New York is the city that never sleeps and you’ll probably have to do the same if you want to see even a fraction of all it has to offer during a mini-break.

Fortunately, just like a real apple, “The Big Apple” can be enjoyed in bite-size chunks leaving plenty more for future visits.

There are more than 230 hotels, catering for most tastes and budgets. If you want to be in the heart of the city, where you can exit the lobby and immediately join the bustling streets, then Row NYC fits the bill. It is on 8th Avenue and just around the corner from Times Square.

It is a snazzy, contemporary hotel with minimalist-style rooms offering great views over the city. The hotel’s smart elevator system is wonderfully fast and efficient.

On the first floor is a food and bar area, known as District M, that presents itself as a European-style café during the day and transforms into a pizzeria later on and then becomes a cocktail lounge with live entertainment at night.

Incorporated into Row NYC is City Kitchen, a nifty food hall with eight vendors selling a variety of food choices. Of course, there are plenty of other restaurants and cafés to choose from in the heart of Broadway and, if it’s a modern New York experience you’re looking for, there’s a Shake Shack outlet almost opposite the hotel.

Having settled in at the hotel, the vast city awaits. I always advise when travelling that you grab a copy of the home town newspaper to find out what’s on offer.

Popping into a coffee shop with a copy of The New York Times, I pulled out the arts and entertainment section and scanned the lists of shows, concerts and exhibitions. A small advert for a cinema screening of the documentary I’m Not Your Guru, about Tony Robbins, caught my eye. At a theatre near New York University, Mr Robbins and director Joe Berlinger were appearing in person to answer questions. I jumped on a downtown subway train and enjoyed a thought-provoking evening at the screening. Thankfully, there were after-midnight subway trains to return me to the hotel.

With so many choices for what to do next, you might find it advantageous to invest in a New York CityPASS. These ticket booklets, costing $116, save 40 per cent on the regular cost of visiting up to six attractions. The choices include the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim Museum and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Pass holders are able take the VIP route at most of the attractions, bypassing the main entrance ticket queues.

Heading for the Empire State Building, I strolled through Times Square and the eastern side of Manhattan, then down 5th Avenue to pass the landmark New York Public Library and reach the skyscraper. From the 86th floor observatory there are majestic views of the city in all directions and, as an added bonus with the CityPASS, you can return in the evening to see the city lit up at night.

Take the opportunity to marvel at the restored lobby of the Empire State Building. If time permits you can enjoy a meal inside the iconic building at the ground level STATE Grill and Bar, which offers an outstanding choice of food and drinks.

It is always a good idea to walk off your meal. I took a stroll around midtown Manhattan and found a subway station from where a short ride on the A-train took me to West 72nd Street, a perfect location for visiting Central Park’s Strawberry Fields, a landscaped area dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. Here, you’re likely to find a friendly musician singing a few Beatles tunes with visitors joining in.

Central Park is the green heart of Manhattan, with trees and grassy expanses where people rest and play. Look out for open air music shows and games of volleyball.

For an evening meal in Broadway, I tried out Carmine’s on West 44th Street. It is a lively two-floor, family-style Italian restaurant with a great reputation. I was impressed by the cuisine and the friendly staff. Carmine’s is also a great launch pad for heading to one of the nearby Broadway productions.

My next stop was the Lyric Theatre, on West 43rd Street, to attend a performance of Paramour. This is a musical production by Cirque de Soleil that recalls the golden era of Hollywood and tells the story of a young starlet as she navigates the demands of a powerful director and her own feelings for a pianist-composer.

Paramour opened at the end of May and, while the storyline lacked depth, it was nevertheless an enthralling evening thanks largely to the spectacular sets and stunts that are the hallmark of Cirque de Soleil.

If you are going to New York with the express desire of seeing a particular Broadway show, be aware that many of the most popular sell out months in advance. One way to secure tickets ahead of time is through The Broadway Collection.

The website lists current offerings with ticket purchasing options. In partnership with Broadway Inbound, it works with tour operators, group buyers and travel providers, allowing travellers to book their preferred show at the same time they purchase hotel and airline tickets.

For me, having enjoyed an evening of entertainment attending Paramour, I headed back to the hotel to prepare for the flight home the following day, and to start planning another visit to the juicy Big Apple.

Useful sites:

CityPASS: http://www.citypass.com/

The Broadway Collection: http://www.broadwaycollection.com/

• The writer travelled to New York as a guest of JetBlue Airways and LINKS World Group, and was given hospitality by Row NYC, STATE Grill and Bar, Carmine’s, CityPASS, Shake Shack and Broadway Inbound