SEE: If you walk around Central Park West, you can see some of the landmark buildings of the Upper West Side, constructed in typical heavy nineteenth-century architecture. The Dakota Building, site of John Lennon’s shooting, is on 72nd St. Visit the American Museum of Natural History on 79th St and Central Park West for an exciting look into science, including enormous dinosaur skeleton reconstructions, and the adjacent Rose Center for Earth and Space is one of the world’s best planetariums. St. John the Divine, on 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, is one of the largest Neo-Gothic cathedrals in the world: a beautiful and imposing structure. Be sure to eat across the street at the famous Hungarian Pastry Shop.

EAT: The Upper West Side is full of fantastic eateries. In addition to the aforementioned Hungarian Pastry Shops, which sells delicious desserts in an artsy, funky, off-beat setting, you can also eat at Gennaro, on 665 Amsterdam Avenue, a fantastic Italian restaurant with to-die-for risotto.Trattoria dell’Arte, on 57th and 7th, also serves up some of the best antipasti in the city in an interior fillde with – get this – sculpted body parts.  Or check out L’Ouest, at 2315 Broadway, for great French food.

DO: Catch a show at one of the cinemas in or around Lincoln Center. Lincoln Square has the big blockbusters,but is worth checking out for its “themed” theatres, which are named and decorated, rather than just numbered. Lincoln Plaza and the Walter Reade are both great for art-house and foreign cinema. But opera, ballet, classical music and theatre are what you came here before – if you can get tickets, go!

By Tara Isabella Burton

1) INDIAN – Yugaraj – Rue Dauphine
This dark, intimate restaurant on Rue Dauphine is an ideal romantic venue. With an eye-catching carved-wooden facade and an extensive, if also expensive menu, Yugaraj offers aromatic, flavorful Indian dishes in a tranquil setting at odds to the bustle of the 6eme arrondissement. The rice biriyani dishes are particularly good, and be warned, Yugaraj is authentic enough not to skimp on the spice.

2) MOROCCAN – Mansouria – 11 Rue Faidherbe
This Moroccan restaurant between place de la Nation and place de la Bastille is a master of understated charm, with a neo-retro take on traditional African and North African architecture: antique doors and portals, minimalist ornamentation, and space-age architecture. The food, however, is classic: this restaurant serves seven delicious varieties of cous-cous, and the aromatic tagines – savory meat slow-cooked with fragrant spices – are uniformly excellent.

3) JEWISH – Chez Marianne – Rue de Roisiers
On this street in the Marais known for its mainly Ashkenazi Jewish restaurants, this North African eatery on the corner is something of an anomaly. Serving a variety of tiny dishes from falafel to hummus, which can be served separately for a light appetizer or combined to make a satisfying feast, Marianne is adaptable for anything from a midday snack to a banquet. Its outdoor tables make it especially worthwhile in the summer or on warm days.

4) CHINESE – Chez Vong – 10 Rue de la Grande Truanderie
This spacious restaurant in the first arrondissement of Paris is known for its stunning decor – with lanterns, pottery, and bamboo screens everywhere surrounding an enormous green pagoda in the center of the room. The food, too, is splendid, with specialties being the rock lobster with ginger and the lacquered squab.

5) THAI – Blue Elephant – Rue de la Roquette
Sporting seventeen chefs, this Thai restaurant in the 11th arrondissement is one of the most authentic restaurants around. House specialties include the chicken souffle in banana leaves and the coconuts in tamarind sauce, but regardless, anything on the menu here is special, from the sweet and mild, fragrant dishes to the intensely spicy mouth-waterers.

By Tara Isabella Burton

1) MIRACLE ON THIRTY-FOURTH STREET, (1947)
If you visit Macy’s department story in Herald Square, on 34th St between 6th and 7th Avenues, during the crowded holiday season, you might well expect to find masses of tourists and crying children queueing up to sit on Santa lap. But in this 1947 classic, the sweet and heartwarming story of the “real” Santa Claus trying to prove himself to a cynical city and a young Natalie Wood, the magic of Christmas is alive and well.

2) AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (1957) OR KING KONG (1933)
There are many reasons to visit New York’s Empire State Building, once the tallest building in the world. You can marvel at the view from the top, enjoy tourist-based animated “rides” and more. But the Empire State Building is more than just a building for cinema lovers. The site of King Kong, the hapless ape, scaling the building in order to prove his love for the lovely actress played by Fay Wray, as well as the meeting point for lovers Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, who intend to reunite here in An Affair to Remember, is a place for both action and romance.

3) BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (1961)
This ode to New York glamor and elegance can be relived outside the window of the eponymous Tiffany’s, jewelry store to the stars and New York elite, on 56th Street and 5th Avenue. Remember the iconic face of Audrey Hepburn’s pouting bohemian starlet Holly Golightly as she gazes into the windows of the luxurious store – always an outsider looking in – and consider bringing a breakfast of your own.

4) ANNIE HALL (1977)
The whole city is a backdrop for Woody Allen’s zany, neurotic, nevertheless bittersweet meditation on life and love, starring Allen’s real-life romantic connection Diane Keaton as Annie Hall herself. From Coney Island to Steve’s Famous Clam Bar on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, this film is full of iconic New York locations, but perhaps no backdrop is as significant to the film as Central Park, where Alvy (played by Allen himself) and Annie mock passers-by in the park, including a “Truman Capote” lookalike played by an uncredited Capote himself.

5) WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989)
This sweet, low-key romantic comedy about the high-maitenance Sally, played by Meg Ryan in a role that epitomized her subsequent stature as America’s sweetheart, and good-natured Harry, played by Billy Crystal, is one of the best New York stories of all time. Visit Katz’s Deli, on East Houston and Ludlow Street, for a glimpse at the deli where Sally famously faked an orgasm over a pastrami sandwich to prove to Harry that women, in general, can fake. “Have what she’s having” and order the pastrami.

SEE: Visit Washington Square Park, famous for its arch and for the bohemian subculture that still congregates here – despite the gentrification of the surrounding neighborhood. Union Square, nearby, is another Village center, with a great farmer’s market many days of the week that’s not averse to giving out free samples. And listen to some jazz – the VIllage Vanguard on 7th Avenue or the Blue Note on West 3rd street are both great places with consistently good line-ups.

EAT: The West Village is full of great places to stop for a bite or several. Tea and Sympathy, in the heart of “Little England” at 108 Greenwich Avenue, is an intimate setting serving delicious English pies, teas, and puddings. Lemongrass Grill, on 7th Avenue South, is a fantastic Thai venue, and Lupa Osteria Romana on Thompson St between West Houston and Bleecker is a classic Italian that’s well worth a try.

SHOP: The Strand, on Broadway and 11th Street, is arguably famous as the best bookstore in New York City. With over 18 miles of second-hand books, from classics to art books to rare books in the upstairs shop, the Strand is full of everything from the latest bestsellers at massively discounts to classics from 50 cents. Generation Records, on 210 Thompson St, is the best place in New York for records in the alternative, punk, and metal genres.

By Tara Isabella Burton

1) UNDERSTANDING BANGERS AND MASH
Neither the delicious, meaty sausages of Vienna nor the rubbery hot dogs of New York City, Bangers are an English institution of their own. Not necessarily made of meat – vegetarian sausage is becoming an increasing possibility – bangers are an inventive mix of protein and extra flavors (rosemary, sun-dried tomatoes, the list goes on) that need to be pared not with a bread or bun but with mash. Like bangers, mashes are varied – enjoy swedes, turnips, or even rose-flavored mashes in addition to your standard potatoes. And for a little extra something, get the unsavorily named “Toad in the Hole” for bangers and mash nestled inside a Yorkshire pudding, a light savory pastry.

2) SUNDAY ROAST
Every Englishman loves his Sunday roast, and although if you’re used to steak tartare and sizzling barely-cooked meat, you may find the roast beef inedible, there’s nevertheless vegetarian nut roast and chicken varieties of the standard dish to make it worthwhile for everybody. Between the mashed potatoes, flavorful Yorkshire pudding, and blanched vegetables, the Sunday roast is a balanced meal that works as a late-lunch/early-dinner after church on a leisurely Saturday afternoon.

3) THE FRY-UP
Not always served at a pub, but nevertheless a casual-dining English tradition, the fry-up breakfast is appalling to outsiders, beloved by those in the known. This hangover-curing, artery-clogging mix of sausages, baked beans, bacon, hash browns, mushroom, eggs, toast, and any combination thereof is a fattening, delicious morning treat sure to sober up even the heaviest of drinkers.

