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  Chinatown Street Art at 1 Allen Street

The Best Street Art and Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC

Dim sum literally means TOUCH THE HEART. In Hong Kong, the term yum char (or drink tea) also means to partake in dim sum. Street Art and Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC is a must-do if you are visiting New York. After you’ve eaten, you can take a stroll around to see some interesting street art.

What is Dim Sum?

Dim sum are small plates of bite size dumplings morsels of delicately wrapped shrimp, minced pork and vegetable in a rice flour based wrap. Dim sum is made for sharing. There are multiple pieces (usually 3 or 4) per small plate. The idea is to order as many dishes as you can since the portions are small and everyone gets to taste something different.

My favorites are har gow (shrimp dumplings), char siew bao (roast pork buns), fun cheong (steamed rice roll with shrimp or vegetables), bean curd wrap with minced fish and mushrooms, savoury rice with meat wrapped in lotus leaf. The sweets include egg custard tarts, almond curd with jelly and longans and often mango pudding.

  Where to eat Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC?

Yes there is a lot of shrimp in dim sum!

Here are some of our favorite places for Dim Sum in Chinatown

Dim Sum Go Go

5 East Broadway (between Catherine & Chatham Sts), 212-732-0797 (call for hours)

Dim Sum Go Go

Dim Sum Go Go as the more delicate dim sum with the western influences, making this place asian fusion style dim sum. They use food coloring for creating their vegetable dumpling (sometimes with snow pea shoots which are excellent).

You order from the menu a la carte and tick off from a sheet given to you with items listed. The dim sum will be steamed and brought to the table in bamboo steamers as soon as they are ready.

They also have  noodles and other Chinese dishes.

  Golden Unicorn

18 East Broadway (Corner of Catherine)

Around the corner from Dim Sum Go Go, the Golden Unicorn is more traditional and most like a typical dim sum restaurant in Asia. The restaurant is on several levels but you’ll be waiting downstairs. If you go on a weekend, it is best to get there before 11:30 or you’ll be waiting at least 45 minutes.

When you arrive at the Golden Unicorn,  you will collect a number from the concierge stationed at a podium in the lobby. You tell her the number of people in your party and she assigns you a number. The, you wait for her to call your number. The number jumps around depending on the size of the table that just became available. Don’t be alarmed if a number long after yours is called before you.

Once your number Is called, you are sent to the floor for your table. When you arrive, someone will direct you to the table. They put a sheet for your orders on the table and a pot of tea. There is a good chance you will share a table especially if your party is small.

The atmosphere in Golden Unicorn is generally loud and hectic. There are servers pushing carts around and may people will be speaking Chinese (mainly Cantonese). You will need to beckon them over and to see what they have to offer and make your selection. You may need to be a little pushy. Once you have picked a dish, the server stamps your sheet (to account for the size and number of dishes you have been given).

There are typical dishes like siew mai (steamed meat dumplings) and har gow which are the staples of dim sum. The dumplings are on the greasier side and slightly larger or less refined. There’s the usual chicken feet, fried carrot cakes, spring rolls, etc.

Pings NYC

22 Mott Street, 212.602.9988

Pins serves traditional dim sum but also specializes in seafood. It can sometimes be inundated with tour buses and it is best to get there early.  The food is excellent although not always consistent.  Pings also has a liquor license and serve other Chinese dishes as well.

  Vegetarian Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC

Vegetarian Dim Sum House

24 Pell Street (between Mott and Bowery Sts), 212.577.7176

Everything is vegetarian in this restaurant. There are dishes that look like they have meat but they are mock meats – mock duck, chicken, shrimp, etc. The dishes are on the greasier side due to the widespread use of oil for flavoring of the dishes.

  Buddha Bodai

5 Mott Street (between Bowery and Pell Sts), 212.566.8388

Buddha Bodai serves vegetarian and vegan and has also been certified Kosher. Amazing taste and authentic looking, it is hard to tell the difference between real and mock meat.

  Not in the Mood for Dim Sum? Try Hand Pulled Noodles

Making Hand Pulled Noodles Best Street Art and Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC

And for those who are looking for more than dim sum, how about some Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles? Located at 1 Doyers St (between Bowery and Pell), this 8 table restaurant specializes in a few types of hand pulled noodles done in different ways – fried or in soup. Noodles are thin (pulled) or thick (knife cut) and served with vegetables and some type of meat (chicken, shrimp, pork or duck). Prices are cheap and portions are large. The noodles are amazed. We had fried noodles with duck and a side of sautéed baby bok choy.

  Chinatown Street Art Doyers Street

In July, Doyers Street was painted and became a temporary pedestrian plaza. This are was a center of gang warfare in the early 19th century. Chen Dongfan painted The Song of Dragon and Flowers over 4800 square feet of asphalt. The walkway has become faded, but is worth seeing, There are 2 murals on the walls. One appears to be of Confucius. And the other, is by Gian Galang and depicts the Blood Angle (Doyers Street) which was once one of the deadliest street in the US.

The Song of the Dragon and the Flowers Mural by Chen Dongfan on Doyers Street

Confucius Street Art on Doyers Street

Mural by by Gian Galang depicts the The Bloody Angle (Doyers Street) which was once the deadliest Street in US History. On Doyers Street.

  Other Areas for Street Art in Chinatown

The area around Orchard and Canal has several murals that are worth seeing. One of a Subway Car by Argentian-born Sonni. The other is a Deli and Grocery Store window and is pretty amazing.

Chinatown Subway Car Street Art at Canal by Street Artist Sonni

Store Front Street Art at Orchard and Canal

New York Street Art on Ludlow above Canal Street

  Interested in Jewish Food and Street Art? The Lower East Side is not far from Chinatown. Check out this post: Lower East Side Jewish Food and Street Art Tour

Or, take a side trip to Jersey to See Street Art. It’s only a short PATH (subway) ride.

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          Best Places to See Street Art and Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC The Best Street Art and Dim Sum in Chinatown NYC Dim sum literally means TOUCH THE HEART.

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Marina Bay Sands and ArtScience Museum. Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

As a Singaporean, I had mixed feelings about the Movie Crazy Rich Asians. A friend gave me a copy of the book when it first came out. Crazy Rich Asians Singapore! I thought the book and movie would portray Singapore as a place where everyone was rich. And, I did not want people to think that.

My partner Sue, who’s been to Singapore with me many times, read and enjoyed the book and wanted to see the movie. At first, I said no. But then my friends started to see the movie and asked me what I thought about it. I decided I’d better read the book and then go see the movie.

Not So Crazy Rich Asians Singapore Table of Contents

First Impressions Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

Old Money, New Money and No Money

ABCs, Mainland China and Singapore

Singaporeans are Foodies

Many Languages and Accents

Keep it Short: Synonyms and Abbreviations

Why are Cars so Expensive in Singapore?

What were the Crazy Rich Asians Eating?

Where Can I find the Places in Crazy Rich Asians Singapore?

Read the Books

Visiting Singapore

  First Impressions Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

It was fun to see Singapore on the big screen and a movie with an Asian cast.

Singapore’s Changi airport IS the best airport in the world. When my parents were alive, they used to insist on sending me off whenever I was traveling as they really wanted to go to the airport as a family outing. There really is a butterfly park and a sunflower garden! And, shopping and restaurants. You can spend the whole day there.

Hawker centers, Orchard Road, Sentosa. The sounds of Singlish. The foods—nasi lemak, satay, char kway teow, prawn noodles and arguments about which hawker centers served the best satay. They all brought me back home.

Radio 1 Asia also made me laugh. Every family has their own Radio 1 Asia for spreading news or gossip.

Filial piety and respect for the elders was also familiar and ingrained in all of us as children.

Also familiar was the emotionality (or lack thereof), keeping face, and respecting elders.

Old Money, New Money and No Money

One thing I want to make clear—there is poverty in Singapore. As a visitor you will not see it at all. And, certainly it is nonexistent in the movie. There are a lot of people doing well, but not uber rich like the Youngs, the Leongs, the Khoos and the Gohs. Most people live in and own their apartments in HDB (Housing Development Board) flats. HDB Flats are built and sold by the government. Landed property (a house with any amount of land) is very rare and very expensive.

HDB Block in Singapore

I was taught to be circumspect about money and we did not have much of it. It’s not considered good form to boast about your wealth. On the other hand, buying a new car every year and joining a country club is a way to show without announcing how much money you have in the bank. Similar to Astrid’s and Eleanor penchant for buying jewelry.

The Youngs and the Gohs live in separate worlds. And, families like mine and most Singaporeans live in HDB flats and are in another world entirely.

ABCs, Mainland China and Singapore

American Born Chinese. There are certainly dynamics between those of us born in Asia and those of us born in the US. I thought that Rachel’s mother did a good job of explaining some of the differences in ways of thinking and being.

