And for some curious reason, tourists visiting one of the world’s great culinary destinations seem content packing into the same old mediocre chain restaurants they find back home. Applebee’s and Olive Garden in Times Square have become a punchline to locals.

But thankfully, things are changing. Some interesting and affordable tastes are slowly pushing their way into the Theater District, the region focused around Times Square and bounded east to west by Sixth and Eighth avenues (roughly) and north to south by 57th to 40th streets.

More tips for visiting NYC on the cheap:
• How to save on hotels in New York City
• The ultimate cheapo guide for visiting New York
• Cheap hotels in Times Square and the Theater District

How to eat in Times Square on a budget

So if you’ve already scored affordable tickets to a Broadway show, where can you eat for cheap? It all depends on what you’re looking for. Here are a few suggestions for cheap eats in Times Square.

Mmmmm… burgers, fries, and more burgers at Shake Shack. Photo: Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

Burgers: Shake Shack

Renowned restaurateur, Danny Meyer, transformed a hot dog cart into the first Shake Shack a few blocks downtown at Madison Square Park and never looked back. Though it evolved into a chain with more than 250 locations around the world (and counting), this is one of the pioneering locations. And it’s as good as ever.

For the record, I’m particularly fond of Shake Shack. It’s not unusual to find me huddled over a ShackBurger, fries and house-made lemonade for breakfast at that original location, which opens earlier than the Theater District Shack. Though their crispy chicken sandwiches and hot dogs receive acclaim, Shake Shack is all about burgers and their signature beef blend. The crinkle-cut fries may sound pedestrian, but they’re prepared perfectly. The lemonade is fresh and tart.

Shake Shack has a fair number of seats, but the lines get really long, winding through a short maze indoors before spilling onto Eighth Avenue. Things move fairly quickly, but that only means you’ll playing musical chairs to grab a table unless you arrive soon after opening or during a rare lull during the day.

And here’s a quick tip: Shake Shack concretes — frozen custard mixed with cookies or candy — are great, too. And if all you want are frozen custard, beverages, beer or wine, you can jump into the shorter “C–Line” for quicker service.

Shake Shack
691 Eighth Ave. (at 44th St.)
shakeshack.com

Spice up your cheap dinner with hand-ripped noodles from Xi’an Famous. Photo: Jason Lam on Flickr

Chinese: Xi’an Famous Foods

You can find a great burger in most cities, but not fresh, handmade noodles. And that’s what draws New Yorkers to Xi’an Famous Foods. From its initial, hole-in-the-wall location in the basement of a Queens shopping mall, Xi’an’s fiery noodles leaped across the river to Manhattan’s Chinatown and then engulfed the entire island.

Head to one of the two nearby locations for “hand-ripped” noodles served in dishes and soups with combinations of vegetables and meats. There’s also a selection of dumplings and what Xi’an calls “burgers” — shredded meat on a bun.

What you want is the Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles — or, if you’ve got to eat and walk, the Spicy Cumin Lamb Burger. (Xi’an warns that noodles are made to be eaten quickly, right out of the kitchen.) But if lamb isn’t on your agenda, the Liang Pi Cold Skin Noodles, Stewed Pork Burger, and Spicy and Tingly Beef Noodles round out their top five sellers.

Now for some tips: Since the family-owned and operated restaurants are surrounded by towering office buildings, they all get slammed during the lunch and dinner rushes. Your wait will be shorter if you can visit between 2 and 6 pm or on weekends. Also, spicy means spicy. Xi’an Famous Foods draws its name and family recipes from a city in northwestern China known for dishes kindled with cumin, chili, and peppercorns, and this is the real deal. But everything is made to order; so, if you want a milder version, just ask.

Xi’an Famous Foods
37 West 43rd St. (between 5th and 6th Ave.)
37 West 54th St. (between 5th and 6th Ave.)
xianfoods.com

Gray’s Papaya on 8th Avenue is always ready to serve you a hot dog. Photo: David

Hot Dogs: Gray’s Papaya

New Yorkers are busy. And, so it appears, always running late. Which makes hot dogs the perfect, cheapo food: a portable meal you can eat on the run, and one you can find everywhere.

Let’s start by debunking one myth: Food carts are not the dicey proposition many visitors believe. In fact, they’re a staple for many locals and some even serve gourmet specialties. So, you’re rarely more than a block away from a credible New York dog.

But there are a few legendary versions, and one of them is Gray’s Papaya. What sets it apart? It’s always open. It’s very good. And it’s cheap. In fact, Gray’s Papaya is famous for its “Recession Special,” two hot dogs and a medium drink for about six bucks. In Midtown Manhattan, you can’t do better than that.

It’s called Gray’s Papaya because papaya is one of their featured, non-alcoholic tropical beverages, but maybe not the best. I prefer piña colada, though they also serve coconut and banana — along with pineapple juice, soda, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Gray’s Papaya
612 8th Ave. (between 39th and 40th St.)
grayspapaya.nyc

Middle Eastern: The Halal Guys

One example of the upscale food cart trend is The Halal Guys, which began as a single cart in the Theater District and rode demand from Muslim taxi drivers to become an international restaurant phenomenon. Their original offering is also their most popular — a combo platter of chicken and beef gyro over rice. They serve both types of meat and a pretty good falafel in platters and as sandwiches on pita, with a choice of toppings.

Then there are the sauces. Unless you enjoy playing with fire, ease into the hot sauce, which registers 115,000 on the Scoville spicy-heat scale. (Most jalapeños come in well under 10,000.) And their tangy white sauce is so popular it has its own following.

