Around the World in Lower Manhattan in 48 Hours

You’ll often hear people talking about the energy of New York City. And if you ask us, that energy comes from the city’s incredible diversity, which is especially evident in Lower Manhattan, where you’ll find dozens of globally inspired restaurants and meaningful historic sites, all within one square mile. You don’t have to hop on a plane to indulge in a French pastry and espresso, learn about Chinese history, or enjoy authentic Greek seafood. You can always go downtown.  

If you’re looking to experience the world in a day or two without leaving Lower Manhattan, we’ve got the perfect itinerary.

Day One: Global Sights and Bites

Breakfast at Cafe Patoro (223 Front St.) 

The ideal way to begin any day is with a Brazilian cheese bread and strong cup of coffee, and that’s exactly what you’ll get here. They also offer a other enticing bites like a breakfast sandwich, and Brazilian carrot cake. For an invigorating start to the morning, try the Cha Mate, an yerba mate iced tea that’s brewed overnight, the same way it’s made in Rio.  

China Institute Gallery (40 Rector St.)

You’ll want to set aside some time on your sojourn to visit the China Institute Gallery, a center of Chinese art that was the first non-profit gallery in the U.S. to showcase Chinese art and cultural pieces. Through July 13, you can catch the “Eternal Offering” exhibit, which showcases Chinese ritual bronzes. The gallery also regularly offers community events like calligraphy and music meetups, book talks and film screenings, so be sure to take a peek at the event calendar before your visit. 

Lunch at Aahar Indian Cuisine (60 Pearl St.)

Snag a table at this excellent Indian restaurant on Pearl Street. Start with an order of vegetable samosas before diving into a generous portion of tandoori chicken, lamb vindaloo, Goan fish curry, chana masala, or any of the other delicious options here. Get a mango lassi to wash it all down. 

Grab a Thai Iced Tea or Thai Coffee at Aroydee Thai (20 John St.) 

Another potential lunch spot in the neighborhood worth checking out is Aroydee Thai. Its chef-recommended menu includes rambutan duck curry, choo chee filet fish and a Thai pumpkin chicken curry. Even if you don’t stop in for a full meal, grab a Thai iced tea or Thai coffee to go so you’re fueled up for the rest of the day.  

Korean War Memorial (north of Castle Clinton National Monument in the Battery)

This memorial, which was dedicated in 1991, is one of the first Korean War memorials in the United States. The 15-foot monument made of granite is designed so visitors can see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island through the soldier’s silhouette. Pay attention to the paving blocks on the ground, which contain the numbers of those who died and were wounded as well as mission soldiers from each of the 22 countries involved in the war. 

Dinner at Farida (32 Cedar St.)

This restaurant serves Uzbek and Kazakh cuisine, which isn’t something you’ll find everywhere. The menu features a map of Central Asia to help orient visitors who are less familiar with the region, as well as details about chef Umitjon Kamolov’s family recipes. We highly recommend starting with the Umka puff pies and one of the many soups like Uzbek traditional shurpa or kharcho. For the main, consider the famous Kazan kebab, an Uzbek fried lamb steak with potatoes or the traditional Uzbek Plov, a mix of meat, rice, carrots and chickpeas.  

Drinks at El Vez (259 Vesey St.)

Yeah, you might be in a food coma after all the meat and cozy soups at Farida. But you should resist the urge to go straight to bed and instead grab a drink at El Vez. This Mexican eatery has incredible margaritas (lavender honey jalapeno margarita, anyone?) and other fun cocktails like the mezcal martini. The colorful space also makes for great photos.  

Day Two: European Adventure

Breakfast at La Parisienne (9 Maiden Ln.)

Start your day the French way at this cozy cafe. Fuel up with an almond or ham and cheese croissant with an espresso or tea. Other menu options include avocado toast, French toast, croque monsieur or madame sandwiches and cold pressed juices.

Fraunces Tavern Museum (54 Pearl St.) 

Stroll down to the Fraunces Tavern Museum to learn about NYC’s history. Which, as it turns out, is also Dutch history. Pay close attention to the yellow bricks outside — they were imported from the Dutch Republic and date back to 1719.  

Statue of Liberty 

New York City’s most iconic landmark was a gift to the U.S. from France, to commemorate the alliance of France and the U.S. during the American Revolution. Hop aboard a tour from Battery Park and meet Lady Liberty up close and personal with Statue City Cruises, the only authorized tour provider for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. 

Lunch at Anassa Taverna (104 North End Ave.)

Alas, you may not be dining on the beach in Greece, but Anassa Taverna’s downtown location is the next best thing. For lunch, enjoy fresh octopus, oysters and branzino with a side of Greek lemon potatoes and a crisp glass of white wine. If seafood isn’t your thing, there are also options like Greek salad, chicken breast with tzatziki and lamb kebabs.   

Irish Hunger Memorial (290 Vesey St.)

This outdoor garden was built to raise awareness about the devastation of famine in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. Throughout the memorial, statistics, quotes and poems about the famine are displayed. The garden is also home to more than 60 types of flora from Ireland and rocks from all 32 counties. 

Berlin Wall Segment (393 South End Ave.)

Many people don’t know that a significant piece of German history is tucked away in Lower Manhattan. A segment of the Berlin Wall was given to the Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority by the German Consulate, in recognition of the 15th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Downtown’s piece measures 12 feet high and eight feet wide and serves as a powerful symbol of the strength of democracy. 

Pre-dinner drinks at WarrenPeace (77 Warren St.) 

This Mediterranean-inspired spot offers inventive cocktails and elevated bites. Get herbal olives and pita and an order of Nana’s Hummus for the table. Some of the cocktails we’d recommend are the Pucker Down — made with dry gin, plum gin, amaro, plum shrub, lemon, honey and aquafaba — and the Switch Hitter, which contains mezcal, coffee infused campari, sweet vermouth, creme de cacao and tobacco bitters. This spot also has creative mocktails if you’re skipping the booze. 

Dinner at Carne Mare (89 South St.) 

Bring your appetite if you’re going for dinner at Carne Mare. The menu at the Italian chophouse has something for everyone: Wagyu steaks, woodland mushroom agnolotti, salt-baked black sea bass, Roman antipasto and so much more. For dessert, we’d recommend the sweet cream panna cotta or the carne caramello (salted caramel gelato and vanilla crema — need we say more?). 

Nightcap at Killarney Rose (127 Pearl St.) 

End the night with a pint at this classic Irish tavern, known for their selection of cold beers and tasty pub grub. The low-key vibe and local flair will help you wind down before heading back to your hotel or apartment for the night — the Guinness won’t hurt, either!

Tags: itinerary, WITS 2025