Ahhh...! There's nothing like being in New York City. From the busy streets to the amazing shopping to delicious food, and tons of music! It definitely lives up to all the hype. But with so much to do and so much to see, it can be hard narrowing it down, especially if you are looking to catch a local concert or touring performance. So I did the legwork for you and found some of the best music hotspots are not to be missed!

Scroll below to find out what Top 5 Performance Destinations made our list...

5. Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall first opened its doors in 1891 and has been one of the most reputable concert halls in the world for decades. Located on the corner of 57th Street and Seventh Avenue (as seen above), this stately looking building has presented some of the greatest music legends in history, including Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Mahler, George Gershwin, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, The Beatles, and more! Performing at the Carnegie Hall is an honor and often solidifies the status of an up-and-coming musician/music group.

So if you are wanting to stay current on today's best performing artists or catch an unforgettable concert with iconic musicians, this is the place to go!

4. The Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera is one of the top destinations for opera in America that has featured many US premieres, by composers such as Wagner, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, and more! As you walk into this stunning venue, your eyes will immediately go up to admire the opulent chandeliers and the grand stairways. This music hall should definitely be on your New York City Music Destination list if you love opera or you've ever wanted to experience an opera for the first time. You don't speak Italian, French or German - not to worry! They have mini-screens in the back of the seat in front of you that translates everything in English.

If you go, make sure to check out their gift shop! It's one of the largest that I've ever seen in a concert hall and they have a lot of fun memorabilia that you can take home with you to remind you of your experience.

3. The Lincoln Center

The Metropolitan Opera House is located within the grounds of Lincoln Center along with 29 other indoor/outdoor facilities that present and facilitate musicians and performances. This incredible complex of buildings sets on over 16 acres of land in the Upper West Side. The Lincoln Center is the world's largest performing arts center and the world's leading presenter of artistic programming hosting 5 million visitors annually! Essentially, this is the mecha for performing arts.

Some of the eleven Resident Arts Organizations that we highly suggest checking out are New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center and last but not least, Juilliard School.

2. The McKittrick Hotel

Intended to be New York City's finest luxury hotel of its time, in 1939, the McKittrick Hotel was condemned six weeks before opening (and just two days after the outbreak of World War II) and it never got to live up to it's potential... that is, until 2011. Now, it houses one of New York City's hottest immersive experiences that is not to be missed. This production isn't for the faint of heart or for the couple/friends that want to stay together all night. Oh, no. This journey is meant to be solo and for you to experience it in your own way (trust me, it's much better to meet up with your pals afterward so you can compare notes and talk about what you each experienced!). Why?

Audiences move freely through a transporting world at their own pace (#running in and out of rooms and up and down flights of stairs) as you follow characters' journies that are based on Shakespeare's classics and Hitchcock's thrillers. It's quick and you have to figure out, on the spot, which character catches your attention and who you want to follow to the next chapter. Honestly, it was one of the craziest and most thrilling nights that we've ever had in New York City. They also have an intimate jazz club within this vintage building called The Club Car that features some of the best jazz bands and jazz singers when the clock strikes 12am!

1. Broadway

There is nothing that compares to walking down Broadway and seeing a show at one of the iconic theaters. There is so much American music history that took place in the heart of Broadway and it is simply something that can't be missed. No matter how many times you go to New York City, it's something that should be on your list every single time! There are so many new shows to explore and legendary productions that shaped Broadway into what it is today.

One of the shows that we highly recommend is seeing The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater. It is the longest-running Broadway shows in history and it continues to be timeless, even as we enter a new decade. Make sure to check out my exclusive backstage tour of the set and interview with Meghan Picerno who recently made her Broadway debut as Christine Daae! ?



Honestly, there are so many amazing arts destinations in New York City and I encourage you to get out there and explore other venues/organizations that were not highlighted in this feature! But, I hope this list helps you plan for your next local outing or sparks ideas for a trip out to New York City!

If you're looking for a go-to resource for the best food destinations in NYC, make sure to download the iconcierge: NYC app! It's simply the best and is ran by an Award-Winning Les Clefs d'Or Concierge, Spencer Howard who knows EVERYTHING food in New York City!

What are some of your favorite performance destinations in the Big Apple? Make sure to leave me a note in the comments!