Description

From the “unofficial talent scout of NYC,” filmmaker, and social media icon New York Nico comes the only NYC guidebook you’ll ever need—a beautifully designed, photo packed celebration of the greatest city in the world, showcasing Nico’s top 100 New York institutions, shops, and eateries and the characters who shape them.

What makes New York City the greatest city in the world? As one of the foremost chroniclers of New York’s local legends and urban glory, New York Nico has thoughts. Nico gets asked a lot of questions about his hometown. Where’s the best slice, pastrami sandwich, cup of coffee, vintage store, or bookshop?

In this must-have city guide, New York Nico takes readers on an epic tour of his 100 can’t-miss NYC spots, including food, shopping, and so much more. As he traverses the five boroughs, he offers a raw and authentic “locals-only” guide to the city so nice they named it twice. But behind every New York institution are the personalities who make them special. 

Nico’s debut book functions as a document of a city and its people during a moment of transition. You’ll meet and learn the stories of beloved characters like Henry at Army Navy Bags, Yuval at Liebman’s Deli (the last kosher deli in the Bronx), Julia who serves Sri Lanken food to riders of the Staten Island Ferry, Jamal at Village Revival Records, and Big Mike and the dozens of barbers who speak Italian, Russian, Greek, Spanish, French, Polish, Uzbek, and Farsi at Astor Place Hairstylists. By hearing the living histories of New York’s most colorful characters, Nico shows us the heart and soul of the place they call home.

Whether you’re visiting from out of town or you’re a born-and-raised local, this book has something for everyone, the same way the city is has something for everyone. Beautifully designed and packed with photos and illustrations, New York Nico’s Guide to NYC is required reading for anyone who loves New York.

About the Author

New York Nico (Nicolas Heller) is a filmmaker and social media creator born and raised in NYC. Hailed as the “unofficial talent scout of NYC,” New York Nico documents New York City for his nearly three million followers. His debut short film Out of Order premiered in 2022 at the Tribeca Film Festival. He has directed commercials for the New York Knicks, Meta, NIKE, MLB, Calvin Klein, Kith, Timberland, and many more.