The Sustainable Travel Guide to New York City
A view of the Empire State Building from the Top Of The Rock observation deck
New York City. The myth and the legend. The place that has earned its perennial crown by conquering the hearts of the young with such a force that they stay in love with her until they grow old. The buoyant streets and the imponent buildings have contributed to this symbol, for NYC means freedom, dreams, and opportunity, but it’s the New Yorkers themselves who have built that reputation by believing in its supremacy and treating it as metropolitan royalty. Only Paris has dared defy the throne, but there is only one New York City.
Such is its power that it has enchanted the hands and chords of numerous artists, and it has given a space for many stories to unfold, in the form of books, shows or movies. It’s where Holden Caulfield wonders around in existential frenzy, or where Holly Golightly earned her living, and the place E.B. White wrote an entire essay about. It’s where An Affair to Remember came to forever change the annals of the film industry, and to turn the Empire State into the epitome of shattered dreams. Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell, some of the big names that serenaded this metropolis. Some people or characters have even gone so far as to forge their identity in relation to the city. From Carrie Bradshaw to Woody Allen, there are humans who simply can’t exist outside the city’s limits and whose very personality depends upon the vibrancy that New York has to offer.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT NEW YORK CITY
If you need a reason to visit New York City, what about confirming the legendary rumors for yourself? You can either be sucked in by its substance, or repelled by it, but chances are, it will be the former.
Nature lovers might escape its concrete bars, but Alicia Keys has, in fact, compared it to a jungle. Some elements of nature can easily be found on the streets–from the wild to the peaceful–, if not in Central Park itself, the City’s green lung (or heart?).
To anyone who has the opportunity, visiting New York City at least once in their lives is a major turning point. There is just something about the air. Not pollution (that too), but a contagious energy that gradually penetrates your skin. There’s something alive in the air, and when you take a breath, it enlivens something inside you, something that I can’t put a name to, but it might be the soul.
I might be among that group that would have loved to live there in my twenties but can now get a bit claustrophobic. The contrast between my beach life and this concrete jungle can be intense, so if I visit, it’s usually for about 3 days, enough to shake my soul a little bit and to truly appreciate it without wearing off that feeling. A coffee amid the New Yorkers, a stroll around Central Park, some torticollis from staring at the buildings too much, a Broadway show or getting lost in a library, is sometimes all that my mind and heart needs. I’m lucky that I currently have a friend living in Manhattan, who I visit often. We end up super tired every time, from all the walking, but mostly from all the trying so hard to compress time and do more than we can. After all, a New York minute happens fast, so you must keep up.
The Best Time to Visit NYC
I’ll omit this part because any time is the best time to visit New York. I have never been in Autumn yet, which ironically is my favorite season. I yearn to see the orange trees in Central Park while sipping coffee. It will happen one day, but fortunately I have experienced the city in Spring, Summer, and Winter. The last one is particularly picturesque. Days are shorter, but seeing the city covered in snow and the locals wearing coats or reading next to a chimney, must be one of the coziest pictures you can experience here.
The view from the Whitney Museum
A SUSTAINABLE AND CONSCIOUS TRAVEL GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY, NY
As with any place, there is a way to visit New York in a more sustainable way! I’m here to help you with that, so you can see the greener and eco-friendlier side of NYC.
PLANT-BASED FOOD IN new york city
Because a plant-based diet is more sustainable, this eco-travel guide to NYC can’t miss a list of vegan/plant-based restaurants!
VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN NYC
Probably my favorite plant-based spot in New York City, because it has saved me many times! Sometimes you walk around the city, aimlessly, and you’re suddenly hungry and in desperate need of plant-powered energy. Le Botaniste is an organic and plant-based restaurant in New York City, that is also certified Co2 neutral, is conscious of food waste, and has partnered with different organizations, like GoForest. This amazing place has several locations across town, and a to-die-for menu, which includes a detailed calculation of each meal’s carbon emissions and the contrast with a non-plant-based dish. My favorite one is Pasta Bolo, which I have ordered more than once, and consists of gluten-free fusilli, vegan Bolognese sauce, green herbal oil, and gomasio.
