Gorgeous Buildings in NYC to visit (at least once)

Deciding what to see while you are visiting New York can be overwhelming, so a lot of people ask me for itineraries and suggestions. Not only is the sheer amount of options overwhelming, but it is challenging to know what is worthwhile to try to squeeze in over the course of a few days. But wether you are returning or visiting for the first time, there are some places that you should really consider putting on your list.  This is my list of some of the most gorgeous buildings in New York City that you need to try to see - at least once:

The Morgan Library & Museum, located at 225 Madison Ave. is primarily known for its extensive collection of rare books, illuminated manuscripts, and art collection. It's artistic treasures  range from  manuscripts by Charles Dickens, scores from Beethoven and Mozart, and works by Rembrandt. The library itself is  inspired by the Renaissance and wa designed by the architect Charles McKim

Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History, located at 415 Columbus Ave. is the newest expansion of the museum. It is a new entrance off of Columbus Avenue, and creted over 30 new connections between the ten different buildings that comprise the museum. The building's 5 story atrium creates the feeling of entering into a geological formation with porous holes formed by air and water. It's breathtaking.

Neue Gallery, located at 1048 5th Ave. is what is considered a jewel box museum. Founded by Ronald Lauder, it is dedicated to 19th century German and Austrian art and design. The highlight of the collection is Gustav Klimt's  "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I", but also includes many other paintings, furniture, photography and sculpture. It is housed a former Gilded Age mansion on the Upper East Side, not far from the Met. Definitely make time to linger in the Cafe Sabarsky. This is no ordinary museum cafe - this is a trip to Vienna.

The Frick Museum, located at 1 E 70th just reopened this April after an extensive renovation.  Their Old Masters collection is known for having 3 out of 34 of Vermeer's paintings, as well as the work of Rembrandt, El Greco, Goya and Holbein. Their Italian Renaissance collections includes work from Bellini, and as well as a collection of  French 18th century art that includes work from Boucher and Sargent.

Albertine Books, located at 972 5th Ave. between 78th and 79th streets, is one of my favorite spots in the city.  It is a bookstore and reading room, and with over 14,000 titles from 30 French-speaking countries, it is the largest collection in the US of French-language books and translations. It is located in the Payne Whitney House, which also houses the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France. The interior is simply stunning, and was designed by the French designer Jacques Garcia who is said to have designed it not as a retail location, but as a grand library.

Oculus at the World Trade Center, located at 185 Greenwich St.is the breathtaking space above the World Trade Center PATH station (where you depart for trains to New Jersey) designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It is a bi-level concourse with shopping and dining, and has access to the One World Observatory, office towers, and the Ferry Terminal in Battery Park.

The Met Cloisters, located at 99 Margaret Corbin Dr. is located in Fort Tryon Park. It's location was purchased by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1930 and then donated to the Met. The  museum contains a large collection of medieval artworks shown in the architectural settings of French monasteries and abbeys. Its buildings are centered around four  cloisters - the Cuxa, Saint-Guilhem, Bonnefont, and Trie - that were acquired by American sculptor and art dealer George Grey Barnard in France before 1913 and moved to New York. It is hard to describe how truly beautiful and tranquil this spot is, while located in Manhattan.