Why is the city that draws over 40 million international and domestic travelers every year so charming?  Perhaps it’s the bright, twinkling lights, the colors of Times Square, the chic style and glamour, or the spirit of creativity and diversity.

From the moment I stepped outside of Penn Station in New York City, I could hear traffic and smell the hot sausages and salty pretzels wafting from the street corner.  I couldn’t help but absorb every second of life and energy.

I will share some of the extraordinary place that I discovered, which have whet my appetite for more off-the-beaten-track Big Apple.

The “Besto” Brunch at Resto
(111 E. 29th Street between Park and Lex)

If I lived in Manhattan, I would quickly make this my usual brunch spot to satisfy my stomach and enjoy stimulating conversation with friends. One of the things they boast about the menu is their wide offering of local produce and meats.

Resto’s big forte is French and Belgian inspired dishes. Intrigued by the description, I was tempted to try their “hangover pasta” specialty, which went above my expectations of what brunch could be.

A deceptively ambitious eatery, Resto’s chef Ryan Skeen is changing diners’ view of Belgian foods way beyond waffles and fries. Most entrees cost under $20, and you could get your pick of an egg-white frittata, curry-roasted poulardes, crispy pork toast, and Belgian chocolates for dessert.

A Cozy Hangout: Gramercy Star Café
(23 Lexington Avenue)

Just a hop away from Resto, Gramercy Star Café was a random but surprisingly great find. It’s open twenty-four hours a day and has a tasty and inexpensive selection of freshly baked pastries, gourmet coffees, pastas, chef salads, sandwiches, and much more.

I would highly recommend this cafe for the efficient and down-to-earth service and fabulous cafe au lait. The café never seemed too crowded, and from a writer’s perspective, this would be the perfect place to go and write any time.

Trattoria Dopo Teatro (After the Theater)
(125 W. 44th Street)

Luckily, I had reserved a table ahead of time, as the Trattoria Dopo Teatro gets pretty packed before Broadway shows. I was delighted to enjoy an evening at an authentic Italian restaurant, especially where everyone, from chefs to servers to bus boys were Italian.

Although the place was packed to a full house, it was the best Italian dining I’ve had. I got the sense that I was eating with family, as the servers truly brought the experience to a personal level. There’s a tremendous difference in the dishes, and you can tell right away that every single part of the meal was handmade and fresh.

Rizzoli: An Above-and-Beyond Bookstore
(31 W. 57th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues)

A city of contrasting tastes, Manhattan is loaded with book stores of every possible niche. Rizzoli, in particular, left a memorable first impression on me.

As I wandered the three full floors beaming with historic architecture and all kinds of books, I felt like a kid in a candy store. In each nook and cranny of Rizzoli, it has the look and feel of a comfortable study, where one could curl up in an easy chair with a good book.

One entire floor was dedicated to art-related books, and I noticed a great number of special sections for architecture, culinary arts, travel, and fashion.

Other Interesting Hot Spots

I’m certain there are many just like me, whose earliest exposure to New York was through popular sitcoms such as Friends, Seinfeld, and Sex and the City. I had a mental picture of what Central Park and the dark, dirty halls of the underground subway station would be like.

With Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run” looping in the back of my head, I could imagine the magnificent city view from the water. My heart would grow warm thinking of scenes of New York romance. I could see myself on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, in a beautiful Sleepless in Seattle moment, or gliding on the ice at Wollman Rink, like in Serendipity or Love Story.

So, I attempted to visit some of the hottest on-screen spots that everyone knows: Magnolia Bakery from Sex and the City, Rice to Riches from Hitch, and Serendipity 3 from Serendipity, to name a few. There were lines and lines of New Yorkers out the door at each place, and I had to leave with a heavy heart. Needless to say, I’m already planning for my next trip to discover more of New York City’s infinite treasures hidden away from the “by-the-brochure” tourist crowds (stay tuned for more).