World Traveller 73 
Walking SoHo, Balthazar, Little Italy and FlatIron, New York, USA
One of New York’s best features are it’s various neighbourhoods across Manhattan. Each have their own unique personality and just beg to be explored. During the latter portion of our trip, we spent our time in the southern half of Manhattan exploring So Ho, dining at the famous Balthazar french bistro restaurant, and exploring Little Italy and the Flat Iron Building district. Each area is charming it its own way and has something different to offer.
This post is one chapter on our trip to New York City, New York, United States of America. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status and credited to Alaska Mileage Plan. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.
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Read More from This Trip
- Trip Introduction: Mileage Running to New York via Delta Airlines
- Delta Airlines First Class: Vancouver – Minneapolis St Paul
- The Delta Sky Club, Minneapolis St Paul – Concourse C
- Delta Airlines First Class: Minneapolis St Paul – La Guardia New York
- The W Union Square, New York, USA
- Shopping at the Holiday Market, Union Square, New York
- Viewing Christmas Lights on Fifth Avenue & at Rockefeller Square, New York
- Walking in SoHo, Balthazar and Flat Iron District, New York
- The Delta Sky Club, La Guardia Airport – Terminal C, New York
- Delta Airlines First Class: La Guardia New York – Minneapolis St Paul
- The Delta Sky Club, Minneapolis St Paul – Concourse F
- Delta Airlines First Class: Minneapolis St Paul – Vancouver
Activity: Viewing the Christmas Lights of Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Square, New York USA
We started the day from The W Union Square by walking through the Farmers Market at Union Square Park.
Calling on the Farmers Market at Union Square:
It was a bit odd to see so much great produce out on the sidewalk in the middle of the urban city but if I lived here, I would be coming down every Saturday. There were stacks of fresh produce available with many different varieties to choose from.
From the Farmer’s Market, we headed towards the south end of Union Square and the MTA Metro in order to head downtown towards So Ho.
Exploring So Ho’s Historic Canyons:
We took the Subway 6 Train to Spring Street and got off at Spring station in the Soho area. MrsWT73 wanted to shop through Soho so we walked the Canyon of Soho and I spent most of the time taking pictures. It’s a bit touristy but I can still find some things to look at in this neighbourhood.
Dining at a Great French Bistro: Balthazar
After a morning (and early afternoon) of shopping, it was time to eat. We went with the tried and tested 3 PM Brunch at Balthazar. Call it what you will: conveniently placed, a tourist trap, a place for the housewives of New York… Despite this, I really enjoy this place. As always, it’s an enjoyable atmosphere and a great location in the middle of shopping district. Today’s visit had it full of the housewives of New York City with accompanying American Express Platinum cards to match.
It is a solid bistro ambience inside, with an authentic French décor. The short and tie waiters add to the atmoshpere.
I had the Norwegian Eggs Benny with smoked salmon with sheer mountain of pommes frites and a glass of sparkling to go along with it. No disappointments here!
We took the train back uptown after a brief walk through Little Italy. We had several great meals here on our last visit through New York.
Our Last Look at the Flat Iron District:
Since this was a short weekend trip, it was time to leave on our third day. On the morning of departure, we took a quick walk up to the Flat Iron building. There was some morning light coming through the buildings, which made viewing quite picturesque.
We took a quick walk through Eataly again this morning to collect some olive oil as a souvenir for the trip home. We happened to see Mr Henry Winkler (“The Fonz”) enjoying a prosciutto meal. I had happened to see him on NBC Morning show by Rockefeller Square earlier in the day giving out Hatchables to the Christmas crowd spectators other wise I wouldn’t have recognized him.
It was a beautiful morning as we walked the short distance back from Flatiron back through Union Square to the hotel. The neighbourhood here is much more enjoyable than Times Square or Grand Central where many other hotels are located.
It wasn’t before long before we were back at the W Union Square. Being a beautiful day, the sun was gorgeous looking through Union Square as we walked back to the hotel.
How I felt about the visit to Southern Manhattan:
All in, New York City is a great place to visit for a weekend or a week. It’s one of the places that is always on the list of cities to visit in my book. The stay at the W Union Square was okay – not too spectacular but so conveniently located in a nice neighbourhood that I’d seriously consider staying a second time even through the breakfast was odd and the restaurant let us down. Our meal at Eataly and Balthazar was arguably among the highlights of our meals in New York City for this particular trip.
World Traveller 73 
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