By: Stefanie DiMartino

A new month is always exciting. It’s July. Summer and vacations are in full swing. And, there’s plenty of fun in the sun to be had in NYC! From disco roller skating to an animated dinner, there’s a lot you don’t want to miss. I’m sharing the best things to do and see, the best in dining/drinks, and the best entertainment and art/exhibits. These are my top NYC picks for this July!

The Top 13 Best Things to Do in NYC this July

THINGS TO DO/SEE + PARTIES

DAYBREAKER NYC NATÜRE TOUR

Circle Line Cruises Pier 83, 83 North River Piers, West 43rd Street and 12th Avenue, New York, NY 10036

July 16, 2022 | 8-12pm | $59+

Daybreaker parties are always a fun experience. It will be their first time on the Hudson River in 3 years! 

“In NATÜRE we dance in open air, honoring the wisdom of Mother Earth and the mysteries that bind us all together. An immersive dance party and theatrical show — at sunrise. Kicked off by a magical yoga practice scored by live musicians. This tour only happens once. Bring a water bottle. Get ready to dance — and ready to be blown open.” – Daybreaker

THE DISCOASIS CENTRAL PARK

Wollman Rink, 830 5th Ave New York, NY 10065

Now – October | Wed – Sun | Daytime 10am-4:30pm, Evening 5:30-10pm | $23+

It seems like 2022 is the year of the roller rink in NYC! First there was Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace at Rockefeller Center, and now, The DiscOasis at Wollman Rink in Central Park. The DiscOasis is an “immersive journey of music, art, theatrical performance, dancing, and roller skating.” So, get groovy, lace up your skates, and have a rolling good time! 

BROADWAY SINGS SERIES

TAYLOR SWIFT

Sony Hall, 235 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036

July 21, 2022 | 8pm | $40+

If you’re a Swiftie, this event is for you! The next best thing to Taylor herself is incredibly talented Broadway singers singing her songs! And that’s exactly what you’ll get at this Broadway Sings experience!

“Due to popular demand, the team behind the acclaimed Broadway Sings concert series is thrilled to present an encore performance of Broadway Sings Taylor Swift. Dubbed “sheer brilliance” by the New York Times, Broadway Sings rearranges pop stars’ hits to highlight the spectacular vocals of major Broadway stars, backed by a full orchestra playing original orchestrations. Join us to hear this iconic music sung in a fresh, new way by the best voices Broadway has to offer.” – Broadway Sings 

ARIANA GRANDE 

The Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd Street, New York, 10016

July 24, 2022 | 6pm | $45+

“Broadway Sings reimagines, rearranges and reorchestrates the hits of a pop superstar Ariana Grande. Performed by talented Broadway stars with an incredible 15-piece orchestra. Dance the night away at this musical party with upbeat vibes.” – Fever/Broadway Sings

RISE NY

Times Square, 160 West 45th St, New York, NY 10036

Ongoing | Sun-Thurs, 10am-8pm; Fri & Sat, 10am-9pm | $34+

I do not have enough words to describe how amazing this experience is. RiseNY is a museum, meets art exhibit, meets thrill-ride. Located in the heart of Times Square, RiseNY is one of the city’s newest attractions, and in my opinion, one of the best. Simply put, RiseNY is SO fun! It’s a one-of-a-kind attraction that pays homage to the greatest city in the world. The entire experience takes you on a journey through the history of New York and highlights all the best in music, movies, TV, radio, and Broadway. There are so many fantastic learning opportunities as well as great photo ops! 

And want to know the best part of RiseNY? The ride at the end! It’s much like Disney’s Soarin’, only with an NYC twist! Soar high above the city, take in the sights and even the smells! You’ll be grinning ear to ear the whole time! It really is unlike any other experience the city has to offer, so you definitely need to check it out! 

RiseNY is so well planned and thought out, educational, and informative. Whether you’re a native New Yorker or just visiting, RiseNY makes you fall in love (or re-fall in love) with NYC!

