The Plaza's dining room sports high ceilings and floral elegance
The Plaza
For the iconic New York experience
New York City's Central Park on an autumn day
New York City
JFK
With its raft of restaurants and bars, both big and bijou, and more entertainment than you could fit into any itinerary, New York’s insomniac rep holds true. But there’s no lack of quiet escapes either, from intimate museums to lush retreats minutes from the clamour. The real beauty of New York: there’s a dream trip for any kind of traveller.
Where to Stay
- A queen bed is framed by square wooden paneling in front of a full length window at Public HotelPublic HotelFor the Instagrammable vibe
- Wood accents and colourful decorations give Freehand Hotel's bar island vibesFreehand New YorkFor the budget-friendly rates
- A suite at the William Vale with a balcony facing the waterfrontThe William ValeFor the Brooklyn-style luxury
- The Roxy Hotel Tribeca has a stage in their lounge for live entertainmentThe Roxy Hotel TribecaFor the in-house entertainment
Eat & Drink
Scandinavian custard buns at Bakeri At this tiny Williamsburg café, watching the bakers make the day’s treats is only part of the fun. Choose from a display case full of Scandinavian pastries, from coconutty skolebrød to apple pies. You will also find a few global additions, like French–toast bread pudding and lamingtons, the beloved Aussie cake. The vibe is cozy, both in size and style, so if you’re travelling with little ones, leave the stroller at your hotel.
Simple yet special slices at Scarr’s Pizza Outside this tiny, otherwise ordinary–looking pizzeria, expect to find a long lineup – seating is scarce in the wood–panelled, retro–inspired joint. The wait–worthy draw: seemingly simple slices, starting from US$3.50, made special with organic tomato sauce and grains stone–milled daily on–site. (Also: a mean vegan Caesar salad.) If you can’t snag a table, grab a slice to go from the counter.
Fine dining at Flora Bar Inside the Met Breuer art museum, this acclaimed restaurant from Ignacio Mattos – the chef behind Estela and Altro Paradiso&nsp;– specializes in elevated small plates, like potato and raclette croquettes, and lobster and crab dumplings. Don’t miss dessert: Pastry chef Natasha Pickowicz works wonders with a pear tarte tatin, and her chocolate parfait alone is worth the trip uptown.
Next–level brunch at ABC Kitchen Brunch is a serious sport in New York City and this Jean–Georges restaurant inside ABC Carpet & Home brings its A game. The seasonal doughnuts are a great place to start, but consider the crab toast, roasted beets, pretzel–dusted calamari or mushroom pizza with farm egg. The one thing beyond debate: Leave room for the salted–caramel ice–cream sundae.
Izakaya fare and music pairings at Tokyo Record Bar This Greenwich Village spot is as boisterous as a 22–seat restaurant can be. Owner Ariel Arce took his love for Tokyo’s record–listening rooms and combined it with a seven–course izakaya tasting menu. Each guest chooses one song to be played by the vinyl DJ during the meal, which gets people talking. Reservations are a must.
Buffalo flower tacos at Jajaja Plantas Mexicana This Lower East Side restaurant may look inconspicuous from the outside – aside from the line commonly snaking out the door – but inside you will find a true rarity: an entirely vegan menu even omnivores can enjoy. Try the buffalo–flower tacos, black–lava rice bowl or jackfruit tamale.
Nostalgic cocktails at The Long Island Bar A local fixture for its fried cheese curds and classic burgers, this bar also specializes in drinks that would make anyone nostalgic: boulevardiers, gimlets, martinis. With dim lighting and tall booths, the space itself dates back to the 1950s and hasn’t changed much since.
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What to Do
Upgraded art appreciation at MoMA The Museum of Modern Art has always been popular, but its recent $450–million expansion gives even more reason to go, over and above increased space for the stellar exhibitions. Additions include the Marie–Josée and Henry Kravis Studio, dedicated to live and experiential programming, as well as the Paula and James Crown Creativity Lab, a space for conversation and art–making.
Bold home decor at Coming Soon At this gem of a shop from vintage collectors Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria, reupholstered Mies van der Rohe chairs, abstract wool rugs by NYC–based Cold Picnic, and sculptural wineglasses from Sophie Lou Jacobsen are just a few of the bold home accessories in the ever–rotating inventory.
Family–friendly day tripping at Governors Island This 172–acre island is the perfect way to while away an afternoon, especially for families, requiring less than a 10–minute ferry ride (catch it from Manhattan’s Battery Maritime Building daily, or from Brooklyn Bridge Park on weekends, from May 1 through October 31). Rent from Citi Bike or Blazing Saddles and wheel around the car–free paths, relax in the hammock meadow, or try your hand at minigolfing. Head to the Hills, opened in 2016, for scenic overlooks and a 17–metre slide, the city’s longest.
Escapist lit at Books Are Magic Novelist Emma Straub opened up a bookstore in Cobble Hill aimed at giving people a place to discover new titles, escape into one of the reading nooks, and attend readings and panels (there’s almost always something to see each night). The result is a bright hub for book lovers that feels every bit as enchanting as the name suggests.
Brooklyn’s lush side at Prospect Park The architects behind Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert B. Vaux, also designed Brooklyn’s defining green space – and ranked the latter their real masterpiece. The 585–acre urban playground is now home to a zoo, a skating rink, a boathouse, and a bandshell for live performances. In the summer, locals flock to the meadows to socialize, play sports and grill out – you won’t find a friendlier spot in the city.
Effortless statement wear at Rachel Comey New York designer Rachel Comey is known for her wearable, trend–proof womenswear, from day–to–night jumpsuits to wide–leg, raw–hem denim. It’s effortless chic that will nevertheless have admirers asking, “Where’d you find that?”
Broadway shows at the Music Box Theatre Everywhere you look, there is a jewel–like detail to notice at this neo–Georgian theatre, built in 1920. It’s a more intimate venue than Times Square’s massive performance halls, but no less worthy of attention: The Tony–winning musical Dear Evan Hansen opened here in 2016.
Fashion–forward splurges at Dover Street Market New York At this outpost of the London–based department store/concept shop, you will find a deep–pocketed fashionphile’s dream closet, including multiple sub–brands in the Comme des Garçons universe, Raf Simons, Supreme, Jil Sander and Gucci. Even if you’re not splurging, the eight floors feature plenty of fashion–as–art to admire.
Immigrant history lessons at the Tenement Museum New York abounds with monumental museums, but this one takes a singularly intimate approach to its area of focus: the history of immigrants from the 1860s to modern day. Guided tours are the only way to enter these restored tenement buildings, where you will see personal artifacts and hear stories of migration.
Hard–to–get sneakers at Kith The SoHo shop’s stark interiors underscore that it’s all about the merch – in this case, sneakers. All the big names – Nike, Converse, Adidas and others – are represented, but what makes Kith truly stand out is the stock of hard–to–get styles, including highly sought–after Air Force 1s.
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