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QG: New York City's QuickGuide
Hot Tips From Hotel Concierges
The inside scoop: Some of Manhattan's savviest sources offer tips on how to make the most of your stay.
Enjoying New York City like a local is a snap with inside info from six of the city’s most knowledgeable hotel concierges.
» Rosa Arias: Hilton New York
1335 Sixth Ave., btw W. 53rd & W. 54th sts., 1.212.261.2140
“Chinatown offers a lot of fun shopping—costume jewelry, luggage, handbags, exotic foods, herbs and teas from small stores clustered along Canal street. Bargaining is a big part of the experience. Always ask the vendor for the price, then offer 30 percent less. Also mention if you're willing to buy in quantity. many of these places sell similar merchandise, so do a price comparison, and then say, ‘the person up the block is asking this much. Can you beat that?’ there is always room for negotiation in Chinatown.”
» Keoni Boyer: Hotel Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC
18 Ninth Ave., btw W. 13th & Hudson sts., 1.212.660.6711
"New York is a blend of cultures and you can travel the world by sampling the food in different neighborhoods. the 7 subway train to Queens is a veritable international express: exit at the 69th st. station in woodside and enter Little Manila for bona fide Filipino food; stop in Jackson Heights and discover Colombian bakeries and spicy Indian restaurants. You've probably heard of the Chinatown in Lower manhattan, but there's also one in Flushing, which is a great bargain for dim sum."
» Kat Bride: InterContinental New York Times Square
300 W. 44th St., at Eighth Ave., 1.212.803.4500
"Attending a presale exhibition at an auction house is fascinating. It's like visiting a museum, but you're actually allowed to touch the merchandise! You can sit on antique chairs, examine the back of paintings, look at the inner workings of a grandfather clock. Staffers are always around to help you measure an armoire or dining room table, or answer any questions. all kinds of things are on display. I've viewed Elizabeth Taylor's jewels at Christie's, Princess Diana's dresses at Sotheby's and Andy Warhol paintings at Phillips de Pury."
» John Janusz: The Waldorf=Astoria
301 Park Ave., at E. 49th St., 1.212.872.4790
"Often, guests say to me, 'I don't care about trendy. I want a place I can just walk into and relax.' For that, there's nothing better than a good dive bar, the sort of place that's been around a few years-the older, the better-with décor that has character, where locals drink cheap beer or shots of bourbon while listening to a jukebox, playing darts or video games. The East Village has the highest density, followed by Hell's Kitchen and the Lower East Side, but some of the best are scattered here and there. Introduce yourself to the bartender and mingle with the regulars."
» Emillio Mesa: The Sanctuary Hotel New York
132 W. 47th St., btw Sixth & Seventh aves., 1.212.382.0600
"Brunch has long been a New York institution, but if you're looking for something beyond eggs Benedict and bottomless Bloody Marys, I recommend a themed brunch sometimes offered by restaurants that team up with, perhaps, an art gallery or designer. They bring in artworks, sponsor a fashion show or screen a film while brunch is served. Wear your hippest clothes and make a reservation as far in advance as possible. (Luckily, some seats are usually set aside for concierges' guests.) If it's a charity event, you feel you've done a good deed, too."
» Juan Santamaria: St. Giles, The Court & The Tuscany
120-130 E. 39th St., btw Lexington & Park aves., 1.212.592.8808
"Admittedly, New York is an expensive city, but there are a lot of no-cost or low-cost ways to enjoy yourself, too. Many museums, zoos and gardens wave their admission fee on certain days or nights of the week. All the parks are totally free, of course. as for eating, you don't have to have tickets for a Broadway show in order to take advantage of three-course pre-theater prix fixe menus at most restaurants in the theater district. and don't be afraid to ask your concierge for advice and suggestions. That's free, too."