CIRCLE LINE HARBOR LIGHTS CRUISE

All of July | $37+

Pier 83, West 42nd St. and 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Truly, one of the best ways to see NYC is from the water. Circle Line Harbor Lights cruise is a perfect way to take in the city’s splendor. See the most beautiful view in the world – sunset on the sparkling buildings of the NYC skyline, as night slowly deepens, and the lights of the City brighten. Cocktails,
Outdoor deck space, snacks and full bar, and a photo stop at the Statue of Liberty. 

Don’t miss out on this incredible experience!

SEA THE CITY HOT TUB TOUR

Liberty Landing Marina, 84 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, NJ 07305

Sea The City is a unique experience all year round, but is the perfect summertime activity! They offer hot tub boat tours, yes, you read that right. Hot tubs ON a boat! Truly, this is a one-of-a-kind experience that you do not want to miss!

This boat has two full size hot tubs on it and sails to the Statue of Liberty and back, offering stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. I went with about 20 friends (10 per hot tub). The ride is BYOB and 90 minutes long. Coolers, Ice, and Cups are provided free of charge. Don’t miss it this summer!

PS: For FREE towels on your tour, write FUNK TOWELS in the booking comments and let them know that you got the idea from me!

LITTLE ISLAND PARK

Every day | 6am – 1am | FREE!

Pier 55 at Hudson River Park Hudson River Greenway, New York, NY 10014

A visit to Little Island Park is the perfect NYC activity! There’s something for everyone of all ages. 

“Little Island is a public park that provides a one-of-a-kind relationship between nature and art—a break from urban life and a connection to spontaneity and joy.” – Little Island

Truly, a unique and one-of-a-kind park, it is definitely worth a visit!

Note: If visiting after 12pm, reservations are required for entry.

FUNKY EXPERIENCES

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Custom day + time | Starting at $49+

I love New York City so much that I started a tourism company here. We offer a variety of tours around the city, from history, to sightseeing, to shopping, and one of my favorites – our food tour! 

Rated 5-stars on TripAdvisor and the winner of the “best of the best” award in NYC, you definitely do not want to miss out on any of these amazing tours! There are different tour options available to choose from to fit your interests AND your budget! For a truly unique experience, book a custom-designed private tour with our expert NYC guides!

Brand new to our tour lineup is the Must-See Manhattan tour with tickets to the Top of the Rock included! That’s right, this experience not only shows you Manhattan’s most iconic sites during a 2-hour walking tour but also includes Top of the Rock tickets. You’ll end with breathtaking views of the city’s skyline on a historic skyscraper! How cool is that?

Highlights include:

• 2-hour walking tour with a professional hand-selected guide by me!
• Tickets to Top of the Rock Observation Deck + Museum included in ticket price!
• Go inside Grand Central’s deepest secrets
• Visit Times Square, the NY Public Library, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall.

About the tour:

Midtown Manhattan is one of the most visited locations on the planet. During this two-hour tour, which includes tickets to Top of the Rock, we will show you why this area has been featured in hundreds of movies and TV shows. You’ll learn the unique history of Grand Central, the NY Public Library, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and more. Plus, we’ll take you inside Grand Central for an exclusive tour of it’s secrets. At the end of the tour, we’ll hand you tickets to go to Top of the Rock observation deck + museum, where you’ll see unprecedented views of the Big Apple.

What’s Included?

• Two-hour walking tour with expert guide
• Tickets to Top of the Rock observation deck and museum
• Water
• Custom tote bag

For the best of both worlds, with food and sightseeing, consider joining the Best of New York Food Tour offered on Sunday mornings. The tour includes five dishes at delicious restaurants and a historic walking tour through Brooklyn!

Another option is to join the Secrets of New York Tour on Saturday mornings and visit hidden locations in lower Manhattan and learn secrets most New Yorkers don’t even know! Tours book up fast, so get your tickets today!

