🗽 Top 10 Places in NYC — June Countdown 🥂✨
This month wasn’t about checking off every restaurant on my list or pretending life is perfect — it was about finding moments that reminded me exactly why I moved here in the first place. June tested me (losing a job will do that), but it also gave me so many little New York reminders that I’m right where I’m supposed to be - even if I don’t have it all figured out yet.
From spontaneous raves to solo girl dinners, dirty martinis, Broadway magic, and sweat-soaked sauna dance parties - these are the places and experiences that brought me back to myself when I needed it most.
So if you need a sign to shake things up, take yourself out, or do something ridiculous on a Tuesday night - this is it. Here are my top 10 picks that made June in NYC unforgettable… counting down from 10 to 1! 🥂✨
10. Sadelle’s - SoHo brunch gem for feeling like that girl
I decided to pop into this cute little SoHo spot after getting my hair done next door at Cutler. You know that feeling when you have a fresh cut and suddenly want to treat yourself like the lady of leisure you are? That was me. They’re known for their famous bagel tower and brunch spreads, but I was feeling a little more “Upper East Side lunch date” that day - so I ordered oysters and a chicken Waldorf salad. Both were fabulous. Sometimes you just need to remind yourself that you are that girl who takes herself out for oysters at 1 PM on a Friday.
9. Sunset Boulevard - Nicole Scherzinger & Broadway magic
I was actually lucky enough to see two Broadway shows this month - Operation Mincemeat was delightful in its own quirky way - but the minute Nicole Scherzinger stepped on stage as Norma Desmond, it was over. She was electric - every note, every glance, every dramatic moment was pure Broadway magic. I laughed, I gasped, I nearly stood up mid-show to give her a standing ovation. This production closes July 20th, so if you’re on the fence: run, don’t walk. There’s nothing like a Broadway night to make you fall in love with NYC all over again.
Check out Sunset Boulevard’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sunsetblvdmusical/
8. Rosevale Cocktail Room - Pre-show martinis & girl dinner vibes
This spot was an unexpected gem before my Broadway night out. I was early for Sunset Boulevard and needed a quick martini and a little snack - which turned into the best solo girl dinner: fries with multiple dipping sauces (yes, plural), salmon tartare cones, and the most decadent dirty martini with a blue cheese olive that came with a sidecar. But here’s what makes Rosevale unforgettable: the staff are absolute angels. When I accidentally walked out on my tab (mortifying, I know. I thought I’d paid!), they kindly texted me to come back, offered to hold me a table for after the show and reserved a spot for me to enjoy their live jazz music. I ended up making friends at the theater, dragged them along, and the staff got us a bigger table. 10/10 good vibes and hospitality.
Check out Rosevale Cocktail Room’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/rosevalecocktailroom/
7. Soho House - Exclusive martinis & Sex and the City dreams
Look, if you get the chance to be someone’s plus one at Soho House, you take it. This iconic members-only spot has been on my bucket list since I first dreamt of moving here. The martinis were divine (obviously), but it’s the people-watching and the feeling of slipping into a real-life episode of Sex and the City that makes it special. Everyone is impossibly cool and effortlessly chic. For a few hours, so are you. Here’s to manifesting my own membership card someday.
Check out Soho House’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sohohouse/
6. Shinji’s - Decadent decor & next-level martinis
Super unassuming from the outside, absolutely jaw-dropping on the inside - that’s Shinji’s. I’m talking decadent decor, low lighting, and the showstopper: a larger-than-life octopus installation that wraps along the wall. You almost forget you’re there for the drinks - until they arrive. My dirty martini came with powdered olives on the side (yes, you dip your finger in them like a snack — trust me, it works). They also have a hot-cold toddy shot, somehow both piping hot and ice-cold at the same time. Shinji’s is one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve unlocked a secret corner of the city.
Check out Shinji’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/shinjisbar/
5. Martiny’s - Award-winning Japanese cocktail bar
It should be obvious how a place called Martiny’s made this list! This cocktail bar is a masterclass in charm. Housed in a former carriage house from the 1800s, the exposed brick and cozy vibe feel so quintessentially New York. It’s no wonder it’s consistently on lists of the best bars in the world - their martinis are that good. Expect a wait, but it’s worth every second. You’ll want to linger, sip slowly, and make every moment last.
Check out Martiny’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/martinys_nyc/
4. Hawksmoor - A carnivore’s dream steakhouse
This place has been on my NYC must-try list since day one. I finally got to sink my teeth into the experience — literally. The steak was seared and salty on the outside, melt-in-your-mouth tender on the inside. I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a second from pure joy. The vibe is classic steakhouse with a bit of that New York edge - perfect for a treat-yourself dinner or to impress your favorite carnivore. If you’re looking for a new spot for a celebration, Hawksmoor’s your place. I’m still daydreaming about that first bite.
Check out Hawksmoor’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/hawksmoornyc/
3. L’industrie Pizza - Iconic Brooklyn slice with the fam
Another one that had been on my radar forever. When my parents came to visit, they obviously wanted “real New York pizza,” and I knew L’industrie was the one to try. Risky bringing first-timers somewhere I hadn’t vetted, but trust - this place lives up to the hype. I had a slice of their signature burrata pie (heaven) and split a fig, jam, and bacon slice with my parents because it looked too good to skip. Both were ridiculous in the best way. It’s easily the best NY slice I’ve had so far -don’t @ me, I still have a long list of NY pizza to get through, but I’ll be back here, no question.
Check out L’industrie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/lindustriebk/
2. Daybreaker Heat Wave - Sober sauna rave & new friends
This month was all about unique experiences, and Daybreaker was one for the books. Imagine: a sober rave inside a sauna - yes, you read that right - complete with breathwork in a steamy sauna room, ice bath plunges, and then dancing in bathing suits with the coolest crowd ever. Even better? I went with a random woman I met on Instagram (who has since become one of my good friends!) because she saw my April Top 10 list - talk about full circle! It was wholesome, sweaty, and so much fun. If you’ve never tried one of Daybreaker’s events, they do them all over the country, and I can’t recommend it enough. Be prepared to leave with a full heart and sore feet.
Check out Daybreaker’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/dybrkr/
1. Fred Again Pop-Up - A spontaneous rave that healed my soul
This was THE moment this month — the experience that reminded me exactly why I moved to New York. Picture this: I’m at the gym, feeling down about losing my job, the uncertainty of starting over in this city, and I’m blasting Fred Again. I remember seeing videos of his NYC pop-up last year and thinking, “God, I hope I’m lucky enough to experience something like that.” Hours later, I see him streaming on Twitch, announcing a last-minute show that night. Thousands of people scrambling for tickets and somehow, after hitting refresh 100 times, I got one. I sang, danced, laughed, cried - every emotion in one night. It was the best therapy session I could’ve asked for. Even if a pop-up rave isn’t your thing, take this as your sign: do something spontaneous on a random Tuesday night. It might just remind you exactly who the f*** you are.
Check out Fred Again’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/fredagainagainagainagainagain/
💋 Et voilà!
That’s my NYC Top 10 for June — martinis, Broadway, pizza, and dance parties for the soul.
✨ Which one are you adding to your list? And what should I try next month?
