With the hustle and bustle of daily life and the constant schedules to adhere to, traveling for an actual vacation is sometimes out of reach. But that’s not to say a fun, relaxing change of scenery is out of the question. I’m willing to bet that most people live in an area that they don’t always explore or haven’t had the opportunity to treat like a destination in a long time or maybe never. A new restaurant, museum, show or hotel in your own town or city can be a great opportunity to treat yourself to a staycation. And that’s just what my family and I did here in New York City. Although I have lived here for over 10 years there is always something new and exciting to explore. Sometimes you just have to push yourself to see them.
Just had the most delightful staycation moment at the Andaz 5th Ave!
For our overnight getaway, we choose the Andaz 5th Avenue hotel. It is part of the Hyatt brand of hotels (which in all fairness) I am very loyal to. It is centrally located in the Bryant park area which includes tons of fun and exciting entertainment for all ages, plus the famous New York Public library. From the moment I stepped into their effortlessly cool lobby (seriously, the vibe is immaculate), I knew this wasn’t your average NYC hotel. Every detail, from the art to the super friendly hosts, felt intentionally designed to make you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a chic, secret haven. If you’re looking for a spot that blends luxury with a truly local, laid-back feel right in the heart of Midtown, this is it! Already dreaming of my next visit. #Andaz5thAve #NYCStaycation #LuxuryTravel #BoutiqueHotel #NewYorkCity #TravelGram https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/nycam-andaz-5th-avenue
Strip House restaurant
We visited the Strip House restaurant in midtown. They are known for their perfectly charred crust on their steaks and the whole roasted garlic that garnishes the plate upon arrival. We started with the best kept secret steak toast(usually on served at the bar) but if you know you know and truly worth it. A crispy crostini smeared with rich creamed spinach, then layered with thinly sliced filet mignon and topped with a sprinkle of rock salt for a completely perfect bite. We also had the seafood tower (my daughter Sadie’s favorite) which included oysters, large shrimp cocktail, lump crab and tuna poke and the bacon app which has a pastrami rub and is served with pickles and mustard, reminiscent of a traditional New York deli sandwich. At this point we knew we had over ordered as we were still waiting on a porterhouse that we were planning to share between the 4 of us as well French fries, mushrooms and Brussels sprouts as sides. Everything was wonderful but boy were we full. Fortunately our hotel had a fridge so we were able to take things to-go, and with the location so close to Bryant Park it was the perfect opportunity to take a stroll and walk off some of that indulgent meal. Overall I will always recommend Strip House. They take traditional steakhouse items and add a slightly unique spin. The simple, yet flavorful details stand out making it one of my top choices in the city. They have a downtown location on 12th street offering the same menu but has a Speakeasy bar in the basement. I have not yet visited the speakeasy but it is on my list of places to try this year! #steakhouse #striphouse #food #nycfood https://www.striphouse.com/location/striphouse-midtown/