Planning a vacation to NYC? If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, we are here to help! With Funky Tours Concierge, our team of experts can help you plan your dream NYC vacation! You can make your NYC trip and experience more special with custom-designed plans that fit your budget and your unique interests.

DINING + DRINKS

LE PETIT CHEF ON BROADWAY

The View Restaurant & Lounge, Marriot Marquis, 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Now – September 3, 2022

This is an absolute must! Le Petit Chef on Broadway is one of the most unique dining experiences I’ve had in such a long time! I cannot recommend it enough! The View at the Marriot Marquis has such an elegant and romantic vibe, along with stunning NYC views. And this experience is perfect for a date night or celebrating any special occasion! 

This experience includes a fabulous 4-course meal, with each dish being better than the last. To start, you are served a melt-in-your-mouth burrata with fresh heirloom tomatoes. The second course is chilled Maine lobster, or if you’re like me and cannot eat shellfish, a delicious beet salad is an alternative. 

The third and main course are beef short ribs with patatas bravas, roasted baby carrots, and charred broccolini. I am not exaggerating when I say that the short ribs were quite possibly the best I’ve ever had in my life. The flavors were just incredible and the beef was cooked to perfection and so tender. And of special note, the carrots were absolutely delicious! Seriously, the best carrots I’ve ever had. We paid our compliments to the chef, and he later came out to speak with us and he told us they are locally sourced from a farm in the Hudson Valley. He also explained that he is passionate about carrots and experimenting with different techniques and flavors and you could definitely tell! 

And finally, the best part of every meal – dessert! The fourth and final course was a delicious matcha coconut espresso fusion. It was so good! 

Now, the food and views alone are spectacular. But what makes this experience even more memorable, unique, and a “must-do” is the immersive animation element. It’s incredible to witness and so special.

“Le Petit Chef on Broadway” is by the world-famous creators of Skullmapping and presented by TableMation Studios™. is a captivating augmented reality dining experience that immerses and entertains all the senses. Using Skullmapping technology, a little animated chef prepares a meal right in front of your eyes. This culinary adventure provides whimsical, engaging animation that will amaze and delight!” – Le Petit Chef 

The entire experience is so mesmerizing and magical that you won’t be able to stop smiling! 

This exclusive experience is only happening for a limited time, so make your reservation as soon as possible! It is worth every cent! 

Note: The View will NOT rotate for this dining experience. Included in the experience are four courses. Wine pairings and a full bar are available for purchase.

MUSEUM + ART EXHIBITIONS

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 

Last Chance! Ending July 31, 2022 | $20+ 

American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024

“Blue is among the rarest colors found in natural diamonds. The Okavango Blue Diamond, a “fancy deep blue” diamond in an oval brilliant-cut weighing 20.46 carats, is the centerpiece of a presentation featuring natural diamonds from Botswana.” – AMNH

BROADWAY + SHOWS

THE MINUTES

Studio 54, 254 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019

Last Chance! Ending July 24 | $39+

The Minutes is a limited engagement play ending on July 24th. “This record-breaking hit follows the inner-workings of a city council meeting in the small town of Big Cherry—and the hypocrisy, greed, ambition and devious doings that ensue. This electrically charged and sharply funny play proves that everything you know can change—it’s just a matter of minutes.” – The Minutes

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

Music Box Theatre, 239 West 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

Final Performance September 18! | $68+

As the saying goes, all good things must come to end. Sadly, Dear Evan Hansen’s final Broadway performance will be September 18. Beginning July 19, you can catch Gaten Matarazzo, aka Dustin Henderson, aka Dusty Bun, of Stranger Things fame, in the role of Jared Kleinman. If you haven’t already seen this musical, you must before it ends! 

Dear Evan Hansen has won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. “A touching tale of friendship, loss, and teenage angst, this Broadway sensation has been reducing audiences to puddles of happy clapping tears since 2017.” – Dear Evan Hansen

In conclusion, these are the top 13 best things to do in NYC this July. Have fun and stay safe!