Explore Midtown: Best restaurants, bars, things to do & more

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In this week’s newsletter:

🎫 Events We Love This Week: August 6-13 - Van Leeuwen + Guinness.. Need we say more?

🇷🇺 You’ll Have to Check It Out - Classic Russian spot with an unbelievable happy hour

🏙️ Midtown Guide - It’s not just Rockefeller and Times Square, see all Midtown has to offer

Here we goooooo! 👇

Note: As always, this email was written by an actual human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Events We Love This Week: August 6-13, 2025

In the city this week? Here are some fun events we’re keeping an eye on.

Inaugural Nomad Jazz Festival - August 9-10

This week, take part in the first rendition of the Nomad Jazz Festival at Madison Square Park. With performances starting around 1 pm each day, there’s plenty to experience.

The inaugural NoMad Jazz Festival will feature headliners like Lizz Wright, Ravi Coltrane, the Roy Hargrove Big Band, and more — plus dance-worthy sets, tap performances, morning kids’ programming, and pop-up cultural moments.

No tickets needed. 🙌

Get all the info here!

Lovely Day for a Guinness Ice Cream Pop-Up - August 12 from 5-7 pm in Williamsburg

Inspired by the iconic “Lovely Day for a Guinness” ads of the 1950s, this deliciously unique collaboration offers a new way to enjoy everyone’s favorite stout by combining Van Leeuwen’s ultra-creamy ice cream with the bold flavor of Guinness stout mixed with rich chocolate chunks – so whether you sip or scoop your Guinness, lovely days are ahead all summer long.

On August 12th from 5-7 pm, you can snag a free sample of the new ice cream flavor and even a small pour of Guinness at the Van Leeuwen shop in Williamsburg.

Supplies are limited; learn more here.

You’ll Have to Check It Out - Russian Vodka Room

The best restaurants pick a vibe, capture it, and stick to it. The Russian Vodka Room in Midtown is simple, authentic, and true to its vibe. 🇷🇺

Funky lighting and decor, friendly staff, and delicious dishes at various price points complement frequent live music during most evenings.

The best part? Their daily happy hour from 4-7 pm includes their vast array of flavored vodkas for only $7.

You can try pomegranate, raspberry, and even horseradish-infused vodkas. 👇

Check out the Russian Vodka Room in Midtown here.

Midtown Neighborhood Guide: Everything to Know

While Midtown Manhattan has many negative stereotypes among New Yorkers, the neighborhood is full of top-notch restaurants, vibrant bars, and phenomenal activities!

In this article, we’ll focus on what we call ‘Upper Midtown,’ or the area from 50th Street to Central Park South and 8th Avenue to 5th Avenue.

We’ll look at our four favorite spots in Midtown Manhattan for:

1. Things to do

2. Restaurants

3. Coffee shops

4. Bars

5. Places to shop

Let’s get to the Midtown neighborhood guide. 👇

Stay cool,

Ashley & Devin from Better Together Here 🥵