With plenty of hardcore fans in a busy section of the city, the carts along 53rd Street are not hard to find: Just look for a long line of New Yorkers from every ethnicity, background, and culture. But don’t be scared off by the crowd. Hop right in and meet some new friends. Things move pretty quickly.

The Halal Guys
West 53rd St. and 6th Ave.
West 53rd St. and 7th Ave.
thehalalguys.com

Latin American: Empanada Mama

Granted, this cheapo favorite is officially in Hell’s Kitchen, a block beyond the Theater District’s official boundaries, but this small gem is close to some Broadway venues and worth the short walk.

Touting “big flavors in small packages,” Empanada Mama features, well, empanadas — stuffed pastries, most fried, some baked, that are staples in many Latin American regions. There are about 40 empanadas on the main menu, under $4 each, with both traditional and not-so-traditional tastes.

In the mood for something traditional? Try Brasil, with ground beef, olives, sautéed onion, and potato, or Desayuno Colombiano, with Colombian pork sausage, cheddar cheese, eggs and Spanish onion. Prefer fusion? Consider El Ruben, with shredded beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese, or Pepperoni Pizza, with pepperoni, tomato sauce, and cheese. The variety is impressive and spills over to a small dessert menu with empanadas stuffed with fruit, cheese, and chocolate.

Like many New York restaurants, Empanada Mama has a compact — no, make that tiny — dining room, so be ready to wait if you arrive at prime time.

Empanada Mama
765 Ninth Ave. (between 51st and 52nd St.)
empmamanyc.com

Grab a slice before a show at NY Pizza Suprema. Photo: Jeff on Flickr

Pizza: Here’s Where It Gets Tricky

Pizza is the iconic NYC cheap eat. And there’s no shortage of storefronts peddling crust topped with tomato sauce and cheese. You can probably find one of those on every block. Maybe two. Or three.

What you won’t find in the Theater District is the kind of great slice joints scattered in neighborhoods around the city. Why? I dunno. Send me your theories. But I suspect it has to do with rents and that whole “tourists-content-at-Olive Garden” thing.

If you want pizza immediately before or after a show, your best bet is John’s of Times Square, a notable restaurant preparing traditional New York pies (no slices) in an 800-degree, coal-fired oven — along with a full menu of pasta, sandwiches, and dessert. But it may be known better for its setting in an abandoned church, complete with a stunning stained glass ceiling, which, to be honest, is pretty cool.

But I prefer to venture nine blocks outside the Theater District to NY Pizza Suprema, praised by many and rated by the “Slice Harvester” website as New York City’s best slice. Their regular cheese pizza is memorable. So are the Margherita and white slices. My advice? Go with whatever looks good — it will be — but be ready to order when it’s your turn and keep things moving.

John’s of Times Square
260 West 44th St. (between 7th and 8th Ave.)
johnspizzerianyc.com

NY Pizza Suprema
413 8th Ave. (between 31st and 30th St.)
nypizzasuprema.com

If you can’t decide: City Kitchen

If your group’s already arguing about where to eat — or perhaps you’re arguing with yourself! — your best bet is City Kitchen, located at the Row NYC Hotel. When you enter what’s billed as “A Times Square Food Market” you’ll find a busy room ringed by upscale food stalls.

I have a couple of favorites. Whitmans, one outpost of a popular burger-and-fries joint founded in New York’s East Village, serves a pared-down menu starring their Upstate Burger, a signature beef short rib blend, and an oddly satisfying version topped with peanut butter and applewood smoked bacon. Luke’s Lobster, another East Village import, serves their signature lobster rolls and a more cheapo-friendly shrimp roll to aficionados at almost 40 locations worldwide. But there’s more: Azuki sushi, Ilili Box Mediterranean cuisine, Gabriela’s Taqueria and Kuro-Obi ramen.

Whatever you choose, don’t miss Dough, an outpost for one of the city’s great doughnut shops. Their rotating menu includes unexpected flavors like hibiscus and passion fruit. A couple of my favorites — Nutella and dulce de leche — are also often available.

City Kitchen
700 8th Ave. (at 44th St.)
citykitchen.rownyc.com

Your tips for Times Square

Where do you like to eat for cheap when you’re in Times Square? Let us know in the comments!

The post NYC: The best cheap eats near Times Square appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Keyword being many. There are affordable (and awesome) rooftop bars to be had in this fair city, and we’ve rounded them up for you, dear Cheapos. The list that follows includes only bars with beers and cocktails in the $6-$11 range, at least during happy hour. However will you repay us? Well, we’d love for you to share your  rooftop party photos and dispatches—now get to (roof) drinking!

The Delancey
168 Delancey Street
Lower East Side

The roof of this Lower East Side playground is equal parts sleek and airy, with a deck, potted palms and white lounges. The drinks aren’t necessarily cheap, but they aren’t the most expensive we’ve seen either. We recommend bottling this spot as a happy hour place (the scene gets a little crazy late at night anyhow). Happy Hour: $2 off every drink, Monday through Wednesday, 5-7 p.m.

Met Museum Roof Garden Café and Martini Bar
1000 Fifth Avenue
Upper East Side

You don’t get more iconic New York than the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And its roof bar, surrounded by still more art, plus Central Park and West Side Manhattan views? Well worth a $9 beer (or a splurge on a $14 cocktail). The café is open (and serving wine and beer) from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily, and the martini bar is open until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

It’s a cheery scene in Juliette’s roof garden. Photo: Juliette

La Birreria
200 Fifth Avenue
Chelsea

Foodie darlings Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich joined forces to bring this cheery beer garden to the roof above their popular Italian food emporium, Eataly. Many beers come (surprise) from Italy, but there are also housemade ales, brewed 30 feet from where you’ll mingle with friends, strangers, and views of the Flatiron, Empire State Building and Madison Square Park. There are also wines on tap.

