My Manhattan 🗽
My go-to spots that never fail me.
From time to time I get a message in my DMs asking for my NYC recommendations. I’m by no means an expert, but I like what I like and think most TikTok recommended spots are grossly overrated, so if you think we’re on the same wavelength, then you might appreciate my list of approved spots.
DISCLAIMER - I don’t spend enough time in all the five boroughs so I can’t claim to say this is my NYC guide, therefore I’m keeping it strictly to Manhattan.
This is where to stay (that isn’t The Plaza), where to eat (that’s actually delicious), where to grab a fun coffee and, most importantly, where to shop.
TO EAT
CASUAL 🍕
Kazunori, various locations. The best hand rolls in the city, make sure to try the Toro.
Los Tacos No 1, various locations. Consistently excellent, the best tacos I’ve ever had (I know that’s not saying much coming from the UK and having never been to Mexico), but I’ve been assured they’re up there by people with far more experience than I. The Chelsea Market location has Los Mariscos, their only location specialising in fish and seafood.
Can’t go wrong with a carne asada quesadilla and the Jamaica drink Johns of Bleecker, West Village. My favourite sit down New York-style pizza in the city, nice and crispy with a delightful cheese pull.
Don Antonio, Theatre District. Nii’s favourite Pizza spot - a Neapolitan-style pizza restaurant. Order the Montenara fried pizza, it sounds like just by uttering it’s name it will clog your arteries, but it doesn’t taste oily at all.
Gray’s Papaya, various locations. If you’re ever craving a decent hot dog, accompanied by the juiciest most refreshing papaya drink, look no further.
Sometimes it just hits the spot! Joe’s Pizza, various locations. My favourite grab and go NY slice.
MID-TIER 🥘
Pastis, Meatpacking. Another SATC fave, the Moules Frites is my go-to.
Mitr Thai, Midtown. The menu is divided into the four regions of Thai cooking and everything is delicious. Don’t forget to add the curry puffs.
Fish Cheeks, NoHo. Another excellent Thai restaurant, the crispy rice salad and pork is making my mouth water just thinking about it.
I can taste the flavour through the screen… Cervos, LES. A Spanish and Portuguese seafood restaurant - don’t even think about missing out on the crispy shrimp heads. Great outdoor seating in the summer, but it can be tough to get a res.
Don’t knock ‘em until you’ve tried ‘em! Shukette, Chelsea. I often dream of the Frena bread, but I’ve never been disappointed by anything I’ve tried.
Kings Co Imperial, LES. Nii clears two portions of the Chinese hanging pork ribs by himself, don’t even think about asking him to share.
Miss Lily’s, East Village. The music is great and the vibes are fun. I always go for the Jerk pork spare ribs and by writing this I’ve realised I need to go back ASAP.
Sant Ambroeus, Soho. There’s various locations but the Soho one is where you’ve got a high chance of dining with fashion industry people. The food is also consistently great.
Saigon Social, LES. The whole crispy fish is coated in the most fragrant and tangy Vietnamese spices - it single-handedly converted me to being a fried fish person.
La Grande Boucherie, Midtown. A great French restaurant nestled in an atmospheric atrium.
Jeffrey’s Grocery, West Village. Their Friday fish and chips is well worth an order.
Adda, East Village. They do a Butter Chicken Experience that books up pretty quickly but it’s well worth trying to get. The chicken is smoked at the table and you have lots of customisation options along the way, to contribute to the final product, which will consume your every thought thereafter.
POSH 🍽️
Buddakan, Chelsea. Where Carrie had her rehearsal dinner in the first SATC movie, a tried-and-true favourite. Order the tea-smoked ribs and the dungeness crab sticky rice.
The home of this iconic scene. Santi, Midtown. Phenomenal, posh Italian under the guidance of chef Michael White (who has six Michelin stars). They also have a great lunch prix-fixe.
53, Midtown. Very underrated Asian-fusion, perfect for a date night.
RH Rooftop, Meatpacking. This is my go-to to book when anyone is visiting if they’ve never been, exceptional vibes and spectacular views in the summer.
Hawksmoor, Gramercy. A London favourite, and the only place to get a proper British Sunday Roast.
Bangkok Supper Club, Meatpacking. I went for the first time recently and nothing was a miss.
Markette, Flatiron. A mix of European and Caribbean flavours, it’s been tricky to get a res recently but it’s so worth it if you do. I would re-order: the salt cod fritters, braised oxtail gratin (WOW), bibb salad and peri peri chicken.
I need a reservation ASAP. Tatiana, Lincoln Center. One of NY’s top restaurants, it’s the hardest reservation to get on this list, and maybe don’t take your parents because ours complained it was too dark and the music was too loud. The food will pitch a tent in your brain.
