I’ve traveled to New York City probably more times than I can count by now, so it’s safe to say that I’ve seen quite a bit of it. But similarly to Toronto, it changes constantly and there are always new things to see. So on my most recent trip to NYC, I decided to put together a little hit list of some of the top most Instagrammable places to visit if you’re headed to this beautiful city in the upcoming future and are hoping to grab some snaps for the gram! Because trust me, I’ve definitely traveling to NYC for exactly just that in the past!
Remember to bookmark this post for any of your upcoming trips to London so that you’ll have it for reference when planning out your itinerary!
As always, all of the locations have been organized into the different categories that are most frequently searched for online in order to aid the building out of your itinerary. I’ve also included the ideal times to arrive at each location at in order to avoid crowds (if that’s something that is a priority of yours), because while many of them definitely require an early morning start, many also do not. Night owls fear not! You can definitely sleep in and still get amazing photos at some places that are empty pretty much all day long.
Merci Market (168 7th Ave)
This small inconspicuous market was never on our radar until we passed by it in a cab one day back in 2018. I purposely made a point in going back to shoot in front of it because it’s little flower market made for the perfect floral backdrop for photos. I don’t usually find myself roaming Chelsea as it isn’t really my neighbourhood of choice, but when you do, you come across gems like this one! I’d recommend also purchasing something from the convenience store if you’re going to be spending time taking photos in front of it.
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Eataly Rooftop (200 5th Ave)
Eataly itself is a phenomenal place, but it’s rooftop patio takes the cake. Definitely ask for directions as to how to get to the top because it’s easy getting lost inside the main floor. Once up there, take some time to enjoy the beautiful decor before settling in for a coffee, or even a lunch! Beyond photos, this is a wonderful spot for a meal because it feels like a little secluded sanctuary in the busy hubbub of NYC.
Timing: Any time as though this is a popular spot for photos it doesn’t often get busy. There will be a lot of customers eating, but not too many people taking photos.
Flatiron Building (175 5th Ave)
This iconic building is a central backdrop to the quintessential NYC photo. If you’re lucky enough to visit the city during the Spring season, you might also be able to capture some beautiful cherry blossoms nearby! For the best photo, walk over to Eataly to get the mos amazing vantage point of the Flatiron without having to crop anything out of the photo! There’s also an adorable little clock on the sidewalk that’s a great spot to stand as well with the Flatiron in the background.
Timing: As early as possible as the roads in front of the Flatiron building are main commuter routes and can tend to get quite busy during rush hour. When shooting there, I arrived at around 7 AM and found that the city was relatively quite until 8 AM.
Village East Cinema (181-189 2nd Ave)
I primarily love this movie theater because of its retro front. All of the movies’ titles are still spelled out letter by letter on the letter board, and the front facade is absolutely adorable! I’ve found that the best vantage point to capture a photo is actually immediately on the street in front of it, so be extremely careful about traffic when shooting your photos!
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Renwick Triangle (100-138 E 10th St)
Another little flatiron building nestled deep inside of a neighourbood of NYC, the Renwick Triangle is not only beautiful for it’s design, but also for the street corner that it sits on. Although I love the flatiron, I’d be lying if I didn’t also love the corner for the cute little street sign showing off the street names as well!
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Adore Floral (53 Bond St)
At first glance, this store front may look like a balloon store. But if you actually peak inside, it’s a flower shop! I’m just obsessed with the cute balloon decor that matches with the pink paint job in the front of the building. The little bench outside and bushes is a cute touch too! If you decide to take a seat on the bench like I did, be careful because the bench is slightly broken and may possibly collapse.
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Soho News International (186 Prince St #A)
This isn’t really a photo opportunity for most tourists since it’s just the side of a magazine/convenience store, but I love this interesting backdrop that just screams NYC street style life. The wall full of magazine routinely alternates as new editions and issues are released and makes for a fun and ever changing backdrop.
