{"id":259055,"date":"2026-06-08T11:21:16","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/259055\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T11:21:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:21:16","slug":"what-to-do-in-nyc-according-to-antoni-porowski","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/259055\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do in NYC, according to Antoni Porowski"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York City<\/a> welcomes over 65 million travelers annually. But a visit to the Big Apple offers more than selfies in Times Square or a pretzel from a street cart. Each of the five boroughs has its own personality, from\u00a0unique architecture<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0multicultural food history<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The sheer volume of options\u2014tens of thousands of restaurants and over 135,000 hotel rooms\u2014may leave some visitors overwhelmed. The key to a memorable New York City visit lies in its curation. A bit of planning goes a long way, according to Antoni Porowski<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best of the World with Antoni Porowski premieres June 7 at 9\/8c on National Geographic and streams next day on Disney+<\/a> and Hulu.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Best of the World\u00a0host\u00a0moved to New York City to pursue an acting career, then landed on the reboot of\u00a0Queer Eye\u00a0as the food expert. There\u2019s no better on-the-ground adventurer than Porowski. In National Geographic\u2019s new series, the two-time Emmy winner heads to\u00a0London,\u00a0Mexico City, and\u00a0Paris\u2014but no \u201cbest of\u201d list is complete without a nod to his hometown.<\/p>\n

1. Pick up a New York Slice (reinvented) at Cuts & Slices\u00a0<\/p>\n

Porowski heads to a quiet street in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn for a slice with a story. Randy and Ashlee McLaran opened\u00a0Cuts & Slices<\/a>\u00a0in 2018, bringing high-quality ingredients and cultural diversity to New York City\u2019s pizza scene.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Skip the standard slice and go for their signature oxtail topping\u2014available in four varieties, including spicy curry. The oxtail is braised for eight hours to achieve its deep flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture. The couple has expanded to locations in Queens and Manhattan, which doesn\u2019t surprise Porowski, who says, \u201cIt\u2019s always the story and the people behind it that give a place a real soul and longevity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Despite a growing\u00a0national pizza scene<\/a>\u00a0that expands beyond New York City and Chicago, making a mark in Manhattan remains a badge of honor for serious pizza makers. Enter\u00a0Pizza Tsubasa Tamaki<\/a>, which fuses Japanese precision with traditional Neapolitan pies. Located on the Lower East Side, Tsubasa Tamaki\u2019s first U.S. outpost features dark wood and whitewashed brick, allowing Tamaki\u2019s proprietary flour blend to take center stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After 700 test batches to create what he describes as a \u201cspecific balance of elasticity, structure, fermentation behavior, and flavor,\u201d Tamaki settled on a blend of Japanese, American, and Canadian flours, blasted at 900 degrees in a custom-built Acunto Neapolitan oven to produce his signature char and pillowy texture. The namesake pizza features San Marzano tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, pecorino romano, and basil. His secret touch? A toss of Okinawan sea salt onto the searing-hot oven surface for\u00a0shio no shigeki, a \u201csalt punch\u201d that amplifies the flavor profile of every pie.<\/p>\n

(7 of the best things to do in London<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

2. Leave your mark in New York City with Lady Pink<\/p>\n

Born in\u00a0Ecuador<\/a>\u00a0and raised in Queens, graffiti artist Lady Pink was only 17 years old when her work appeared alongside greats like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat at MoMA PS1. Pink chose public spaces rather than canvas for creative expression. Porowski spends an afternoon with the artist, whose commitment to accessibility reaches far and wide. \u201cWhen I set an example like this, it opens doors for all to come out and paint as well,\u201d she says. \u201cPeople from all over the world come to paint here; everyone wants to leave their mark on New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those short on time, a visit to\u00a0The Welling Court Mural Project<\/a>\u00a0in Astoria showcases over 150 murals with new works commissioned each summer.<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Free art can also be found beyond the city streets.\u00a0Amant<\/a>\u00a0founder and CEO Lonti Ebers, an avid art collector, wanted to create free gallery space and a residency program for mid-career artists. The result is a free-of-charge 31,000-square-foot East Williamsburg campus, winner of the Municipal Art Society of New York\u2019s 2021 MASTerworks Award for Best New Building.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Installations change seasonally, showcasing Ebers\u2019 commitment to amplifying experimental work. Past exhibitions include\u00a0Grada Kilomba<\/a>\u2019s first U.S. solo show,\u00a0Heroes, Birds and Monsters<\/a>, which dismantled colonialism through video, photography, and performance. In addition, free programming from book launches to summer DJ sets engages local artists and visitors alike.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many\u00a0great institutions and museums<\/a>\u00a0already,\u201d says Ebers of her decision to lean into a non-collecting residency model. \u201cThe community that needed more is the artist community, and a venue for presenting experimental work.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Savor a multi-course Japanese meal with a Polish twist\"Antoni<\/p>\n

