Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s New York is the Ultimate City Guide

There are few figures in the world who live, eat, breathe, and embody a city, however, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are just that. Extraordinarily talented multi-hyphenates, Harris and Burtka have expanded their presence beyond the screen and recently taken to the digital world with Wondercade, Harris’s ode to all things food and drink with his signature wit and humor. Not one to sit back, Burtka will be returning to the stage in a cabaret premiering this autumn at iconic nightclub 54 Below, directed by Harris. This is in addition to their respective ventures including perfecting the espresso martini with Thomas Ashbourne and hitting the kitchen in support of charity.

And while the duo often make waves on and off the red carpet with their idyllic (and envy-inducing Instagram posts with their family and ever-expanding coterie of pets), we wanted to get the dish from them on where they go in Gotham.

Explore more insights on New York from our Inspectors, chefs, and celebrities.

Flora + fauna

28th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues may be my favorite block in the city. Flowers galore! My top picks for the plethora of flower shops to exist in the floral pocket of Chelsea are Dutch Flowerline and Foliage Garden. On a “flower day,” I start my morning at Dutch and pick beautiful flowers to decorate the house with. Then, I end the morning at Foliage to pick up a new, unique tree, specimen, or orchid to add to our collection of greens. If you are looking for a public green space to sit and observe, I would point you to Central Park, our largest and most nature driven park in the city. If you are looking to engage in a bit more information on the greens that you are observing, I’d recommend the NYC Botanical Gardens.

Food + Beverage

For me, food must be broken into 3 parts: food shopping, casual dining, and fine dining.

Food Shopping: I frequent the Union Square Market nearly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is packed with local food purveyors and allows one to peruse seasonal goodies while supporting local farmers. For my bread I always go to Breads Bakery after the Greenmarket on 16th. My kids love Asian cuisine, so I frequent Ten Ichi Mart in order to make my dishes with authentic ingredients. Speaking of ingredient authenticity, Eataly cannot be beat—it is hard to find consistent fresh produce year-round. Romano beans in November! Figs in January? They’ve got you covered!

Casual Food: New York has the best takeout in the world; you can get anything delivered to your doorstep. Speed round on all my favorites:

Thai: Thai Villa

Chinese: Nom Wah

Sushi: Sugarfish

Pizza: Joe’s

Mexican: Tacombi

Indian: Bhatti

Dessert: Anita Gelato, Crumbl

Lunch: S&P Sandwich Shop

Fine Dining: You could dine at a different luxury restaurant every night and never get bored. My own list is filtered by The MICHELIN Guide which is where I go to look for the hottest new restaurants and the most timeless classics. Here are my top picks: Per Se, Gramercy Tavern, Rezdora, Jungsik, and Coqodaq.

Books

My top three places for books in the city each scratch an essential itch; a book for life, a book for the theatre, and a book for the kids. Just strolling about the City, you are bound to encounter a tote bag with the name Strand on it. One may wonder what brand that is, but alas, it is probably the most popular bookstore in NYC! Anytime I am on the lookout for a specific book or just moseying about to find a beach read for my next vacation, Strand never fails. As an actor I am constantly looking for new material to consume in order to stimulate my creativity. Lincoln Center not only creates an accessible space to read, but also watch archival Broadway footage. Lastly, I have never been to a store where I went in wanting nothing and came out with my hands overflowing and wallet drained.

Galleries

What makes the City so unique is the access to world-class art within walking distance of your apartment. If you don’t want to pay a hefty museum fee (shouldn’t they be free like all the others in the world? The UK does it right!), an alternative to cure your contemporary art fix would be to gallery hop in the small section of Chelsea. New openings are on Thursdays and the street is crawling with contemporary curators and creatives. My top hit galleries are David Zwirner, Pace Gallery, Gavlak, and Metro Pictures.

Museums

I’ll have to go with two ends of the spectrum—the classic Museum of Natural History, no matter how many years I live in New York, no matter how many tourists one has to elbow in order to gain access to this popular museum, it is a sight to see. Not only will you be astounded by the size and grandeur of the museum, but you will be doused in an educational experience. Then we have the Whitney—if you are looking for what is hot right now, it is at the Whitney. This contemporary museum tucked away in the Meatpacking District never leaves the top of my list of things to do on a free afternoon in the city.

