Tag: usa

NYC Diaries; A Dreamy Heli Ride Over Manhattan

December 7, 2025

On our final full day in NYC, we woke up to one of those crisp, blue-sky fall days where the light hits the buildings just right and the whole city seems to sparkle. It couldn’t have been a better setting for taking a helicopter ride over Manhattan.

We booked online with Heli NY just a few days prior, so we made our way to the Downtown Helicopter Port at 2:30pm ready for our 3:30pm flight.

Having done a helicopter ride over Dubai about 4 years ago we knew what to expect, but it still took my breath away as we took off for our flight above the city.

We swooped past the Statue of Liberty, her copper-green silhouette glowing in the afternoon sun, then glided along the Hudson with One World Trade Center standing tall and brilliant beneath us.

Another highlight was seeing Central Park from above with that perfect stretch of green carved into the grid of the city.

After we landed, but still floating a bit from excitement, we headed downtown and caught the ferry across the Hudson to DUMBO.

The water was calm, the breeze cool, and Manhattan shimmered behind us at golden hour as we made our way toward Brooklyn.

I did a quick outfit change just before dinner too, slipping into a cute brown mini dress paired with matching heels, my oversized Jaeger blazer, and my emerald-green velvet Sandro handbag.

A chic, classy look with a touch of cool girl in the oversized boxy blazer, perfect for a fall date night in the city.

Our dinner spot for the evening was the trendy Italian restaurant Cecconi’s.

With the Manhattan Bridge in the foreground and the sun setting over Downtown in the distance, the vibes were immaculate.

I started with a spicy Tommy’s Margarita because when in New York, how could I not on our final night!

For food I chose the burrata tomato pasta which was as heavenly as it sounds…

…and even better paired with a rich, warming glass of red.

My boyfriend went classic with a margarita pizza and we shared a fresh, peppery rocket salad that rounded everything out beautifully.

It was buzzing on a Thursday night and we couldn’t fault the delicious Italian feast we were treated to.

After dinner, we wandered along the riverfront taking in those picturesque nighttime views.

New York glowing, the river shimmering and the gentle hum of the bustling city in the background, simply iconic.

Eventually we hopped on the subway back to our hotel, tired but in that really satisfying way after a perfect day.

Our helicopter adventure, waterfront dinner in DUMBO, and atmospheric nighttime walk, wrapped up our trip to NYC in the most magical way imaginable ❤

NYC Diaries; Roosevelt Island Sunset Magic

November 23, 2025

I didn’t expect Roosevelt Island to become one of my favorite New York memories, but that’s exactly what happened the evening we headed up to Panorama Room for sundown drinks.

Perched on the rooftop of the Graduate Hotel, it felt like the entire city was laid out just for us.

As the sun dipped lower, the skyline slowly shifted into that dreamy, golden haze that New York does so wonderfully.

From the balcony we could see from Billionaires’ Row stretching sleek and tall, the Empire State glowing a vivid purple at sundown, and all the way downtown to the Financial District where the World Trade Center rose confidently in the distance.

I ordered a margarita which was deliciously bright and zesty, the perfect match for a warm fall evening in NYC.

We paired our drinks with fries expecting a small snack… but in true American fashion, the portion was absolutely massive!

Once the sun finally slipped below the horizon and Manhattan began to sparkle, we wrapped up our rooftop moment and made our way to one of the most underrated experiences in the city; the Roosevelt Island Tramway.

For just $2.90, we floated high above the Hudson River towards the bright lights of Manhattan at dusk.

The city looked magical from up there and it was awesome to see so far down the blocks lit up at night as the tram lowered through the streets of Manhattan.

If you’re ever in New York, I can’t recommend this little adventure enough. A breathtaking sunset on Roosevelt Island, a cocktail in hand, and a picturesque tram ride back under the night sky.

It felt like we had discovered a hidden gem just out of the city complete with unforgettable views of Manhattan from a whole new angle ❤

NYC Diaries; Times Square, The Highline & Chelsea Market

November 9, 2025

When visiting a new city we always like to book the hop-on hop-off Big Bus Tours as they’re a cheap and easy way to get around to see all of the major tourist attractions. On the third day of our trip we booked the tickets which last 24 hours so we could split the tour across two days, so here is what we saw on the second half of the bus tour.

Just around the corner from our hotel was Times Square so we had to start by hopping off here to get some shots.

As expected, Times Square is a very busy and hectic tourist trap, so we got our photos and quickly got back on the bus.

Next we made a stop on Broadway as I wanted to visit the Polene store.

I’d had my eye on the Numero Neuf mini handbag for a while and so I finally made the purchase.

I opted for the colour Sable as a neutral tone to go with lots of outfits.

I even got the strap monogrammed with my initials as a complimentary service with purchase.

From Broadway we went a few more stops on the bus down to the Financial District where the new One World Trade Center stands.

I did find it quite upsetting to see the 911 memorial site where the twin towers used to stand, but it has to be done when in New York for the first time.

We hopped back on the bus and went up the west side of town where we got off at Hudson Yards to walk along The Highline.

The Highline is a 1.45 mile long elevated park and greenway created on a former New York Central Railroad.

Along the way we saw The Vessel, an impressive honeycomb like sculpture of interconnected staircases designed by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.

It’s a brilliant way to see the city as the path weaves between buildings to provide unique views and perspectives.