At Ikigai, chef Rafal Maslankiewicz shows Antoni Porowski how to make knedle, a boiled dumpling common throughout eastern and central Europe.<\/p>\n

National Geographic<\/p>\n

Porowski is Canadian by birth, but the child of Polish immigrants, and the taste for his heritage is never far away. While New York has plenty of spots to stop for\u00a0a taste of its immigrant past<\/a>, chef Rafal Maslankiewicz\u2019s\u00a0Ikigai<\/a>\u00a0turns the experience into a riff on the Japanese multi-course dining experience kaiseki with Polish flair.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 12-course tasting menu begins in what Porowski describes as a \u201cjewel box deprivation tank\u201d for an exacting 17 minutes, followed by a first course such as Japanese milk bread with pickled lotus-wrapped\u00a0buracski\u00a0(Polish beets). The adjacent dining room provides a backdrop for a seasonally driven menu. Chef Maslankiewicz fuses Polish heritage and Japanese technique, culminating in a reimagined\u00a0knedle\u00a0(a boiled dumpling common throughout eastern and central Europe) with the texture of\u00a0mochi<\/a>\u2014worth a train ride to Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Within walking distance of Times Square and 41 Broadway theaters,\u00a0The History<\/a>\u00a0makes its mark with a tribute to\u00a0Georgia\u2019s cuisine<\/a>\u00a0and culture. Dine like Georgian royalty among portraits of past monarchs and reproductions of artifacts and historical garments. Live performances ranging from jazz to traditional Georgian folk dancing,\u00a0six nights per week, add flair to a menu that honors history with dishes like\u00a0Megrelian kharcho\u00a0(a slow-cooked beef stew), and an extensive wine list celebrating\u00a0the country\u2019s 8,000-year-old viticulture<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

(7 of the best things to do in Paris<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

4. Go glamping on Governors Island for a serene getaway<\/p>\n

Once inhabited by the Lenape and later colonized, militarized, and finally sold to New York City for a dollar in 2003,\u00a0Governors Island<\/a>\u00a0has since become one of the most unexpected places to sleep under the stars in the city. Porowski brings his rescue dog, Neon, for a sleepover at\u00a0Collective Retreats<\/a>\u2014the ultimate glamping experience with views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan.<\/p>\n

\"Antoni<\/p>\n

Antoni Porowski and his dog Neon enjoy the sunset at Collective Retreats, a quiet escape on Governors Island in New York City.<\/p>\n

National Geographic\/Jose Alvarado Jr.<\/p>\n

Day trippers can also enjoy the island\u2019s 120 acres, which include\u00a0public art<\/a>\u00a0and family-friendly play areas.\u00a0QC Spa New York<\/a>\u00a0takes rest and relaxation a step further with over 20 spa experiences, including outdoor pools, saunas, and themed rooms featuring video mapping and other sensory stimulators.<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Most travelers may be familiar with\u00a0aerial trams in\u00a0Palm Springs<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Cape Town<\/a>, but neither can boast the ruins of\u00a0Gothic Revival architectural ruins<\/a>\u00a0and world-class art upon arrival. B.J. Jones, operating corporate president and CEO for\u00a0Roosevelt Island<\/a>, describes the destination as \u201cincredibly idyllic and unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noteworthy sites include Amanda Matthews\u2019\u00a0The Girl Puzzle<\/a>, a monument honoring investigative reporter Nellie Bly, and the FDR Hope Memorial dedicated to President Franklin D. Roosevelt\u2019s disability advocacy. \u201cThe walk along the promenade offers amazing views of both Manhattan and Queens,\u201d says Jones, \u201cand you get to experience everything else the island has to offer along the way.\u201d To avoid crowds, take the F or M subway to arrive, then enjoy a less crowded tram ride back to Manhattan.\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. Experience one of the most innovative cocktail bars<\/p>\n

