Great skyline and ocean views at the waterfront in Williamsburg

Along River Street and Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

My office is located in Williamsburg, one of my favorite areas in NYC. It’s the hipster capital of NYC, filled with cute, hip shops and cafés. But it’s also located right on the East River overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Sometimes, when I need a breather, I’ll walk out of the office, grab lunch or a coffee, put on a podcast and go down to the water.

It grounds me and makes me feel connected to Denmark where I’m so used to having easy access to the sea. And the gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline doesn’t hurt either 😉

Grab a coffee from Blue Bottle on North 4th Street and walk straight down to the water for that amazing view. The boardwalk features benches, tables, sun beds and small parks and is a perfect hangout spot.

The great views from the Whitney’s roof top. (Photo: Caroline Sølver)

The Whitney Museum of American Art

99 Gansevoort Street, Manhattan

Or just the Whitney, as the New Yorkers say. This museum only exhibits American art, and has changing exhibitions as well as a permanent collection of some of the finest American art in the world, that includes Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jasper Johns, to name a few.

World-renowned architect, Renzo Piano, designed the museum. It’s situated between the High Line and the Hudson River, which offers great views as well as a great option to combine a visit at the museum with a walk on the High Line, which is another ‘must-do’ in NYC.

Pro tip when visiting the museum: Take the elevator all the way to the top floor, enjoy the views from the top and work your way down as you take in all the amazing art.

Authentic Asian experience in Flushing, Queens

Downtown Flushing, Flushing Main Street

If you think Chinatown is the most authentic, crazy neighborhood in NYC, Flushing can prove you wrong. Flushing is a neighborhood located in Queens, one of the five boroughs of NYC. The neighborhood features a Chinatown even wilder and more authentic than its more famous counterpart in Manhattan. Trains and buses go here, making it easily accessible, even for tourists. You feel like you’re no longer in NYC, but in China.

The place is filled with billboards lit up with Chinese words, and there are plenty of Asian restaurants, shops and bakeries. It’s up to you to walk around, explore and take it all in. When I go, I eat at the Malay Restaurant (135-17 40 Rd, Flushing, NY 11354). It’s Malaysian, nothing fancy. But an experience, and the food is so good. I suggest you order the satay and the beef rindon. A visit to Flushing, Queens is definitely one of those off-the-beaten-path NYC tourist experiences.

Extreme thrift shopping at Beacon’s Closet in Williamsburg

74 Guernsey St, Brooklyn

If you like shopping, and in particular thrift store and second-hand shopping, a visit to Beacon’s Closet is an absolute must! Beacon’s Closet is a chain located around the city, but the one I visit is in Greenpoint on the border to Williamsburg. It’s nothing short of huge.

And if you’re up for it, you could easily spend hours going through racks and racks of clothes. This store’s concept is slightly different to many other second-hand stores: Private individuals come in with their old clothes, and a shop assistant looks at them to decide what to put in the store.

That means that you can find everything from cheap to old and hip to high end. The prices are good, which allows for the possibility of you finding a never-worn Gucci sweater for $70 (that actually happened!). Happy shopping!

Michelin meal at Metta

197 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn

There are so many amazing things about this place. Let’s start off with that it’s located in the loveliest, classic Brooklyn neighborhood with tree-lined streets and classic architecture. Second, let’s add that it was awarded a L’Assiette Michelin. It has a beautiful interior and a vibe that almost makes you feel like you’re in a cabin.

And in the open kitchen, you can watch the talented chefs create culinary miracles over the fire on wood burning-stoves and ovens. The restaurant is carbon-neutral with sustainability as their main value. The menu features seasonal items, a majority being vegetables, all sourced locally.

Get a seat at the kitchen bar and get ready for a memorable dining experience!

NYC is one of those cities that, regardless of how much you explore and know about it, keeps offering you more. There is always a new restaurant, a new place to get a great cup of coffee, a secret gallery or speakeasy. I’ll continue to explore! And with these five tips for places to go and see, you’re set for some cool, off-the-beaten-path experiences in the city of cities.