By Tara Isabella Burton

ANTIPASTI
Potato frittata – a savory fried potato dish, is a common appetizer. Or try some freshly-baked bread made with butter and anchovies that balance salty and sweet perfectly. A plate of cheeses and cold meats is also another ideal way to begin your meal, with dried, tangy Roman meat. Fried mixed vegetables is another starter. Two classics are both made with artichokes: the carciofo alla romana, stewed in olive oil and herbs, and the traditionally Jewish carciofo alla giudea, blackened and crispy. Many Roman restaurants have buffets where you can fill your plate with heaping spices and herbs, meats, fishes, and vegetables for your first course.

PRIMI PIATTI (PASTAS, SOUPS, ETC)
The Bucatini Amatriciana is not Roman, technically from the small town of Amatrice, but that’s close enough – it’s from Lazio after all. This sauce, based on dried pork cheek (guanciale) and pecorino cheese and at times tomatoes, is a classic of Roman cuisine. Spaghetti was the traditional pasta, but bucatini has become more popular recently. Roman egg noodles with roulade sauce is another good bet, as is the pasta with cauliflower and fish, pasta with chickpeas, and rice with endive greens.

MAIN COURSES
Fresh anchovies with endive greens are a Roman specialty. For an exciting treat, try peas with some hound fish, artichokes with cuttlefish, or the savory, aromatic codfish stew. Fresh anchovies fried golden are another option. As for meat – the trippa alla romana – tripe with tomato, mint, and cheese, is a must-taste Roman classic, while oxtail stew, marrow bone (osso bucco), and veal scaloppini are also classics. Be sure to try a “fornara”veal roast and chicken with peppers.

DESSERTS
While gelato is a quintessential Italian treat, for a classic Roman dessert try a zuppa inglese, a creamy sponge-cake with chocolate, whipped cream, and almonds. Ricotta cheesecake is another specialty, as is sour cherry pie.

By Tara Isabella Burton

SOUTH END: Check out the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain – an iconic Park landmark, used frequently in film and television production, as in the recent Angels in America. Strawberry Fields, at West 72 Street, is named in honor of John Lennon, who was shot a few meters away at his home in the Dakota building. This area is filled with a variety of species of trees and flowers, including the eponymous  strawberries, funded by a donation from Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. The Central Park Zoo – smaller and less impressive than the outer borough varieties – is a wonderful place to visit, especially the adorable penguin and seal areas. Or rent a boat at the lake.

GREAT LAWN: Head through the rocky, foresty Ramble area for Belvedere Castle, a Medieval-looking castle perched upon Vista Rock, the Park’s summit. Enjoy great park views and information, and learn about much of the Park’s wildlife through a series of exhibits and documentaries. Or head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, heading from 81st St to 86th St on Fifth Avenue, with its back in the park itself. Around the back of the museum, there is suitable grass for a picnic, with the glass back walls of the museum allowing you to gaze straight into some exhibits.

THE RESERVOIR – The “Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir” is a great place for a stroll or adventure, featuring a 1.58 mile track around the border of the reservoir for jogging or walking and enjoying the glamorous views of the city. Other playgrounds in this area, like the Safari, Wild West, or Ancient Playgrounds (Central Park West at 91st, 93rd, and Fifth at 86th , respectively) are good places for the kids.

NORTH END – The Harlem Meer is a gorgeous 11-acre lake that serves as one of the nicest natural landmarks in New York. And be sure to check out the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center further north.

ALSO: Consider a carriage ride with one of the horse-drawn carriages – expect to pay $34 for 20 minutes and $54 for forty-five. It’s touristy, but romantic and worth it.

By Tara Isabella Burton

SEE: The Upper East Side’s most prominent landmark is the Metropolitan Museum, standing proudly overlooking Central Park on fifth avenue in the low-to-mid 80’s. See a wealth of treasures here, from the newly-renovated classical wing to the reconstructed Egyptian Temple of Dendur to wonderful furniture exhibitions from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Guggenheim Museum, with its famous round structure, is nearby, as is the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the Whitney Museum, devoted to contemporary American art, and the Frick collection – devoted to the massive personal art collection of steel baron Henry Clay Frick. And, if you’ve seen enough of Central Park, head all the way to the East River for a stroll down the idyllic river walk near Carl Schurtz Park.