Regularly ranked as one of the\u00a0world\u2019s best bars<\/a>\u00a0since opening in 2020, GN Chan and Faye Chen\u2019s\u00a0Double Chicken Please<\/a>\u00a0features seasonal cocktails on tap in the front bar, Free Range, and inventive mixology in the Coop to the rear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From drinks inspired by the Waldorf salad to cold pizza, nothing is off limits, but Japanese cold noodle\u2014rum, pineapple, cucumber, coconut, lime, and sesame oil\u2014may be the venue\u2019s most celebrated concoction. Porowski tasted the mocktail version, declaring, \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect manifestation of the American Dream that people always talk about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Recently named the number-one\u00a0restaurant in New York City<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0The New York Times, chef Paul Carmichael has a line out the door at his Caribbean restaurant, Kabawa. For those in the know, the adjacent\u00a0Bar Kabawa<\/a>\u00a0offers travelers a chance to explore Carmichael\u2019s extensive rum list and daiquiris with house-shaved ice. Non-alcoholic options also feature tropical ingredients, such as the Tranquilto, made with mint, lime, allspice, and snow ice. Bar bites like savory patties filled with Geera goat or tamarind-glazed fish collar feel right at home in the transportive setting featuring Dominican American artist Raelis Vasquez\u2019s vibrant large-scale mural.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the product that brings it all together,\u201d says Carmichael, who\u2019s been in the industry for over 30 years. For Bar Kabawa, the neighborhood is an integral ingredient. \u201cThe East Village is bustling. People are on the streets, and that adds to the feel of it. New York City\u2019s got its own style and attitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

(8 of the best things to do in Mexico City<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

6. See the city in motion at the annual New York City Marathon<\/p>\n

An extra adrenaline rush descends on the Big Apple the first Sunday in November, when nearly 60,000 runners traverse the five boroughs for the\u00a0New York City Marathon<\/a>. Enter via a\u00a0charity partnership<\/a> (minimum fundraising of $3,000),\u00a0enter a drawing<\/a>, or do what Porowski did and cheer on a loved one from the sidelines.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like that? Try this.\u00a0Over 32,000 bikers breeze through the five boroughs each May for the\u00a0Five Boro Bike Tour<\/a>. While the official ride may be a tough entry to secure, a quick QR code scan at one of Citi Bike\u2019s 2,200 docking stations can unlock an exhilarating way to experience New York City through its extensive network of dedicated bike lanes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How to get around New York CityA robust public transportation network makes navigating New York City affordable, if not always reliable. Eventually, the subway or bus will arrive, and the destination will be worth the wait. Here are five things to know before going.
1. Trains service every major New York City airport<\/a>. Plan on extra time, but it\u2019ll likely still be faster than sitting in gridlock traffic and considerably less expensive.\u00a0
2. Tap and go<\/a>. The MTA (buses, subways, and JFK\u2019s AirTrain) uses tap-and-go technology. Pay with a smart chip debit or credit card, smartphone, or wearable device. Use the same payment method for an extended stay, with a $35 cap within seven days.\u00a0
3. Wallet-draining pedicabs<\/a>. The rate typically starts at $3\u00a0per minute. Always confirm the price before the trip begins.
4. Enjoy the ride from the water<\/a>. The NYC Ferry system traverses all five boroughs and Governor\u2019s Island.\u00a0
5. Walk with intention<\/a>. Nothing reads tourist like skyscraper gazing.\u00a0Take a walking tour<\/a>\u00a0at a slow and steady pace.