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Neighborhood of Queens in New York City
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Long Island City and Astoria are two adjoining neighborhoods in Queens, a borough of New York City.
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A museum devoted to, literally, moving images, so visitors will find exhibits on zoetropes and video games in addition to film and television. They also put on a terrific screening program, with films showing continuously throughout the day.
MoMA PS1
Supported by the Museum of Modern Art, this innovative (and cheap) contemporary art museum is in a former public school building. The conversion left most of the original features of the school - the large ex-classrooms are perfect for installations - and the bathrooms are a blast from the past. P.S.1 is a few blocks south on Jackson Avenue from the Citibank tower; the entrance is a concrete slab (how fitting) which occludes view of the school itself. P.S.1 also has a nice cafe and outdoor seats.
Tours suspended as of March 2024. They offer free guided tours during fall and spring to see the skilled craftsmen at work. Phone ahead, a month in advance is recommended, to reserve a place on these popular tours, and to check the days and times. Otherwise, take the online factory tour on their website.
Delicious traditional Greek fare with outdoor seating along Astoria Park and a cozy indoor dining room that seems a million miles away from New York City. Don't miss the grilled saganaki or the Greek salad, and for the main course focus on the many amazing seafood offerings.
Innovative burger joint that offers organic burgers made from a choice of beef, ostrich, elk, and lamb. Very good milkshakes.
Snazzy little nuevo Mexican joint just off the main strip of LIC eateries on Vernon Blvd. A lot of great options here: braised lamb shank, chicken enchiladas with salsa verde, stuffed chiles in a cream sauce and more.
This tiny, unpretentious gourmet Egyptian restaurant run by renowned Alexandrian chef Ali El Sayed is a major pilgrimage site for foodies everywhere. Recommended are the sauteed artichokes and sauteed beet, apple & garlic starters, along with a variety of excellent traditional north Egyptian entrees like braised lamb cheeks and calamari with eggplant & grilled vegetables.
Czech and Slovak restaurant serving traditional cuisine along with a variety of fine Czech and Slovak beers and a full bar to accompany your meal. They lean slightly towards Slovak, but their Czech cuisine is very good also. Try their bryndzové halušky.
Old school Italian bakery with the best cakes in Queens, a variety of fresh cookies, cannolis and gelatos, and Italian ice the consistency of fresh snow. A few tables available in the back if you'd like to hang out and sip an espresso.
Out of the way but worth the trip, this always-buzzing Greek taverna has remarkable seafood entrees like butterfly shrimp or salmon doused in lemon and traditional spices and provides free thick Greek yogurt and honey for dessert. Don't miss the Cypriot salad, a delicious mix of savory (grilled halloumi cheese & olives) and sweet (cranberries and figs).
Artsy dining room filled with Joseph Cornell-like tables and paintings by chef/artist/owner Moustafa El Sayed (brother to the owner of nearby Kabab Cafe). Mombar focuses on southern Egyptian cuisine, notably a number of delicious clay pot dishes, and a mezze plate with the smokiest, most delicious baba ganoush you're ever likely to taste. Don't miss the milky bread pudding for dessert. Popular with hipsters in the early evening; fills up with Egyptian locals later at night.
Workaday local bakery notable for its truly outstanding fresh squares of Sicilian pizza available at the back of the shop.
One of Astoria's staples, this Greek seafood restaurant is very popular with locals and tourists alike. Expect long wait periods between 6 and 9PM any day of the week.
Excellent seafood & Greek fare at this taverna, set on the hippest stretch of Astoria. Great grilled whole fish is what most people come for, and they also have a nice Greek wine list.
Surprisingly high-end Italian fare for the neighborhood in terms of atmosphere, service and price, this Italian dinner spot focuses on Roman cuisine and has a wide range of truly delicious pasta and risotto dishes (risotto con pere e gorgonzola is especially nice) and seafood dishes like zuppa di pesce.
Fun traditional French bistro in the heart of LIC's Vernon Boulevard restaurant strip with excellent versions of all the standards like steak frite and snails. Especially worth trying are the pan-seared skate with mustard sauce or the pastry of hake and clams with leeks.
Rated as one of the top bakeries in Queens, this place has some of the best desserts in Astoria. Expect long lines during the holiday season.
Bohemian Hall or BoHall
The most famous Queens nightlife venue of them all, and a must-see for visitors. This large outdoor beer garden (the oldest in New York City), has a fine selection of German and Czech beers, the authentic vibe of a Bavarian beer hall, and frequent live music, often in lederhosen.
The massive backyard patio makes this chilled local hangout an especially great place to be in the summer, with high quality live bluegrass and Americana music on weekend evenings.
Long Island City’s signature watering hole, an attractive spot that’s packed every evening, with a wide range of beers & cocktails and a great burger.
Natty as any Manhattan cocktail lounge, but with a more relaxed vibe befitting an outer borough neighborhood bar, this is the most popular of the many bars along booming 34th Avenue. Don't leave without imbibing a few of their home-brew fruit-infused liquors.
A luxury boutique hotel offering 63 lodging accommodations overlooking Manhattan with 9-ft ceilings, private balcony, and spa-like bathrooms.
Grocery market serving many specialty European foods that are difficult to find in the US. Outstanding collections of international meats, cheeses, wines, and beers.
By LIRR
There is a lonely LIRR terminal at Long Island City (officially, it's not even a station, but rather a "passenger yard"), as well as a somewhat busier station at Hunterspoint Ave.
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New York · International · LGA
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