Chocolate Babka
After Seinfeld made it mainstream in the ’90s, babka, the half-yeasted-bread, half-cake hybrid from Eastern Europe, is bigger than ever. Much has changed since our first babka survey of New York five years ago, and there are more ambitious contenders for the Best Babka crown than ever before.

Not that New Yorkers’ love of babka is anything new, and it’s easy to see why. Babka’s rich, buttery, brioche-like crumb, woven with ribbons of chocolate, is unfussy and approachable. You can eat it as dessert or breakfast, as a brunch side or a quick snack. The only trouble is not finishing a loaf as soon as you start it, because one good bite of babka demands another. And if you are new to the city and have no idea what we’re talking about, take note: Eat some babka. It’s one of the best sweets you’ll find in New York.

The Chicken Milanese Cemita
While tacos and tortillas are the stars of Mexican cuisine, the country’s traditional breads often remain in the background. Pan tradicional has been a staple for over 150 years, and pan dulce, dating back to the 16th century, shows the sweet side of Mexico’s baking traditions.

It wasn’t until the mid-19th century, during the Franco-Mexican War, that French influence brought savory breads into the mix. Though the French were defeated, they left behind bakeries and a lasting cultural appreciation for bread-making, which continues to shape Mexico’s culinary landscape today.

Tarte Tatins
For some years in New York City, dessert was all about chocolate. And caramel. And doughnuts. Fruit? That took a back seat.

But fruit desserts are making a comeback, and apples are leading the charge. After all, New York State produces more apples than anywhere else, except Washington. And this apple revival is helping bring back one of the best desserts to ever grace a linen table cloth: tarte tatin.

The classic tarte tatin is an upside-down tart, where fruit (typically apple) is caramelized in a pan with butter and sugar, topped with pastry dough, and baked. The tart is then flipped over before serving so its caramelized juices can trickle down to the crust.

The Statue of Liberty
Lady Liberty—officially Liberty Enlightening the World—was a gift from France for America’s 100th birthday. This iconic copper-clad monument stands 305 feet tall and symbolizes freedom. After restorations and Hurricane Sandy-related closures, it reopened on July 4, 2013, with reservations required to tour the interior or climb to the crown.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Occupying 13 acres along Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in 1880 and impresses with both scale and quality. The neoclassical facade, added in 1895 by McKim, Mead & White, is imposing, yet the museum is easy to navigate, especially early on weekdays. Highlights include the Egyptian collection and the glass-walled atrium with the Temple of Dendur, Greek and Roman halls, the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas donated by Nelson Rockefeller, the Robert Lehman Wing with masterpieces like Bellini’s Madonna and Child, and the revamped American Wing with large-scale 19th-century sculptures and Tiffany fountains.

Madame Tussauds
Can’t get a table at Nobu? No worries—you can rub shoulders with Madonna, Hillary Clinton and Oprah (or their paraffin equivalents, anyway) at this world-famous wax museum.