Juliette
125 N. Fifth Street
Brooklyn

You don’t have to be a Francophile to visit this Williamsburg favorite. The cavernous and festive restaurant is one thing, but the roof garden takes whimsy to a whole new level. Frenchy-themed cocktails (think a Citronelle Sucre made with lemongrass gin, grapefruit juice and basil) range from low to average ($8-12) in price, and beers and wines start at an affordable $7, with some bargain wines by the bottle as well.

Hudson Terrace
621 W 46th Street
Hell’s Kitchen

Any farther west and you’re in the Hudson, but what you get for trekking to no man’s land are sweeping views of the river and an extra dose of swank. We’ll be honest, a Cheapo this place is not, so the only time we recommend going is during happy hour, when it’s two-for-one drinks (Tuesday through Friday 5-7 p.m.).

Midtown 1015
1015 Second Avenue
Midtown East

A dark sports bar downstairs, Midtown 1015 brightens on the roof, with brick floors and red umbrellas. Drinks here are fairly affordable all the time and downright cheap at happy hour. Monday through Friday from 4-8 p.m. you can score $4 Budweiser, $5 wine and $24 pitchers of sangria.

Berry Park. Talk about a beer with a view. Photo: Berry Park

Berry Park
4 Berry Street
Brooklyn

It’s beer only on the roof of this mammoth beer hall (cocktails and wine are available downstairs), and the scene is just what you’d expect a Williamsburg roof garden to be: concrete floors, a smattering of simple-yet-hip picnic tables, smokestacks (and gleaming new condos) rising—and Manhattan stretching out in the distance. Most beers are under $10.

Hotel Chantelle
92 Ludlow Street
Lower East Side

The Hotel Chantelle’s unmarked doors open to a moody, 1940s-esque hideaway, but up on the black-and-white roof things are far more casual. Drinks are pricey by night, so the time to come is brunch, when mint juleps, mimosas, bellinis, and bloodies cost a mere 92 cents (yes, you read that right). There is often live music during brunch as well.

Brass Monkey
55 Little West 12th Street
West Village

Hudson River views and 75-plus brews on tap make this Meatpacking District beer hall the place to be on a perfect summer night. Doubly so if you like your Guinness—these Irish bartenders are known for their perfect pours. Come Monday through Friday between noon and 7 p.m. to receive $2 off domestic beers and wines.

A night on the roof of Night of Joy will be nothing less than, well, joy. Photo: Night of Joy

Night of Joy
667 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn

In Manhattan, bespoke cocktails culled from fresh fruit and botanicals would cost upwards of $13 (sometimes even $20), especially if served among twinkle lights and planter boxes on the roof. In Williamsburg, the concoctions on the handwritten menu run $10 and less at all times—and $6 during happy hour (daily from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.). Paper lanterns combine with graffitied brick walls for the ultimate urban-chic effect.

Vu Bar
17 west 32nd Street
Murray Hill

It’s hard to believe that tucked inside an unassuming Koreatown La Quinta Inn, house one of the quirkiest rooftop bars in the city. It’s nothing fancy, but with a position in the shadow of the Empire State Building and drinks that run $7-12 regularly or $5 during daily happy hour (5-7 p.m.), it doesn’t have to be.

Anything to add? We’re always on the lookout for more affordable rooftop bars where we can spend our summer evenings.  If you have your own favorites, let us know in the comment section below.

The post Rooftop Bars in New York with the Best Drink Deals appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A stop by one of these bars should guarantee some great booze for your Cheapo buck:

Spain Restaurant
113 W. 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Web site

Spain Restaurant, a popular Beat generation haunt, dishes up Spanish-themed food and drink for a new crop of thirsty and fabulously interesting patrons just south of 14th street in the Village. Sit at the bar or a table in the front, order a $4 drink, and the (sometimes gruff) servers will bring free plates of tapas (meatballs, Spanish tortillas, fried potatoes). Cheapo groups should consider splurging on a pitcher of their famous sangria for $17.

El Cantinero Mexican Cantina
86 University Place, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Web site

Prepare for a Cheapo fiesta: Mexican food is all you can eat for $11.95 on Mondays and Thursdays. After you’ve eaten your fill, head to the second floor where drinks are just $4 during the all-night happy hours. If you enjoy yourself during the week, head back to El Cantinero on the weekend when a DJ spins salsa (for dancing, not for eating!) and other Latin genres on the second floor. Friday and Saturday a happy hour starts at 5 p.m.

Verlaine
110 Rivington Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Web site

Southeast Asian tapas bar Verlaine is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year by falling back to their 2001 happy hour prices on Sundays and Mondays. Cocktails, including their famous lychee martini, are just $4. Can’t make it down to the Lower East Side on those days? The lychee martinis will set you back an extra dollar until 10 p.m during the rest of the week. We’ll definitely drink to that.

Common Ground
206 Avenue A, East Village, Manhattan
Web site

Well drinks (not made with top-shelf liquor) and wine are just $4 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day at this East Village bar, but the $2 pints of beer are the real cheapo deal. Soak up your drinks with buy-two-get-one-free appetizers and paninis and choose from a fun selection of board games. During the weekend all 12 of their draft beers go for just $3 starting at noon. Risk a double hangover with a $4 hair-of-the-dog Cajun Bloody Mary. Go on, you can afford it.