There are also differences among Singaporeans and Chinese from mainland, Indonesian Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kongers. We are as varied and different as people from the United States or Europe.

In particular, there are lots of differences between mainland Chinese and Singaporeans. Most of the Singaporeans I know are 2nd generation born in Singapore. We identify, first and foremost, as Singaporeans. Our grandparents may have come from China or through Malaysia to Singapore. But we are not Chinese.

The Chinese feel differently. They think Singapore should be part of China. In fact, a Chinese government official was heard to say:

“Hong Kong is the good child, you have to love her back.

Taiwan is the bad child, you have to force her back.

Singapore is the clever child, you have to trick her back.”

But Singapore is an independent country. We are not part of China in the way that Hong Kong and Taiwan are.

When I travelled in China, I was often berated for not being Chinese enough and not speaking Mandarin. I grew up speaking English—Singapore was a British colony until shortly before I was born. I had to study Mandarin in school and I spoke Cantonese with my mother, but Mandarin is not my mother tongue.

Singaporeans are Foodies

Famous Stall for Fried Oyster Pancakes at Maxwell Hawker Center. Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

Singaporeans are self-proclaimed foodies. In the movie and in “real life,” there are heated debates about which hawker centers have the best laksa, the best hokkien mee, the best satay. And, we find any opportunity to eat including the midnight supper! What better way to fill your tummy at 3am after many hours of dancing to the pulsing beat in a club? Singapore is literally open 24 hours a day. I once had a client who loved chocolate cake. We were in between press okays and it was 4am. He asked me to bring him somewhere where we could get chocolate cake and coffee. Obviously I knew where to take him.

Many Languages and Accents

Singapore has four official languages—English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. The fifth is Singlish and not everyone speaks it. Singlish is a mix of English, Chinese and Malay with a dash of Hokkien (another Chinese dialect).

Class differences can be discerned by languages and accents. The British accent is generally considered upper class.  Singlish is lower class (or nouveau riche as in the Gohs in the movie). People always ask about where you went to school (whether you studied abroad or in Singapore), where you live and what do you do for a living.

When I went to college, the National University of Singapore (NUS) was the only university in Singapore and getting in was a big deal. My family was very excited when I got in and graduated from NUS. In my generation, if your family was wealthy and your grades weren’t good enough to get into NUS, you were sent abroad.

You probably heard the word “Alamak” during the Crazy Rich Asians movie. This is an example of Singlish and means “oh dear.” You also heard “Lah” used at the end of sentences. Okay Lah means it’s ok. Both of these phrases derive from Malay words. Singlish was spoken by the Gohs which indicated that they were newly rich, not old money.

Super Trees at night Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

Keep it Short: Synonyms and Abbreviations

You may notice the wide use of synonyms and abbreviations in the movie. This is a reflection of the way Singaporeans are: efficient and to the point. There are no excesses, even in the spoken word. Most everything is initials—HDB (Housing Development Board), CPF (Central Provident Fund), PAP (People’s Action Party)  and so on.

Why are Cars so Expensive in Singapore?

The majority of Singaporeans travel around the island via the very efficient Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) system. I mentioned earlier buying a new car every year as a sign of wealth – that is because it costs 5x as much to buy a car in Singapore as in the US. First, you have to obtain a COE (Certificate of Entitlement) to purchase a car. The car is taxed at 275%. It can cost upwards of $150,000 to own a car. And, after a car is 10 years old, it is retired and can no longer be driven. And yes, we have congestion pricing in Singapore. There are tolls for driving during the peak hours.

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What were the Crazy Rich Asians Singapore Eating?

As I said earlier, we are foodies. Some of the foods in the movie were:

Nasi lemak – coconut rice wrapped in pandan leaf with fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, curry, half a hard boiled egg, cucumber slices and sambal. Usually eaten for breakfast.

Satay – grilled skewered chicken, mutton or beef seasoned in honey and spices, eaten with pressed rice, cucumber and onions, dipped in peanut sauce

My favorites include: Char Kway Teow—rice noodles with eggs fried in sweet black sauce, usually with thin slices of Chinese sausage. Sometimes this dish has cockles and bean sprouts.

Roti Prata or Canai—Indian flatbread served with chicken and potato curry for dipping.

Carrot cake which is steamed daikon radish cake fried with eggs.

Sue loves Chili Crab which is one of the national dishes. It is crab served in a spicy red sauce with mantou (fried bread) for dipping.

She’s also a big fan of kaya toast. Kaya is an egg custard/jam. We often eat kaya toast with soft boiled eggs (with a splash of soy sauce) for breakfast when we are in Singapore.

Kreta Ayer Hawker Center Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

For more on Hawker Centers in Singapore, read Sue’s post A Tasty Delight on Every Corner.

If you happen to live in or visit NYC, my favorite pace for Singapore food is a Malaysian restaurant called Rasa (25 W. 8th Street in the Village, Manhattan). 

Where Can I find the Places in Crazy Rich Asians Singapore?

Tyersall Park

Ah Ma’s house and gardens, there is no such park, just a road next to botanic gardens the Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 Cluny Road, take the MRT to the Botanic Gardens Stop)

Singapore Botanic Garden Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

One Cairnhill Road

One Cairnhill Road is behind Orchard Road near the popular Robinsons Mall

Nassim Road

Nassimis also known as Embassy Row and is near the Botanic Gardens (Orchard Road MRT stop)

First Methodist Church

First Methodist Church does not exist in Singapore. This was probably modeled after Wesley Methodist Church (5 Fort Canning Road, nearest MRT stop is Dhoby Ghaut MRT) since it is the nearest to Fort Canning Park.

CHIJMES

In the movie, CHIJMES (30 Victoria Street near the City Hall MRT Stop) was used to film the wedding scene of Colin and Araminta. CHIJMES used to be the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, middle education school, a former convent and secondary school for catholic girls. Today it is a popular venue with restaurants and bars.

Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Park  is a 150 acres park and nature reserve at the highest elevation in the center of the island.  A fort was built on the site in 1861. Today you will still find the 9lb cannon. As a kid I used to play in the park and around the cannon. I recalled the old Van Kleef aquarium and National Theatre was located at one end of the park, and back then, families used to picnic there. There was also the YWCA where I had learned karate when I was 19. (Fort Canning Station (Exit B), Clarke Quay Station (Exit E) or Dhoby Ghaut Station (Exit B)

Sentosa

Sentosa Cove is on Sentosa Island which is now a Disneyish resort with a butterfly park and aviary, a few beaches with man-made lagoons. A monorail takes you to some of the attractions like SEA aquarium, Today part of the island features private residences of multi-million dollar homes with their own docks. During WWII, the island was used as a military fortress. After the Japanese invasion, a POW camp was set up and is where Singapore surrendered to the Japanese.

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is the main shopping and entertainment drag of the country/island, it stretches 2.5 km (1.5 miles). You can find ultra-high end boutiques, inexpensive shops, restaurants and everything in between.

Clarke Quay Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

Newton Road Hawker Centre

Newton Road Hawker Centre is very popular with tourists. There are individual stalls with different kinds of foods like noodles, meat dishes, seafood. It is best visited at night as the temperature can be cooler then. (Nearest MRT stop is Newton)

Lau Pa Sat

Lau Pa Sat (aka Telok Ayer market) is located in the middle of the Central Business District (CBD). It is very popular with the office crowd for lunch and party goers looking for a midnight snack. A National monument built in the 19th century, the architecture has distinctive octagonal style with soaring arches. This place reminds me of the souks in Morocco but instead of shops, you will find stalls selling food. (Nearest MRT 18 Raffle Quay)

Churchill Club

The Churchill Club does not exist in Singapore.  It was probably modeled after the Singapore Cricket Club located on the Padang (where Michael Teo played soccer growing up). The Club was established in 1852. (Connaught Drive Singapore. Nearest MRT Raffles Place).

Changi Airport

Changi Airport has 4 terminals and is an internationally acclaimed destination unto itself complete with shops, restaurants, hotels, sunflower garden, butterfly and waterfall park. Next year there will be a 5-story rain vortex.

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore Eye and Gardens by the Bay Crazy Rich Asians Singapore

Marina Bay Sands is a hotel resort with over 2500 rooms featuring Sands Sky Park’s infinity pool on top of hotel (add Art/Science Museum, theatre, shops, casinos and restaurants). Nearest MRT Bayfront

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay – sitting on over 250 acres of reclaimed land featuring hanging gardens, flower domes, cloud forest and the 160’ Supertrees connected via several walkways. Sue loves the Supertrees. They are best viewed at night as the trees are lit and the evening breezes chase the heat off.

Read the Books

If you liked the movie, I recommend that you read the books. There are more details in the books about Singapore and the dynamics within the family. It’s a light read and there’s no deep analysis of poverty or wealthy, but I enjoyed reading a book set in Singapore and New York–the two places that I call home. The author, Kevin Kwan, was born in Singapore and moved to the United States when he was 11.

