New York City runs non-stop on an energy that is unrivaled elsewhere in the world. The city with more than 8 million inhabitants never sleeps and rarely stays the same. New restaurants and shops open and close daily. The list of iconic New York City landmarks is extensive, almost overwhelming. Along with the big name attractions, there are thousands of cafes, bars, theaters, and clubs that are there to be discovered. A flurry of things to do and places to see can be quite disorienting for a newbie. I spent three years trying to tame this city — and failed. Don’t repeat my mistakes. Here are some well-known and off-the-radar places in the city that will help you get to grips with culture and place. 
Editor’s note: These spots are all taken directly from travelstoke®, a new app from Matador that connects you with fellow travelers and locals, and helps you build trip itineraries with spots that integrate seamlessly into Google Maps and Uber. Download the app to add any of the spots below directly to your future trips.