Nominees Announced April 2nd
Honoring the Best
of the Internet
23rd Annual Webby Awards May 1, 2019

Webby Staff Picks: New York City

Headed to New York City for the 23rd Annual Webby Awards? Here's your go-to guide for what to do, see, and eat from the Webbys Team.

If you’re heading to New York City for The Webby Awards, it’s time to start planning your weekend! Luckily, the Webbys team has you covered.

We compiled a master list of our favorite New York spots: the best places to eat, drink, sightsee, and get ready for the show. Scroll down for all the picks or jump to specific sections with the menu below.

Jump to:

• Cafes
• Food
• Bars
• Where to Stay & What to Do
• Services

Webby Staff Picks: New York City

Headed to New York City for the 23rd Annual Webby Awards? Here's your go-to guide for what to do, see, and eat from the Webbys Team.

DMD

David-Michel Davies (@dmdlikes), CEO — Parlor Coffee, 11 Vanderbilt Avenue, Brooklyn: If you weigh your coffee beans, shun traditional drip machines, use a burr grinder, or always wondered what this all means, then there’s only one place in this entire city that you must visit: Parlor Coffee. A guy named Dillon, who used to be the head barista at Blue Bottle Coffee, started a tiny little stand in a barber shop in Williamsburg. Sometime after, the best roaster who ever worked at Blue Bottle, a guy named Dave, joined him and Parlor took off. They’re open on weekends from 9AM to 3PM. At first the seriousness of their craft might be intimidating, but don’t be afraid; these are kind people who want to share their love of great coffee with you.

 

Terence Brosnan, Executive and Operational Assistant — Porto Rico Importing Co.201 Bleecker St: Maybe this doesn’t quite count as a cafe since there’s no seating, but when you walk in you are immediately hit by the most amazing smell of coffee beans! Taking a sip of their cold brew will wake you up and get you ready for a day of walking through the city for sure!

Jordana Jarrett (@jordi_cheri), Editor — Gotan, 130 Franklin Street: If you’re a sucker for ambiance (and really good food) try visiting Gotan on Franklin Street in TriBeCa. It’s a great coffee shop/breakfast spot, and a good place to get work done. Order a your favorite drink, snuggle into one of its booths, and answer those emails you mysteriously forgot to answer.

 

ClaireGraves

Claire Graves (@clairegraves), Executive Director — Abraço Coffee, 81 E 7th Street: This hole in the wall on 7th Street in the East Village is one of the very best coffee shops in the world. It’s closed on Mondays though, so don’t leave it too late, and don’t not get a delicious sweet something,

SteveMarchese

Steve Marchese (@stevemarchese), Executive Producer — Totonno’s Pizzeria, 1524 Neptune Avenue, Brooklyn: People will swear by DiFara as the epitome of what is best in New York pizza. And they are mostly right, it is the church by which all pizza offerings are judged. But church is boring and stuffy and has all those damn rules. That’s why Totonno’s has always been my top pick—just as revered by the pizza faithful, and they’ve replaced the doughy dogma for homestyle goodness.

 

Emma Whitfield (@emmawhitfield), Senior Account Manager — Rubirosa, 235 Mulberry Street: Rubirosa is hands down one of the best modern Italian restaurants in the city. Located on Mulberry St. between Prince and Spring, it’s a great spot serving reinvented Italian-American classics and delicious pizzas!

 

Terence Brosnan, Executive and Operational Assistant — The Organic Grill, 123 1st Avenue: This vegan restaurant (yes, I know, but don’t stop reading) has impressed some of the most proudly carnivorous people I know. With vegan cheese that actually melts, incredible cauliflower sandwiches, and truly the best kale slaw you’ll ever taste, this is a treasure in the East Village!