You can purchase by clicking on the link below. We are Amazon Affiliates, so we earn a small commission if you order through our link below. It doesn’t cost you anything extra to use our link.

Visiting Singapore

Singapore is a fantastic place to visit whether you saw Crazy Rich Asians or not. There is a lot more to do than eat and shop. There are museums (the ArtScience Museum is Sue’s favorite) and islands for day trips. The Singapore Botanic Garden is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  English is widely spoken; the mass transit is efficient and easy to navigate. It is well positioned as the gateway to all of Asia.

And the food… well I am a foodie and a Singaporean so don’t get me started.

  Planning a Trip to Singapore? Wondering How You’ll Survive the 21 Hour Flight? You’ll want to read Cheapest Business Class to Singapore for a guide to getting the best airfare and how to survive the flight.

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Did you See Crazy Rich Asians? What do you think about the Movie?

You Might also like the Lonely Planet Singapore Guide

  Not So Crazy Rich Asians Singapore As a Singaporean, I had mixed feelings about the Movie Crazy Rich Asians. A friend gave me a copy of the book when it first came out.

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8 Best Things to Do in Cambridge UK

8 Best Things to Do in Cambridge UK

Kings College. Best Things to do Cambridge UK

Looking for a weekend trip less than an hour away from London? Interested in history, architecture, good food, a beautiful river, street performers, farmer’s market, gardens and cows? Then, Cambridge is the perfect destination for you. Here’s our report on 8 things to do in Cambridge UK.

About Cambridge

Cambridge is located 50 miles from…

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Street Art Speaks: A Conversation with Mural Artist LMNOPi

Street Art Speaks: A Conversation with Mural Artist LMNOPi

Crosby Street Doorway by Mural Artist LMNOPi Street Art Speaks: A Conversation with Mural Artist LMNOPi

This is the first of a new series that I am doing called Street Art Speaks. I am kicking it off with an interview with mural artist LMNOPi. She is one of my favorite mural artists in New York. Her work conveys a humanity and intimacy that I find very touching. I wanted to have a conversation…

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What You Need to Know Cambridge Punting Tours

What You Need to Know Cambridge Punting Tours

Kings College Chapel. View from Cambridge River Punting

Cambridge Punting Tours are a Must Do In Cambridge. It is an excellent way to see all of the iconic views of the Colleges. Punting can be a very nice and relaxing experience. It is also a very touristy thing to do–almost like a gondola ride in Venice.

There are two ways to do Cambridge Punting Tours. You can hire a punt and try to get…

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View of Parliament Building from Buda Castle. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary-An Introduction

Travel is about getting to know a City–its culture, history/politics, food, challenges, tragedies and highlights. Budapest has all of this and more.

In this Best of Budapest 4 day itinerary, you can only scratch the surface of this complicated place. And, that’s helpful because you need time and space to come to terms with the City before diving in deeper on a second trip.

Budapest is a city of contradictions. Made up of two centers–Buda and Pest–it is a mix of old world and new beginnings. Beautiful buildings, museums and architecture. A vibrant culture and great food. Ruin bars, street art and thermal baths. It is a vibrant and engaging place. And, all that is enough of a reason to see the City. To understand Budapest, however, you need to grapple with its modern history of anti-semitism, communism, fascism and democracy.

Buda and Pest–What’s the Difference?

The Budapest that most travelers see is made up of two areas–Buda and Pest. Buda is known for the Castle and gorgeous views of the city. It sits on the east side of the Danube.

View of Danube from Buda. Buda is the left side of the photo and Pest is the right side. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Pest is on the west and has the official government buildings, the Jewish quarter and the parks. Both areas also have residential districts. 1.7M people live in Budapest today, so the city is much, much more than these two areas.

Table of Contents

Brief Political History of 20th Century Hungary Getting Around Budapest First Day-Buda Second Day-The Jewish Quarter and Street Art City Park, Vorosmarty Square and St. Stephens Fourth Day-The Danube Cruise and Shoes on the Danube Where to Stay Transportation Lines Where to Eat The Best Views

Hungarian 20th Century: A (Very) Brief Political History

Hungary was the second communist state to be formed in 1919, right after the Soviet Union. The Hungarian Soviet Republic was short-lived and only lasted 133 days.

Shortly thereafter, Miklos Horthy became the leader of the country. During WWII, he led Hungary into an alliance with Hitler and Nazi Germany (Romania and Bulgaria were also members of the Axis Powers). A more detailed history of the holocaust in Hungary will be covered in another post.

More than 600,000 Jews were sent to death at Auschwitz in a two month period. Thousands more were murdered on the streets of Budapest by the fascist Arrow Cross. The remaining Jewish population (between 75,000 and 100,000) is mainly in Budapest.

Post-WWII

After WWII, Hungary was a multi-party democracy until 1949 when the communist People’s Republic of Hungary was established. A 1956 uprising started by students was violently suppressed by the Soviet Union. During that period, approximately 200,000 people fled the country and tens of thousands were imprisoned or executed. In 1989, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Hungary became a democracy again. Hungarians are very proud members of both NATO and, more recently, the European Union.

Currently, Hungary is led by Victor Orban, a social conservative and economic populist. He campaigned on a nationalist, anti-immigration platform. Hungary’s second largest party is Jobbik, a right wing, Neo-Nazi organization. They received 20% of the vote during the April 2018 elections.

Budapest 4 Day Itinerary Overview

There is a lot to see in Budapest and you can’t see it all in 4 days. This Budapest 4 day itinerary gives you one day in each the most important areas: Buda, the Jewish Quarter, the Park/Vorosmarty/St Stephens Basilica and one day on the Danube.

Trolley #2. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Let’s start with getting around Budapest.

Getting Around Budapest

Budapest is an easy city to get around via mass transit. You can buy a mass transit card for $15 USD. It is good for consecutive three days. Another option is the Budapest Card which gives discounts at museums/sites and free use of the mass transit system. The card costs $15 for 1 day and $45 for three days.  We strongly advise buying either the Budapest Card or the Transit Card.

The Budapest Card

Disclosure: The Budapest Festival and Tourism Center gave me a free card to use while I was there.

The Budapest Card gives free admission to: Buda Tower, the Hungarian History 3D show, Lukacs Thermal Baths and all 17 museums in the city.  It also gives discounts on certain Danube cruises and some other sites. All mass transit in the City is free with the card, including, the “Official Budapest Castle Bus.” This bus loops around every 5 minutes through the whole Castle district (2100HUF without the card).

Office Budapest Castle Bus. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

You should think through this carefully before purchasing. A single bus/tram/trolley ticket is 350HUF ($1.30 USD) per ride so you will need a lot of rides to add up to $15 USD/per day. If you are planning to go to a few museums, do a Danube cruise (40% off) and go to the Lukacs thermal baths (save $14USD), then the Budapest card can save you money. If you’re the kind of traveler that likes to shop and sit in cafes, then you won’t save money by getting the card.

The card runs for 24 hour periods based on what time of the day you start the card. This is written on the back of the card. You can buy the card online, but you’ll still have to go to an authorized place to pick up the card.

We calculated what we would have spent without the card and determined that we had saved a small amount by having the card.

The Funicular to Buda Castle

We didn’t take the funicular. The line was often long and it seemed like an unnecessary expense (time and money). We either took Bus 16 from the Deak Ferenc Square, the Official Buda Castle Bus or walked up the steps. Walking up takes about 10 minutes from the Chain Bridge and it is not that difficult.

On to the First Day in Buda.

First Day-Buda

Start early and go directly to Buda Castle (officially the Royal Palace). The National Palace and Budapest History Museum are also there. The buildings open at 10 am, but you’ll want to arrive a little earlier to take in the picturesque views of the city from its courtyards. The History Museum has a good tour that takes you to the basements of the castle and will give you a sense of Hungarian and the Castle’s history. The National Galleries are also worth seeing. We saw an excellent Frida Kahlo exhibit there. It closes in November, so try to catch if you are there before then.

The changing of the Guard in front of the Hungarian Presidential Palace (near the Funicular) takes place every hour on the hour. It’s about a 5 minute walk from the Castle.

Important Note: The History Museum and National Galleries are closed on Mondays.

Buda Castle Costs:

It’s free to walk around the Castle. The History Museum charges 2000HUF ($7.30USD) and the National Galleries 1800HUF ($6.60USD). Special exhibits (like the Frida Kahlo) cost 3200HUF ($11.70USD). With the Budapest Card, you can see  the permanent exhibit at the National Gallery. Special exhibits cost extra. In order to enter the museum with the Budapest Card, you have to go to the ticket counter first.

Continue on to Matthias Church.

