The Perfect Day in Astoria, Queens

“Why is it called Queens?” I asked my sister on our walk.

“No idea,” she laughed.

As it turns out, this vibrant area was allegedly named in honor of Queen Catherine of Braganza way back in 1683. While there’s no concrete historical evidence to back up this naming story, local lore proudly pays homage to her as their namesake. Often referred to as the "Borough of the World," Queens is now one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse urban spaces on the planet, with an estimated 150 languages spoken across its neighborhoods!

My sister, Christine, just moved into a lovely residential community in Astoria, so I was absolutely delighted to spend some time exploring her new neighborhood. If you find yourself in this incredible corner of NYC, here is how we spent a perfect, jam-packed day in Astoria.

The New York Sanitation Department is truly the MVP of this entire region! All of the trucks "go to sleep" every night near my sister's home.

We started the day right with a caffeine kick at the Greek-inspired Coffee Cloud, a cozy spot perfect for mapping out our day. Since you can't visit New York without partaking in the local carbohydrate culture, our next stop was NY Bagel and Coffee House for an authentic, perfectly toasted pumpernickel bagel. I added the egg, spinach and feta omelette as a nod to the local Hellenic vibes.

Since Christine is still getting settled, we grabbed some sundries from DII Deals & Discounts, including an aluminum stovetop coffee maker. We browsed the cheap apparel and she settled on a few Paw Patrol souvenirs for my son as a "thank you" for "letting" Momma come to New York for the weekend. We grabbed a second round of coffee (and a bathroom break) at Château Le Woof, an adorable dog-friendly cafe right by the waterfront. The puppy pastries looked good enough for us to eat! Next up was the Socrates Sculpture Park, a brilliant waterfront space that seamlessly blends large-scale contemporary art installations with sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline across the East River. They have tons of special events for locals throughout the summer, so it was fun for my sister to get some ideas.

After all that walking, we decided a little spontaneous pampering was in order. We popped our heads into QQ Nails & Spa, Peoples Wellness, Moon 1 Beauty Spa, and Aura Spa, but we struck out. A few places were entirely booked up, one had moved locations and the other wasn't open as advertised. We finally struck gold at the no-muss-no-fuss Happy Spa, where we managed to squeeze in a much-needed, incredibly relaxing 60 minute massage. At just $55, we honestly were relieved we could be seen right away! It was the perfect Mother's Day treat from my sister.

Getting a little budget-friendly glam is one of my absolute favorite pasttimes and Astoria was just the place for it. We stopped by Ladylike Threading Salon for a quick eyebrow threading (an absolute steal at just $6!), followed by fantastic blowouts at Swing Time Hair for $32. The scalp massage was divine. Finding great beauty services at these price points is just another reason to love Queens!

Stop in for an epic scalp massage and hair wash at Swing Time Hair!

My sister dropped off a few bags of donations at the chaotic but charming Broadway Thrift Shop before treating ourselves to a late lunch at Zorba’s. Astoria is famous for its massive Greek community, and stopping into a local staple like Zorba's for some phenomenal, authentic Mediterranean bites is a must. The grilled chicken on my Greek Salad was hot, fresh and protein-packed to keep my energy high throughout our adventures!

To wrap up our neighborhood tour, we swung by their local Bravo Supermarket for some groceries and headed back to Christine's place in Queensview. Since she was hosting a birthday brunch the next day, we homemade three quiches to serve her friends. After our epic day around Queens, we headed into other boroughs, including Manhattan and Brooklyn, but that's another story for another post...

By the time we went to bed, we'd walked over 9 miles around the city. Astoria has completely won me over with its diverse flavors, incredible views, and unbeatable local charm. I can’t wait to come back soon and explore even more of this exciting place!