Downtown for WITS (or Anything Else)? Scope Out These Partnering Businesses
We’re so excited to welcome the WITS Travel Creator Summit, the largest gathering of women and gender diverse travel creators, which we’re hosting this year in Lower Manhattan from May 14-18. While exploring the world in one square mile (a small area, but a big adventure!), you’ll need to fuel up while you’re out and about, and we’ve got plenty of neighborhood WITS partners you can check out who have generously donated their time and energy to make sure WITS attendees have the time of their lives in Lower Manhattan.
Cultural Institutions and Museums
South Street Seaport Museum (12 Fulton St.) — A cultural gem at the Seaport that explores New York’s maritime history, complete with historic ships and vibrant exhibits.
National Museum of the American Indian (1 Bowling Green) — Explore Native cultures past and present at the New York location of this Smithsonian museum, housed in Manhattan’s historic Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House.
Statue Cruises (17 Battery Pl.) — The official ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Statue Cruises offers exclusive access to the New York Harbor’s most iconic landmarks.
One World Observatory (117 West St.) — Located on the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors of the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, a breathtaking 1,250 feet above street level, One World Observatory offers a dazzling perspective on the five boroughs we call home.
National September 11 Memorial & Museum (180 Greenwich St.) — This somber spot memorializes the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks and chronicles the events surrounding that fateful day using media, narratives and authentic artifacts.
Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust (36 Battery Pl.) — This Battery Park institution delves into stories and history comprising Jewish life before, during and after the Holocaust.
Governors Island Trust — A car-free urban oasis with nature, history, art, food and drink — not to mention incredible skyline views — just a five-minute ferry ride from Lower Manhattan.
Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) (251 Fulton St.) — Lower Manhattan’s stunning new cultural hub showcases diverse performances in an architectural landmark, complete with customizable stages and notable eatery Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson.
China Institute in America (100 Washington St.) — An internationally renowned nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and teaching Chinese art, history, culture, language and more.
Mercer Labs (21 Dey St.) — This futuristic art museum uses state-of-the-art technology to power immersive sonic and visual installations for rotating and permanent exhibitions.
Printemps (1 Wall St.) — New York’s first outpost of the Parisian luxury retail experience offers haute couture and creative food-and-beverage-concepts in a spectacular Art Deco-inspired space.
LMCC (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council) (125 Maiden Ln.) — Championing artists and arts programming across the neighborhood.
Places to Stay
AC Hotel by Marriott New York Downtown (151 Maiden Ln.) — Sleek European style and modern comfort steps from the historic Seaport.
Courtyard by Marriott New York Financial District (215 Pearl St.) — A modern hotel offering contemporary rooms, a 24-hour fitness center, and easy access to landmarks like the World Trade Center, Brooklyn Bridge and the Seaport.
Four Points by Sheraton New York Downtown (6 Platt St.) — Centrally located hotel with modern rooms and amenities as well as on-site dining options like the Wuish restaurant and Highkey Rainforest Rooftop Bar.
Hotel Indigo NYC Financial District (50 Trinity Pl.) — Boutique vibes and local flair in the city’s historic core, with rooms offering views of Trinity Church.
Mint House (70 Pine St.) — Hi-tech luxury apartment-style suites designed for both short-term and extended stays.
New York Marriott Downtown (85 West St.) — A stylish four-star hotel located near the World Trade Center campus.
Placemakr Wall Street (110 Wall St.) — Flexible apartment-style living spaces, with options ranging from studios to four-bedrooms to fit a range of needs and stays.
Residence Inn New York Downtown / World Trade Center (170 Broadway) — Conveniently located hotel boasting spacious rooms and suites with kitchenettes, perfect for business or leisure travelers.
Residence Inn New York Downtown / Financial District (215 Pearl St.) — Just steps from the Seaport, this amenity-stocked hotel is geared towards long-stay travelers.
Four Seasons New York Downtown (27 Barclay St.) — Sophisticated five-star luxury hotel with all the fixings, right by the World Trade Center campus.
Millennium Downtown New York (55 Church St.) — Modern accommodations with sweeping city views located merely steps from iconic landmarks like the World Trade Center, the Oculus, and Wall Street.
Tours
Manhattan by Sail — For travelers with sea legs, Manhattan by Sail offers speciality sails and private charters aboard a historic schooner or tall ship.
Vivace Tours — Personalized walking tours covering everything from culture to food to insider stories.