One of the places I’ve been wanting to go back to. It was an amazing experience, because my Korean friend that lives in Manhattan took me here to eat Korean food, so it was like having my own personal guide. When you get there, you must take your shoes off, and the tables are placed at ground level (there’s space on the ground to place your feet). The food was delicious, and everything is vegan (even though on the website it says vegetarian). Can’t stop recommending it! They also have a vegan café you might want to try.
Imagine a sushi place where everything is vegan. Dreamy, right? Well, the oneiric takes shape in real life, because there is such a place in New York City: Beyond Sushi. They specialize in all kinds of rolls, but they also serve dumplings, salads, soups, and desserts. They have several locations in Manhattan, so organize your visit in advance to see which one is closer to you.
One of my favorite vegan restaurants in Miami is also in New York! You can visit Planta Queen, near Madison Square Garden, and try anything from the delicious menu they offer. However, I particularly recommend the Udon Noodles (which I tried in its gluten-free version), and there’s nothing in the world that smells and tastes better than that. The vegan sushi is also scrumptious (notice how they replace salmon with watermelon, it’s amazing!). They also offer brunch, so choose the best hour to visit, and just savor plant heaven!
Beatnic sells one of the best vegan burgers I’ve ever tried, and it has several locations in Manhattan, as well as one in Brooklyn! I’ve only been to the Rock Center location a couple of times, but no matter where you are in Manhattan, there’s one location not that far from you–just search for ‘Beatnic’ in Google Maps and you’ll see.
It’s a vegan-fast food spot, so you will find burgers, fries, buffalo cauli poppers, chicky dippers (also yummy), mac n’cheeze, and desserts, but you will also find healthier options like salads, bowls, or wraps.
Another incredible vegan restaurant in New York that has a homey ambience, and where they shell some vegan merch. Everything in the menu will tempt you. I had the honor of going here on a very cold winter day, and ordering the lasagna, which was a caress to my soul. My friend ordered the Chick-un & Waffles, which created distinction between both plates. That’s the great thing about this place: you can choose from the most varied menu you can imagine. Borracho Mushroom Penne, Coconut Shrimp, Korean Barbeque Wings, Chorizo Empanada, Tofu Scramble Plate, burgers, salads, tacos, you can find all this and more at this vegan wonderland.
My friend found this place, and I couldn’t believe it when she first told me about it. First, because it doesn’t promote itself as a plant-based bakery. However, when you read their website, you find out it’s for a reason. They want vegans and non-vegans to have difficulties telling the difference, and to ask themselves if the food is truly vegan. That’s because they offer food that’s just as delicious as non-vegan food, or sometimes even more delicious.
This vegan bakery in New York offers breakfast items, like sandwiches, biscuits, and toasts, but also lunch items, including salads, small plates, and sandwiches. There aren’t many gluten-free options, but if you aren’t celiac or gluten intolerant, you can choose anything from the menu knowing that it’s made with beautiful and yummy plants.
Having the Pasta Bolo at Le Botaniste
Vegan Friendly spots in New York
The name can be a bit intimidating for a vegan (I know for me it is), but their motto is actually being a “vegetable slaughterhouse”, as they are a vegetarian restaurant. This restaurant has different locations in New York City, including one in Brooklyn (since my guide is mostly based on Manhattan, where I usually go, and where my friend lives). I went to The Butcher’s Daughter twice; once for lunch and another one for breakfast.
They have lots of vegan options, and plenty of gluten-free AND vegan items, including pancakes, tempeh or adzuki bacon, bowls, sides, and desserts.
This is a place that’s near where my friend lives. Sometimes we wake up super hungry and just go here, because having to take any sort of transportation or walking for half an hour is a big no when your stomach is empty from a long night’s sleep. They have very few vegan items in the menu (around 4), but they can personalize your order, and remove non-vegan ingredients. Also, coffee is good, and they have plant-based milks.
VEGAN COFFEE & TREATS IN nyc
Coffees I loved with plant-based milk options
This might be the coffee shop I’ve been to the most in New York. The name combines two beautiful things in one: flowers and coffee, so you get to sip a cappuccino with oat milk amid blooming buds.