EAT: Carnegie Hill, which encompasses Park Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Madison Avenue from around 86th to 96th streets, is a beautiful residential neighborhood with no shortage of shops and restaurants. Island, on 93rd and Madison, serves fantastic New American fare (and serves killer popovers for Sunday brunch), while Bisto du Nord across the street offers delicious authentic French food in an intimate setting (get a seat in the more atmospheric downstairs, if you can.) If you’re further east or south, head to the fantastic Orsay, on 1057 Lexington Avenue (between 75th and 76th St) for a slightly “French”-ier (think zinc and wood panels instead of people-watching and black and white photographs) experience. If it’s exotic you’re after, Tamarind on 92nd and 3rd is one of the best Indian restaurants in the city.

STAY: The Upper East Side has plenty of great hotels that you’ll pay a good amount for. Do a easy search for hotels on the Upper East Side.

SHOP: Head up and down Madison Avenue from around 79th St to 59th street for a mouth-watering day of window shopping in some of the city’s finest stores, from up-and-coming designers to established fashion houses.

By Tara Isabella Burton

Rest assured, these are no ordinary hot dogs. These taste not of plastic or of recycled animal parts but of real, fresh meat – often mixtures of pork and beef – and are thick enough not to get lost in the accompanying bread. By and large, they are sliced horizontally, served on a paper plate, and accompanied with a hunk of sourdough or rye bread and mustard. Order the Kasekrainer for a delectable out-of-the-ordinary treat – a sausage injected with liquid cheese, then sliced so that each mouthful holds a savory cheesy center. Also try the popular Burenwurst sausage, the Bratwurst, or the curry-sausage variety.

Photo by flickr's wilbanks

Wherever you go, you’re bound to have a decent sausage at around the same price. The Schwedensplatz seller is a bit touristy – the area is crowded with fast food joints, and this feels no particular need to keep up with the gourmet market – but across the river is a lovely quieter joint. The one in the Naschmarkt is also highly recommended, and this writer’s favorite is probably the one near the Belvedere Palace complex.

Sachertorte can be had later, along with Beisl-food or haute-restaurant fare. For an inexpensive meal that nevertheless is delicious enough to capture Vienna’s culinary flair, start with the Wurstel.

By Tara Isabella Burton

BEGIN: Piazza Venezia. It’s not gorgeous, but it gets the job done. See the famous (or infamous) “typewriter building,” then head left if you’re facing it, down Via Foro Imperiali. Marvel at the ancient Roman ruins dotting the landscape. When you get the Colosseum, turn right – you’ll be passing the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and more on the way to the Circus Maximus at the end of Via di San Gregori. Avoid going on the traffic-stained Viale Aventine and instead round the Circus Maximus – once a racing track – and go up Via del Circo Massimo. Head up to see one of the most beautiful churches in Rome at the top of the Aventinue Hill by taking a left on Via di Valle Murcia – then heading on to Santa Sabina – and head down the hill on Cilvo di Rocca Savella. You should now be near the river. Walk along the riverside area until you get to the charming Isola Tiberina in the midst of the Tiber. According to legend, a place of great healing, the famous hospital Fate Bene Fratelli now stands on these shores. Cross over the island to the other side of the river: Trastevere. Avoid Viale Trastevere, going instead through the winding streets of Trastevere, a still-Medieval working-class area, and make your way to Santa Maria in Trastevere in the piazza of the same name. Here’s a good place to stop for a rest.

MIDDLE: Once you’ve had a coffee or cornetto pastry, continue west through Trastevere until you get to Via Garibaldi, a wide street leading away from the river. Follow the path up the steep hill of Gianicolo, making sure to make note of the panoramic city views available to you on this side of the river. At the top of the hill you’ll be in the leafy residential district of Monteverde Vecchio. If you have time, wander through the Villa Pamphili parks, less manicured than the Villa Borghese on the other side of the river. Head down the way you came a few hundred metres, then turn left on Passagiata del Gianicolo, taking you through a sculpture-lined park promenade. You’ll come down near Salita di Sant’Onofrio, a hilly street lined with stairways, bordered with ivy. When you reach the river again, you’ll be near Vatican City. Enter the city and pass through the main Piazza San Pietro, home to the seat of the Catholic Church. After time spent in and around the Vatican, cross the river again at Ponte St. Angelo, known for the Bernini angels that decorate it.

END: You’re now in the quintesentially Roman Governo Vecchio area. Walk down Via del Governo Vecchio, (coming out of Banchi Nuovi) and you’ll reach the famous Piazza Navona, once a Roman racetrack, now an elegant Renaissance square. Relax and have an ice cream – this area may be touristy, but the buildings’ beautiful facades and the square’s three baroque fountains are well worth their fame.

By Tara Isabella Burton