First time NYC- staying on 56th between 5th and 6th.

[Windsor]

Five days and so much to do. Would love a best of the local dives, ethnic, pubs, fine dining etc. within a short distance. We will have a kitchen, so must stop by markets will work!

[Motosport]

As you can see, Manhattan has so much to offer a foodie. Forget you have a kitchen!!!
Get out and explore as many of the great suggestions as you can in 5 days.

[Ann900]

Food shopping is not great around where you're staying. Your best bet might be the Whole Foods in the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle- 59th and Broadway.

[ellenost]

You're staying on the same block as one of my favorite restaurants--Ma Peche located downstairs in The Chambers Hotel. Great for lunch and dinner and it's mid-priced. Don't miss Momofuku Milk Bar (main floor of the Chambers Hotel) for some of my favorite desserts and breads: compost cookie; corn cookie, blueberry cookie; turkey, swiss cheese and honey mustard bread (really an adorable little loaf).

[woodleyparkhound]

At Momofuku Milk Bar, I absolutely LOVED the cake truffles; I'm still dreaming about them!

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Momofuku Milk Bar
251 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

[ellenost]

Oops! I forgot about the cake truffles; my favorite is the chocolate malt.

[woodleyparkhound]

I had all three types. The banana was probably my favorite, but all three were wonderful. Impossible to go wrong with any of them.

[edintern]

there are a few notable places around there. how about aquavil, the modern (and the modern bar room), bar americain, between the bread, the soup man (aka the soup nazi), to name a few.

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Aquavit
65 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022

The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Bar Americain
152 W. 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019

Between the Bread
145 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019

[kathryn]

Hi Windsor! I pulled up some previous discussions that should help.

If you have specific requests for recommendations, like cuisines you're craving or restaurants near other activities you might be doing (sightseeing, Broadway plays, the opera, shopping, etc.) don't hestitate to ask or use the "search" function of this site!

In terms of great New York experiences and food, check out these discussions:

Best breakfast and brunch:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/707772

Please help me eat during a month in new york
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/716238

Don't leave NY without eating these foods
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/610739

Pizza in NYC
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/692820#5454962

BTW, I highly recommend RGR's self guided Lower East Side Gustatory tour but sub in Pickle Guys for Guss' Pickles:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/493333

Best foodie shopping:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/585538
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/697174
http://www.chow.com/lists/33
http://www.chow.com/lists/924

Union Square Greenmarket advice
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/705073
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/727570

Best mixology / bespoke cocktails:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/609073
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/709227

Bars for beer geeks
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/733207
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/572919

For non-Western European/American
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/729498
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/731732

totally obscure, odd, and intriguing menu items
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/722130

Great upscale dining
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/733990

For upscale restaurants like Jean Georges, Per Se, Daniel, Eleven Madison Park, The Modern, etc. I find that there are often multiple threads dedicated to each. So don't be afraid to search on the restaurant's name to find out more.

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Per Se
10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019

Pickle Guys
49 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10010

Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023