Coqodaq, Flatiron. Another res that’s hard to pin down, but they opened up for lunch recently and those times are easy to book. The Bucket List is a great set menu featuring their delicious, shockingly not greasy fried chicken.
Farzi, Tribeca. Absolutely exceptional Indian restaurant, it’s a go to for Nii and I. We always order the the 100 layer chaat, chicken tikka masala and mutton curry, garlic naan (for Me), laccha parantha (for Nii) and two mango lassis.
The 100 layer chaat. Quality Italian (not Quality Meats, I had a sub-par steak there once and never went back), Midtown. Always a consistently tasty meal with great vibes.
COTE, Flatiron. A delicious Korean steakhouse with a sexy atmosphere.
BondSt, NoHo. Low lighting, perfect for a date and it helps that you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Jean’s, NoHo. Complete with nightclub downstairs, this is a farm-to-table restaurant with an excellent steak frites.
L’Avenue at Saks, Midtown. If you want to add a posh little dining experience to your shopping day, L’Avenue’s only location outside Paris is delicious. The menu is pretty much the same as their iconic location, I love the Rigatoni aux Morilles and the Escargots Extraordinaires.
Milos, various locations. For the freshest fish and seafood, cooked just the way you like it. Get the greek yoghurt for dessert.
TO GRAB A COFFEE/DESSERT ☕️🧁
Pavé, Midtown. This is my favourite bakery/coffee shop to work from, especially because you can order a french baguette and butter to nibble on at your table (amongst other things).
Plantshed, West Village. A coffee shop in a flower shop, it’s filled with floral joy and the drinks are great.
Softside, various locations. An excellent softserve - they’re famous for ‘The Riff’ which is honey, olive oil and sea salt on a vanilla ice cream, but I like a classic cherry dip.
Culture Froyo, Greenwich Village. Just great fro-yo.
Matcha Cafe Maiko, Rockefeller Center. Excellent matcha and fun bubble-tea drinks.
Buddybuddy, NoHo. Nut butter based drinks, yep, I didn’t think I needed peanut butter in my coffee but apparently I’ve been missing out. Get the Dream Buddy (peanut butter, ube, vanilla and seal salt) with a matcha shot.
Doesn’t hurt that it looks amazing too. Molly Tea, various locations. If you like jasmine tea and bubble tea that’s not sickly sweet, then this is the spot for you.
Sweet Rehab, SoHo. The bougiest little dessert shop, but it’s nice for a celebration.
FunnyFace, NoHo. The best place for a cheekily-designed sugar cookie, but their crumbfetti cookies are my absolute favourites. You can get a box of minis if you can’t be trusted with the regular sized ones (me lol).
Thin Cookies, NoHo. For a sweet treat that doesn’t make you feel guilty, these super thin cookies still manage to be soft and every flavour is amazing.
Gelatoville, various locations. Nii is a gelato snob and this gets his stamp of approval.
I think this was a mango and coconut combo.
TO SHOP 🛍️
NEW LUXURY
Bergdorf Goodman, Midtown. Obvious, but necessary, one-of-a-kind, the Harrods of NYC. The Men’s Bergdorf is across the street.
Printemps, FiDi. It may be a little out of your way but it’s such a unique department store/boutique experience. They have a very different buy of brands compared to other stores in NYC, and the interior design is mind-blowing. Their cafe has excellent croissants/coffee and they have a great beauty department.
Le Alfre’s Penthouse, Midtown. My only specifically Menswear store on this list, and you have to book an appointment but it’s so worth it. The store is in an incredibly designed apartment-style space that oozes a true luxury experience, but the prices aren’t crazy and start from $125 for a shirt.
I mean, come on!!! Ralph Lauren, UES. Another classic, this is the flagship, so home to all the various RL collections including a Ralph’s coffee to fuel all your spending.
The Webster, Soho. One of the only boutiques in the city that carries Chanel (outside of Chanel stores) and they have a very cool, eclectic buy. Go here if you want something no one else will have.
Elyse Walker, UES. Great boutique with a wider range of pricing from smaller, contemporary brands to more well-known designers. They also have a very cool selection of fine jewelry.
Two:Minds, Meatpacking. A great smaller (Men’s and Women’s) independent boutique that has an interesting buy of brands like Pucci, The Row and JPG as well as a decent denim selection.
Luisaviaroma, Nolita. Lord knows how long this store will be open since the online retailer is facing bankruptcy. In the meantime especially if you like brands like Toteme, Fforme and Nili Lotan, you’ll love this store.
Greg Yuna, Soho. If you’re looking for diamonds or a custom piece with some personality, go to Greg.
IVAR, UES. A stunning fine jewelry store filled with unique Indian-inspired designs.
Swarovski, Midtown. Specifically the Swarovski on Fifth Avenue - it’s a spectacle. They always have a small exhibit of sorts on the ground floor, and then when you go up the pink quartz stairs you’ll see limited edition Swarovski collabs, the full range of products, and fun gifts to impress people. The staff there is always so nice.