Cats About Town Walking Tours — The first walking tour for cat-lovers, this feline-centric tour company unspools the city cat lore.
NYC 4 All — Immersive local-led walking tours geared toward Italian visitors.
Things to Do
Bowne + Co Stationers (211 Water St.) — Part of the South Street Seaport Museum, this working 19th century print shop has hands-on workshops in addition to paper goods and trinkets for sale.
QC NY Spa (112 Andes Rd.) — Located on Governors Island, this luxurious Italian wellness destination boasts everything from saunas to spa treatments to heated spa pools with incredible skyline views.
Black Surfing East Coast Association — This Rockaway-based nonprofit is dedicated to empowering Black and brown youth through free surfing lessons, water safety education and community-building initiatives.
Food and Beverage
BagelUp — An essential hub for bagel enthusiasts, with everything from bagel-centric festivals to tours to classes to consulting services for prospective bagelmakers.
Bagel Market (110 Wall St., 168 William St.) — Classic bagels and schmears with modern twists.
Eataly NYC Downtown (101 Liberty St.) — A vibrant Italian marketplace complete with fresh meat, cheese, pasta and pizza counters and Italian dry goods, in addition to eat-in restaurants.
The Dead Rabbit (30 Water St.) — One of Lower Manhattan’s most celebrated cocktail spots, this downtown standout serves up some of the best Irish coffee around, as well as speciality cocktails — though you can never go wrong with a stiff pint of Guinness.
Delmonico’s (56 Beaver St.) — Known to be America’s first fine-dining restaurant, this classic spot serves up iconic dishes, steaks and old-school glamour in a gorgeous setting.
Fraunces Tavern (54 Pearl St.) — Established in 1762 and formerly a watering hole for many of the country’s founding fathers, this Revolutionary landmark now serves Irish food with a new American flare
Pisillo (97 Nassau St.) — Fans of Italian meats flock to this popular sandwich shop, which makes massive, tasty cold cut heroes using tasty fresh bread.
Ess-a-Bagel (115 Broadway) — A New York icon since 1976, the downtown outpost of this classic bagel spot offers bagels, schmears, sandwiches, salads and other appetizing goodies in a no-frills space.
Ashby’s (120 Broadway) — Sandwiches, soups, salads, cookies, coffee and other breakfast and lunch bites.
Black Fox (70 Pine St.) — Globally sourced coffee in a sleek, sophisticated space.
La Parisienne (11 Maiden Ln.) — Breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch, happy hour and light evening fare served in a charming little French cafe.
Blue Park Kitchen (70 Pine St.) — Fast-casual build-your-own bowl options that are smart, healthy and filling.
Oculus Beer Garden (2 World Trade Center Plaza) — A seasonal outdoor oasis that serves up brews, wines and beer garden-friendly bites like bratwurst and Bavarian pretzels.
Funny Face Bakery (6 Fulton St.) — Whimsical cookies and ooey, gooey chocolate-y delights can be found at this colorful Seaport shop.
MCM Coffee (88 Fulton St.) — An independent coffee shop with coffee drinks, tasty Uruguayan bites and home goods in an uber-cozy space.
Pi Bakerie (35 Cedar St.) — Greek eatery with delectable lunch specials and baked goods.
Café Patoro (223 Front St.) — Serving up Brazilian baked goods and other delicacies in the Seaport for nearly a decade.
Morton’s the Steakhouse (136 Washington St.) — Morton’s the Steakhouse’s downtown outpost features USDA prime-aged steaks, succulent fish and fresh seafood in the heart of Lower Manhattan.
Chick-Fil-A (144 Fulton St.) — Fast-food chicken behemoth with sandwiches, fries and more.
Stout NYC (90 John St.) — Downtown outpost of NYC fave Stout is a prime location for lunch or after-work drinks, plus bottomless brunch on the weekends makes it a lively spot to watch the game.
Retail
Century 21 (22 Cortlandt St.) — A Lower Manhattan discount designer icon offering deals on everything from couture dresses to the hottest new Ray-Bans.
Westfield World Trade Center (185 Greenwich St.) — A striking retail and dining destination in the Oculus, housing a vibrant mix of global brands and local favorites.
Sephora (175 Broadway) — Global beauty retailer with hundreds of curated beauty brands, hair and skin care products.
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One of our goals as an organization is to make Lower Manhattan known as a premiere destination far and wide.
