The Top 10 Things a NYC Influencer Wouldn't Be Caught Doing — and That's Exactly Why You Should
New York City is the ultimate backdrop for influencers. Sleek rooftops, curated coffee shops, and shiny subway entrances. But let’s be real: that's only one tiny slice of the city and it’s a fleeting, floppy slice at that - totally not our Vibe.
If you really want to experience the soul of NYC — the grit, the history, the vibe — you need to do the things influencers would never post about. And guess what? That’s where the magic happens, and these are the stories that separate you from the herd. Check out our top 10 things to do in New York City.
Here’s your insider list, straight from real New Yorkers (and from your friends at www.vibenyctours.com), of the top 10 things a NYC influencer wouldn’t be caught doing — and exactly why you should.
1. Taking the "Wrong" Subway Train
Forget polished TikToks showing spotless subway rides, there are legit only a handful of those and they stop in boring hoods like Hudson Yards or the Upper East Side (yawn). Yes, we absolutely appreciate the engineering marvel this is Hudson Yards (truly, it’s a remarkable thing), but there is absolutely no reason to ever go there outside of Christmas season when the 2 million lights are up, OR if The Shed has a cool installation or show going on. If not for The Shed however, the yards are really not worth the westward trek unless you intend to hop the Highline and take a stroll to Chelsea Market for oyster happy hour (1/2 price from 4-6pm) at Cull & Pistol.
Instead, hop the J train into Bushwick and Bed Stuy and see if you can spot the elusive Z train that many natives believe is a mythical line - but it does indeed exist. These neighborhoods still have a plethora dive bars and eclectic themed watering holes and eateries, and while they’ve gentrified some they’re not totally gone (yet). Or, if you’re looking for free entertainment get on the L train any Friday or Saturday night and just watch the show, then get off on Jefferson St and hit up House of Yes or Artichoke Pizza.
Want to dig deeper? Book a custom walking tour in NYC with Vibe Tours and we’ll take you for ride all around the city and outer boros.
2. Visiting the Oldest BarS in NYC
Are rooftop bars really that cool? Does anyone really need to pay $25 for a shitty martini in a tiny glass? The answer is no. You can plenty of amazing photos at free rooftops and then get your liquor on at a proper bar devoid of influencers with selfie sticks. I mean, seriously, it’s the last thing I want sitting next to me at a watering hole.
Sadly Chumley’s (yes, the original speakeasy where writers like Hemingway and Fitzgerald hung out) did not survive the pandemic, but many others are still around. When you're on our Lower Manhattan walking tours, we pass by spots like this, where the walls themselves seem to whisper old secrets.
🥃 1. Fraunces Tavern (est. 1762) — Financial District
Claim to Fame: George Washington gave his farewell speech to his officers here after the Revolutionary War.
Vibe: Colonial-era charm, museum upstairs, lots of fireplaces.
🍺 2. Ear Inn (est. 1817) — Hudson Square / SoHo
Claim to Fame: Housed in a building from 1770; one of NYC’s oldest continuously operating bars.
Vibe: Laid-back, historic sailors' haunt.
🍻 3. McSorley’s Old Ale House (est. 1854) — East Village
Claim to Fame: NYC’s oldest "Irish saloon"; served only two drinks: light ale and dark ale (still true).
Vibe: Sawdust floors, ancient memorabilia everywhere.
🥃 4. Pete’s Tavern (est. 1864) — Gramercy
Claim to Fame: Allegedly where O. Henry wrote The Gift of the Magi.
Vibe: Classic red booths, long dark bar, literary atmosphere.
🍷 5. Julius’ Bar (est. 1867) — West Village
Claim to Fame: One of NYC’s oldest gay bars and site of a 1966 civil rights "Sip-In" for LGBTQ+ rights.
Vibe: Divey, historic, extremely important socially.
🍸 6. White Horse Tavern (est. 1880) — West Village
Claim to Fame: Literary legends like Dylan Thomas, James Baldwin, and Jack Kerouac drank here. Dylan Thomas
infamously drank himself to death here.
Vibe: Traditional pub feel, heavy history.
🥃 7. White Horse Tavern (Bridge Street) (est. c. 1640s) — Financial District
Claim to Fame: Said to be NYC’s very first tavern, pre-dating America itself; served Dutch settlers. Can still get
a burger and a beer for under $15.
