NYC Diaries #13 Everything I did in July and it's worth sharing

A post with some personal recs of things and places in New York City that wouldn't make it to Google search results.

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1. Roscioli, an amazing Italian restaurant

I turned 39 in July - yay - and my husband and I organized a week-long celebration, with different activities throughout the week. For the D-Day - or the B-Day, lol - we had dinner at Roscioli. This is a very traditional Roman restaurant with a location in NYC (the Italian location was recommended by Anthony Bourdain).

In NYC, they offered two options: À la carte and Roman Feast. We opted for the second one - it's a tasting menu with appetizers, two types of pasta, meat, and dessert, all family-style portions. The experience also included a delicious focaccia and some little "gifts" from the kitchen, which were phenomenal. We were so full when we left the place!

It costs $90 per person, and it's worth every penny. Plus, the staff is really lovely and I love the ambiance. You can also add a wine pairing for $50. Now, I want to get back to their À la carte experience. Check their menus!

• Address: 43 MacDougal St.

2. QC SPA, a perfect and quick escape

It was not my first time at QC Spa - but it was Thiago's first time, and he totally understood the hype. Such a sweet escape from the city! I love this place. The outdoor pools, the views, the service, the environment, and all the other experiences, like relaxation rooms and saunas. You can be sad here. Also, it's a great excuse to visit Governors Island - if you haven't visited yet.

Also, did you know? When visiting with a paying companion during your birthday month, you'll receive one free daily‑entry ticket (2 guests book, 1 entry is complimentary). Valid only Monday through Friday (no weekends).

• Check more details on their website.

3. Loulou, delicious and dog-friendly restaurant

We had a delicious dinner at this place in Chelsea. Not only does the restaurant feature beautiful decor, with indoor and outdoor seating and super-friendly staff, but the food is delicious. It's a French spot, so you can expect a lot of classics, like Mussels, which we had, and Ratatouille. We also ended up trying a Pecan salad (which was so refreshing) and the burger. But I guess my favorite part was the dessert: a croissant pudding served with ice cream. Love love love!

And… they are pet friendly! Check their website!

• Address: 176 8th Ave.

4. Mr. Capri, and their amazing happy hour deal

I had dinner with a friend at this place and we took advantage of their happy hour: cocktails for $12, appetizers starting at $8, and pastas for ~$14. I had the Cacio & Peppe, and she had the Gnocchi, and we both loved our dishes. We also ordered Arancini and a Caprese salad as appetizers. You can check the menus here.

• Address: 33 W 8th St.

5. Riva Reeno - an incredible gelato!

There's a new gelato spot in the city - Riva Reno is located in the West Village, and my friend and I stopped there after our dinner at Mr. Capri. I love the range of flavors - I had the salted caramel and it was delicious, but I was mind-blowed by the Cremino Dark - my friend's choice - it was so creamy, so chocolatey, and tasted like a mousse. Incredible.

• Address: 195 Spring St.

6. Sugar Hill Creamery - handmade ice cream with incredible flavors

On the same topic, and not necessarily new to me, I need to give a shoutout to Sugar Hill Creamery. This spot, originally from Harlem - with locations in East Harlem, West Harlem, Central Harlem, Brooklyn, and East Village - serves delicious handmade, small-batch ice cream with incredible flavors, like caramel cookie dough and blueberry cheesecake. Every time we go there, we leave praising their ice cream; it's delicious, and the flavors are very unique.

• Check their locations!

7. Cookie Odyssey, a new cookie spot on the UES

This downtown cookie spot just opened a location in the Upper East Side, and as someone who really loves cookies, I had to stop by to try - and they had samples, love it! The most surprising flavor was ginger chocolate, and they also have a famous banana chocolate cookie (tastes like a banana bread), plus a coconut chocolate and a triple chocolate. Overall, I like the cookies and the non-obvious flavors!

• Address: 1414 2nd Ave.

8. Fleet Feet, the ultimate store for runners

Shout-out to this incredible Running Shoes store with a few locations in the city. We visited the Columbus Circle one, and I can't recommend their free fit id® 3D foot scanning service to help customers find properly fitted shoes and insoles enough! Yes, it's free, no strings attached. The staff is so friendly and they have so much knowledge. Plus, you can expect to find lots of other running accessories and supplies, like socks, gels, and so on.

• Check their website and locations!

9. Dim Sum Go Go

Ok, here's a picture from their Facebook page, cause I didn't take any pics, shame on me, but I had to include this spot in my round of recs. Such an authentic and affordable place in NYC for Dim Sum. The food is delicious, and their menu has pictures, which helps a lot! Check their website.

• Address: 5 E Broadway.

10. From Lucie

This cake shop located in the East Village deserves all the hype it can get. The owner was raised in the French countryside, and her cakes are inspired by that. The carrot cake is one of their most famous cakes, but you should definitely try the Pistachio cake as well. And not only are they delicious, but the decoration with flowers is also beautiful. I heard their chocolate chip cookies are really good too, but they were sold out when we stopped by to grab our slices.

• Address: 263 E 10th St.