 

NicoleFerraro

Nicole Ferraro (@NicoleFerraro), Editorial Director — Utopia Bagels, 1909 Utopia Parkway, Queens/ Tal Bagels, 357 First Avenue: You’ll get a lot of opinions on bagels in New York. But I was born and raised here, so I am actually at least 25% bagel. If you had all the time in the world to travel to a remote part of Queens, I’d send you to Utopia Bagels—undisputedly the best bagels in all the land. But for a more central option, you can’t go wrong with Tal Bagels (you’ll find three in Manhattan: one on the Lower East Side; and two on the Upper East Side). Perfectly crisp yet doughy bagels and spreads galore!

 

Jason Brickhill (@jasonbrickhill), Social Media Manager — Patacon Pisao, 139 Essex Street: If you’re on the Lower East Side and in the mood for a quick, delicious bite to eat, take a stroll to Patacon Pisao on Essex Street. In this tiny space (food truck turned restaurant), you’ll find the best patacón sandwiches (meat or veggies between fried plantain cakes), arepas, and other Venezuelan street fare—and my personal fave, the Cubano Burrito (now I’m hungry!). If you can’t find a seat, take it to go and head west on Rivington to Allen Street, take in all the LES vibes, and grab a seat in the park.

Pro tip: Try Roaming Hunger (also available as iOS and Android apps) to find food trucks all over the city.

 

Jordana Jarrett (@jordi_cheri), Editor — Melba’s, 300 W 114th Street, Harlem/ Harlem Tavern, 2153 Frederick Douglass Boulevard: If you find yourself uptown, I highly recommend grabbing soul food at Melba’s on W114th in Harlem. When it comes to soul food people will say, “go to Silvia’s.” “Go to Red Rooster.” They aren’t wrong, but if want great food and a laid back vibe, Melba’s is a hidden gem. Try their Southern Fried Chicken & Eggnog Waffles or Sweet Potato Pancakes (mmmm!). Right up the street on W116th and Frederick Douglas is Harlem Tavern. Stop in for their jazzy brunches or go later for a great dinner and drinks!

 

DMD

David-Michel Davies (@dmdlikes), CEO — The Commodore, 366 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn: There are a lot of places for fried chicken in New York. People are going to talk about Pies ‘n’ Thighs. It is very good. Delicious, actually. There’s Root & Bone, also delicious, but who wants to have dinner in Manhattan? Then there’s Commodore. This is really all that we need to talk about: delicious, weird cocktails, and very, very crispy fried chicken. It’s so crispy that I’ve heard people call it “too crispy.” Who has ever complained about fried chicken being too crispy? That’s how crispy this is. You have to dig through the crispy pieces to find the chicken.

SabrinaDridje

Sabrina Dridje (@londonsab), Contributing Producer – Dynaco, 1112 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn: If you fancy making the trip over the bridge and hiding out in a dark bar with strong drinks, head to Dynaco and get a Manhattan in Brooklyn. Follow this up with a pizza (and more cocktails) at Saraghina—their garden is awesome.

 

Christine Lee (@khunty_kharax), Mo-graphics Designer — House of Yes, 2 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn:
If you want to dance, try House of Yes! It’s a Bushwick venue with a fun dance floor and nice outdoor area. The music ranges from disco, funk, and soul to electronic music, so check their calendar for the music before you go. They often have live performances and call themselves a “circus theatre.” House of Yes is a safe space that provides freedom from all forms of discrimination and every guest is responsible for being respectful to other guests. If someone is making you feel unsafe, you can tell the staff and they will help you.

 

Taylor Griffin (@taywgriffin), Assistant Producer, IADAS – Apotheke, 9 Doyers Street: This Chinatown speakeasy has some of the funnest drinks in the city. You’ll need to use your handy dandy Google Maps to get there because the entrance is quite discrete, but it’s certainly worth it. With cocktail ingredients including squid ink, balsamic vinegar and roasted seaweed, it’s a great place to grab a drink when you’re willing to spend a little more for a well thought out and out of the ordinary drink.

Pro tip: After you knock back a few, Citymapper will help you get home using New York’s public transit. 