Next Stop: Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion

Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion are right next to each other and about a 10 minute walk from the Castle.

Matthias Church. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Mathias Church is beautiful and is a must see. It’s free to enter. The church dates to 1015 but the original structure was destroyed by the Mongols in 1241. It was rebuilt in the late 13th century. Many coronations have taken place at this Catholic Church. It has also been used as a mosque (during the Turkish invasion in the mid-1500s) and as the headquarters for both the Germans and Soviets at various points in its history.

There are excellent views from the Bell Tower if you are up for the 197 steps to the top. The Bell Tower has timed entrances so go buy your tickets as soon as you get there if you want to do this, especially in high season.

Fisherman’s Bastion is beautiful to look at from the outside. It costs a small fee to go inside and up the turrets. If you are planning to do the Bell Tower, there is no need to also do the Fisherman’s Bastion–the views are similar. You can also take the stairs underneath the Bastion for a free view of the Danube.

At this point, you are probably ready for a lunch break. We ate at Jamie Oliver’s Italian (review below). There are several other restaurants in the area.

Cost: Bell Tower tour costs 1500HUF ($5.50USD)

Buda Tower

After lunch, head on over to Buda Tower (Magdalena Church). All that remains of the church is the tower and you can climb the 170 steps to the top. It has slightly different view than the Bell Tower. We did both–we had the Budapest card and it was free for us. Otherwise, it costs 1500HUF ($5.50).

Buda Tower at Magdalena Church. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

By the end, you’ll probably be pretty spent (especially if you climbed both towers), so head on back to your hotel for pre-dinner rest.

Additional Optional Activities for Families with Children in Buda

We also went to the House of Houdini (the escape artist). He was of Hungarian ancestry. Entrance fees are 2400HUF ($9.00) for adults and was not covered by the Budapest Card. It’s a great activity if you have children. There is a short tour of the museum and a magic show at the end.

The Labirintus is an underground cave system where Dracula was imprisoned. With children, it could be an optional activity. It’s cool, very wet and dark. And yes, we got lost. It could be scary so young children would need to stay with their parents. The entrance fee was 2000HUF ($7.30).

How to get to Buda

The 16 bus goes right to Buda and that’s the easiest and quickest way to get there. You can also walk across the Szechenyi Bridge. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the top from the ramp next to the Funicular. The Funicular is not worth the wait or the cost.  There is also an official Budapest bus if you have purchased the Budapest Card. It costs 6 Euro ($7.00) if you don’t.

After a well deserved rest, Day 2 starts with the Doheny Synagogue in the Jewish quarter.

Day 2 Jewish Quarter and Street Art

On the second day, head over to the Jewish Quarter. We stayed in the Jewish Quarter and found it to be a great location.

Daheny Synagogue. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

First stop is the Doheny Synagogue. Make sure to take the guided tour which costs 3600HUF ($13.10USD). The Budapest card gives you a 10% discount. It takes about 40 minutes and will give you the history of the Jewish community in Budapest and Hungary. The synagogue is very interesting and has both Moorish and Catholic influences. It is the second largest synagogue in the world.

The guide will tell you in great detail about the Holocaust in Hungary and the genocide of 80% of Hungary’s Jewish Population. It is very disturbing and important to take in. We found the non-Jewish Hungarian tours to be very defensive about the Holocaust and Hungary’s role in it. We will be doing another post with more in depth information about this history.

Be sure to see the Holocaust Memorial (Tree of Life) in the courtyard as well as a tribute to Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews by giving them visas and sheltering them in Swedish diplomatic buildings.

Carl Lutz Memorial

Nearby, you will find the Carl Lutz Memorial He was a Swiss diplomat who saved more than 60,000 Jews by issuing protective letters for emigration to Palestine.

Carl Lutz Memorial. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Lutz was supposed to issue 8,000 letters to Jews, but chose to interpret it as 8,000 families. After the war, he was chastised by the Swiss government for doing this (Switzerland was neutral during WWII). As a result, many people don’t know about him. He is listed as One of the Righteous Among Nations by Yad Vashem.

Nearby, you will also find the Holocaust Memorial Wall (along Doheny Utca). Make sure to look through the peepholes.

Hannah Senesh Museum

The Hannah Senesh Museum is right next to Doheny. I had originally planned to visit the Hannah Senesh Museum right after the Synagogue but decided against it. It is hard to take in all of the atrocities of WWII and the holocaust.

You’ll be close to the Karavan outdoor Street Food Court. Karavan has about 15-20 outdoor food trucks with great food. The trucks have traditional Hungarian food as well as more modern, fusion versions.

After lunch, the Hannah Senesh Museum is a good stop. Hannah was a Hungarian Jew from Budapest who emigrated to Palestine. In 1944, she parachuted into Yugoslavia in an attempt to rescue Jews from Hungary. She was captured, tortured and killed on November 1944, just three months before Hungary surrendered. She was 23 years old. Senesh was a poet and is widely revered in Israel. The very last poem she wrote in her cell has these final lines:

I could have been twenty-three next July; I gambled on what mattered most, The dice were cast. I lost.

  After lunch, it’s time for a street art walk.

Street Art Walk

Rubic’s Cube Street Art. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

The Jewish Quarter has some of the best Street Art in Budapest. The following route will take a couple of hours to do. Stop whenever you are ready for a break. It takes you to many of the famous murals in Budapest.

Dob St 10 – Rubik’s Cube

Dob St 4 – Angel Sans Briz (above restaurant)

Rumbach Sebestyen St 10 – 6:3

Kiraly St 23 – Landscape

Kacinzy St 55 – Sunrise or Sunset

Kacinzy St 45 – Budapest Isn’t So Small

Dob St 36 – City People

Dob St 40 – Love Thy Neighbors

Kertesz St 27 – Art of Gastronomy/What Does Being Hungarian Mean to You/Pan Galactic/Gargle Blaster/Market/Countryside or City  – these murals are painted around a huge carpark lot

Wesselenyi  St 40 – Man of the Year

Akacfa St 9 – Bike

  Budapest Street Art. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

  If you like street art, check out:

10 Reasons to See Exciting Jersey City Street Art

Want to Combine New York City Jewish Food and Street Art? This post is for you:

How to See Lower East Side Jewish Food & Street Art Tour

Ruin Bars and Palinka

Ruin Bar. Szimpla. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

After dinner, it’s time to check out a Ruin Bar and try Palinka. Ruin Bars are famous in Budapest. They are in old crumbling buildings (thus “ruin”) . There are many in the Jewish Quarter. We went to Szimpla Kert, the first ruin bar opened in 2004. It was huge and there are many small rooms on the first and second floors. There was a bar in every room.

Palinka is a very strong Hungarian drink – it contains 37.5% alcohol content! It is served in a shot glass and you are supposed to drink it like a shot. We tried it once!

  Third Day-City Park, Vorosmarty Square

and St. Stephens Basilica

If you are staying in the Jewish Quarter, take the yellow streetcar #74 from Doheny to City Park. Get off at the Bethesda stop so you can walk through the park to Heroes’ Square, a World Heritage Site. On your way through the park, you’ll see Municipal Zoological and Botanical Garden, Vajdahunyad Castle and the Museum of Fine Arts. You can stop at any of these or just past by for pictures. The Castle is very beautiful. There is also a lake with boating and a thermal bath in the park.

It takes about 30 minutes to walk through the park, unless you stop at the gardens, baths or other activities. You can also bring food and have a picnic lunch in the park. You’ll eventually arrive at Heroes’ Square, a very impressive place. It honors 900 years of Hungary’s kings, princes and military leaders. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also in the square.

Heroes’ Square. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

One the side of the square is the Mucsarnok, built in 1895. It has a nice folk art exhibit while we were there. It showcases Hungarian arts and performances. Budapest Card covers the entrance fee, otherwise it costs 1500HUF ($5.50).

Millennium Subway

At the opposite end of the square is the entrance to the Millennium Subway, the oldest subway in the city and third oldest in the world. Built in 1896, the subway connects City Park to Vorosmarty Square.

If you’re ready for a break, try Gerbeaud’s at Vorosmarty Square. It’s pricey and touristy but the pastries are good and the chandeliers are magnificent.

St. Stephens. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Next stop is St. Stephens Basilica just off of Deak Ferenc Square. It is a large, beautiful church named after the first king of Hungary. St. Stephens and the Parliament Building are the two tallest buildings in Budapest. No buildings can be built taller than them. You will be asked for a donation upon entry.

Fourth Day-The Danube Cruise and Shoes on the Danube

  Day 4 The Danube Cruise and Shoes on the Danube

Day 4 will be spent in and around the Danube. Take yellow streetcar #2 to the Parliament Building. You will need to book tickets in advance to go into the Parliament Building. The whole area is beautiful to see on foot.

