nothing better than a girls’ trip in New York City! Sex and the City was surely a great (yet unrealistic!) forerunner for the kind of fun girlfriends can have together in this magical city.
Since then, many other examples have followed, whether that be in movies, shows (Girls), or even reality TV. It gave inspiration to millions of women all over the world, and even created the perfect bachelorette or birthday bash weekend for all ages.
The City is very accommodating to girls’ night out and many nightclubs even offer free admission to females, because they know the girls will bring the fun and make the party happen, as we always do, and boys will follow, as they always do!
There are countless things to do, but here is my version of what defines the most epic girls’ weekend in New York City of all time!
Best NYC Hotels for a Girls Weekend Getaway
Wondering where to stay while visiting New York City? Finding a great deal on a hotel in New York City can be challenging. As a Native New Yorker, I am going to include some suggestions below that I usually recommend to friends and acquaintances who are visiting NYC for the first time or who prefer to stay in a good location close to Manhattan.
- Budget: The Row | The Jane | Pod 39 |
- Mid-Budget: The Hudson | The James Soho | The Renwick | The Redbury
- Luxury: The Bowery | The Dominick | The St. Regis | The Plaza
For more in-depth information about the best NYC neighborhoods to stay in, and the hotels in those areas, read this complete guide on Where to stay in New York City.
Booking.comYou might also find helpful these posts:
- The Perfect 5 days in New York City Itinerary
- 101 Free and Fun Things to do in New York City
- 27 Perfect Views of the Manhattan Skyline for free
- The Perfect one-day itinerary for New York City
- The Best Pizza Spots in Manhattan
- Top Things to do in Central Park
- The Best Parks in NYC
- The Best Beaches in New York
Girls weekend in NYC itinerary 2023: The most Awesome girls trip to New York City
Girls Weekend in New York City: Day 1, Friday
That’s when the weekend should start with your girls! It’s New York City, so aim for a long weekend to make the most of it.
To get into the mood for your upcoming weekend of fun, sign up for a Sex and the City walking tour, seeing some of the famous locations featured in the series might just be the perfect thing to get your excitement going.
If you arrive in the early afternoon, you should have enough time to take the tour and freshen up before heading out again to experience some of NYC’s outstanding food and nightlife scene for yourselves.
Go for a classic and dine at Lombardi’s in Little Italy. Their coal-oven pizzas are to die for and perfect for sharing. The traditional Margherita pie is always a hit!
After that, head to Le Bain, a beautiful rooftop bar in Chelsea, for drinks, and stay for the nightclub portion, which starts at 10pm. Dance the night away, but always remember to keep an eye out for one another too!
After all that dancing, you probably worked up an appetite again, so head to Cafeteria, a trendy 24/7 restaurant with things like Truffle fries and avocado toast on their menu. Grab a quick bite before you hit the sack and call it a night.
You might also enjoy this: 5 Unique NYC Itineraries for 5 days
Girls Weekend in New York City: Day 2, Saturday
Your first full day in New York City! The obvious choice is to go to brunch, and so you shall.
You could either head to Brooklyn and eat at Juliette, a garden-inspired, pretty brunch place that gets all the crowds on the weekend, or stay in Manhattan and eat at Clinton St. Baking Company on the Lower East Side. They know how to make some mean pancakes! Both places rock and will be perfect to get you going for the day.
Another idea is to book this fabulous 2-hour sightseeing cruise which includes a brunch buffet, unlimited mimosas, and music performed by a live pianist onboard. You get to climb aboard a European-inspired, all-glass dining vessel and enjoy the ride through New York Harbor while taking in the spectacular views.
Next, you could go to the lovely High Line for some relaxation and walking outdoors. Gotta walk off that heavy brunch while enjoying the gorgeous views with lots of opportunities for group selfies! Make your way to The Vessel and Hudson Yards, or visit Chelsea Market for some more food inspiration. Or do both, if you can!
This might inspire you to want to do some shopping, and there can’t be a girls’ trip without some newly bought outfits. Stroll along Fifth Avenue and visit some of the big department stores like Saks or Bergdorf Goodman, or go for an entirely different shopping experience in SOHO, combining affordable shops with high-end designer stores, depending on what your budget allows.
Check out this comprehensive and curated list of the best places to shop on a budget in NYC.
If you find yourself on 5th Avenue, make a stop at Lady M for cake and coffee in the afternoon, followed by a trip to The Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center. This is an amazing place for memorable pictures of your trip, with the beautiful background of New York.
Tip: Make sure to eat from a classic New York City hot dog vendor for lunch, since it doesn’t get any more New York than this. There are lots of toppings to choose from so make sure to ask what’s available.
If you have time in between day- and night-time activities, make a fun trip to a Blo Blow Dry Bar with several locations throughout the City. Every lady in your group can get a luxurious hairstyle for the night!
It’s Saturday night, wohoo! So many places to consider, it can feel a bit overwhelming. But this is how I would suggest planning it: Stop for pre-dinner drinks at 230 Fifth, a rooftop bar, to have the Empire State Building hoover right above you while sipping on some celebratory champagne or wine. You won’t regret it!
Then, the best part begins: Share a cab to TAO Downtown (if you’re in heels and not used to NYC, don’t take the subway; it’s less than enjoyable and painful for many after going up and down the stairs for a while). And then, voila, be transported into the hottest and most amazing restaurant in NYC! I believe they allow everyone 2.5-3 hours in there, and I can only urge you to stay the entire time.