Vibe: Legendary, almost mythical — although the original structure is long gone, the street's history is still recognized.
🍷 8. Old Town Bar (est. 1892) — Flatiron District
Claim to Fame: Victorian-era bar with original fixtures, and a very old working dumbwaiter. Amazing burgers.
Vibe: Classic, authentic, cinematic (featured in many movies).
🥃 9. P.J. Clarke’s (est. 1884) — Midtown East
Claim to Fame: Legendary for burgers and booze; Frank Sinatra, Jackie Kennedy, and Nat King Cole were regulars. We’ve also spotted it in certain episodes of MadMen, with Don Draper getting his usual sauce on.
Vibe: Timeless New York watering hole.
3. Eating at a No-Name Diner in Queens (and Beyond)
Influencers flock to bougie brunch spots with floral walls and $18 lattes. You? Slide into a cracked vinyl booth at a no-name diner in Jackson Heights or Astoria. Order a greasy-spoon omelet, a short stack of pancakes dripping with butter, and savor endless coffee refills poured by someone who calls you "hun."
But why stop in Queens? Brooklyn's got its share of hidden gems too — places like Mike’s Coffee Shop in Clinton Hill or George’s Diner near Brooklyn Heights, where the menu hasn’t changed in decades (and neither has the charm). In the Bronx, old-school spots like Johnson’s Diner keep the spirit alive with killer home fries and strong coffee. Staten Island's got its own no-frills treasures too, like the Victory Diner, a retro railcar diner that feels like stepping into a time machine. Even in Manhattan, if you know where to look, you’ll still find a few authentic holdouts — like the legendary Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop near the Flatiron, slinging egg creams and tuna melts like it's 1940.
So skip the Instagram brunch and pull up a chair at a real NYC diner. Trust us, the pancakes taste better when they come with a side of sass and a bottomless cup of coffee.
(Want more no-frills food recs? Ask your guide during one of our private NYC tours — we'll steer you to the real deal.)
4. Watching the Sunset from the Staten Island Ferry
While everyone else is dropping $25 on rooftop drinks for a glimpse of golden hour, you’re hopping on a free ferry past Lady Liberty like a real New Yorker. As the sun sets, you’ll get a front-row view of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline — and it won’t cost you a thing. Best part? The Staten Island Ferry runs 24/7, packed with commuters who have zero interest in posing for selfies for the entire duration of the journey. Be normal, take a picture, no one cares - but don’t act you’re some big star when you’re not because the actual stars don’t ever act like that, and you’re not fooling anyone - you’re just annoying AF.
Oh and, guess what? You can grab a beer or wine at the terminal for cheap, or BYOB and really do it right. Sip your drink, feel the breeze, and enjoy a view that rooftop bars would charge you an arm and a leg for. Classic New York move. Don’t get rooked.
5. Wandering the Forgotten Streets of Lower Manhattan
While everyone’s cramming onto the Brooklyn Bridge for the same selfie, you’ll be slipping down streets that feel like another century. Stone Street, Coenties Slip, Pearl Street — these cobblestone alleys have been here since New York was still New Amsterdam. This is old Dutch New York: narrow lanes, crooked brick buildings, hidden taverns, and echoes of the Revolutionary War around every corner.
Down here, you don’t just see history — you feel it under your feet. The smell of salt air, the creak of old wood, the way the streets curve like they’re remembering old shorelines long since paved over. Most tourists miss it completely — but at www.vibenyctours.com, our Lower Manhattan walking tours dive deep into the side of the city no influencer could fit into a caption.
6. Finding Peace in Green-Wood Cemetery
Too creepy for influencers — but too beautiful for you to miss.
Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn isn’t just a cemetery — it’s 478 acres of marble angels, Gothic gates, ancient trees, and winding paths that feel like another world. Founded in 1838, it became one of the country’s first rural cemeteries — and quickly turned into the place to be buried if you were anybody in New York.
Wander the hills and you’ll find the final resting places of legends like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Horace Greeley, and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Their stories — along with thousands more — are etched into the monuments and mausoleums scattered across the rolling landscape.
