Baccarat Hotel & Residences New York sees the launch of 250-year-old French crystal maker Baccarat’s inaugural offering in the luxury hospitality sector. Manhattan has long been synonymous with refined, understated elegance and this new lifestyle destination follows suit. A remarkable synergy of glamour, practicality and magic presents 114 beautifully enchanting rooms and suites, each with a nod to Baccarat’s crystal artisanal history. The hotel’s vibrant and unique collection of art, furniture and sculpture has been meticulously curated by Parisienne art connoisseur Frederic Chambre.
Remain uptown for a delicious brunch of rock shrimp omelette and eggs benedict at beautifully designed Provencal restaurant, Claudette, whilst watching the buzz of New York through the expansive floor to ceiling terrace doors. If old-school glamour and sophistication is your thing, a stay at The Carlyle is an absolute must. The beautiful suites each offer original parquet floors, contemporary art and extraordinary vistas of the New York skyline. Pop in to the atmospheric bar, Bemelman's, and enjoy some vintage cocktails whilst watching New York's finest party the night away.
Following London, Istanbul and Miami, king of luxury design and travel, Ian Schrager, has once again teamed with Marriott International to launch the fourth EDITION hotel at 5 Madison Avenue housed in the former headquarters of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Built in 1909, Schrager and his team have meticulously reinterpreted the 41-storey iconic building, creating 273 generously proportioned bedrooms and suites, a chic, triple-room restaurant, The Clocktower, headed up by Jason Atherton, a spa and fitness centre on the 39th floor, and numerous sleek bars and lounges – all with subtle references to the history of the building.
And so to East Village, where Andre Balazs and Michelin-starred chef John Fraser’s lively restaurant, Narcissa, located next to the eponymous Standard hotel, injects Californian cuisine with modern rotisserie and roasting concepts. Seasonal, freshly sourced ingredients are grown as locally as is possible - at Locusts on Hudson, Balazs’s very own Hudson Valley farm.
Just a little further up – and equally well secluded, set back behind lush vegetation – is newly launched Santina, a modern Italian restaurant and part of the Major Food Group headed up by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick. A seasonally changing menu provides pared down choices such as spaghetti blue crab, lobster Catalan and a delightfully tender guajillo chicken. The sleek all-glass building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, and extensive patio offer the perfect time-out from Manhattan’s fast pace. The imaginative cocktail menu offers gems with names like Manganello Punch and View from Positano. Sister restaurant, Dirty French at The Ludlow Hotel, is most definitely worth a visit. We sampled the brunch – the blackened salmon and cream cheese bagel get our vote.
Chelsea’s design Hotel Americano, part of the Mexican Grupo Habita, offers beautifully simple, spacious bedrooms and suites each with low, wooden platform beds and an ultra modern aesthetic. A lively ground floor restaurant, The Americano, serves modern French cuisine to Chelsea’s trendy crowd, while upstairs the rooftop bar and mini pool welcomes non-residents to party away the night to an eclectic mix of international DJs.
A stroll down lively Greenwich Avenue, with its numerous independent boutiques, wine bars and restaurants, brings with it a pared-back, modern New York feel. Head to the delightful Greenwich Project, set in a chic townhouse, for lunch and enjoy a carefully executed menu of American, French and Mediterranean fare. Head upstairs for dinner in a warm, sleek environment and lounge on the chocolate banquet seating. If Japanese is the order of the day, pop up the road to Saikai Dining Room and enjoy a sophisticated menu of modern Izakaya in sleek surroundings.
Head south of the river to Juliette, a sublimely simple restaurant and bar in Williamsburg, Brooklynn, where a townhouse hosts a bright, clean dining room and bar on the ground floor and a rooftop terrace upstairs. A French inspired menu of seasonal delicacies include lobster, scallops and American beef burgers. We stumbled upon a perfect Spring evening and watched the sun go down while drinking signature Juliette’s Pimm’s cocktails. Bliss.
British boutique hotel brand Firmdale’s quirky New York offering, Crosby Street Hotel, in vibrant SoHo, where 86 beautifully decorated, light-filled bedrooms and suites have been lovingly filled with modern furniture, art and antiques, most boast floor to ceiling windows. We enjoyed punchy calamari and watercress salads followed by hearty, succulent 16-oz rib eye Creekstone steaks and hunter’s chips. Head chef Anthony Paris sources much of the imaginative menu from the hotel’s in-house fruit, vegetable and herb garden on the 12th floor. Guests have exclusive access to a stunning private courtyard garden – a true oasis.
Boasting arguably the largest and most sophisticated rooftop terrace in Manhattan, atop the Ink48 hotel, is The Press Lounge, a beautiful haven of tranquility and buzz, where an eclectic American menu compliments an ingenious cocktail list. Le Bain at The Standard is another must-visit. Expect a cool, trendy crowd.
A visit to the rooftop terrace and swimming pool at creative members’ club, Soho House, in the Meatpacking District is always a hit. A superbly simple, health-conscious menu offers members and guests original recipes such as spiced chickpea stew, quinoa and faro salad and ricotta ravioli.
Art enthusiasts must make time to visit the newly relocated Whitney Museum of American Art. Located just a stone’s throw from the Highline, the museum has an evolving schedule of curated pieces from both private and state collections, dedicated to showcasing the finest twentieth century and modern art.
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