Five local NYC gems that’ll impress an out-of-towner

So, your visiting friend or family member wants to see New York City. Don’t worry – you don’t need to drag your feet to shop in Times Square or see The Lion King on Broadway (again). There are other sights to show, and they’ll be enjoyable for everyone.

As an East Coast native, I know what NYC has to offer. There are street corners that I love, places where I’ve made memories with friends and family over the years, and dishes I crave time and time again (looking at you, Magnolia Bakery banana pudding). When planning my British boyfriend’s first visit, I wanted to highlight the things I love most about the city, and what makes it so special. To me (and most): good tunes, good pizza, and good drinks.

Of course, we did the typical Liberty Ferry ride and skyline views from the top of the Rockefeller Center, but here are some more low-key spots that showcase the best of New York in 2024.

Scarr’s Pizza

Lower East Side, Manhattan

It’s an unspoken law that any pilgrimage around NYC has to start with a slice. Admittedly, we almost walked past Scarr’s while stomping through the Lower East Side. To satiate our hunger and kill some time, the light-up PIZZA sign beckoned us into a spot that seemed so unassuming, my boyfriend was surprised to find out it’s considered one of the best in the city. It was sparse, and felt more like a bar than a restaurant, with concrete floors, a mahogany bar, and a couple of arcade games in the back.

We ordered half-pints of a locally brewed pilsner and two slices of pizza (which quickly turned into four). The bartender was laid-back, clad in flannel and a backward cap, chatting with locals. And the pizza. Oh god, the pizza. I’m vegetarian, but after a careful bite of my boyfriend’s jalapeño and pepperoni slice (dubbed the “Hotboi”), I had to order my own. After some research, it turns out that the owner of Scarr’s has worked at pretty much every infamous pizza shop in New York – Joe’s, Lombardi’s, Artichoke – and has mastered the art. Can pizza-making be an art? Well, reader, I can confidently say yes.

Talea Beer Co.

West Village, Manhattan

As a woman, walking into a New York bar and feeling empowered feels unusual, but Talea Beer Co. has it perfected down to a T (literally). Exposed brick, warm lighting, and cozy booth seating full of earth-toned pastels felt girly yet sophisticated, and I later found out it was designed and built by women-owned architecture and construction teams. It was a Monday evening in March, Women’s History Month, so it was no wonder I felt an aura of primal female joy – there was an ongoing calligraphy workshop in the private event space, and groups of girlfriends were giggling around us. Did I consider ditching my boyfriend at the bar and asking if there was room for one more? Potentially.

Talea Beer Co. is a microbrewery based in Williamsburg, so it felt right to try as much of their repertoire as we could. The bartender suggested the West Village Picks, a tasting flight with four unique beers curated by the West Village location staff themselves. Our favorite, by far, was the Spicy Hot Chocolate stout – which my very English boyfriend said was the best stout he’s ever had. Take that as you will. We paired the drinks with an uber-salty Bavarian pretzel. Paired with the beer cheese, which tasted like Kraft in the best way possible, it hit the spot after a day of 30,000 steps.

Smalls Jazz Club

West Village, Manhattan

Descending from the streets of the West Village and into the intimate, dive-like space of Smalls Jazz Club feels like merging into a New York subculture you never knew existed. With Mezzrow across the street (another jazz club from the same owners) it’s become a hotbed for up-and-coming jazz artists of the city. That night, we watched the Wayne Tucker Quintet, a Brooklyn-based group performing originals and covers. The crowd, packed like sardines, was enthusiastic, heads bobbing up and down.

We sat at the bar and ordered a cocktail and a glass of port. The bartender was a superwoman, and I suspected she had adapted a rhythmic style to her pouring that aligned with the music. It was obvious this was a local hotspot, and everyone was there for the music, from the Korean exchange students sitting on one side of us to the Brooklyn native on the other (who, charmingly, asked for a taste of the glass of port we ordered). If we could’ve, we would’ve stayed all night – there were new acts on until 2 AM.

St. Mazie

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The music at St. Mazie bled through the door, like an enticing time machine. A step inside transported us to a 1920s saloon, where a young woman dressed in vintage flapper clothes played a washboard and a banjo, accompanied by a cellist and a pianist. This was Miss Maybell & the Jazz Age Artistes, who resurrect forgotten tunes from the early 20th century. We took a seat at the bar, knowing we had to stay.

I ordered the Brown Derby, as per the bartender’s recommendation. It had bourbon, honey, and grapefruit – strong and a little sweet. Meanwhile, my boyfriend got the Hanky Panky, which had smoky gin and vermouth. We shared a classic NY cheesecake, which felt like a no-brainer, and checked that off his bucket list.

The music was phenomenal. They have something on every day, with local jazz and blues artists taking up residencies. A supper club (a very Brooklynite way to say “restaurant”) takes place in the wine cellar downstairs. More than anything, St. Mazie felt like a community space – the people were locals, enthusiastic listeners on dates or regulars ordering their usuals and pondering the tunes. As we left, Miss Maybell sang a breakup song called “You’ll Be Back” – timely, and accurate.

Eavesdrop

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

In a place like Eavesdrop, just being there makes you feel like you’re in on something cool – a natural outcome for a Greenpoint joint. One girl was wearing tabis, another a $40 scrunchie. The blonde wood interior, vinyl playing from speakers embedded in cork walls, and soothing amber lighting make for a comfortable listening environment reminiscent of a 1970s recording studio. There’s no standing room, so everyone there looks like they’re there intentionally.

The tunes were smooth and understated, and I hid my phone under the table so that the bright blue light radiating from the Shazam app wasn’t too obvious. On rotation that night was trumpeter Donald Byrd’s 1975 album Places and Spaces, a funky blend between disco jazz and neo-soul. The crowd seemed almost too cool until my boyfriend made a momentary pal in line for the bathrooms, a Yankee-cap-wearing guy who asked him about his accent.

We both opted for the Eavesdrop Negroni, which was probably one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. I still dream about it. Prominent hints of cedar, lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile made it extra special, without going over the top. I regret not getting a second. To snack on, after stuffing ourselves with pizza from Leo’s in Williamsburg, we ordered a bowl of nuts. Despite its simplicity, it was packed with savory flavor.

After multiple broken promises of okay, just one more song – we hopped on the L train back to Manhattan, the Brooklyn streets quiet on a Tuesday night.