Cherry Tree Bar
65 4th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Even if you don’t live in Park Slope, this semi-divey bar is worth the trek. Go for the backyard garden (during the warmer months, at least) and stay for the deals: from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 gets you the Cherry Tree combo, a beer and shot of whiskey. Chase your combo with $3 shots and PBRs, and $4 well drinks.

Have a happy hour to add?

Do you have another favorite downtown happy hour to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Also in our guide: If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple, be sure to check out our reviews of the best cheap hotels in New York City. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed hotels throughout Manhattan, from Battery Park to Harlem, looking for the best hotel values.

The post New York: 5 bars with great happy hours appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s the only challenge: with hundreds of places to choose from, how can a visitor find the best places without spending hours surfing through online reviews and message boards? That’s where I come in. For years I’ve been scouring the nooks and crannies of Chinatown looking for the best eats in the neighborhood.

Below are three of my favorite places in Chinatown to load up on dumplings — the official food of hungry New Yorkers with only a few bucks in their pocket.

3 spots for Chinatown dumplings in NYC

“Fried Dumpling” at Night

Fried Dumpling
106 Mosco Street
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

The name really does say it all here. The same woman has been behind the counter for years ensuring a stellar consistency in greasy goodness, if not exactly stellar customer service. But who needs a smiling face behind the cash register when you can fill your belly for only four quarters?

The dumplings have a thick shell, perfect for those looking for a little more dough than meat. Fried Dumpling gets bonus points for being close to Columbus Park. Munch on some porky delights while you enjoy the bustling scene of Mahjong, traditional Chinese musicians, Tai chi, and birds singing in wooden cages.

Prosperity Dumpling
46 Eldridge
7 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

This place is a true hole-in-the-wall with a grimy dining area consisting of two tiny counters and five stools. However, the size doesn’t stop people from packing in here at all times. As a result you get some of the freshest pan fried dumplings in the neighborhood. You may have to wait a few minutes, but that just means your dumplings will be hot off the griddle with a perfect crispness that’s hard to find anywhere else.

The skins here are also nice and thin which shows off the juicy filling. Carefully douse the dumplings in sauce, and you have the perfect afternoon snack.

Fu Zhou Cuisine
118 Eldridge St
9:15 a.m. – 9:15 p.m.

While hipsters and tourists crowd into Vanessa’s a few doors down, Fu Zhou Cuisine is a favorite with local Chinese families. Even better, there is usually plenty of space to sit down with a few friends. You know the dumplings here are always fresh because you’ll see them assembling these tasty gems on a big table in the middle of the dining room.

The dumplings only come one way: packed with a nice mix of pork and chives then steamed to perfection. For two dollars you get 7 hefty dumplings and a free side dish, a minuscule serving of soup in a styrofoam bowl. Choose from a variety of toppings including the housemade dumpling sauce, hot sauce, white vinegar, or extra salty fish sauce. This is chowing down in Chinatown at its finest.

About the author: Craig Nelson lives in New York and is Managing Editor of Not For Tourists. In his free time he tweets at @across106th while wandering the city streets looking for quarters so he can continue important research.

The post New York: The 3 best dumpling shops in Chinatown appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

That’s why this week in Cheapoland our staff held a “cupcake taste-off” to suss out the very best in baked goodness (a tough job, we know).

Here’s how it worked: This Cheapo hot-footed it to three downtown cupcake purveyors and picked up two cupcakes at each: one red velvet to serve as the “control” cupcake, along with one other “unique” flavor. Back at the office, Team Cheapo—also known as Tom, Meredith, Pete and Kari—embarked on a blind tasting to analyze each shop for taste, texture, frosting, looks and variety.

Meet the Contestants

Though the West Village mainstay Magnolia Bakery helped to kick-start the cupcake craze with a cameo in Sex and the City, I left it out of this competition, partly based on personal preference (I find their frosting to be too sweet) and partly because the shop, while still within walking distance of the EuroCheapo offices, is in the opposite direction of the other contenders. That said, the “Mama” bakery’s influence can be felt in a couple of the bakeries you’re about to meet.

Sugar Sweet Sunshine
126 Rivington Street
Web site

The vibe: This cozy Lower East Side spot with the oh-so-adorable name is simple and unpretentious. Furnished with mismatched thrift store finds, including a comfy couch and armchair, it gets major points for setting a homey scene.

The Bakers and Baked Goods: Owner-bakers Debbie Weiner and Peggy Williams are long-time friends and Magnolia alums who set off to create a welcoming, yummy spot of their own. The shop is named for a cement etching they spotted one day while looking at bakery spaces.

Sugar Sweet serves up colorful cakes in fun flavors like pistachio, “Ooey Gooey” and “Lemon Yummy.” But, come summertime, their light, creamy strawberry-lemon trifle is the treat to beat.

The Cakes: Where other bakeries seem to gouge you, cupcakes here cost a Cheapo-friendly $1.75 each. Our tasters tried the Strawberry Cream Cheese, a new addition to the Sugar Sweet menu, and the “Sassy Red Velvet,” which is topped with “The Moose” frosting.

The Verdict: I’ll admit to some surprise that my stand-by bakery did not hold up in this particular competition. With a few exceptions, the tasting team was less than impressed with the Sugar Sweet cakes. The breakdown?

