The Real Women Have Curves' cast's NYC itinerary

The musical centers on a young girl with dreams of pursuing a life in the city, so the performers shared the must-visit spots they'd recommend to visitors.

Real Women Have Curves, the new coming-of-age musical adapted from Josefina López's same-named play and the hit America Ferrera film, centers on a teenager named Ana with big dreams of pursuing college and a journalism career in New York City. So we asked the cast: What NYC spots would you recommend to Ana — or anyone new to the city?

The cast includes longtime NYC residents and newcomers alike, and their recommendations encompass famous landmarks and hidden gems. They collectively offer a taste of various Manhattan neighborhoods and categories, from food to entertainment to shopping to parks to nightlife.

Follow their itinerary, starting at the northernmost attraction and working your way downtown, for a whirlwind experience of all the city has to offer. And be sure to fit in a trip to Real Women Have Curves on Broadway — learn more about the show here.

Get Real Women Have Curves tickets now.

For music: Parlor Jazz at Marjorie Eliot's

On 160th Street and Edgecombe Avenue is one of the city's best live music venues no one's heard of. It's the apartment of Marjorie Eliot, who has hosted a free jazz concert in her living room every Sunday since 1995.

Parlor Jazz at Marjorie Eliot's is the most unique and intimate music experience in NYC, and it takes place in the neighborhood once home to artistic luminaries like Duke Ellington and Lena Horne.

Recommended by: Mason Reeves (Henry)
Address: 555 Edgecombe Ave. Suite 3F
Price: Free, donations accepted

For food: Milano Market

This is your spot for the heartiest Italian fare in town, including hot and cold subs and other deli staples. Milano doubles as a grocery market, so you can grab some packaged provisions to take home or on the go as you continue your NYC adventure.

Recommended by: Tatianna Córdoba (Ana)
Address: 2892 Broadway
Price: $

For nature: Central Park

Even a longtime New Yorker could spend years making new discoveries in the 843-acre Central Park. Can you find the Bow Bridge, featured in numerous NYC-set films? How about Cleopatra's Needle, a real artifact from ancient Egypt? Or the Delacorte Theater, the 1,800-seat home of Shakespeare in the Park?

Your hidden-gem discovery could even be as simple as a secluded picnic spot or a pop-up symphony beneath an underpass.

Recommended by: Mason Reeves, Tatianna Córdoba
Price: Free

For more food: Sombrero

If you're fitting a Broadway trip into this itinerary, this Mexican restaurant in the Theatre District is a convenient spot for a laid-back, authentic meal pre- or post-show. Sombrero is conveniently located on 48th Street, just over a block west of Real Women Have Curves!

Recommended by: Shelby Acosta (Prima Flaca)
Address: 303 W. 48th St.
Price: $$

For souvenirs: Kinokuniya

Journaling about your NYC trip or sending postcards to your friends is going to be a lot more fun on cute stationery. Japanese shop Kinokuniya is primarily a bookstore, but it also has a huge collection of pens, notebooks, stamps, stickers, and craft kits.

Recommended by: Aline Mayagoitia (Itzel)
Address: 1073 Sixth Ave.
Price: $$-$$$

For literature: New York Public Library (Stephen A. Schwarzman Building)

Did you know the NYPL's flagship location — the Stephen A. Schwarzmann Building, adjacent to Bryant Park between 40th and 42nd Streets on Fifth Avenue — is a bustling cultural center? The main attraction is its Treasures exhibit, packed with iconic memorabilia from the stuffed animals that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh to Shakespeare's First Folio to architectural sketches to Broadway costume pieces.

You can also check out the rotating lineup of exhibits in the building's smaller galleries or simply relax with a book in the stately Rose Reading Room. The best part? It's all free.

Recommended by: Tatianna Córdoba
Address: 476 Fifth Ave.
Price: Free

For shopping: Chelsea Market

From shops to bars to eateries to art exhibits, Chelsea Market has it all in its massive, rustic hall. You could probably spend a good part of your day just in here, or pick a couple different shops to hit up before continuing on your way.

The surrounding area in the Meatpacking District neighborhood, with cobblestone streets and water views, is also a picturesque place to walk.

Recommended by: Carla Jimenez (Pancha)
Address: 75 Ninth Ave.
Price: $-$$$

For even more food: Cheap eats tour

Who said NYC dining has to break the bank? Some of the city's best and most famous eats cost less than $10 and are great on-the-go options. The Real Women Have Curves cast recommend:

• NY Pizza Suprema (413 Eighth Ave., near Madison Square Garden) for a classic New York slice
• Los Tacos No. 1 (various locations) for authentic tacos, quesadillas, and more
• Gray's Papaya (various locations, of Sex and the City fame) for no-frills franks and tropical juice
• Mamoun's Falafel (various locations) for Middle Eastern halal food

Recommended by: Jennifer Sánchez (Rosalí), Florencia Cuenca (Estela), Shelby Acosta
Address: Various locations
Price: $

For nightlife: Stonewall Inn

The Stonewall Inn tavern in Greenwich Village has been famous since 1969 as the birthplace of the LGBTQ rights movement. But did you know that, in June 2024, Stonewall opened the first official national visitor center dedicated to queer history? Check out the exhibit on display at the center by day, and then grab a drink and dance the night away at the storied bar.

Recommended by: Sandra Valls (Prima Fulvia)
Address: 38-64 Christopher St.
Price: $

Top image credit: The cast of Real Women Have Curves on Broadway. (Photo by Michaelah Reynolds)