Maman has around 20 locations across New York City, and it offers plant-based milks, as well as some vegan options in the menu. Everything from the tables to the mugs (you can request reusable mugs), is beautiful and feminine.
Urban Backyard is the cutest little coffee shop in Nolita, and offers a wide drinks menu, including seasonal specials like Autumn Spice Latte, made with maple syrup, espresso, and oat milk, as well as teas, and a vegan apple cider loaf.
Urban Backyard, the cutest little coffee shop in Nolita
Moving around NYC sustainably
Every time I go to New York I end up being shipped back home in a matchbox, because I get so tired from walking so much! The fact is that getting to know the Big Apple by foot is the best and most sustainable way of doing it. It will give you time to appreciate every building and corner, and exercise at the same time.
The second-best option would be to grab a bike, for which you have the Citi Bikes. They have monthly memberships for $15-$17 a month, or you can pay for single rides at $3.99, or day passes for $15.
If you prefer a less physically challenging transportation, you can always take the subway or a bus, which are very well connected, to get you from one part of New York City to another in a sustainable way.
Connecting to nature in New York City
The number one place to connect to nature in New York City (being in nature helps us be more sustainable) is Central Park. Even if you’ve never been there, you might have seen it in thousands of movies, shows, photos, probably noticing Kevin from Home Alone or Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl going to Central Park to feed the pigeons.
There are numerous attractions within the park itself that are worth visiting: Bethesda Fountain, the Conservatory Garden, the Meadows, the bridges, The Lake, Belvedere Castle, John Lennon’s memorial, and many sculptures, including one of Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and one for Shakespeare. The amount of green you find in this park compliments the greyer tones of the buildings in the horizon. I took a yoga class with my friends in one of the meadows, and then had a picnic, and it was a great way of relaxing and regaining energy lost while walking around.
During winter you can skate in one of the ice rinks, and during the warmer months, you can rent a canoe and row while cherishing the view. Central Park is the green lung and heart of the city, just please, PLEASE, don’t support horse carriages (in New York, or anywhere), which are concentrated in Central Park, and are known to exploit the horses, which sometimes collapse in exhaustion.
Other beautiful parks you can visit are Bryant Park, where you have hundreds of chairs in which you can sit back and relax; Madison Square Park, which was full of hydrangeas the last time I visited; and Washington Square Park, best known for its arch but also filled with lovely squirrels!
Little Island is another green spot I recommend in New York City. I went for the first time recently, and I enjoyed seeing the fusion between design and nature. I admit it’s a bit modern for New York City (there are lots of modern buildings now too, but I’m all for old NYC), but it provides New Yorkers with another outdoor escape from the city’s chaos. There are different things you can do in Little Island, including playing the piano, watching a show, listening to poetry, or doing an art workshop.
Finally, to enjoy nature in New York, you can visit The Battery: a public park in lower Manhattan, near the Staten Island Ferry terminal, which you can also take to visit the island or to get a nice view of the Statue of Liberty. Enjoy some green spaces, monuments, and the irreplaceable view of the Hudson River.
Central Park
SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY SHOPPING IN NEW YORK CITY
The most sustainable shopping you can do is the one in which you don’t shop! But, if you are that kind of person that loves a souvenir or to find unique things when you travel, here are some options for you.
At the MoMA Store you can find some sustainable gifts, like reusable water bottles, sustainable teething toys, tote bags, and objects made with recycled materials. There is a store at the museum, or you can go to the MoMA Design Store in SOHO.
Other places you can shop sustainably in New York City: Argosy Books, a haven for book lovers that is filled with first editions, antique maps and prints, and a heap of gems; The Mysterious Bookshop, where you can find used books; Philip Williams Posters, where you can buy original vintage posters; and Lush, which has several locations and offers natural and cruelty-free cosmetics, most of them vegan (rest are vegetarian).