Shoes on the Danube. This is a site where thousands of Jews died during the Holocaust, Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

After you have finished this area, walk towards the river to see Shoes on Danube. On this spot, the fascist Arrow Cross murdered thousands of Jews. People were ordered to take off their shoes, then tied together. Some would be shot and then the entire group would fall into the Danube and drown. There are 60 iron shoes in the memorial. It is chilling to see them.

Since you are at the Danube, you can take a cruise along the Danube. Some feel the night time cruise is best to see the lights of the City.

If you prefer to cruise in the evening, then go shopping instead. You can take the #2 yellow streetcar along the Danube from Szchenyi Iszvan for 4 stops and get off at Fovam Ter to the Grand Market Hall. The market has been on the same spot since 1897 and sells fresh produce, food and souvenirs. This is also the place to buy sausages, palinka and paprika.

Another option is to go to one of the baths. If you have the Budapest Card, the Lukacs Bath is free. It’s on the Buda side so you’ll have to go across the Danube.

Where to Stay

Most visitors stay in either in the Buda Castle District or on the Pest side (including the Jewish Quarter).

If you decide to stay in Buda, you’ll be near everything in the Castle District. You’ll need to take buses into the Pest side and the traffic can be very slow on the Chain Bridge.

We found that we spent much more time on the Pest side and preferred that location. We stayed in a studio apartment on Rakoczi street, a busy thoroughfare in the Jewish quarter and found it to be an excellent location. It is near many of the metro, bus and trolley lines. The Jewish Quarter also has many restaurants as well as Ruin Bars.

Transportation Lines

The Yellow Street Car #2 runs along Danube (450HUF) Bus 16 goes to Buda and Castle Hill Yellow Street Car #74 goes along Doheny and around the City Park The Bus 100E goes from Airport to Deak Ferenc (costs 900HUF and is not covered by Budapest Card or Transit Day Pass). It only makes 3 stops and is an express into the city. The Millennial Subway is the M1 and goes from Vorosmarty Square to Heroes’ Square The other subway lines are the M2/M3/M4 Budapest is a good city for bikes and there is a bike sharing app called BUBI that you can download before you go.

Where to Eat

Karavan

Karavan (on Kazincy St) is popular with the younger crowd. There are 15-20 food trucks serving burgers, langos, chimney cake and traditional Hungarian food like goulash, sausages. There’s even a Las Vegans truck! And, of course, there are several bars and beer trucks too ($15 for dinner for 2 people including drinks).

Karavan Street Food. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

Rosenstein

Rosenstein (Monsonyi 3) next to the train station is a Jewish Hungarian restaurant. They have specials every day. We were there on a Wednesday and were happy to learn the special of the day was stuffed cabbage! The venison soup was excellent as was the duck with kale chef special. Rosenstein’s has an extensive wine collection. The food is cooked by the owner and his son. It is a little on the pricier side but well worth it ($72USD for 3 courses for two people including wine).

Tasting Table Budapest

Tasting Table Budapest Wine Cellar (Brody Sandor 9) holds Thursdays@The Tasting Table which  includes a wine tasting and dinner. It typically happens every other week. on our visit, they served 6 wines from the central Hungary region during our 3 course dinner. We heard a presentation about each wine from a director of the vineyard. This costs US$49.00 per person and can be booked on their website.

The Olaszrizling varietal from Szent Donat was paired with a delightful peach soup with thin slices of mangalica ham. The main entree was trout, baked and served with chives and beetroot in a bearnaise sauce. This went very well with a glass of Furmint. We finished with a cheese plate and summer berries accompanied by a glass of a red wine, Magma Kerfrankos.

The Tasting Table also has wine tastings without dinner and other wine-related events. The wine cellar seats about 24 people in communal tables.

Jamie Oliver Italian

Jamie Oliver Italian (Buda) was an excellent find among the many tourist restaurants next to the Matthias church. We had pizza and a melt-in-your mouth ravioli with pea leaves. Prices are reasonable for the Buda Castle district ($31 for 2 people lunch).

Gerbeauds Cafe

Gerbeaud’s Cafe (On Vorosmarty Square) is known for its wonderful pastries and was apparently a favorite of Sissy (nickname of Queen Elizbeth, wife of King Stephen). In addition to pastries, they serve a  lunch and breakfast. Expect to find strudels, sacher torte and dobos and other traditional Hungarian desserts. It is on the pricey side for dessert but a nice experience ($16 USD for 1 dessert and 1 coffee).

Fuego

Fuego is a Spanish roasted chicken restaurant along Kazincy Street, near the Ruin bars and Karavan. The menu is a la carte so you are charged for everything, including sauces. The chicken is very nicely cooked and the extra sauce is not necessary. We ordered a side of salad and potatoes ($22USD for 2 people for dinner).

Arany Pince

Arany Pince is a traditional Hungarian restaurant offering goulash, bean soups, chicken paprikash. We had the mangalicza pork wrapped in bacon with potato donuts (the donuts were yummy!) and the duck combo dish with red cabbage. Portions are very generous and tasty. Lunch was (US$35.00).

The Best Views

The are many ways to get great pictures of Budapest. To give you an idea, here are photos from Matthias Bell Tower, the lower part of Fisherman’s Bastion (we did not go to the area that requires tickets), Buda Tower at Magdalena Church, and Buda and Pest Views. You don’t need to do all of them. Pick your favorite and go there. We liked the Bell Tower View the best. If you are not up for the climb, then the free view at Fisherman’s Bastion is great.

View of Parliament Building from Buda Castle. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

View from Matthias Church Bell Tower. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

View from Matthias Church Bell Tower. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

View from Buda Tower. Magdalena Church Bell Tower. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

View from the top of Buda Tower. Magdalena Church Bell Tower. Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary

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  The Best of Budapest 4 day Itinerary Best of Budapest 4 Day Itinerary-An Introduction Travel is about getting to know a City--its culture, history/politics, food, challenges, tragedies and highlights.

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Centre-Fuge Mural. Part of Lower East Side Street Art Tour

I love the Lower East Side. It is a rapidly changing area full of history, art galleries and street art. The Lower East Side Jewish food is the best. Old and New. Some people love this and some people hate how the area is changing. Gentrification. There is now a huge Whole Foods two blocks from Katz’s, Russ and Daughters and Yonah Shimmel Knishery. And Katz’s has become a tourist magnet.  Join me as we take a Lower East Side Jewish Food & Street Art Tour.

Most people dash to Katz’s, wait for a long time, eat, and then dash off to the next place on their list. If you do this you will miss out on the full experience of the changing Lower Eastside and the intriguing Street Art tour.

First we need to start with a history of the Lower East Side.

Click here if you want to read about the Lower East Side Street Art Tour first

History of the Lower East Side

The Lower East Side’s first wave of European immigrants in the mid-1880s  were German, and it became known as “Little Germany”. Then there was a period of Irish immigration. Followed by Italians and Eastern Europeans from Russia, Poland, Hungary  Romania, the Ukraine and elsewhere. Immigrants tended to live in area populated by people from their own towns and countries.

Jewish Immigrants. My great-grandparents from Eastern Europe

My family came to this country from Russia and Romania in the early 1900s. Many people, including my family, were leaving Eastern Europe due to the increasing pogroms and violent attacks on Jewish communities. Between the 1880s and 1919, more than 2 million Jews immigrated to the US. One million settled in New York, a large number on the Lower East Side, but also in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens.

Boundaries of the Lower East Side

At that point in time, the Lower East Side was larger than we think of it now. It included what we now call the East Village, Nolita, Chinatown and the surrounding area. The Lower East Side was home to more than 5 million people, living in poverty and tenements. It was the most densely populated area in New York City.

  Given me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free … Not

The US has always had a very conflicted approach to immigration. On one hand, there is the Statue of Liberty and the ideal that we welcome immigrants. There is a strong history of this country being built by immigrants. There is also a history of forced immigration and slavery. And, the genocide of the Native American people. The current criminalization of immigration that is taking place under President Trump (the separation of children from their families, the Muslim ban) are inhumane. Today’s actions have historical roots in US isolation and protectionism that has been going on since the 1600s.

Way back in 1624, 23 Jews from Brazil came to New York City. Governor Peter Stuyvesant planned to turn them away but was convinced to let them enter New York (New Amsterdam at the time). In 1882, the Chinese exclusion act was passed and banned Chinese immigration to the US. It also required that Chinese living in the US carry identification or risk deportation. It was not repealed until 1943.

Immigration Act of 1924

The Immigration Act of 1924 restricted the number of Eastern Europeans that were allowed into the US. The quotas were set at 2% of the number of people from each country that were in the US as of 1890. Notice that this date was before the wave of immigration from Eastern Europe. From 1900-1915, on average 200,000 Italians immigrated to the US. The new quota set by the Immigration Act of 1924 for Italians was 4,000 per year. Asians of every nationality, including the Japanese, were banned from immigrating. The law stated that all of the Asian nationalities could not become citizens, therefore, they were ineligible to migrate.

