What's new in New York, from the High Line to Manhattan's first beach

15.02.2024 - 10:33 / nationalgeographic.com / Hudson River / Hudson Yards / Marcus Samuelsson

Never mind being the city that never sleeps — New York is the city that never stays the same. Whether it’s your first time or your 30th time, you’ll find every district of the Big Apple full of new places to discover. And it’s not just limited to the new restaurants and shops that dot streets from the Bronx to Staten Island — there are vast arts centres, cultural districts and even an entire new landmass, cast off into the Hudson River. Manhattan is the epicentre of some of the most exciting recent developments, and on this one-day itinerary you’ll zoom in on them across a manageable chunk of Midtown and Downtown. Here’s everything you shouldn’t miss on an exploration of New York’s latest and greatest.

Start your morning at the city’s latest pier development, Gansevoort Peninsula. Neighbour to Little Island — an elevated isle park perched in the Hudson River — it launched in October with an exciting USP: Manhattan’s first public beach. Its 5.5 acres come with a long strip of sand shipped in from New Jersey, a salt marsh, sports fields and water access for non-motorised boats. Settle under a parasol and take in lower Manhattan’s skyline. 

By now you’ll have worked up an appetite. Walk north along Hudson River Park to Pier 57, where you’ll find this former shipping terminal, now a food hall. The market spotlights independent, minority- and female-owned culinary businesses. Try chicken soup dumplings from Nom Wah, gumbo from MotherShuckers, carne asada (grilled beef) tacos from Mijo and a mango sour beer from Harlem Hops. 

Just around the corner is the start of New York’s High Line: an urban park along an old elevated railway track. Previously, it stretched only from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards, but in 2023, it was extended further east along 30th and 31st streets to Moynihan Station. Follow the tree-lined pathway north, before crossing the Moynihan Connector’s 260ft timber bridge, crafted from Alaskan cedar. 

A half-hour walk northeast brings you to Rockefeller Center, home to a thriving fine-dining scene spearheaded by stylish 5 Acres, Le Rock and Jupiter, all of which opened in late 2022. The latter flanks the famous ice rink, open until April 2024. Take a spin on hired skates before sitting down to a feast of fried seafood, spaghetti with puttanesca sauce (tomato, olives, capers and anchovies) and grilled quail with charcoal-blistered aubergine.

Hop on the subway to World Trade Center station and take in an evening show at this multimedia events venue. Opened in September 2023, PACNYC supports emerging artists in dance, music, opera, theatre and film alongside established names. While there, grab a bite from celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson’s in-house restaurant Metropolis, which