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Wooster Street and Greene Street
These are my 2 most favourite streets in all of NYC because they really give off the timeless and classic NYC street vibe. These beautiful buildings all have their fire exits still intact and now house some of the chicest designers around, making for beautiful street style photography. But besides the brand names in the windows, I just really enjoy the phenomenal architecture that is NYC buildings. If you need a specific spot to drop a pin on Google Maps, search up Byredo (62 Wooster Street). This storefront will also offer you the perfect stair-style walk up in the front for you to sit on for the perfect picture. Can we also talk about the beautiful Grecian columns littered down the sidewalk?!
Timing: As early in the day as possible before cars arrive to park all along the side walks as these are streets with heavy traffic. I would recommend searching up when the stores open and timing your photoshoot to coincide with 30-45 minutes before hand to ensure that the streets are nice and empty.
Ochre Showroom (462 Broome St)
This spot is quite easy to be missed as it’s along a road this isn’t often frequented by tourists unless mid-commute to somewhere. I was first introduced to this store front by Tee, and I’ve fallen in love with the doors since. Aren’t the distressed wooden doors absolutely sweet?
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Cafe Leon Doré (214 Mulberry St)
Paris or NYC? You decide! The little cafe attached to the side of the store literally exudes everything Parisian, except for the fact that it’s in the middle of a busy NYC street. Surely the enclosed patio does transport you to a little Parisian patio—the perfect respite from a busy work day! Grab a little something to drink, and then grab a quick photo. You’ll have your followers guessing if you recently traveled to Paris or NYC!
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities, but the patio does fill up quick.
Pietro Nolita (174 Elizabeth St)
I’ve yet to actually at this restaurant, but the front is ridiculously adorable! With tons of pink everywhere, it’s easy to get a variety of photos of this space from different angles. It is quite the busy establishment though so you’ll have to be patient with people entering and exiting.
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
Yumi Kim (105 Stanton St #1)
This seasonally changing wall is one of my faves! And yes, it’s directly situated above of a waste basket so I would recommend that you bring along some Lysol wipes or grocery bags to sit on if you intend on sitting atop of the waste baskets. Personally I didn’t put anything down when I sat down because I didn’t really care that much, but you may be in for a shock if expecting just a pretty wall and arrive to only find out that it’s literally the lid of a garbage can. Nonetheless, the painting done along the side of the wall has definitely done Yumi Kim some marketing justice because I never even know that the designer existed until I saw photos of the wall on Instagram! I also love this place because it changes each season so can always go back every few months for a brand new backdrop!
Timing: Any time as though this is a popular spot for photos it doesn’t often get busy. Both times that I went to shoot in front of it, it was completely empty!
Ludlow Coffee Supply (176 Ludlow St)
I love this little coffee shop because of all of the corners inside that you can sit at curled up with your laptop or a book. Whether you like to soak up the sun (sit in the seats by the windows), or on a couch (curl up in the back), you’re bound to find a spot inside that suits your fancy. I personally love the window seats, and they make for great people watching. The endless natural light that streams into the place makes for some great lighting opportunities for photos too!
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities, but the tables fill up quick so you may have to be patient to get the specific spot that you want for a photo.
L’Appartement Sézane (254 Elizabeth St)
Ah Sézane, not only is the exterior beautiful, but the inside is too! The decor seasonally changes so be sure to come back every few months to see some different decor! If you have the time to wander inside of the store, there’s also a beautiful Parisian cafe-style set up near the windows that also serve as an amazing secondary back drop. Wander deeper into the store and you’ll find a floral covered photobooth that’s also another cute photo opp!
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities, though locals and bloggers alike love to flock to this storefront for photos.
ba&sh (257 Elizabeth St)
Immediately across the street from Sézane is ba&ash. Though not as ornate, I love the tiny little fairy lights intertwined against the tree branches that arch up over the store front! The darkness of the tree branches juxtaposed against the pink walls is also just as pretty and makes for the sweetest summertime photo opp.
Timing: Any time as this isn’t really a tourist destination for photo opportunities.
I hope that you found some new places to add to your itinerary for your upcoming or future trips to New York City. There are so many more places that I’d love to continue adding to this post in the future, and I definitely hope to grow this post to become something that is a comprehensive guide for Instagrammers visiting New York City. So if there are any places that you feel that I may have missed, or would warrant a spot in this post, please feel free to comment and let me know!
Photography Credits: Siffat Haider