Ever wonder why most Jews in Eastern Europe had a hard time coming to the US to escape the Holocaust? The reason is the Immigration Act of 1924 and US Policies on immigration. The 1924  quotas remained in place until 1952.

Lower East Side Jewish Food

Pastrami. Knishes. Chopped Liver. Schmaltz. Herring. Lox. Chubs. Pickles. Bagels. Bialys. Lower East Side Jewish Food. The tastes and food of Eastern Europe came to the US through immigrants. There were hundreds of Jewish Delis, knisheries, appetizers and other traditional shops on the Lower East Side. There were even more pushcart vendors.

Hester, Orchard, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Ludlow were lined with thousands of pushcarts selling food, clothing, and all manner of goods and Jewish food.

Yonah Shimmel, Katz’s and Russ and Daughters are still standing.  I love all of them. I am going to share some secrets to eating there like a native.

How to Eat at Katz’s Like a Native New Yorker

205 East Houston Street

Katz’s is an institution and has been in the same place since 1888. In my opinion, Katz’s has the best pastrami in the city. I used to stop there on the way to see my mother and bring her a sandwich. We like pastrami. They also have the staples of Lower East Side Jewish food: corned beef, tongue, salami, brisket, kishka, chopped liver, kasha and many other things. Katz’s is no longer kosher and you can also get cheese burgers and cheesesteaks. The food is traditional Jewish Deli food. It is generally full of tourists. Here are some tips for a successful experience at Katzs.

Katz’s. Lower East Side Jewish Food

When to Go to Katz’s to Eat Jewish Food

Do not ever go there on a weekend in the afternoon. On Saturday during lunch and afterwards, there is a line down the block.It will be at least an hour before you make it into the restaurant.

Best time to go is during the week early or late in the morning BEFORE the lunch rush.

I no longer even try to go if it is after 10:30 in the morning.

Take the F train. Parking is terrible around there.

How to Order

It is chaos at Katz’s. Loud, crowded and fantastic. You can get overwhelmed if you have not been there before.

You can eat at a table and get served. OR you can do it like a native and go up to the counter to order your sandwich. Each slicer has separate line so don’t just go to the first line that you see. Look for the shortest one. It won’t look like a line–it looks like a clump of people. Trust me, there are actual lines.

Know what you are ordering as soon as you get to the slicer.

The slicer will give you a plate with a few slices to taste.

Make sure to tip the slicer. They are slicing meat for hours.

There are separate lines for fries/drinks (on the left of the slicers as you face them). Knishes/kishka (stuffed derma–think Jewish sausage)/hot dogs/knishes are on the right of the slicers. If you have several people and want a number of things, split up and go to different parts of the counter.

The sandwiches are very large and expensive ($22). Pay for extra slices of bread. I generally turn a pastrami sandwich into 2-3 sandwiches. It used to be free for extra bread, but now they charge $1. The benefit of sharing the sandwich is that you can try other things.

The slicer will also ask you about pickles–they have sour and half sour. Sour is very sour.

Whatever you do, DO NOT ask for mayo on your pastrami or corned beef sandwich.

If you get it to go, there is a park nearby that you can eat it at.

Enjoy the food. You can worry about cholesterol tomorrow.

Yonah Shimmel–the Best Knishes

137 East Houston

I love walking into Yonah Shimmel. It looks just like it did when it first opened in 1890. The knishes are baked in the basement and if you’re lucky, you see fresh knishes sent up in the dumbwaiter. The staff tends to be a bit gruff and it feels like I’m in the old Lower East Side. The knishes are round, not square (the square ones on the hot dog carts are from Gabila’s and originated in Coney Island).

Yonah Shimmel Kinishery. Lower East Side Jewish Food

I love the kasha knishes at Yonah Shimmel. I am a bit old school on knishes–basically I eat Kasha and potato. They now also make all kinds of knishes–broccoli, spinach, red cabbage, sweet potato and more. You can also order them to be delivered. I once sent a dozen kasha knishes to my mother in Florida. And, no, she didn’t share any with her friends.  They also make very good egg creams. Egg creams are chocolate syrups and seltzer (there are no eggs in egg creams), borscht (cold beet soup), potato pancakes (with sour cream or apple sauce). They also have cheese blintzes, though my aunt said that Ratner’s (closed in 2002) were better.

Russ and Daughters–More than Lox

179 East Houston Street

Russ and Daughters is the baby in this family of Lower East Side Jewish Food insitutions. It was started by Joel Russ, first with a pushcart and then a storefront. It has been open since 1914 (first around the corner) and is run by the 4th generation of the family. Russ only had daughters and they became his partners. Hence Russ and Daughters instead of Russ and Sons.

Russ & Daughters Lower East Side Jewish Food

Russ and Daughters is where I go for Fish. It is a take out place–there are no tables and there is often a line outside to get in one the weekends (not as long as Katz’s). Everyone knows about bagels and lox. There is much more to Jewish fish. Kippered salmon (my favorite), chubs, whitefish, sable, herring and more. There are also many different kinds of lox and varieties of bagel and bialys and types of cream cheese. They also sell dried fruit, nuts, chopped liver. Their chocolate Babka (a Jewish cake) is full of chocolate and heavenly.

Go try some fish that you’ve never eaten before. And try a bialy or challah or some other kind of bread. You can’t go wrong at Russ and Daughters. The fourth generation is now branching out and they’ve opened a cafe at 127 Orchard Street which had traditional as well as modernized versions of Jewish food. And, they have another cafe in the Jewish Museum.

Next Up–the Street Art Tour on Lower East Side

Street Art Tour of the Lower East Side

After you’ve had your fill of Jewish food, you are going to need to walk it off. There is a lot of street art on and around Houston Street. Some of it is well known and others are local graffiti artists having their say on the walls of the city. The most well-known area is the Center-fuge Outdoor Street Art gallery. There was a work by Banksy that was recently painted over. Everywhere you walk, you’ll find street art.

Banksy Mural on Bowery Wall. This has recently been painted over. There is a new Mural by Tristan Eaton. Lower East Side Street Art Tour

Painting of Tristan Eaton Mural on Bowery Wall. Formerly was a Banksy mural. Street Art Tour

Banksy Mural

Banksy is a famous and illusive street artist. Until recently, he had a mural on Houston and Bowery of Turkish artist Zehra Dogan who have been imprisoned in Turkey  for painting a picture of a the Kurdish town of Nasyabin which was destroyed by the Turkish government’s army. She was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in year (she’s still in jail). In 1982, The Bowery Wall began 30 years ago with a mural by Keith Haring and many different artists have painted the wall since then.

Banksy’s mural was painted over in June. The new mural is by Tristan Eaton. If you want to see Banksy in NYC, there is a long standing piece by him on 79th and Broadway on the Upper West Side near Zabars (another famous Jewish deli on NYC).

Centre-fuge Public Art Project

Centre-Fuge Mural on Construction Trailer on 1st Street Lower East Side Street Art Tour

Centre-Fuge Mural. Part of Lower East Side Street Art Tour

The Centre-Fuge Public Art project is an outdoor art gallery on First Avenue and First Street. You can go into the park and see the art work up close. Don’t forget to walk around to first street to see the construction trailer that they painted with murals. Ther are murals all over First Street between First and Second avenues.

Street Art Tour Everywhere

Love Beyond Borders and Lion Mural on Lower East Side Street Art Tour

My favorite thing to do is to wander the City on the look out for street art. Do this in the blocks south of Houston in this area and you’ll be rewarded with lots of interesting graffiti, murals and street art. The process of discovery is exciting. This could also be a very good activity with children and teenagers.

Interested in Street Art? Jersey City has great Street Art. You Might consider a day viewing Jersey City Street Art

Or, go to Bushwick, Brooklyn to see Street Art

Art Galleries on the Lower East Side

There are also many art galleries on the Lower East Side. You could make a day of it–breakfast at Russ and Daughters, street art, lunch at Katz’s or Yonah Shimmels and Galleries in the afternoon. The Galleries in far west Chelsea are closed on Sundays but the Lower East Side Galleries are open. The art tends to be more edgy. I have been to the galleries many times and often have run into the artist or owner at a gallery.

Some galleries that are within a few blocks of Houston and Second are: Anatasia Photo (143 Ludlow), Krause Gallery (159 Orchard), Danziger (95 Rivington) and Chuchifritos Gallery (120 Essex). I recommend that you google the gallery first to find out about the current exhibition.

How to Get There

The F train Stop is on 2nd Avenue and E. Houston Street. Walk a few blocks east and you will first see Yonah Schimmels, then Russ and Daughters and then Katz’s.