It’s not just about the history, either. Green-Wood is full of surprises: wild parrots nesting in the spires of the massive Gothic entrance gate, hidden glacial ponds, and sweeping skyline views that’ll have you pulling out your camera — even if it feels a little wrong to do it.
Most tourists don’t even know it’s there. But for true explorers who want to step off the beaten path (and maybe meet a few ghosts along the way), Green-Wood Cemetery is one of New York’s most hauntingly beautiful hidden gems.
7. Treasure Hunting at a Flea Market
If you really want to shop like a New Yorker, skip the glossy Fifth Avenue windows and dive into the Brooklyn Flea or Chelsea Flea instead. These aren't just markets — they're treasure hunts. Every table is piled with stories: vintage band tees that survived a thousand concerts, old subway tokens from a grittier New York, weird art you’ll either love or hate, and handmade jewelry from artists who actually live here — not some factory overseas.
The best part? You never know what you’ll find. One day it’s a 1970s CBGB poster, the next it’s a leather jacket that looks like it’s already lived a better life than most influencers. The prices are real, the sellers are characters, and the vibe is pure New York — loud, messy, a little chaotic, and completely unforgettable.
It’s the anti-Instagram shopping experience: no velvet ropes, no curated photo ops. Just real people, real prices, and real finds you’ll actually want to brag about.
8. Touring the Abandoned City Hall Subway Station
Built in 1904 as the crown jewel of the original NYC subway system, the City Hall station is all curved glass skylights, elegant tiled arches, and brass chandeliers — a frozen moment of Gilded Age New York buried beneath the city’s streets. It's been closed to passengers since 1945, but it’s still there, hauntingly beautiful and almost completely forgotten.
Here’s the secret: you can catch a glimpse of it — no special tour ticket needed. Ride the downtown 6 train all the way to the last stop at Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall, but stay on the train. When the train loops around the old City Hall station to head back uptown, you’ll get a quick, magical view through the windows. For the best sightline, stand in the first or second car and keep your eyes peeled as the train curves around.
It’s one of the city’s best hidden-in-plain-sight treasures, and something our expert-led walking tours often share with those who want to see the real New York — the one most people don't even know exists.
9. Exploring the Bronx's Green Secrets at Wave Hill
Tucked away on the edge of the Hudson River, Wave Hill feels like a secret European villa dropped right in the heart of New York City. This public garden and cultural center spans 28 acres of lush gardens, meadows, and woodlands — a rare, tranquil escape from the urban rush. From the expansive terraces, you’ll get sweeping views of the river and the Palisades, a vista so breathtaking it could easily belong to a Tuscan hillside.
Unlike the crowded spots that draw tourists, Wave Hill feels serene and almost private, like stepping into another world. Whether you’re wandering the well-manicured gardens, exploring the artist installations, or just sitting in the shade of a centuries-old tree, it’s the kind of place that feels timeless.
It’s a true local gem that doesn’t get the hype it deserves — but for those in the know, it’s one of the most beautiful, peaceful corners of the Bronx. Perfect for anyone who wants to experience a little slice of European elegance, without leaving NYC.
Our Bronx bus tours roll right by these gems — and show you a side of the Bronx that’s wildly beautiful, peaceful, and totally unexpected.
10. Eating a Bagel That Isn’t "Instagrammable"
Rainbow bagels? Over it.
If you want a real New York bagel, head to a no-frills spot like Ess-a-Bagel or Absolute Bagels. These places don’t mess around — they hand-roll, boil, and bake their bagels the old-school way. You’ll get a bagel that’s chewy, crispy, and packed with flavor, no gimmicks needed.
The schmear is generous and dripping, the bagel is exactly how it should be — simple, satisfying, and unpretentious. You won’t be waiting in long lines just to snap a photo; you’ll be in and out with a bagel that tastes as good as New York feels. No nonsense, just solid, classic bagels.
When you join a Lower Manhattan walking tour, don’t be surprised if your guide points you toward one of the city's true old-school bagel joints!
Ready to See the Real NYC?
At www.vibenyctours.com, we specialize in authentic, unforgettable NYC adventures — the kind influencers don't know because they’re not from here, how could they possibly know?
Whether you’re looking for walking tours in NYC, historic Lower Manhattan walking tours, or unforgettable Bronx bus tours, we’ll take you places where the city’s real heart still beats.
Come vibe with us.
