I was in NYC last week for a little bit of work and a little bit of fun. I checked out a few new – or new-to-me – spots and I thought I would share! Don’t worry, I still visited favorite old haunts like Hillstone on Park Ave (call me basic, I don’t care) and late night drinks at Superfine (an old go-to when I lived in Dumbo). Now, onto the new…
HOTEL CHELSEA // When I visit NYC I tend to switch up my hotel stays. It is a nice way to explore different parts of the city. When I lived here I was based in the West Village for just over five years and then headed to Dumbo in Brooklyn for nearly three. This stay, I tried the new-ish renovated Hotel Chelsea. It has such a cool, moody NYC vibe and a really interesting history (you can read about it here). They have an excellent lobby bar and three very different (and fantastic) dining options. I ate at Cafe Chelsea and loved it, and have heard great things about El Quijote and the very new Teruko. The hotel is super central, so getting around the city was a breeze. I will be back!
PRINTEMPS // There has been so much buzz around the opening of Printemps. I was so sad to miss the opening party, but excited to finally stop in and see it for myself. I had been hearing that there can be lines to get in so I strategically decided to visit immediately when they opened on Monday. It wasn’t too crowded and I was able to explore all of the spaces without issue. I didn’t have time to dine or stop for a coffee or glass of bubbly, but that is on my list for the next time! The interiors truly blew me away.
THE FRICK // The reopening of the historic Frick Collection has been much anticipated. I certainly felt that when I decided to stop in on a Sunday. The Frick has been one of my favorite museums in the city and while it did not disappoint this time around, the crowds made it a little harder to enjoy. You’ll need to plan ahead and buy timed tickets or take your chances and wait in line for an hour plus! Once inside, be prepared for thick crowds. Honestly, if I could do it again, I would visit in the fall when the anticipation around the reopening has waned and the summer tourists are gone! All in all though the museum remains one of my favorites.
LE COMPAGNIE // With outposts in London, Paris and Soho – the trio behind Le Compagnie decided to open another location in Flatiron with the same spirit. I love a great wine bar and this one feels cozy, but not crowded with interesting pours and great little bites. I stopped in here for a glass of wine and a snack before heading to dinner one night and highly recommend.
SOHO SHOPPING // To be honest I don’t always love shopping when I am traveling. Oftentimes I feel like shopping is such a large part of my job that it feels nice to *not* shop while I am away. With that being said, I felt there were far too many new store openings that I hadn’t been to and needed to see. I headed to SoHo and my first stop was Tory Burch. The store was actually under concept and renovation wayyy back when I worked there, and after many, many delays, it finally opened in the fall of 2021 (told you I was overdue). The store felt very much like old Tory meets new Tory in the best way. I loved the decor and ended up buying this dress. I also popped into the newish Dries Van Noten. The space felt like a cool mash up of art meets fashion meets stark architecture. I do wish the store infused a bit more of the interesting texture plays and quirky color combos the brand is known for – but the more neutral backdrop certainly allowed the collection to pop. Since I was on the block I also checked out Khaite, which to be honest, is not always to be my cup of tea. The store concept was super clean and based in brutalism. It felt exclusive, as predicted.