 

AngelaCarola

Angela Carola (@angcarola), Managing Director, IADAS + Industry Relations – South Brooklyn Bar Crawl at Folksbier Brauerei, 101 Luquer Street; The Other Half, 195 Centre Street; & Sunny’s Bar, 253 Conover Street: Carroll Gardens, a small neighborhood in Brooklyn, was once predominantly Italian-American and is now home to great restaurants and craft breweries. First, take the F train to Carroll Street. Shop at various stores, bakeries, and Italian specialty shops along Court Street, and then make your way to Folksbier Brauerei and The Other Half. Close out the evening by calling an Uber and heading to Sunny’s Bar in neighboring Red Hook. Here you’ll find good drinks and live music in a historic bar that opened in the 1890s and has survived family feuds, a changing neighborhood, and a hurricane—it’s the perfect end to a South Brooklyn day.

 

Jason Brickhill (@jasonbrickhill), Social Media Manager – NiteCap, 151 Rivington Street: This hidden little treasure is an awesome speakeasy-style mixology bar/lounge in the Lower East Side! The cocktails are amazing! and always changing! Definitely a starting point for a great night, or a nice last-drink spot with someone special!

 

Esther Hoff (@estherhoff), Assistant Producer — Spot Dessert Bar, 13 St Marks Place: This tapas style Asian-American dessert bar is a popular sport for innovative desserts on the bustling St. Marks Place. From their flower pot cheesecake to matcha lava cake you can’t go wrong indulging of these desserts.


PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager Hotel (@publichotels), 215 Chrystie Street: 
New York City’s newest and trendiest hotel, PUBLIC is the perfect spot to stay to celebrate your win in style. PUBLIC is offering a special group rate for out-of-town guests. To make reservations: Visit wbby.co/hotel and use promo code WEBBY or call +1 (212) 735-6000. (Book by May 8th for best rates.)

 

 

Jordana Jarrett (@jordi_cheri), Editor — New Museum, 235 Bowery: I like to hit up museums for a temporary reprieve from the city. The New Museum is great for spending a few hours—definitely check out their exhibit on Net Art archives, and Jeffrey Gibson’s really beautiful exhibit on indigenous material histories, handcraft techniques, and colonization.

Plus, it’s only a 3-minute walk from Public hotel!

 

Nicole Ferraro (@NicoleFerraro), Editorial Director — Broadway! As the resident theater nerd here at The Webbys, I suggest filling your non-Webby time by taking in a Broadway show. First off, skip the TKTS line in Times Square and download the TodayTix app for last-minute tickets to tons of shows (not Hamilton, sorry) at great prices. My personal recommendations this season: for a musical, Oklahoma (brilliant revival unlike anything you will see ever)—or, for a play: What the Constitution Means to Me (it should be required viewing for everyone).

 

Christine Lee (@khunty_kharax), Mo-graphics Designer — A/D/O, 29 Norman Ave, Brooklyn: A/D/O is a beautiful place to chill with a coffee while looking at some incredible design. It’s a self-professed “creative space” in Greenpoint with public space that houses a restaurant and bar, open seating area, and exhibitions. They also have a shop where you can buy carefully curated goods made by independent creatives.

Taylor Griffin (@taywgriffin), Assistant Producer, IADAS — Brooklyn Bridge Park, 334 Furman St, Brooklyn: Brooklyn Bridge Park has the best views and is a great place for a stroll on a warm day. Start at Brooklyn Bridge Lookout where you can grab an ice cream or lemonade and then continue down the stretch of the park where you’ll come across several piers, lounging spaces and of course photo opps.

 

EmilyWarren

Emily Warren (@emilyhonora), Managing Director — Dumbo via the Manhattan Bridge: Dumbo is a really nice area to visit for an out-of-towner. My personal recommendation is to eat dim dum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13–15 Doyers Street) in Chinatown, and then walk over the Manhattan Bridge to Dumbo—it’s waaaaaay less crowded than the Brooklyn Bridge, and you still get great views of the river, the Statue of Liberty, and downtown Manhattan. Once you come off the Manhattan Bridge, walk underneath its overpass down Jay St. and you’ll be in the heart of Dumbo. Visit Brooklyn Bridge Park to take in the views, maybe ride Jane’s Carousel, and then eat Juliana’s (19 Old Fulton Street) brick-oven pizza.

