Chef Tony Bourdain is a New Yorker at heart; he loves the energy and the soul of New York but lately, detests the touristy amusement park that New York City is becoming. So he sets off on a quest to rediscover why he so loves this concrete jungle.

One of the wonders of New York is its multiculturalism. Nowhere is that more evident than in Brighton Beach, an area of New York that was populated by Russians when they came to this country. And Tony always says that the first thing a culture brings with them to a new home is the food so, naturally, he sits down for a traditional Russian meal with Russian friend, Gary.

Later Tony and Cabbie Dave set-off the following evening to the West Side Pistol Range to work out Tony's growing frustration. After qualifying to be a CIA sniper, Tony and Dave grab a quick bite at the famous Gray's Papaya, Tony's go-to neighborhood joint. Tony enlists the help of friend and 'Bizarre Foods Guy', Andrew Zimmern, who takes Tony to Ali's Kebab Café in Astoria, Queens, for an authentic Egyptian meal of snouts, hooves, brains, and tripe.

That night Tony rounds-up buddies Ken and Akira, sushi chefs at New York hotspot, Geisha. They take Tony to a favorite haunt, Hagi, for some traditional Japanese izakaya - complete with yakitori, yellowtail collar, and yam jelly. To end the night, Tony shows these two a favorite of his - Sakegura, for some fresh sake.

Tony's final stop, before jetting-off to a new destination, is the Spotted Pig for a unique meal cooked by chef April Bloomfield. Sitting around the chef's table, gnawing on roasted sheep's head, Tony slowly realizes that despite the glorified theme park that New York City seems to be turning into, the dark, mysterious New York that he treasures and loves is still there—you just have to know where to look.

Crawling with criminals, saturated with street thugs, packed with pollution, New York City is still viewed by many as one giant miasma of ill-manners. But that was the old New York.

Welcome to the new New York City. No longer the same city portrayed on gritty cop shows and Scorsese movies, this easy-to-navigate adult playground—a sort of real Las Vegas (sans casinos)—is filled with plenty of things to keep even the most hard-to-please traveler occupied.

From fine dining to Broadway to world-class museums, it is difficult even for locals to get bored in the Big Apple. Then there is the shopping: just about anything can be bought and sold at anytime of the day. And because most of Manhattan is laid out in a grid, getting around is easier than you would think—and that is just on foot. With subways running every direction and the swarm of yellow cabs on every street, getting lost is not an option.

But we encourage you to be adventurous. There is much more to New York City than skyscraper-crammed Manhattan—four other boroughs' worth. You can check out a Yankees game in the Bronx, eat irresistible Indian cuisine in Queens, take the free ferry ride to Staten Island (which affords fabulous views of the Statue of Liberty), and wander Brooklyn's leafy historic brownstone-laden streets.

Accommodation here runs the gamut: from the world's most luxurious hotels that offer rooms costing in the five-digit-per-night category, to no-frills cheapies. From the Upper West Side to the Lower East Side, guests will have no problem finding a great place to stay.