You can also shop for vegetables, fruits, artisan breads, jams, pickles, maple syrup, and more vegan foods at Union Square’s Farmer’s Market. Similarly, you can visit the Manhattan Fruit Market at Chelsea Market to find fruits and vegetables that are not commonly found in food stores.
Grand Central Station
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT IN NYC
There are other low-impact activities you can do in New York City to enjoy it sustainably. These are my favorite things to do in the city, and the places that will make you fall in love with it over and over again.
The architecture
Get to know the big city by becoming acquainted with its emblematic architecture. The Empire State, the Chrysler, the Hotel Plaza, the Grand Central Station, the Flatiron, and the Rockefeller Center are some of my favorite spots in NYC.
The coziness
Visit the restaurant at The Marlton Hotel, as it’s a perfect area that is ideal for colder days. There are lots of sofas and a chimney, that will keep you warm and cozy, which is why people spend some hours there, reading, chatting, or sipping a hot drink. We met a lovely little dog when we went there, who was keeping his owner’s company next to the fire.
Broadway
Seeing a show on Broadway is one of the must-dos in New York. I recommend Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. It was an amazing play, filled with magic tricks, fun and adventure! There are also the classic ones you shouldn’t miss, like Wicked, Chicago, The Lion King, or The Phantom of the Opera, as well as the more modern ones like Aladdin or Six.
To find more affordable tickets, don’t buy them online in advance. Instead, go to a TKTS Discount Booth. I went to the one in Times Square, but now they opened another one at Lincoln Center. You will find amazing seats for 20-50% off regular prices for same-day shows. Get there as early as you can, because the lines become larger by the hour, and always make sure your show is being sold that day (there are signs and staff around, so you should be able to confirm it easily).
Little Island
The Museums
There are many museums to explore in NYC, but my favorite ones are The Morgan Library & Museum, a breathtaking and special place for the book lovers, which used to be the personal library of Pierpont Morgan, and where you will find many treasures; the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), one of the largest and most influential museums of modern art in the world; The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), where you will find a wide variety of collections, including Greek, Asian, and African art, among many others; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, which showcases twentieth-century and contemporary American art.
More Books
In addition to the Mysterious Book Shop, Argosy Books, and The Morgan Library, you will find many a bookstore in New York City, from the classic ones like Shakespeare & Co., and Strand Book Store, to the hidden gems like Three Lives & Co or McNally Jackson Books (I went to the Prince Street location). Another place where you will find both books and architecture, is the New York Public Library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, which is the public library’s main branch. Here, you will find wonderful spaces, thousands of books, articles, and an extensive database, as well as exhibitions.
States and Neighborhoods
New York City has five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. So far, I have only been to Brooklyn and Manhattan, both of which I recommend. In Brooklyn you can visit Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and Williamsburg. In Manhattan, you can’t miss SOHO, Chelsea, Upper East and West Side, and Tribeca, even though I recommend the entire island!
Me being super happy about seeing Central Park covered in snow. Wearing a vegan jacket (no down) and boots from Columbia, and a borrowed purse from my friend in New York!
Other Spots in New York City
The High Line is another place to disconnect a bit. It’s a unique public park that’s lineal (it’s around 1.5 miles long), and it’s above ground! It will take you from the Whitney Museum to Hudson Yards, amid plants, buildings, and a pretty view of the city. You can also visit Hudson Yards and the Vessel, which has become a very popular spot in town, even though I fear more projects like this will be developed and take away New York City’s essence.
To see the city from new perspectives, don’t miss Top of the Rock–an observation deck on top of the Rockefeller Center, that offers a 360-degree view of NYC–, and walking the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn, so you can cherish this wonderful manmade wonder while getting closer to NYC and its skyline.
When you buy your Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth, take a walk around Times Square. To me, it’s a bit of an overwhelming place, particularly at night, but it’s also a must-see, so don’t miss it! Other places you could visit are the Guggenheim Museum, One World Trade Center, Coney Island, 5th Avenue, and St. Patrick’s Church.
Hopefully, this sustainable travel guide of New York City, will be useful to you, so that you can enjoy this wonderful city in a more conscious and eco-friendly way!
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Hi, I’m Melina,
I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.
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