  Please Share and Comment. Where have you seen interesting Street Art? Eaten at a Jewish Deli?

If you want to learn more about the history of the Lower East Side Jewish Food, Street Art or New York City? Consider purchasing one of these books:

How to See Lower East Side Jewish Food & Street Art Tour I love the Lower East Side. It is a rapidly changing area full of history, art galleries and street art.

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Laos was one of the most relaxing places that I have ever been. We spent hours on our balcony  watching Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang. Took a million Luang Prabang Photos. Visited Wat Phou, Vientiane and spent hours in boats on the Mekong River. We ate a ton of fish from the Mekong. Gave offerings to the Monks. Took a cooking class and biked all over town.

Please Pin Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang

Wat Phou–UNESCO World Heritage Site

We went to Laos because we wanted to see Wat Phou, a Khmer Hindu (now Buddhist) Temple Complex in Southern Laos on the Mekong River. It is 1,000 years old and was part of the Khmer (Angkor) Empire that was centered in the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia. Wat Phou pre-dates the Angkor Wat by about 100 years.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wat Phou means “temple on the mountain” in Laotian. It is in South Laos along the Mekong River. We flew into Pakse and took a 2 hour cruise to Champasak and then a shorter car ride to the Temple Complex.

Wat Phou Ruins Mekong River Cruise

Wat Phou Ruins Mekong River Cruise

Wat Phou Mekong River Cruise

Wat Phou Ruins Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang Photos

It was magical and peaceful at the complex and we were glad to have made the effort to get there. We then took a boat to Khong Island where we spent the night.

Traveling around Asia? Check out the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Borobudur in Indonesia, too.

Mekong River Cruise–a Near Disaster

Waterfall Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang Photos

The next morning we were excited to get back on the Mekong and proceed to Lihpi waterfall on the border of Cambodia and the 4000 islands area. The only problem was that our boat did not show up. We spent an hour waiting. While we waited, we watched a man bailing water out of his boat. Our guide finally came back and said he had good news. He found another boat to take us and led us to the boat that we had been watching. We took one look at him and politely refused to get in the boat that still had inches of water in the bottom of it. Finally, he found us another boat that was not in danger of sinking.

Pha That Luang

We spent a couple of days in Vientiane, seeing Pha That Luang and enjoying the city before heading on to Luang Prabang. Pha That Luang was originally built in the 1st century, then rebuilt as  Khmer Temple in the 13th century and was rebuilt a third time in the 16th century. Like many temples, it went from being a Hindu Temple to a Buddhist one and was destroyed during a Thai invasion in the early 1800s. The French then restored it in 1900.

One of our favorite experiences in Vientiane was eating at Makphet Restaurant. The restaurant is staffed by homeless young people. They are trained to be chefs, wait staff and for a career in the food service industry. It wasn’t just a good meal, it served a purpose and gave back to the community. The young people were very engaging and had hope for their future. We recently checked on this restaurant and is it temporarily closed while they look for anew space. we hope that they find it soon.

In some ways, this temple reflect the entire history of Laos over the past 2,000 years.

Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang Time

Pak Ou Caves. Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang

After the adventure of Southern Laos and Vientiane, it was time to slow down, enjoy the city and take plenty of Luang Prabang photos. We rented bikes for the rest of our stay and cruised by bike all over the city. We took a cooking class at Tum Tum Cheng and visited the night market numerous times.

Luang Prabang is a lovely with cafes, lots of hostels, and good and cheap food. We loved the street food, especially in the alley by the night market.

One afternoon, we road our bikes to That Phu Si. Little did we know how many stairs we had to climb to the top. The view at the top was worth the climb. Then we realized that this was the temple that we saw from the plane. We watched a man making an offering and setting doves free. It was beautiful to watch.

We returned to the river in kayaks to see the Pak Ou Caves and the thousands of Buddhas. We used Green Discovery for this trip. It was a nice change of pace from the traditional Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang. It was a long kayak trip and we arrived at the caves after the hordes of tourists had left. The lower level cave was more well lit, though the upper level cave was also good to see. There weren’t that many tourists and we had time to feel the specialness of the place. we spent a lot of time sitting on our balcony at the Sala Prabang Hotel, eating Lao chips, drinking Lao beer and watching the Mekong river go by. We considered this Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang style.

Thinking about Kayaking in Laos? You might like these water shoes and tankini top.

Or how about a Drone for aerial photos?

Like this post? Make a Commented and Share.

Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang Photos Laos was one of the most relaxing places that I have ever been. We spent hours on our balcony  watching Mekong River Cruise Luang Prabang.

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Best Antarctica Packing List and Winter Travel Packing List

Bags are Packed. Antarctica Packing List

I have traveled to cold and cold/wet climates many times. We went to Tromso and the Snow Hotel above the Arctic Circle in Norway. We went to the Alaska Wilderness. Sometimes, we had the right gear. More often than not, we were missing something or were not quite as warm or dry as we wanted to be. You can read our Northern Lights postand see that we were…

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Tromso Northern Lights Tour in Winter-Was it Worth the Wait?

Tromso Northern Lights Tour in Winter-Was it Worth the Wait?

  The Tromso Northern Lights Tour

We booked our Northern Lights Tour through Visit Tromso (2500NOK for 2pp). The tour company picked us at 6:30 pm for a tour that was supposed to last 6-8 hours. The package included a hot meal, coffee/tea, a warm suit and hand- and foot-warmers. Generally, the tour goes to the base camp at lake Skogsfjordvannet, an hour drive from Tromsø. At that location, they…

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Merapi Volcano Tour Best Things to do in Yogyakarta

Merapi Volcano Tour Best Things to do in Yogyakarta

Merapi Volcano Tour. Best things to do in Yogyakarta

One of the best things to do in Yogyakarta is a Merapi Volcano Tour. We did this as part of a Yogyakarta Day Tour which we started from Borobudur. Most people stay in Yogyakarta City and do this as a day tour from there.The day included Kraton, the Merapi Volcano tour, Prambanan and then a stop at a durian stand on the side of the road.

 Best…

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How To Go To World Pride Stonewall 50th Anniversary

How To Go To World Pride Stonewall 50th Anniversary

Stonewall 50th Anniversary & World Pride

In 2019, New York City will host World Pride for the first time. It will be the Stonewall 50th Anniversary. And, the 25th anniversary of the Dyke March. More than 2 million people attended Gay Pride in 2018 and you can expect that millions more will arrive in 2019. If you want to come and don’t already live in the NYC metropolitan area, you’ll need to…

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Cheapest Business Class to Singapore

Cheapest Business Class to Singapore

Dining in First Class on British Airways. We did this flight with miles awards and only paid the taxes. Finding the Cheapest Business Class to Singapore Finding the Cheapest Business Class to Singapore

By Regina Ang

It started with a family emergency. My brother called me to say my father was not well. The doctor said get to Singapore as soon as possible. Since the flight from New York to…

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Lisbon 3 Day Itinerary-Easy to See Lisbon Tram 28

Lisbon 3 Day Itinerary-Easy to See Lisbon Tram 28

Lisbon 3 Day Itinerary View of Lisbon Lisbon 3 day Itinerary on the Lisbon Tram 28

Our Lisbon 3 day Itinerary took us all over the city from Alfama to Belem. Our journeys often began on the Lisbon Tram 28. To get to know Lisbon, you must see it by tram and by foot. Sure, there are easier and quicker  (and more expensive) ways to get around, but the trams are a way to travel like a local.…

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Tibet Film

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New Journey Mural by Alice Pasquini 276 First Street near Grove Street. This is part of a series of 3 murals–the other 2 are in Rockaway Beach and Inwood NY

When you think about a day of street art, Jersey City Street Art probably is not at the top of your mind. You’re probably thinking about going to New York City to Bushwick or Harlem or the Bronx. For more on NYC street art, you can read my post: Bushwick Street Art and The Bushwick Collective. You might even be thinking about Philly street art. If you only go to NYC or Philly, you will miss out on the fantastic Outdoor gallery of Jersey City Street Art. You’ll also be missing out on many other New Jersey Street art locations like Newark, Asbury Park and elsewhere.

Jersey City street art is being created all over the place. There are hundreds of murals and tags–both “officially sanctioned” and unofficially painted. And, tags and graffiti are in many spots as well. It is short ride on the PATH train to get to the heart of Jersey City to see amazing street art.

Where to Go to See Jersey City Street Art

While there is street art all over Jersey City, some of it is more accessible via mass transit than other places. The most accessible Jersey City street art is in downtown Jersey City, Grove Street and Jersey Heights. There are also some stunningly large murals right outside of the Holland Tunnel.