Towards the end of The Highline, we came off to go to Chelsea Market for some lunch.

A bit like Borough Market in London but inside a former factory building, Chelsea Market features many restaurants and food vendors from a wide variety of cuisines.

As soon as my boyfriend saw the Currywurst, that was decision made for his lunch.

You can take the boy out of Germany, but you can’t take the German out of the boy!

After lunch we then went for a stroll around the Chelsea neighbourhood as I wanted to get some aesthetic street style pics.

The exposed fire escapes and stoops on the houses in Chelsea are what characterises this part of Manhattan, making it the perfect spot to photograph street style.

With the weather still so mild and warm for October, I wore my smart white shorts paired with a brown tank from C’est Normal, a silk Le Scarf around my neck, Dior sliders, Marc Jacobs tote bag and YSL sunnies to complete this chic, daytime city look.

It was the perfect day to walk along The Highline and it’s something I definitely recommend doing if the weather permits during your trip to NYC.

As mentioned, Times Square is not my idea of fun but a great one to tick off the bucket list.

The Chelsea neighbourhood was so trendy and cool, so I would like to explore it more on another trip to the city as we only got to see the area around the market.

As always, the Big Bus Tours didn’t disappoint in providing a relatively cheap and convenient way to get around and see the sights of New York City ❤

NYC Diaries; One Afternoon Over Brooklyn Bridge

October 26, 2025

As one of the most photographed spots on Instagram in New York, walking over Brooklyn Bridge to get one of those iconic shots with Manhattan in the background is a must when visiting the city for the first time.

On the Monday afternoon we headed downtown and grabbed a slice at Joe’s Pizza for lunch.

Grabbing a slice of authentic American pizza was on my list of foodie experiences to do whilst in New York and it didn’t disappoint.

I opted for a spinach and ricotta topping whilst my boyfriend went for a classic slice of greasy pepperoni.

Fuelled up on pizza and we were ready for the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

It would seem the bridge is busy at most times of the day unless you were to come super early in the morning, but that didn’t effect our experience.

Whilst it was an overcast day it was still quite warm at about 23 degrees, so the perfect weather for a pleasant stroll over the bridge in shorts and a light jacket.

A few stops for photos along the way and we finally made our way over to DUMBO.

DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is another very famous neighbourhood known for its picturesque streets and trendy art scene.

We found ourselves on Washington Street, the most popular street in DUMBO for that iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge framed by the cobblestone street and red-brick buildings.  

As expected it was very busy during the afternoon, so we got the shot and continued exploring the area.

From the bridge we had spotted an awesome looking rooftop bar overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, so we headed there for an early evening cocktail.

Located on top of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Harriet’s Rooftop is a stylish bar serving lovely cocktails to enjoy whilst taking in those unbeatable views of the city.

I had a classic Paloma cocktail whilst my boyfriend had a local Brooklyn pilsner beer.

As you can imagine it was very pricey, but we couldn’t complain given the brilliant views we got to soak up whilst enjoying our drinks.

It was soon time to make our way back over the bridge and with the early evening drawing in and the city lighting up, the skyline became even more photogenic.

I can see why so many people love this part of New York; there’s a certain romantic quality about it that makes you feel like the main character in a movie.

Once we reached the other side of the bridge we caught a cab back to the hotel and on our drive through Manhattan, there was the most beautiful sunset of purple and pink hues.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge over to DUMBO was one of my favourite experiences during our visit to New York, and I’m super keen to see more of this trendy neighbourhood on our next trip to NYC ❤

A Week In The Big Apple

October 5, 2025

After a weekend back in the English countryside, we are still on a high from our fabulous holiday exploring the very best of the one and only, City of New York.

It really is a city packed with so much to do and although we ticked a lot off our list of things to see, we’re already wanting to go back to experience more of this awesome concrete jungle.

Our hotel for the duration of our vacation was The Park Lane Hotel located on the very South end of Central Park.

The location was ideal as we were in the centre of the city with the beautiful green expanse of Central Park on our doorstep.

Darling Rooftop bar sits on the very top of the hotel where we enjoyed a specular breakfast on the Monday morning of our stay.

Like everything in New York the breakfast buffet came at a pricey cost of $75 per person, but with this experience only open to hotel guests, we couldn’t pass up this incredible opportunity.

We also dined in their A La Carte restaurant Calvert’s on Sunday evening as everywhere else nearby was closing early that night.

I had the asparagus radish chickpea salad and my boyfriend had a tomato ragu pasta. Both dishes were delicious complimented with friendly service, something we discovered was unfortunately not always guaranteed even at the most premium restaurants in the city.

Our room was a good size with a super comfy bed, stylish interiors and a cool city view.

I especially liked the stylish bathroom with striped tiling.

Overall we were very pleased with our stay at Park Lane Hotel and would recommend to anyone visiting New York for the first time wanting to be amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.

We packed a lot into our seven days in NYC and made some incredible memories together whilst taking in the spectacle of The Big Apple.

With such a brilliant list of things to share including famous landmarks, iconic photo spots, scenic rooftop bars and our favourite restaurants, I thought I’d focus separately on each area we visited and what we did there in a series of posts called ‘The NYC Diaries’.

So be sure to subscribe to my blog to get notified for a very exciting series of posts to come about our trip of dreams to New York City ❤