Delicious! Tiffany Landmark, Midtown. A tourist destination at this point but a great one, with ten floors of famous sparkle. It houses installations, including Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the very vast world of Tiffany designs, many of which you won’t even know they did.
Louis Vuitton, 57th St. Another pilgrimage worth doing, especially if you can get a reservation at the restaurant (the food is very worth it), but at least stop by the chocolate shop. They also have exclusive LV 57th St pieces that aren’t available anywhere else.
Dior, 57th St. Not as gargantuan as LV, but it’s the best Dior in the city.
Annie’s Ibiza, Soho. After opening in Ibiza and London, Annie’s officially has a store in NYC. If you’re looking for ornate, show-stopping event outfits or the odd very rare Victorian vintage piece then this is your place.
Belmont Park Village, Long Island. This outlet is a sister to Bicester Village in the UK, and while they’re still adding stores, the ones they do have are amazing, e.g. Thom Browne, Vivienne Westwood (the only Viv outlet in the US), Rene Caovilla just to name a few. You can get there easily by train.
Woodbury Common, Upstate New York. This outlet is huge and has both luxury as well as high street brands. I get there by bus - this one is the best to take as you can reserve a seat (other ones are a first-come situation). It takes about an hour/hour and a half to get there.
RANDOM
Fish’s Eddy, various locations. If you’re looking for cheeky (like a mug that says wench on it) or NY-inspired homewares and crockery then you’ll love it here. Great for gifts too.
Cursive & Cursive Home, West Village. Another great option for chic gifts!
Kinokuniya New York, Midtown. If you too went to Japan and have missed it every day since, then this is a Japanese book/gift shop with an incredible stationary offering, that might just scratch the itch.
VINTAGE LUXURY
James Veloria, Chinatown. In a very unassuming mall, under a bridge in Chinatown you’ll find a number of vintage stores, one of which is James Veloria. They have a well-priced selection of vintage designer clothing.
Treasures of NYC, Soho. You’ll need an appointment, but oh what an incredible experience you’ll have. Every nook and cranny is filled with designer vintage delights and iconic pieces. They have an automated rack for you to sift through all the clothes, but the bags and accessories here are amazing.
This is just one of three incredible rooms. 3 Sisters Archive, Soho. They just opened up an appointment-only showroom, and if you want truly iconic, rare luxury vintage bags then you have to give them a visit.
Vintage shows - Manhattan Vintage, Not A Normal Show, Part Two, A Current Affair.
I’ve heard Tokio7 is also great.
In terms of areas to shop in:
Soho for luxury boutiques alongside high street stores.
Meatpacking for Hermès and more luxury boutiques (Gucci, YSL, Bottega). They’re clearly trying to make this the next big shopping area in Manhattan.
57th St (between 5th & Madison) and Madison Ave for bigger versions of all the luxury boutiques in Soho. If a brand doesn’t have a boutique in Soho, then it’s here.
Bleeker St/West Village for gifts, interesting pop ups, contemporary brands and Bookmarc (Marc Jacobs’ bookstore).
TO STAY 🛎️
Fifth Avenue Hotel, Flatiron. Eclectic interiors that make you feel like you’re Alice in Wonderland in the most chic way possible. Each room comes with a Butler service that will anticipate your needs whatever your reason is for staying. It’s very warm and inviting, and makes you feel like you’re in this fabulous bubble in the middle of the city.
I would like to fall down this rabbit hole again... The Lotte New York Palace, Midtown. This is family-friendly old school luxury - the rooms are big , and whilst not dripping in details like the other hotels on this list, it’s still a wonderful stay. The Towers rooms are more up-to-date than the main part of the hotel, but it has that NYC and Gossip Girl iconicism that makes you feel a part of the city.
Fouquet’s, Tribeca. This is one of the hot, chic relatively new hotel openings that all the stylish people are flocking to. I find it a bit out of the way being in Tribeca, but if you plan on being downtown for your stay then this would be a great choice that’s nestled on a quiet street. Excellent food/restaurants.
Hotel Chelsea, Chelsea. If the Chateau Marmont had a New York equivalent it would be this hotel - filled to the brim with character. A good chunk of the hotel is residential, and there’s lots of history in those walls (not in a creepy way).
On my list to stay at: the Mandarin Oriental oozes classic, but modern luxury, the Waldorf Astoria is beyond beautiful (her facelift is enviable), the Baccarat has been on my list forever, and having stayed at the Faena in Miami, I’m dying to see how it’s NYC sister compares.
Share your NYC recommendations, or anywhere on your list to visit in the comments!
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Thank you for reading! Have a great week ahead 💖
Love,
Ca$$ie
Thank you so much! Love how much effort you put in this article 💕
Well I’m hungry 😂😂😂😂😂