How to spend the perfect day in the Upper West Side

The Upper West Side is my favorite place to spend a “No Plans Saturday”. The neighborhood is always super lively on the weekends with residents walking their dogs, young families pushing strollers and friends grabbing coffee. I could easily see myself living in the Upper West Side where it’s truly a quiet neighborhood with great food and lots of things to do. This is how I would want to spend my ideal day in the Upper West Side 

Morning 

I would start my day by grabbing a coffee at one of my favorite coffee shops in the Upper West Side, Plantshed. It’s a chain throughout the city, and you can buy plants and other household trinkets. but the Upper West Side location is my absolute favorite. If you’re looking for other coffee shops in the neighborhood, I also love Irving Farm. If you want a good bagel, I would suggest either going to Barney Greengrass or Pop Up Bagels. Barney Greengrass is a New York City staple - you have to make sure to get there early, because oftentimes there will be a line there. They’re known for their smoked fish bagels and are absolutely worth the wait. After this, I would go for a walk in the park and explore the Bow Bridge, the Bethesda Fountain, Sheep's Meadow, and the Belvedere Castle - these are all located near / around the Upper West Side of the park. 

Afternoon 

After a long walk in the park, it’s time for brunch! I LOVE going to brunch in the upper West Side. My favorite place to go is Jacob’s Pickles. Pickles have been my favorite food throughout my life, and to go somewhere you can order so many different types of them is like a sacred space. Their Sausage Gravy Smothered Chicken, Deviled Eggs, and the Hot Honey Sandwiches are my go-to’s. Another favorite of mine is Maison Pickle, where my

favorite thing is the French Toast. Warning - both these places give large portions sizes :). If you’re craving more of a lunch-vibe, I would recommend going to Tiki Chick. They have $5 chicken sandwiches and they are GOOD. After lunch, it’s time to explore some cultural aspects of the city. The Natural History Museum is an iconic destination for visitors to New York, if you live in the city, you get the benefit from the “Pay as you Wish” program. Here you can see dinosaurs, learn about the environment and so much more. It’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon in the city. 

Evening 

I typically spend the daytime in the Upper West Side, so I’m not as familiar with the nightlife (but will hopefully be able to add to it with further exploration). My favorite dinner place I’ve been to in the UWS has been Chama Mama, for Georgian Food. After dinner, you have to go to The Dead Poet, a neighborhood bar in the busiest area of the Upper West Side. It’s a pretty divey bar but the people are friendly, the beer is good and the environment is a vibe.