Pro tip: Hop on a Citi Bike to zip across the bridge on two wheels.

 

Esther Hoff (@estherhoff), Assistant Producer — The Frick Collection, 1 E 70th Street: This museum is probably my favorite spot in all of Manhattan. The former home of Henry Clay Frick turned museum is right on Central Park and houses his personal art collection. Instantly you are transported back to the Gilded Age as you walk through the Frick Collection.

 

Emma Whitfield (@emmawhitfield), Senior Account Manager — Central Park’s North Meadow: Springtime in New York is wonderful! So why not take advantage of that beautiful spring weather? Head on over to Central Park, specifically North Meadow (north of the Great Lawn, at 97th Street) as it doesn’t get as crowded as Sheep’s Meadow but is still a great area to lay down a blanket, bring a picnic basket, and relax in the sun!

 

AngelaCarola

Angela Carola (@angcarola), Managing Director, IADAS + Industry Relations — Staten Island Ferry, 4 Whitehall Street: See the sights like a local—hop on the Staten Island Ferry (it’s free) and grab a beer from the snack bar as you enjoy an hour on the water. You’ll see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and a nice view of Manhattan..

 

ClaireGraves

Claire Graves (@clairegraves), Executive Director — The William Vale, 111 N 12th Street, Brooklyn: The best place to experience this city is from way up high. The William Vale opened late last year and is now one of the prime hotspots in Williamsburg. I love watching the sunset over Manhattan and this is the best place in NYC to do it!

SteveMarchese

Steve Marchese (@stevemarchese), Executive Producer — Astor Place Hair Stylists, 2 Astor Place: I challenge even the most jaded New Yawker to find a place more New York than Astor Place Hair Stylists. You won’t get much “styling,” but you will get a perfect fade and shape up while Italians and Greeks nearly stab each other with scissors arguing about fútbol titans like Messi and Ronaldo. It’s a part of a New York that has slowly faded from view and moved further out into the surrounding boroughs. Tell ’em Lil’ Scungilli sent you!

Pro tip: Looking for more than a quick cut? Download The Cut to find a great barber around the the city right from your phone.  

 

EmilyWarren

Emily Warren (@emilyhonora), Managing Director — Affina Beauty & Spa, 125 Church Street: Nail salons are all over the place in NYC, but this location is great because of their cleanliness, prices (it doesn’t cost extra for special polish that lasts longer), and their speed. Extra points because they have a phone charging station and free Wi-Fi!

 

ClaireGraves

Claire Graves (@clairegraves), Executive Director — Yoga at Modo Yoga, 434 Sixth Avenue, 2nd Fl/109 Metropolitan Avenue,
Brooklyn; Jivamukti, 841 Broadway, 2nd Fl;  The Woom Center, 274 Bowery, 2nd Fl:
 I’ve spent the last six and a half years trying out the yoga in NYC, so if you want a great class to feel ready for the show, here are some options. For hot yoga, Modo Yoga in the West Village and Williamsburg is my go-to. It’s a super sweaty class, but you come out feeling totally blissed out and they work you hard. Always go for the Modo Flow with Music and try and get a class with Karine or Randy. For calming yoga, Jivamukti at Union Square is a solid choice for yogis—they have a great range of classes and instructors, the spaces are huge, and their vegan restaurant is delicious. For something a little bit weird, The Woom Center has been open about a year and it’s a trip. The classes are an immersive, audio-responsive visual experience and they are like nothing I have experienced before.

 

Esther Hoff (@estherhoff), Assistant Producer — Drybar Soho in Bloomingdales, 44 Crosby Street: Finding a reasonably priced and good blow-out in the city can be tough. With Drybar’s many locations throughout the city, they make it easy to get quick blow-out. I know I always have trouble trying to pick a hair style, but Drybar gives you a menu of different blowouts to choose from! This particular location is conveniently located in Bloomingdale’s just in case you need to do a little shopping.

Drag