NEW YORK TRAVEL GUIDE: WHERE TO EAT

I've not long come back from a fabulous trip to NYC and I had the most incredible time. We visited some amazing parts of the city, walked for miles and ate SO much food. I want to share with you today my favourite places to eat in the big apple because we tasted some incredible food over a short period of time and there are some places I'd not heard of before that I highly recommend.

Mariella Pizza (8th Avenue) |

Best for: Lunch or a Light Bite

Must Try: The trustee Margarita or Pepperoni Pizza Slice

This little pizza place is located just on the cusp of Central Park and serves the most deliciously large pizza slices. It is SO cheap in comparison to some places in New York and definitely rivals other famous pizza places!!

The Red Cat (Chelsea) |

Best for: Dinner

Must Try: The Risotto

My mum and I ate at the Red Cat in Chelsea on our first evening in New York after we'd walked miles in the 90 degree heat and visited the Rockefeller Centre to see the view. We were both knackered and so we decided to go with a recommendation from Trip Adviser instead of trying to stumble across somewhere after walking more. I was so surprised when we entered this quaint little hub of a restaurant. It was small but packed with the locals from the area and now I know why it's so popular. The food was delicious. Mum and I tried the risotto which was on the specials menu and it did not disappoint, it was so light yet filling and had all the right flavours in it. So so good.

Let Pan Quotidien (Chelsea) |

Best for: Breakfast

Must Try: The Granola

There are quite a few Let Pan Quotidien cafe's around the world but I'd never heard of them before. The one we went to for breakfast in Chelsea was so cute and the service was impeccable for a cafe. Staff were so tentative and the choice for breakfast was amazing. I also recommend the lemonade - SO refreshing in the heat!

Ranas Italian (Chelsea Market) |

Best for: Dinner

Must Try: The Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli or the Black Squid Ink Linguini

If you like pasta then you will LOVE Ranas Italian. Picture fresh pasta in a restaurant tucked away in part of Chelsea Market located in the Fashion District just off the high line. Yep perfection. The pasta was to die for. Mum and I ordered the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli and the Black Squid Ink Linguini and shared half each. It was the best decision because we could try both and they we equally as good as each other. The service in the restaurant was amazing; everyone knew exactly who was doing what and you never had a glass of water half full. The perfect setting for a pit stop in between shopping!

Balthazar (Chelsea) |

Best for: Dinner

Must Try: Chicken Liver Pate and Steak Frites and béarnaise sauce

If you want to be in the hub of the celebrities or the wealthy residents of Chelsea and enjoy a treat at the same time then you must visit Balthazar. It's an extremely popular place to go and we had to book in advance. It was SO busy and I can definitely see why. The food was delicious. It is a french restaurant and serves steak, chicken, pasta and even oysters! There is definitely something for everyone and the atmosphere made the night that little bit extra special.

The River Cafe (Brooklyn Bridge) |

Best for: Brunch & the view(!)

Must Try: The Smoked Salmon and the Sweet Potato Hash

Ok, so I've saved the best until last. This restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It's situated in Brooklyn so you're away from the hustle and bustle of the city but you have that extra special view of the whole of Manhattan from the outdoor terrace. It is incredible. We visited on one of the hottest days so the sun was shining down on the city. You can people watch, see the ferry's pull in and pick up tourists and you can see the people walking across the bridge. It is honestly amazing. The waiters are absolutely amazing, particularly XX who greeted us and treated my mum, sister and I like princesses. The food was also incredible. I had the salmon and cream cheese for brunch and their sweet potato hash, mum had the granola and my sister had the smashed avocado on toast which was recommended. We also all had the breakfast cocktails which made it that little bit better. Seriously if you get a chance then definitely book in to go. It gets booked up far in advance but you can either go for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner (imagine how amazing the view would be in evening). Highly recommend.