FORGET Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, or the Upper East and West Side. New York City is way cooler if you spend time exploring midtown and downtown Manhattan. Just start with the streets below Number 34 and you’ll be able to cut the cliches and get a truly local taste of the city that never sleeps.

Day 1 Chelsea and Meatpacking District

9am Grab a fresh pastry and coffee at Foragers, Chelsea

The farm-to-table Foragers City Table and its adjacent grocery shop are cozy and cool. Stroll between the shelves in the early morning, pick your favorite juice and yogurt, order a freshly baked pastry and coffee, and read a local newspaper to start your day.

10am Walk the High Line

Stroll the popular High Line from West 34th Street to see the city from a different point of view. The elevated rail line that was transformed into a 2.33km-long garden walkway is the place where locals love to spend their weekends.

12am Visit the Whitney Museum of American Art

The list of museums in New York is seemingly endless, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim and the Museum of Modern Art, but the Whitney Museum of American Art, situated between the end of the High Line on Gransevoort Street and the Hudson River, should be high up on your list. The building is home to 20th-century and contemporary American art and is an architectural gem in its own right. After viewing the exhibition, you can enjoy the view from the rooftop.

2pm Shop in the Meatpacking District and grab a meal at Chelsea Market

Embrace the trendy vibe of the Meatpacking District with its cool hotels and high-end fashion boutiques. After some shopping, walk to the Chelsea Market across from the Google offices — an enclosed food hall, shopping mall and office building all under one roof. More than 35 vendors offer all sorts of desserts, cheese varieties, crepes and pizzas as well as juices and wine.

7pm Aperitif drink at Boom Boom Room

It seems impossible to get tired of New York City’s skyline so head to Boom Boom Room, one of the city’s fanciest rooftop bars, for a classic cocktail. Keep in mind that it’s hard to get a spot, so an early aperitif at the bar might be your best shot. The glamorous space has a 360-degree view of Manhattan and the Hudson River.

9pm Peruvian dinner at Raymi

Raymi on West 24th Street is a cool Peruvian establishment where you can enjoy different versions of ceviches and Pisco drinks infused with exotic ingredients. Peruvian cuisine is famous for its strong flavors. Try the classic Pisco sour, based on a Peruvian grape brandy.

Day 2 Lower East Side and West Village

10am Breakfast at Russ & Daughters

Russ & Daughters Cafe (127 Orchard St) is a genuine New York breakfast spot that belongs to an old Jewish deli that first opened in 1914. Now run by the fourth generation of the Russ family, the cafe offers the finest caviar, a smorgasbord of herring, or smoked salmon.

12am Stroll around the Lower East Side

With its working-class roots, this neighborhood is now catering to a more trendy clientele with its increasing number of chic boutiques, restaurants, bars and clubs. Not far from Russ & Daughters Cafe on the same street, Project No. 8 is a cool boutique that sells menswear, accessories and one-off collaborations. Moscot on the same street is a century-old eyewear company with exclusive eye-wear and sunglasses.

2pm Another classic meal at Katz’s Delicatessen

Don’t miss out on Katz’s Delicatessen (205 East Houston Street) which has been a New York institution for more than a century and still looks much like it did 100 years ago. Established in 1888, it is one of the oldest delicatessens in the city. The corned beef and pastrami are cured without any chemicals and additives, and, once they are done, they are carved by hand. The walls are adorned with photos of famous patrons like Bill Clinton.

3pm Enjoy wandering in West Village

West Village is for those who enjoy a European or Bohemian vibe in a fast-paced city like New York. The neighborhood is picturesque and has a downtown charm. Check out Donna Karen’s lifestyle boutique Urban Zen. The Meadow (523 Hudson Street) offers different salts, chocolates and flowers — great gifts for your loved ones at home. CO Bigelow (414 Avenue of the Americas) founded in 1838 is known as the oldest pharmacy in the US. The wooden shelves are lined with a great selection of cosmetics, herbal remedies and any toiletries you could think of.

7pm Dinner at Spotted Pig

Spotted Pig (314 West 11th Street) is a gastro-pub well worth a visit thanks to their simple, straightforward food and excellent cocktails. The first-floor bar is wonderful for aperitif drinks while the second floor is more suitable for a relaxed dinner. Bar snacks like deviled eggs and chicken liver toast make a tasty starter. For mains, try the sheep’s milk ricotta gnudi with brown butter and crisp sage or the chargrilled burger with Roquefort cheese and shoestring fries.

9pm After dinner drinks

Not far from the Spotted Pig, The Happiest Hour (121 West 10th Street) is a whimsical cocktail bar with a fun ambience and cartoon palm trees as decoration. Try the signature cocktails What the Doctor Ordered or Belle of the Ball. Check out another cool bar called Little Branch if a tasty cocktail is your thing. It’s nothing pretentious, but the bartenders will create the perfect drink if you just tell them what mood you’re in.

Day 3 Brooklyn and Soho

11am Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is on the list of most travelers: Connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, the bridge offers a great view of the skyline.

12am Lunch at Roberta’s

Roberta’s is a hidden gem in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn (261 Moore Street), a new hipster hub. Before lunchtime, spend a little time wandering the nearby streets and take in some cool street art. Roberta’s is said to serve some of the best pizzas in New York City.

2pm Spend some time in Williamsburg

Brooklyn’s Williamsburg has a hipster vibe with designer shops, hip boutiques, vintage stores and cool markets. Have a coffee at a random cafe and watch as people pass by.

5pm Shopping in SoHo

SoHo is the city’s premier shopping destination. Luxury brands line the streets as well as more affordable ones like Oak + Fort and COS.

8pm Dinner at Blue Ribbon Brasserie

Blue Ribbon Brasserie (97 Sullivan Street) doesn’t take reservations but you can wait for a drink at the bar. Located where the West Village meets SoHo, the cozy dining room and bar has been going strong for two decades. It offers a wide selection of culinary delights including the famed shellfish platter, steaks and roasted rack of lamb.