﻿A Local’s Guide to NYC

June 2017

Our close friends moved to the Big Apple earlier this year and we were lucky enough to visit and share their beautiful Soho apartment. Over a week, we got a local’s guide to the city of dreams, New York.

Coffee + Brunch

West to East

Jacks Wife Freda – A lively all-day NYC bistro with locations in Soho and the West Village. Obviously, we had eggs, avo on sourdough but they added the grilled halloumi, delish. All the staff were lovely and wore breton t-shirts with converse. Tick!

Ellary’s Greens – Local, organic, eco-friendly cafe serving organic juices.

Buvette – A truly French spot in a simple, white-linen dining room with a leafy outdoor courtyard. We stopped off and had steak tartare, croissants and coffee – Bon Appetit.

Chelsea Market – Along the High Line, stop off at Chelsea Market for every type of food under the sun.

Cafe Altro Paradiso – From the owners of the acclaimed Estela comes this beautiful Italian cafe. You can come to Altro for a full dinner, a drink, a drink and a pasta, a glass of Sangiovese, a coffee, or just some gelato.

Banter Coffee – We found ourselves here every day, some times twice. Maybe it’s because it’s Aussie owned or maybe it’s the golden folded eggs but either way, it’s the best in Soho.

Egg Shop – If you’re an egg fan, this is the place for you. We had the ‘El Camino’ and ‘Spandex’ – egg-cellent.

Le Coucou – Everyone raves about the brunch here in this chic, airy setting. They offer all menus for any time of day to fill your French fancy.

Cafe Henrie – Quirky art and neon signs lines this hip, offbeat cafe serving espresso, salads, açai bowls & pastries. The ceramics are amazingly designed, you can buy them for $65.

Pietro Nolita – All pink 1950’s-style bar/eatery offering eco-friendly Italian dishes and weekend brunch.

Three Seats Expresso and Barber – Run by Aussie’s serving the best coffee and brunch in East Village. They can also give you a trim and shave whilst sipping an expresso.

Made Nice – From the creators of Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad, I was super keen to eat here. Delicious, fresh, locally sourced food in a relaxed, welcoming environment. The highlight was the soft serve ice cream with an unadulterated view of the empire state building. Epic!

People Go Crazy For

DŌ Cookie Dough Cafe – People line up for hours in all weather to get their hands on this cookie dough, apparently, it’s the best.

Dominque Ansel Bakery – Birth of the CRONUT – a croissant-doughnut hybrid. Yes, this exists. Make sure you go early as they sell out quickly. I missed my opportunity arriving at 1pm.

Dinner

West to East

EN Japanese Brasserie – Modern, seasonal Japanese cuisine with homemade tofu and large sake list.

Tortaria Mexican – A colorful, bodegalike eatery serving the best Mexican dishes and fresh margaritas all for a very reasonable price – perfecto!

The Fat Radish – A beautiful eatery serving modern British using local farm fresh veggies. We shared their special macrobiotic – The Fat Radish Plate. But the highlights were the triple cooked truffled duck fat chips with parmesan and the house made doughnuts.

Estela – Set above Houston Street, the lively restaurant serves food inspired by the Mediterranean, cooked with a personal approach that incorporates the distinct flavours of New York.

Dimes – Eclectic, health-conscious Californian-style fare dished in a minimalist, white wall and bare wood space.

Ivan Ramen – Watch Chef’s Table series 3, you will want to come here. We were so excited to try the famous ramen and handmade noodles. We all tried different options but the best was the chicken paitan.

Beauty & Essex – Happening restaurant/lounge hidden behind a pawn shop, with American food and upscale cocktails.

Eleven Madison Park – Officially the best restaurant in the world. We didn’t eat here as it’s fully booked for months, but I know a few people that have who say it’s a magical experience.

Drinks

Le Sardine – The best Oysters and Negroni with window stools open to the outside to watch the people on West Village.

Employees Only – Inventive drinks are poured at this retro-looking, Prohibition-style bar.

Dante NYC – Legendary circa-1915 cafe serving small plates and the best Negroni in NYC!

Attaboy – I was recommended this from a fellow bar owner. It’s an innovative, creative cocktails and classic concoctions mixed up in an industrial-style space.

Rooftops

Mr Purple – On the Hotel Indigo’s 15th floor, this spot has an epic view with a pool and cocktails.

The Top of the Standard – The rooftop of the iconic brutalist hotel is the highest in the area looking over the Hudson and Manhattan. It’s free, lively and has a pool, I’d suggest going early.

The Met Rooftop – A secret gem – relatively quiet for a rooftop bar, you can see spectacular views of central park and the skyline whilst sipping prosecco.

Shop

West to East

Goods for the Study – This isn’t just a stationary store, it’s the ‘everything-you-didn’t-know-you-needed’ store. We spent an hour in here deliberating what Japanese pen to buy.

150 Green Street – It’s sample sale time! Check our racked for the latest sales. We went to the Mara Hoffman sample sale and I got a gorgeous one piece for $70, just in time for summer. I saw people waiting for hours but we went at 9am and walked straight in so I’d recommend going early.

The Apartment by The Line – Imagine you’re in Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment and it’s contents is for sale, this is The Line.

Saturdays Surf NYC – Being a menswear designer and dating a surfer, this is the dream shop and cafe.

Opening soon – High-end, colourful gallery showcasing designer home accessories, vintage furniture & creative gifts.

Creatures of Comfort – New York-based fashion and lifestyle brand with an eponymous collection and multi-line boutiques in New York and Los Angeles.

Still House – This was my favourite store in the city, featuring a curated selection of jewellery, art objects, and home goods, jewellery and ceramics. Elegant, unstated and unrivalled.

Fitness

Yoga works – We signed up for a beginners week for $30. They offer a wide range of studios, classes and levels to perfect match your yogi needs wherever you are in the city.

F45 Training – The F stands for functional training. They are all 45 minutes long. Ranging from cardio to weights… you will leave sweaty and ready for brunch. The first two classes are free.

Soul Cycle – There are so many studios to choose from in NYC, they also have a few in the Hamptons. Your first ride will be $20 and $34 after that.

Spa

Shun Fa Relaxing Centre – We paid $35 for an hours back massage – crazy good!

See

The High Line – Walk along the railway garden looking over the city, oh the serenity.

The Metropolitan Museum – The largest art museum in the United States, and is among the most visited art museums in the world. Entrance is a suggested donation, we paid $25 each and were lucky to see 3 amazing exhibitions, 1. Irving Penn 2. Rei kawakubo 3. Age of Empires. The rooftop has the best view on the Manhattan sky line and central park, and it’s relatively quiet for a New York rooftop bar.

Central Park – You can’t come to New York city and not go to central park, every season throughout the year is equally magical.