Looks: The Sugar Sweet cakes are unabashedly simple. Bakers here are not concerned with fancy, instead creating simple cupcakes with sunny sprinkles. While the strawberry cake was festive with its pink frosting and sprinkles, the red velvet, with its disheveled whipped frosting, left the team less than excited. (Meredith: “It has a kiddie lemonade stand look.”)

Cake: The strawberry cake came in last with just about everyone in the group, mostly based on its crumbly texture and mysterious flavor (both Tom and Meredith noted that they did not know it was strawberry until told). As for the red velvet, there were similar concerns, though Pete ranked that “giant, delicious sponge” his number two overall pick.

Frosting: The strawberry cake had an unremarkable frosting, neither terrible nor earth shattering. Feelings on the red velvet, however, were far more varied. We ladies found it to be overly sweet and not complementary to the cake, but Tom loved its “whipped, lighter than air” texture.

Overall: I’ll admit that I was a tad disappointed with the strawberry cake, especially given that I sometimes dream about the shop’s incredible lemon cupcake. As for the red velvet, the reviews were mixed, and surprisingly divided down a “battle of the sexes” line, with the gals unimpressed and the guys enjoying both cake and frosting. In all, the shop is sweet and its treats worth trying, provided, it seems, you choose correctly.

Looking into the Little Cupcake Bakeshop.

Little Cupcake Bakeshop
30 Prince Street
Web site

The Vibe: This may be the cutest little cupcake shop in New York. It’s both a blast from the past and a step into a big green future. The black-and-white floor, marble counter and retro clock contribute to a sweet, old-fashioned Americana vibe, but hidden out of sight are sundry modern eco-friendly additions.

The Bakers and Baked Goods: As though it couldn’t get any, um, sweeter, the LCB is owned and operated by three brothers from Brooklyn (they have another store in Bay Ridge), who pay special attention to making their colorful confections with local ingredients—including some that come directly from their own mother’s garden. They also work with local organizations to better the community.

The wide array of cupcakes here ranges from the traditional to the very unique, like the “Mott Street” (tiramisu inspired in a nod to the shop’s location in old Little Italy) and the “Coney Island” (infused with cotton candy flavor in tribute to the shop’s Brooklyn roots).

The Cakes: It seems you pay for the pretty here: $3 a cupcake. In addition to the red velvet, tasters tried the peanut butter, though the choices here are seemingly endless.

The Verdict: When it comes to atmosphere, this bakeshop takes the cake. But what of the cupcakes? The brothers get mega points for variety and creativity, but the cakes themselves were just sort of middle of the road. Here’s what our tasters had to say.

Looks: LCB does a great job with aesthetics, and these were probably the prettiest of the cakes, each with big dollops of frosting and festive garnishes.

Cake: In this category, the goods didn’t fare so well. Nearly all of our judges felt that both cakes were disappointingly dry.

Frosting: Everyone enjoyed the peanut butter flavor, which was yummy but not overpowering, but it was a mixed bag when it came to the red velvet’s cream cheese frosting. Half of us loved the rich buttery frosting, which Pete ranked numero uno because it “packed a punch,” but Meredith felt that the flavor overpowered.

Overall: For the most part, the two LCB cakes ranked among everyone’s second and third choices (out of six cakes). These are certainly not the best cupcakes when compared side by side, but I do say this bakery wins in terms of creativity, ambiance and overall mission. It’s the spot to go for a coffee and cupcake break during your travels.

Billy’s Bakery
268 Elizabeth Street
Web site

The Vibe: Nestled on pretty Elizabeth Street, literally a block from LCB, Billy’s is tiny and bright, with a cheery turquoise awning and two small tables. Where Sugar Sweet is homey and LCB old-fashioned, this shop wears its sleek modernity in its yellow lights and straight lines. It’s cute, but felt a bit less personal than the others.

The Bakers and Baked Goods: Another former Magnolia employee, Billy Reece branched out on his own in 2003 and now has three shop locations (the others are in Chelsea at 184 9th Avenue and in Tribeca at 75 Franklin Street).

It’s all about simplicity here: basic flavors topped with generous amounts of frosting with little in the way of adornment. As for variety, in addition to the usual chocolate and vanilla variations (and the now quite common red velvet), Billy’s offers banana and carrot cupcakes.

The judges hard at work.

The Cakes: Like LCB, the cakes here run $3 a pop. We tried red velvet and, for variety, banana.

The Verdict: Given its somewhat larger “chain” feel and its well-known history as a Magnolia offshoot, I must admit I hadn’t given Billy’s a ton of credit. But, while the bakery verged on “vanilla” in terms of atmosphere and flavors, its cakes edged out the others overall.

Looks: This is the one category where Billy’s did not really stand out. The cakes were simple and topped with silky smooth pillows of plain white frosting. They’re pretty, but more in a sophisticated sense than a fun “cupcake” sense.

Cake: With the exception of Pete, who said his was dry, all the judges ranked Billy’s red velvet as their first or second of the six, mostly for its consistency and, for Meredith, “a bit of a chocolatey touch.” The banana was also among the top-ranking for its moist cake that Tom likened to a banana bread texture. (Kari, though, did not like the “cakey” aftertaste.)

Frosting: Tom and Meredith both loved the “utltra-rich” banana frosting, but I found it to be on the over-sweet side. The red velvet again topped many of the frosting reviews, with Tom calling it a “buttery with more intense flavor” and Kari raving that the icing and cake “melt together.”

Overall: Though Billy’s seems to place stylish over whimsical when it comes to shop and actual cupcakes, in terms of taste it came out the winner, with both cupcakes taking first or second place for most of our judges.

