With new restaurants, a luxury hotel, and fresh shops, patrons from all quarters of the city — and beyond — are heading back to downtown Manhattan to hail the renaissance.
SLEEP The new Ritz-Carlton Battery Park (800-241-3333, www.ritzcarlton.com) provides commanding views of New York Harbor, equips waterfront rooms with telescopes, and installs artwork by more than 100 local artists. Rise, the hotel’s 14th-floor lounge and outdoor terrace, serves its signature green Libertini in homage to the Statue of Liberty below. The upscale Regent Wall Street (800-545-4000, www.regenthotels.com) occupies a historic building at the heart of the Financial District.

EAT Downtown Les Halles (212-285-8585), a new spinoff of Brasserie Les Halles, serves bountiful mussels, crisp frites, and hearty steaks. Atmospheric Stone Street Tavern (212-425-3663) dishes out awesome comfort foods. And downtown, cozy TriBeCa newcomer The Harrison (212-274-9310) specializes in Italian-accented American fare.

NIGHTLIFE n Take the after-five gang up to the hipster steakhouse/lounge Dylan Prime (212-334-4783) for a pot of fondue and the serves-four, 48-ounce martini loaded with cheese-stuffed olives. Church Lounge (212-519-6500), at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, delivers a roster of DJs that draws serious scenemakers.

SHOP A discount designer clothier, Century 21 (212-227-9092) recently reopened to the cheers of loyal fans. J&R Music & Computer World (212-238-9000), near City Hall, is Manhattan’s must-stop shop for cameras, electronics, CDs, and luggage.

SEE Make a patriotic pilgrimage to Federal Hall National Memorial (212-825-6888), where first president George Washington was sworn into office. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge (about 20 minutes one way) for glorious views of the spectacular city it frames.