It’s easy to get lost in New York. Home to massive skyscrapers, neon-lit signs, pizza at 4am, exclusive streetwear shops, countless restaurants and cocktail bars – the city is always moving.
Here’s our ultimate guide of where to shop, stay, drink and eat in the Big Apple. If you only have 48 hours, let’s make it count.
WHERE TO SHOP
Start your shopping trip in SoHo, a hub for independent and one-of-a-kind designer shops. Starting with Opening Ceremony, which offers an exciting assortment of established and emerging fashion brands and exclusive celeb-backed collections.
A must-see for exclusive sportswear is big brand Nike’s high-concept shop in SoHo, NikeLab, which offers some of the most forward-thinking sportswear and is the place to snap up their limited edition pieces. On the same street is VFILES – showcasing edgy streetwear and set-to-boom designer brands, it’s a cutting edge fashion mecca inside.
With multiple collaborations and a true sneaker-head at the rear, Kith SoHo is the go-to place for all your sneaker dreams. It’s now their flagship store and offers three floors of exclusive mens and womens apparel and trainers for all occasions, as well as a space for up-and-coming artists to showcase their work.
For all of your denim needs, Paige in SoHo is the place to be. We all know denim is the trickiest thing to buy, and with the attentive (and patient) staff here you’ll find the perfect pair of jeans which will last you a lifetime from the plethora of styles and washes.
Move on to Tribeca and you’ll be hard stretched to find a better store that Patron Of The New. Opened by mother-son duo Lisa and Jonathan Pak in 2011, the store has gained a celebrity following down to their perfect mix of big brand, new guard and up-and-coming designers.
If it’s designer gear you’re after there is only one shop you need. So high-brow it has been the subject of a Saturday Night Live skit, Jeffrey
in the Meatpacking District stocks an expertly edited collection of clothing, accessories and footwear from the true gold bars of designer.
Just around the corner is the true mecca for any yoga lover. Lululemon will not only provide you with the highest-end yoga gear and accessories, but head down there on a Sunday morning and you can enjoy a Sunday morning yoga flow with a local favourite teacher. All mats are provided.
And now for the inevitable. No New York shopping guide could miss out the wonderstore that is Barneys. The ultimate of luxury speciality stores, it’s a 50,000 sq ft flagship reopened in 2016 on the store’s original 1923 location in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighbourhood. If your feet aren’t hating you too much, take a stroll round the corner and visit Bergdorf & Goodman for some more designerclothing, shoes and accessories.
WHERE TO STAY
For those interested in shopping, eating and drinking, hanging out on the Lower East Side or SoHo is going to be right up your boulevard. The Dominick is a 46-story hotel featuring a full-service spa and 4 restaurants, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering insane views over the city. The Italian marble bathrooms and personalised mini-bars add to the ambience.
The Ludlow is another favourite, named after its buzzing street on the Lower East Side, this new hotel is built up to 20 floors on top of a much older warehouse. Dark-stained hardwood floors, handmade silk rugs, artisan-crafted Moroccan lamps and exposed beams give a boutique, loft style feel to every room.
If Scandi-Design is more your thing, 11 Howard is the place to stay. It’s difficult to miss, with half of the building covered in a 150 ft tall swirling blue mural painted by artists mentored by Jeff Koons. The interior is completely contrasting to this, with its sleek, Scandi-Minimalist design.
Our final recommendation is the NoMad Hotel in midtown, which oozes style and character thanks to its interiors being designed by Jacques Garcia. Inspired by the Parisian apartment he lived in as a child, expect tapestry covered antique furniture, persian rugs and soaring ceilings in this stunning beaux-art hotel.
WHERE TO DRINK
Inside the above mentioned NoMad Hotel is The Elephant Bar, with it’s runway of a 24-ft long mahogany bar being home to a selection of classic and signature cocktails from award-winning mixologist Leo Robitschek. The best Whisky Sour we have found in New York so far, and we have sampled a lot. Purely for research purposes, obviously.
Another hotel bar we would recommend to anyone visiting is The Blond, situated inside 11 Howard. Located just steps away from our favourite shop Opening Ceremony, you can flash your new garms inside this plush bar, sipping cocktails whilst reclining on their velvet covered seating, and admiring the walls covered in art by Dan Attoe, Nobuyoshi Araki and Charming Baker to name a few.
Located on the 18th floor and rooftop of the New York City Standard Hotel in Manhattan sits Le Bain – a bar which seems to tick every box on our checklist. With unparalleled views across the city from the rooftop bar – we’d recommend getting up there early to avoid disappointment and to catch a few snaps of the sunset over the city. One floor down and you’ll find a heated pool which is regularly used for pool parties, and with the classy cocktails to match this place really does have it all.
WHERE TO EAT
For breakfast there is only one destination that should be on your agenda – Viand. Located on Madison Avenue, this little gem is a true oldie worldie breakfast spot. For over forty years the coffee shop has been serving their renowned coffee and brunches. They have been named as serving the ‘Best Turkey In Town’ – but if you want something to soak up the booze from last night we recommend the grilled cheese as an instant hangover cure.
As the brunch capital of the world, there are a thousand choices throughout the city. If you’re starting the day in the party mood make sure you check out the people that invented brunch parties at Le Bilboquet. The Cajun chicken is the most famous of the French classics offered at this large bistro, well and truly recommended – not just by us.
For lunch, make sure you check out the cuban sandwich at Cafe Habana, the Vodka Pizza at Rubirosa or the classic cheeseburger at JG Melon. If it’s home cooked Italian classics you’re after head down to Greenwich village to Bar Pitti – traditional Tuscan dishes at a reasonable price, you will not be the first to dine next to A-list celebrities in this little hot-spot.
We love David Chang so for dinner check out any Momofuku’s. Our favourite is Momofuku nishi, where they serve the Impossible Burger – the best vegan burger you can imagine.
If it’s taco’s and tequila you’re after head over to La Esquina, but bare in mind that reservations are absolutely necessary for the brasserie downstairs. We’d recommend it for the start of a night out, DJ’s start at 10pm and be warned – it gets loud.