We hated them.

The Final Verdict

Our elaborate testing mostly proved that everyone has different tastes. While Billy’s ranked highest overall, most enjoyed LCB’s frosting, and I still stand by Sugar Sweet’s other flavors.

In short, Cheapos, I suggest you administer our own test. And, since all three shops are within a 20-minute walk of each other, it would be quite easy to set up a little cupcake crawl.

If you choose to do so, also look out for the cupcake carts that sometimes hang around. There is often one in Washington Square Park (West 4th Street and Thompson Street) and I’ve also seen one on Broadway and Houston.

Also on the route is Baked by Melissa, a veritable hole in the wall at 529 Broadway (the opening is on Spring Street) that serves up teeny-tiny cupcake bites, in crazy flavors like “Smores” or “Cookies and Cream,” for $1 a pop.

Your favorite cake?

Do you have a favorite cupcake in the city? Tell us, Cheapos!

The post New York Bakeries: The great cupcake taste-off appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Start with these four bars…

1. McSorley’s Old Ale House
15 East 7th Street
Web site

Call us sentimental, but we feel pretty strongly that a good New York Irish pub crawl (or any New York pub crawl, for that matter) should start with a pilgrimage to this New York City institution, the city’s oldest operating saloon.

Another reason to start here, incidentally, is that McSorley’s is one of the few New York bars that closes at 1 a.m., as we realized on a recent late-night visit. But when you’re this cool (and old), you can close whenever you want to.

Why do we gush so?

1) The bar, which was established in 1854, is a living museum, littered lovingly with everything from yellowed photographs to the chair in which Abraham Lincoln enjoyed his share of McSorley’s ale.

2) You get two drink options here, light or dark McSorley’s ale, and for $5 you get two glasses of it.

3) It’s been the subject an E.E. Cummings poem, a John Sloan painting and several short stories. Plus, its walls talk—and you can usually sweet talk the famously curmudgeonly bartenders to pick up where they left off.

2. Bull McCabe’s
21 Saint Marks Place
Web site

Just a block north of McSorely’s, the gritty little dive bar Bull McCabe’s dominates a somewhat kitchy block of St. Mark’s. The crowd here tends to be on the young and rowdy side, but the drinks are cheap, the music is fun and the pool table is… well, a pool table. There is also a great patio for those nice-weather days.

3. The Thirsty Scholar
155 Second Avenue
Web site

Those who like their pubbing on the more “refined” side (snobs!) would do well to check out Bull’s sister bar, the Thirsty Scholar. You bring your best James Joyce commentary, they supply the charcoal portraits of Samuel Beckett. Oh, and the libations of course, which are cheaper during daily happy hour, from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.

4. Puck Fair
298 Lafayette Street
Web site

This tri-level bar just a block from EuroCheapo’s headquarters has a lot going for it, including a fun atmosphere and a crazy-comprehensive array of beers, both bottled and on tap. If the options are overwhelming, know that you’ll never go wrong with the Guinness, which, thanks to a schmancy cooling system, tastes almost as good as it does in Dublin.

A little trivia tidbit: The bar’s across from the gorgeous red Puck Building, but its name actually comes from the goat-themed festival that takes place every August in Killorglin, County Kerry (read about its history on the wall above the bar).

5. Molly’s Pub and Shebeen
287 Third Avenue
Web site

Still standing? Take a little breather by way of hopping on the “6” train (at Bleecker and Lafayette) and making your way up to Gramercy Park. There awaits a gem of a joint, with sawdust-covered floors, stucco walls and a working fireplace. Molly’s has been doing its thing since 1895, paused only by a brief stint as a grocery store during Prohibition.

Molly’s is the adorable, friendly sort of spot on which modern Irish pubs model themselves. But Molly’s has experience on its side, and what better way to wrap up the night than with a few beers, a crackling fire and a bit more history. Oh, and don’t forget about your umpteen new friends (also known as the rowdy, cheerful crowd that goes hand in hand with any good Irish bar).

The post Exploring New York: An Irish pub crawl appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

In New York, slinking into hermit-dom is not an option. Instead, this New Yorker’s winter survival guide involves lots of inside breaks. But one can only take so many cups of coffee before that jittery caffeine feeling sinks in, so why not mix it up with a little hot chocolate? I’m not talking a powdery packet of Swiss Miss (this is New York after all), but rather creamy, frothy and decadent, grown-up style hot chocolate. And here, because even this comforting cold weather favorite can get pricey (this is New York after all), a list of the best, and most affordable, cups of chocolately goodness in the city.

City Bakery
3 West 18th Street
Web site

Part cafeteria, part bakery, part café, this bustling New York mainstay pretty much does it all—and does it well. In terms of the treat in question, well, let’s just say hot chocolate has its very own month-long festival at City Bakery. Each February, the bakery takes its already gush-worthy hot chocolate (made from pure melted chocolate bars) to a whole new level, with daily-changing specialties like Tropical Hot Chocolate, Sunken Treasure Hot Chocolate and Bourbon Hot Chocolate (yes please!). At $5 per cup, this is the priciest pick of the list, but a hot chocolate with its own festival is well worth the splurge.

Shake Shack
Various locations: 11 Madison Avenue (Madison Square Park); 691 8th Avenue; 154 East 86th Street; 366 Columbus Avenue
Web site

It started as, literally, a shack in Madison Square Park, serving mouthwatering burgers and crazy-delicious ice cream treats called “concretes” to miles-long lines of enthusiasts. The shack now has multiple locations throughout the city, but that doesn’t make its take on American classics any less yummy. For those looking to swap an icey treat for something warmer, I’ve five words for you: Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. Oh yes, they went there. This decadent concoction is Shake Shack custard creamy, with a mix of sweet chocolate, sticky peanut butter and a dash of salt to round it all out. And only $3.75.

OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria
1 Fifth Avenue
Web site

Aroma hot chocolate

Mario Batali’s most casual—and affordable—outlet is one of this writer’s favorite restaurants in all of New York. Yet despite semi-regular visits to dip into the extensive wine list and indulge in fresh and creative pizzas and pastas, I had not, until writing this story, tasted the Gianduja Calda ($4.50), the pizzeria’s smooth, nutty hot chocolate made by melting milk and hazelnut chocolates into hazelnut-steeped milk. Imagine a piping hot cup of rich, melted Nutella.

The verdict: Molto bene! And a tip: While it’s perfectly acceptable to sidle up to the long marble bar and order a Gianduja, keep in mind that OTTO is a restaurant, not a café. Its roomy bar area is nightly packed with discerning foodies sipping wine, nibbling appetizers and awaiting tables, so get your hazelnut fix during the day.

Popbar
5 Carmine Street
Web site

This fun and funky dessert spot specializing in gelato-on-a-stick wins the award for “most fun hot chocolate.”  Here the sweet treat is partially DIY: You get a cup of steamed milk and a cube of Belgian chocolate on (you guessed it!) a stick for dipping. The starting price is $3.75 and if for some reason you need a second cube—or you simply can’t choose between dark chocolate and caramel—a second stick costs$2.50.

Aroma Espresso Bar
145 Greene Street
Web site

Israel’s most popular espresso bar chain can always be counted on for great coffee. This sunny location is, incidentally, a favorite EuroCheapo coffee purveyor, given its location just around the corner from our headquarters. Here at EC, we love Aroma’s fresh food, tasty coffee and the tiny chocolate bars that come with each cup. Which brings me to the subject at hand. Hot chocolate at Aroma is a simple but delicious affair, made by dropping a couple of the chains original chocolate into a cup of hot milk ($4).

The effect is a sort of layered drinking experience. First you encounter a sweet, cool dollop of whipped cream, topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar. Next you stir (this step is key), since the chocolate resides at the cup’s bottom. The drink itself is lighter and less rich than most of the New York hot chocolates, but still quite tasty. But the best comes last, in the form of the clumps of melted chocolate that remain at the bottom of the cup. A helpful hint: Don’t stir too thoroughly.

The post Warm up with New York’s best hot chocolate appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Remember that amazing tiramisu you had in Rome? How about that chocolate éclair in Paris? Given New York’s international nature, you don’t have to hop a plane across the pond to rediscover your favorite international sweets. There are plenty of sweet shops around the city to satisfy a traveler’s sweet tooth.

Here are some of my favorite places in New York to find authentic tastes from Europe and beyond:

French Sweets

Financier Pastisserie
62 Stone St (Multiple locations)
Web site

So you still have dreams about that sacher torte and almond berry tart you had while cruising through the French countryside? Financier offers these fine French treats, as well as traditional macarons (not the coconut ones!), madelines and palimer cookies. If you are looking to entertain for a larger crowd, they also have full cakes available for purchase. Chocolate Gianduja (hazelnut) Banana Cake anyone?

English Sweets

Tea and Sympathy
108 Greenwich Ave
Web site

Sure, the English may not be well-known for their food, but it’s hard to resist a delicately prepared scone and a traditional cup of tea! First, start off with a teapot of Earl Grey or English Breakfast tea while you take in the fitting décor and Cockney rhymes adorning the walls. The tiny space crowds quickly, but try sneaking in for their Tea For One in the afternoon, which includes finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, mini cakes—and a pot of steaming hot tea, of course!

Chinese Sweets

Tai Pan Bakery
194 Canal St
Web site

Straight out of Hong Kong, Tai Pan Bakery boasts one of the best egg tarts and shredded pork buns in the city. If you’re recovering from the sticker shock of European sweets, then settle for $1.10 egg tart and supplement with mango filled rice balls or taro mousse cake. Also consider sucking down one of their many boba (bubble) tea flavors for a refreshingly sweet liquid dessert! Tai Pan is located on Canal St., the heart of Chinatown, so don’t be deterred by a small crowd. The ladies behind the counter are happy to make sure you leave with enough buns and sponge cakes to last a week!

Italian Sweets

Ferrara Bakery & Café
195 Grand St
Web site

If you were ever a good Italian tourist, you wandered the streets of Rome and admired the ruins with a melting gelato cone in hand. Not only does Ferrara’s have a plentiful selection of gelato, they also have other delectable Italian pastries that allow you to embrace your inner Soprano. Chances are you will walk in with the intention to buy a cannoli (or two) and leave with a bag full of napoleans, fruit tartlets, pignolis, biscotti and tricolor rainbow cookies.

Though the bakery is located in the heart of Little Italy, arguably a huge tourist trap, but its authenticity is validated by the flurry of Italian spoken by both patrons and staff as you sip on your cappuccino or contemplate your sweet selection.

The post Finding authentic European treats in New York appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Your recipe for the perfect New York brunch goes something like this: a sprinkling of ambiance mixed with a dash of patience (brunch is generally an early afternoon affair, and there is often a wait). Fold in an egg or two, and don’t forget a cup (or more) of coffee and your breakfast cocktail of choice.