In the past 5 years more than 70 murals have been painted. These murals have been painted by well-known local, national and international artists from around the world–Eduardo Kobra (Brazil), Shepard Fairey (US), Pixel Pancho (Italy), Fintan McGee (Australia), Faith47 (South Africa), Case Ma’Claim (Germany) and local artists Distort, Mustart, Mata Ruda, Fermin Mendoza, Catherine Hart and others.

Bowie by Eduardo Kobra, Brazilian artist, on Jersey Ave

Kingdom by Distort is massive mural at 580 Marin Blvd. near the Holland Tunnel.

Jersey Street Art starts right after the Holland Tunnel

Recent two very large murals that have been painted by Kobra and Distort right near the Holland Tunnel. Kobra is a Brazilian street artists who has painted all of the world. The kaleidoscope effect is his signature. It was painted right after Bowie died and is 180 feet tall. Many murals in JC are very tall.

Distort spent 40 days painting Kingdom, a massive mural telling the industrial history of Jersey City on Marin Blvd, near the Holland Tunnel. It is 200 feet by 80 feet and is believed to be the largest mural in New Jersey. Green Villian organized the project with funding from the Jersey City Mural Art Program. Mecca and Sons Trucking owns the 100 year old building.

Pawn (Shaun Edwards) is a Jersey City artist. He has been active in JC for the past 15 years and has some very creative and political murals. You will see another one his murals in the last section.

Jersey City Street Art Under Route 139

Natural Springs by Shepard Fairey. This mural is below 139 near the Holland tunnel.

A few blocks away just south of the entrance to Rte 139, you will find another series of murals.

It’s tucked away, almost under 139 ramp and would be hard to find if you were not living in JC. Among the artists in this spot are Sipros, Shepard Fairley and Pawn.

Shepard Fairey has two murals in Jersey City. The most recent is Natural Spring under route 139. He is most known for creating the Obama

Jersey City Street Art Mural by Sipros near Holland Tunnel and Route 139.

Hope 2008 poster. Fairey was one of the founders of Graffiti Park in Austin, Texas (see my post on Graffiti Park.). A few years ago, he painted The Wave in Downtown Jersey City as a nod to Jersey City’s relationship to the water and the new cultural wave in the City.

Sipros is a Brazilian street artist. He also has painted with The Bushwick Collective and all over the world. If you drove through the Holland Tunnel before the Presidential election, you may have seen his Trump as the Joker (from Batman) mural.

Jersey City Mural by Pawn. Underneath 139

    Pawn is a local Jersey City Street artists who has painted all over the City.

Street Art Near Grove Street

There is a lot of art in and around Grove street, particularly near the pedestrian plaza. Below are four murals that I like–one by Case Ma’Claim and the other by Fintan McGee. The mural at the top of this post by Alice Pasquini is also in this area.

Jersey City Street Art. Mike Maka Mural. On first Street near Newark Ave

Jersey City Street Art Mural by Case Ma’Claim. 200 Newark Street

Remembering the Clouds by Australian Street Artist Fintan McGee. 191 Bay Street

Case Ma’Claim (Andres Von Chrzanowski) is a German artist who often paints hands in a style that combines surrealism and photorealism. He has been a leading street artists since the mid-1990s.

Fintan McGee is from Australia and often paints murals with an environmental theme. This mural is a little out of the way, but very worth seeing. He has works in Buenos Aires, Bogota (Columbia), Baton Rouge, Miami, Jakarta, and Ireland. McGee is often compared to the legendary street artist Banksy.

Born in Russia, Mustart (Ivan Petrovsky), has lived in the US since he was 14. He has murals all over JC. The name Mustart is a way of saying that he must do art everyday.

Mike Maka is another artist that is all over JC. This frog mural is near Grove Street. He is based in Australia and has had shows and murals all over the world.

Jersey Heights Street Art

Jersey Heights has a great deal of street art. You can get there by a long uphill walk (or a long flight of stairs). Alternatively, the light rail and buses go there.

If you elect to walk, you’ll want to take the PATH train to Hoboken and then walk up

Hip Hop Tunnel Mural by Will Power on Ravine Road (New York Avenue) tunnel.

Hip Hop Tunnel Mural by Will Power on Ravine Road (New York Avenue) tunnel.

Hip Hop Tunnel Mural by Will Power on Ravine Road (New York Avenue) tunnel.

Ravine Road (also know as New York Avenue). On that route, you’ll pass through Hip Hop Tunnel. This is a tunnel that is covered in street art from the entrances to the inside. It was painted by Will Power and it 150 feet long. It is amazing to see.

Mata Ruda is a Costa Rican immigrant This is in the Heights at 211 Bay Street.

Mata Ruda is a local artist. In this mural, he depicts an anonymous immigrant by only showing the bottom half of his face.

Originally from Costa Rica, he came to the US by way of Venezuela. He work is on display in the Newark Museum, El Museo Barrio (Harlem) and in street art murals in Russia, Puerto Rico, Ukraine and Mexico.

Downtown Jersey City Street Art

Giraffe by local artist Catherine Hart. 137 Newark Ave.

Downtown Jersey City is full of street art. Catherine Hart is a local street artist from Jersey City by way of California and Austin, Texas. The Giraffe mural is whimsical and fun to see. Catherine  has worked on murals in Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, New Jersey and North Carolina.

Black Sheep by Pixel Pancho in Downtown Jersey City. 143 Christopher Columbus Drive

Pixel Pancho is an Italian Street artist who paints internationally. His signature is robot characters. Reportedly, he depicted himself in the painting as the robot boy/black sheep.

Beau Stanton is originally a California native now based in Red Hook Brooklyn.  Jersey Crown portrays some of the iconic buildings of JC–the old city hall, powerhouse, the railroad terminal. He has painted mural in Bushwick as well.

Gaia grew up in NYC but is now based in Baltimore. He has done murals on all 6 continents. This mural was controversial because he painted over another existing mural that was peeling.

Native Mural by Gaia in Downtown Jersey City at 151 Newark Ave

Where Did All This Art Come From?

Graffiti and street art have been in Jersey City for decades. Most of it was illegal, some of it very beautiful, some of it political, some personal and others resisted categorization. In 2013, Jersey City was in the midst of widespread gentrification and the City wanted to support this effort. Along came the Jersey City Mural arts program.

Mural called Jersey City by Fermin Mendoza. On Route 440

The program was funded by a Clean Communities grant which also supported an anti-littering initiative called Stop the Drop. It was also part of the Keep Jersey City Beautiful program. It’s stated goals are to cut down on graffiti, beautify neighborhoods and involve the local community. Many people would like to see the community more engaged in the location and development of the mural arts program. In addition, it is reported that graffiti artists who are caught “in the act” by the police are required to do community service with the Mural Arts program. Setting up street art in opposition to graffiti is problematic politically as well as a fruitless tactic.

Jersey City Street Art Mural by Mustart. On Coles near Maxwell

Savage Habbit Murals Project and Green Villian are also players in this arena. Savage Habbit’s stated goal is to strengthen the dialogue between the local communities through public art. There are many Savage Habbit connected murals in Jersey City. Green Villian is a group of social entrepreneurs that came together in 2009  in the old Clorox Bleach factory in Jersey City. They now have an art gallery and often collaborate with the Jersey City Mural Arts program. The Kingdom mural was a project that they organized.

New Jersey Street Art Around the State

There is the street art in other areas of Jersey City. Ashbury Park has a thriving street art scene. Newark Street Art boasts the largest mural in the country along McCarter Highway. Camden, Hoboken, Union City and many other places have growing street art communities.

Getting to Jersey City

Jersey City Street Art

There are many ways to get to Jersey City. The PATH is the subway that runs from New York City to Jersey City. There are stops at Exchange Place, Grove, Hoboken and elsewhere.

There are buses from Port Authority in New York that go to Hoboken and places in Jersey City. By car, Jersey City starts right after you exit the Holland Tunnel. There is a good online map of street art in Jersey City on the Jersey City Mural Arts Program website. Their list there is not exhaustive and only includes the projects that the City has sponsored.

My favorite way to see street art is to wander around and get lost. Or, ride a bike and see what you see. This is how I’ve stumbled upon many of the street art murals depicted in this post. I hope you come by and experience Jersey City Street Art.

  10 Reasons to See Exciting Jersey City Street Art When you think about a day of street art, Jersey City Street Art probably is not at the top of your mind.

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29 Fascinating Places to See Cuba Itinerary

29 Fascinating Places to See Cuba Itinerary

https://videopress.com/embed/J52xTFte?hd=0&autoPlay=1&permalink=0&loop=0

TraBaSon Performers in Matanzas, Cuba

By Regina Ang

Cuba was high on our list of places to go. When we saw a gay tour group trip to Cuba, we jumped on it. Here’s a report on our Cuba Itinerary. We started in Santa Clara, went to Matanzas and ended our trip in Havana.

Santa Clara-Our Cuba Itinerary

We flew into a very muggy…