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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter.

New York is famous for its plethora of sightseeing spots, trendy restaurants, and amazing fashion (check out Her Campus’ College Fashion Week on October 20th!) With so much to see and not much time to experience it all, we created the ultimate College Girl’s Guide to NYC.

Hotel:

Sofitel New York

Located at the heart of Midtown and only a 10 minute walk from Times Square, Sofitel New York is the perfect place to call home during your next trip to New York City  — from the incredibly attentive and kind staff to the modern and bright rooms. We stayed on the 23rd floor with a one-of-a-kind view of the skyline encompassing the “bright lights big city” feel, complete with a desk, sofa bed, two televisions and a king size bed – perfect amount of space for 4 ladies. 

Attractions:

Hudson’s NYC at Pier 81

Hudson’s NYC is a  3-story cruise ship, which includes a full restaurant, two bars, and a live DJ. Guests are taken for a ride that glides alongside the New York Harbor, to enjoy the gorgeous views of the city. As promised on their website, guests can “escape the chaos of the city, without escaping its beauty.” True to this statement, we were completely blown away by the experience. Hudson’s is located at Pier 81, West 41st Street, placing it in the prime location to get the best views of Manhattan. 

Rosé Mansion

The two-story mansion located in Midtown Manhattan is a Rosé lover’s dream with interactive photo opportunities and an endless supply of RosĂ© samples. We had a blast creating our own Rosé and learning about the history of this famous pink drink. 

The Plaza Hotel

If you loved Eloise at the Plaza as much as we did growing up, then you must stop by the beautiful Plaza Hotel for tea time. Make sure to ask the hotel staff for a mini tour of the Eloise themed artwork around the hotel and stop by the beautiful Palm Court restaurant.  

Restaurants:

Maison Pickle

It’s no exaggeration: Maison Pickle has the best mac and cheese you can buy! The Upper West Side spot offers — yes — pickles both kosher dill and spicy, along with its famous French toast. But the real star of the show is the gooey macaroni and cheese, a must-try if you stop by the French-named restaurant in New York City. It prides itself on offering American favorites, and it does tenfold. Maison Pickle’s interior has the vibes of a cozy French cafe, with soft orange lighting from bulbs up above. 

Buca Di Beppo​

With its signature red-and-white checkered tablecloths and walls filled with family photos and Italian decor, Buca di Beppo serves up family-style Italian dishes all across the world. The Buca di Beppo location we visited in New York City is unique because it is in the heart of bustling Times Square. With the crowded streets, bright lights and nonstop entertainment, this location is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before wandering the streets or attending a Broadway play.​

Stuffed Ice Cream

Located at the heart of New York in East Village, 139 1st Avenue, you’ll find the most adorable ice cream shop. Stuffed Ice Cream is famed for its unique twist on ice cream, creating beautiful ice cream bouquets with unique flavors and bright colors.

Tipsy Scoop

Tipsy Scoop is famous for their alcoholic ice cream and sorbets. They have a variety of delicious flavors, such as Raspberry Limonchello Sorbet, Cake Batter Vodka Martini, Mango Margarita Sorbet, and Dark Chocolate Whiskey Salted Caramel. We highly recommend stopping by for a boozy treat!

Fashion:

New York may arguably be considered the fashion capital of the United States. And with the city’s busy, fast-paced atmosphere, the fashion there is always ahead of the game on the latest trends and styles. We love drawing inspiration from the iconic NY fashion featured in both Gossip Girl and Sex and the City. 

Check out our New York fashion guide article for fun looks from the city that never sleeps.

Sara Zaghi was the Campus Correspondent and Editor in Chief of Her Campus at UCLA, which rose to the #1 chapter in the Her Campus Chapter Network of 370+ Campuses during her tenure, from 2015-2019. Zaghi is a self-proclaimed "Professional Fangirl” and currently works in entertainment and fashion publicity. In 2016, Sara was listed as one of Her Campus' Top 22 Under 22 Most Inspiring College Women. Check out Sara's College Girl's Travel Guides for Catalina Island, Las Vegas, New York, Napa Valley, Boston, and Chicago. Contact Sara via email: Sara_Zaghi@yahoo.com
Megan is UCLA's Co-Campus Correspondent. She is a 4th year English major and Education Studies minor at UCLA. When she's not at a coffee shop reading, she loves going to the beach and trying different cuisines at new restaurants.
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Lindsay was the president/editor-in-chief of the UCLA chapter of Her Campus from 2015-2018. She was previously the Viral Section Editor at Her Campus and an Editorial Intern at the headquarters in Boston. Lindsay grew up in Washington state and transitioned to love the Southern California sunshine while studying communications and environmental science at UCLA. Twitter: @WeinbergLindsay.
Ysabel Chavez is a Snapchat Manager and Public Relations/Events Staff Member of the UCLA Chapter of Her Campus. She is fourth year student majoring in International Development Studies and minoring in Entrepreneurship. She has a passion for social media, creative marketing, innovation and entrepreneurship. She is originally for Sacramento, California and in her free time she loves going on spontaneous adventures or checking out local vegan hot spots.
Renée is an alumna at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and served as the HCUCLA Editor in Chief and one of the Campus Correspondents for the 2019-2020 school year. She is passionate about storytelling and pushing for more Asian American representation in fashion and entertainment.