It’s this last portion that can run up the bill, but we’ve scouted some of the best brunch spots in town, those brimming with enough atmosphere to keep you happy, even if the wait is long, and inexpensive enough to keep your wallet happy.

Each of our five picks folds one brunch beverage into the meal price. If you want more than one — which is not frowned upon in this town — you’re on your own…

1. Virage (118 Second Avenue, 212-253-0425) is everything you might expect from the eclectic East Village, right down to the exposed brick wall adorned with vintage European posters. Then there’s the self-described French/Italian/Middle Eastern menu, which stretches into shades of Spanish and Mexican too.

Amid the traditional benedicts and frittatas you’ll find such delicacies as a Moroccan breakfast of baked eggs with tahini sauce. The low price of $14.25 includes coffee or tea, a breakfast cocktail, and a basket of homemade breads, and leaves money left over for that decadent nutella-stuffed brioche as dessert. If only you can find the room in your stomach.

2. Cornelia Street Café (29 Cornelia Street, 212-989-9319) proves there’s one thing New York does better than brunch: the long-shot upstart turned neighborhood mainstay. This local favorite is both — oh, and did we mention the art scene? Yep, this cozy haunt is actually a West Village trifecta: What started as a teensy café is now a beautiful restaurant and bar that helped launch the likes of Suzanne Vega.

But we’re here to talk about brunch… The pre fixe gets you your coffee, beverage, and entrée, along with a baked good from another New York favorite, the nearby Amy’s Bread (three words: warm chocolate bread!). It also gets you your little piece of New York history. Now that’s worth $18, right?

3. The Smith (55 Third Avenue, 212-420-9800) is an airy, modern hotspot with tinges of nostalgia that can be seen in the black and white tiled floor and tasted in the down home comfort food (with a modern twist). Think gooey cheddar grits, crumbly biscuits and gravy, and let’s not overlook the vanilla bean French toast with caramelized bananas.

Another thing you shouldn’t miss: a trip downstairs, where a photo booth is not the only throwback you’ll see — it’s a rare restaurant in this day and age that sports black-and-white burlesque behind tiny peepholes. Note to Cheapo: the complimentary tipple (with meals $14 to $15) is included with Sunday brunch only.

4. Isabella’s (359 Columbus Avenue, 212-724-2100) is a 20-something year-old New York classic where the uptown girls and boys go to see and be seen. At this bright and breezy spot, with its patio overlooking the American Museum of Natural History, you’ll savor simple but delicious country fare, like the bacon, egg, and cheese salad, or one of their four bennys on offer (hello filet mignon benedict). On Sundays the $12 to $15 price includes coffee or tea and your choice of breakfast beverage.

5. Penelope (159 Lexington Avenue, 212-481-3800) is a small, homey space guaranteed to have an inevitable wait, but trust us; It’s worth it. With its kitchen-facing bar and its pastry case of tempting treats, the staff serves food to match the comfy setting. It’s equally inevitable that dishes named after people — like Mabel’s homemade granola or Ellie’s spinach pie — are served up with a whole lotta love.

You can have any of this yumminess (including the irresistible pumpkin waffles with baked apples) for $14, which includes your choice of coffee/tea and juice or an apple cider mimosa. It should be noted that Doreen’s sake bloody mary is sold separately, but that doesn’t mean we love her (whoever she is) and her eponymous drink any less.

Do you have any other favorite New York City brunch spots to add? Tell us in the comments below!

The post New York: Five Delicious (and Cheap) Brunch Spots appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Given its status as New York’s “oldest continuously operated saloon,” most guidebooks recommend a visit and the weekend lines tend to trail out the front door. And if you visit during peak hours you’ll have a hard time finding a spot to sit, let alone be able to easily navigate to McSorley’s 19th-century restrooms.

The good news, though, is with just a little planning, a visit to McSorley’s is a memorable and charming experience that taps into layers of New York’s history.

Here are a few tips for making the most of a visit to McSorley’s:

Seize the day

Planning on a leisurely drink at McSorley’s on a Saturday night? So are hundreds of other people. Consider visiting on a weekday night or, better yet, during the afternoon when you can easily get a table and linger. (The weekday early afternoon crowd is quite a bit more “legit,” in any case.)

It’s like a museum, but with beer

Many famous patrons spent time at McSorley’s throughout its 150-year history. Abe Lincoln, John Lennon, e.e. cummings, and Woodie Guthrie are a few of the notable names. McSorley’s takes special care to hang pictures, newspaper clippings and other relics to be admired by customers. So take your time and browse a little, but watch where you walk – they keep sawdust on the floor and it can get a little slippery.

Pass on the daiquiris

Ordering a drink at McSorley’s is easy and you only have to know two words. You can get your beer either “light” or “dark.” McSorley’s only serves “McSorley’s” beer, natch, and customers always receive two beers per order rather than one. After all, as the bartenders are quick to point out, “you can never have just one beer.”

Enjoy the curmudgeons

The bartenders at McSorley’s take well deserved pride in their establishment, but are a little light on the small talk. Don’t be offended–it’s all part of the “charm” and experience.

Not able to visit?

If you’d like to see the inside of McSorley’s but aren’t able to visit New York soon, have a look at the nifty virtual tour tool on McSorley’s website.

Other tips?

Do you have other tips and feedback for visiting McSorley’s? Leave a comment below and tell us!

Practical Info

McSorley’s Ale House
15 E 7th St
New York, NY 10003
(212) 473-9148
Open Mon-Sat 11am-1am; Sun 1pm-12am

The post New York: Why we love McSorley’s Old Ale House appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.