Music

54 Below is standard for New York theatregoers. If you aren’t from the city but love theatre you have surely seen the dark red metal swanky backdrop in a belter’s YouTube video. Whether you closely curate your experience for an intimate night of cabaret singing from your favorite Broadway performer or show up on a night with newcomers to the theatre world, you are in for a treat. If you decide to be there November 20th-23rd, you will catch our show Burtka, David, a cabaret turned on its head performed by David and directed by Neil.

Shops

It is so tough to find a showstopping gift, especially since the city is inundated with fast-fashion chain stores which are easily distracting and accessible. John Derian, E.A.T. Gifts, and Fishs Eddy are the perfect New York-based stores that guarantee an invite to next year’s birthday party (and any other party thereafter for that matter!). Whether you are looking for a gadget for your 13-year-old’s best friend or a gizmo for your in-law’s coffee table, you will find the perfect items that are unique to the individual.

Theatre

There is no better place in the world for theatre. It is hard to go wrong. We recommend going with whatever piques your interest. Suffering through cueing up at tkts will be well worth a knock off of the Broadway prices. If you are looking for a niche experience, take a look at BAM, Playwrights Horizons, Signature, and the Public. 

Health + Wellness

In a city that bustles like New York, to prioritize your physical and mental health is pertinent in order to assure longevity and beat burnout. My wellness routine is sacred to me, I work out with my fantastic trainer, Dave Scharf, at the Equinox that is near my home: a physical exertion that acts as solace from the outside world. I try to make it to acupuncture once a week with Jamie Friedman. The endorphin release that you feel from a workout? It is like that in your brain without moving a muscle. I have found that acupuncture and training are the perfect combo for exertion and recovery, resulting in mindful performance.

Grooming

I trust my locks with Marie Robinson always, but if my son or I need a quick trim, I love to stop at Tokyo Barber for a fast and clean cut. My daughter has started to request manicures on the regular now, which isn’t the worst thing in the world since it means I get to make an appointment at Glosslab. If I am going to get my nails done or trying to spend quality time with my daughter, the facility at Glosslab is hard to beat when it comes to nail salons in the city. Now, if I am going to talk about a facility for relaxation, I must mention the top two places to bathe on my docket—Bathhouse and Aire Ancient Baths, the epitome of an escape from the city.

Fashion

Turn to the left! There is nowhere else more impressive for fashion than New York. For inspiration, all you have to do is look around. If you are looking to make a purchase, I can open the gate to my favorites: Kith, Wolf & Badger, Ron Dorff, Todd Snyder, John Elliott, and (obviously) Gucci. 

Address Book: 

Strand Book Store

828 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023

David Zwirner

525 W 19th St, New York, NY 10011

Pace Gallery

540 W 25 St, New York, NY 10001

Metro Pictures
 519 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011

American Museum of Natural History

200 Central Park W, New York, NY 10024

Whitney Museum of American Art

99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014

54 Below

254 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019

John Derian Company Inc

6 E 2nd St, New York, NY 10003

E.A.T. Gifts

1062 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10028

Fishs Eddy

889 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

BAM Fisher

321 Ashland Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Playwrights Downtown
440 Lafayette St # 4, New York, NY 10003

Signature Theatre Company

480 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

Marie Robinson Salon

40 W 25 St 10th floor, New York, NY 10010

GLOSSLAB

27 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011

Bathhouse Flatiron

14 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

Aire Ancient Baths

88 Franklin St, New York, NY 10013

Kith

337 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Wolf & Badger

95 Grand St, New York, NY 10013

Ron Dorff

475 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Todd Snyder

235 W Broadway, New York, NY 10013

John Elliott

270 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Dutch Flower Line, Inc.

150 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001

Foliage Garden

120 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001

Central Park

79th Street & 85th Street, New York, NY 10024

New York Botanical Garden

2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, NY 10458

Union Square Greenmarket

Union Square W &, E 17th St, New York, NY 10003

Breads Bakery

18 E 16th St, New York, NY 10003

Ten Ichi Mart

178 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010

Eataly NYC Flatiron

200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
 

Thai Villa

5 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003

Nom Wah Tea Parlor

13 Doyers St, New York, NY 10013

SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

202 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Joe’s Pizza 
7 Carmine Street, New York, NY 10014

Tacombi

30 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010

Bhatti Indian Grill

100 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

Anita Gelato

1141 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

S&P Lunch

174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010