Weekends are packed, but the ambiance is so sultry, exotic, and just fantastic that you won’t care about the noise level. Their Asian-fusion cuisine and artisanal drinks are expensive, but please, when in NYC, you have to go all out! It’s a stunning location and worth every penny.
If you want to splurge, and are dressed in your finest clothes for the night (otherwise, the bouncer will reject you), then consider heading next door after your meal to visit the adjoining nightclub.
It’s fancy and if you want to get a table, you will have to spend $200 as a group to start with, but if you’re ok with the price tag, it’s a pretty great experience. Reservations are highly recommended for both! If you pull this off, you are set for the night. You probably won’t want to leave, ever!
RECOMMENDED: The Best Things To Do At Night in NYC!
Girls Weekend In New York City: Day 3, Sunday
Start your day with a fun, Instagram-worthy rainbow bagel from Liberty Bagels. Bagels are typical New York breakfast food, and an absolute must for your taste buds.
Then, head downtown! Start at Chinatown, and stop at Chai Spot, an exotic café featuring all different sorts of chai teas. It’s very cute and relaxing inside!
Pro Tip: If you are into sweets, then you should read this post about the best dessert spots in Chinatown NYC.
Follow it up with a trip to the Brooklyn Bridge. You might want to stop at Pier 17 to see what’s going on there, and get some good pictures of the Bridge. Then, make your way across Brooklyn Bridge! Hello, Brooklyn.
On the other side you’ll find Brooklyn Bridge Park and an absolute must-do there is to ride Jane’s Carousel. Let your inner kid out!
Then, head to Domino Park for some volleyball or a simple picnic, and you can even include a wine tasting at Rooftop Reds. If you’re looking to work off some calories or just get your steps in, you could walk the distance between the park and wine tasting with a solid 45 minutes, or just opt for public transportation.
Later in the afternoon, plan for some tea at the Plaza. It’s so New York, and very classy and chic. Lean back, and enjoy scones, sandwiches, and desserts with perfectly brewed tea. Raise that pinkie and clink your cups!
For your last evening in town, which you’ll hopefully still have available to its full extent, make it all about Broadway, baby! Dine and drink at The Polynesian, a nice, secluded rooftop restaurant only blocks from Times Square, and follow it up with a show.
Make it one of the classics, and fun ones, such as Lion King, Wicked, Chicago, or Aladdin, which are always worth seeing, or go for some of the newer arrivals, such as Moulin Rouge or Dear Evan Hansen. If you can get your hand on Hamilton-tickets, however, your life will be complete!
In case you have to finish your weekend sooner, consider seeing a matinee. Afternoon performances are often slightly more affordable, and less crowded.
If you’re looking for one more thing to explore after the show, you could hang out around Times Square and be a bit goofy; taking pictures on the iconic stairs by the TKTS ticket counter, or go for a late-night drink at the jazz club, Birdland. They do late performances on some days, so you might be able to catch an 11pm one, if you’re up for some more entertainment.
Bonus: Other Girls Weekend NYC Edition Ideas for your trip!
Here are 5 additional girl’s weekend ideas to toss around, in case you want to modify some of the suggested itinerary:
• Harbor Cruise
Make it a celebratory one, with champagne on board, and enjoy the skyline of New York. Or you can take that up a notch and book a dinner cruise with live music and a 3-course-meal.
• Ice cream at Morgenstern’s and the Ice Cream Museum in Chelsea
It’s all about ice creams! What other topic could inspire as much joy and excitement as this one?
• Boot camp class at ConBody
Listen, this might sound intense, but the classes are held by ex-convicts who are super ripped and pretty darn good looking! So, get your A-game on for this one! When will you ever get another opportunity to do something like this again?
• Central Park
This is an obvious classic, and you can combine it with brunch or drinks at Loeb’s Boathouse. Central Park is beautiful during all seasons, but especially magical during the fall.
Walk along the Mall and Literary Walk, and visit Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. So magical and seen in many movies! Cross the iconic Bow Bridge, and be carried away by this natural haven within the City.
You might also like this: The best things to do in Central Park NYC!
• Sleep no more
This is an outstanding interactive theater production, taking place at the McKittrick Hotel. It’s worth your time and money! Every form of entertainment in NYC is pretty amazing, and most actors, even in the most amateur-style venues or performances, are well trained and extremely talented.
The rest is what you make of it!
Writing this makes me feel nostalgic. Times are different now, but if there’s one thing I will never regret and look back upon with nothing but great delight and fondness, then it’s my get-togethers with my girls.
Living in the City made these outings feel slightly different. While we all came from different backgrounds in terms of nationality, race, and socioeconomic status, yet we always came together as a family with deep love and respect for one another and our City. We never let lack of funds, sleep, or stress stop us from having a good time!
If you only get to see some of your friends once or twice a year, these weekends can mean the world. If you or someone in your group decides to have children, things will change fundamentally, at least for some time to come, so hold on to these memories and make them while you can. Good, meaningful friendships are worth everything and a trip like this will be deemed unforgettable.
Have fun and don’t overthink it. Leave your phone in your purse, and be present. That’s all that matters! Enjoy my dear City and may she smile down upon you and bless your epic girls’ weekend!
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