Keen to bite into the The Big Apple? Karen Walker gives us a taste of her 10 must-sees, plus one for luck.
Showing at New York Fashion Week means that Karen Walker is in one of the most famous cities in the world every six months. On each trip she combines old favourites with new discoveries to make the most of the city that never sleeps.
Freeman's Restaurant
"Tucked away down a little alley, this gem glows with fairy lights on the outside while inside its series of woody, homely rooms, overflowing with wild flowers and taxidermy, makes it one of the best little secret spots in New York. The food's just as homely and cosy as the interior. It's best to go for dinner but no reservations are taken, so go early or with a small group."
Freeman Alley (off Rivington Street between Bowery and Chrystie Streets). Phone: 001 212 420 0012, freemansrestaurant.com
Flea Markets
"Every city has great flea/junk/antique markets and New York's no exception. My favourites are the many parking lot markets selling clothes, antiques and knick-knacks in the blocks between 24th and 27th Streets and 6th and 7th Avenues on Saturdays and Sundays. As with all markets, the early bird catches the worm."
The Lower East Side, NoLiTa and Chinatown
"The obvious neighbourhoods in New York are SoHo, West Village and the Meat Packing District but don't bypass the Lower East Side. The wonderful mix of the rough New York you don't often see these days and young fashion rats makes The Lower East Side, NoLiTa and Chinatown meccas for good vintage shopping. They're also home to Lil' Frankie's (19 First Ave,
lilfrankies.com) for excellent neighbourhood pizza and Teany (90 Rivington St,
teany.com), a bite-sized café with a great lunch menu."
The Mercer Hotel
"New York has plenty of great hotels and there's always some new, super-hip place to check out, but for a modern classic you can't go past The Mercer. The lobby bar's a perfect spot for breakfast, afternoon coffee or cocktails and its location means it's the perfect place to stay if you're wanting to do some damage at SoHo's finest stores and restaurants. The Mercer Kitchen is a spot I never miss for dinner when I'm in town."
147 Mercer Street.
Phone: 001 212 966 6060, mercerhotel.com
MoMA
MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) was opened in 1929 and is considered by many to have the best collection of modern Western masterpieces in the world. "New York has many fine museums but my favourite is MoMA where you'll always find something inspiring and breathtaking."
11 West 53rd Street. Phone: 001 212 708 9400, moma.org
The Algonquin Hotel
"The Algonquin Hotel. It is, of course, part of the New York tapestry. The lobby's charming, the lighting rosy and when I was last there, there was a gorgeous Burmin cat hanging around looking for tickles."
59 West 44th Street (between 6th and 7th).
Phone: 001 212 840 6800,
thealgonquinhotel.com
La Esquina
"This is something of a NY institution. Through the 'Staff Only' door in the corner taqueria, down the stairs and through the kitchen, you'll find yourself in one of NY's most effortlessly cool treasures. The food's sensational too — a fresh take on Mexican. The house rule is 'no cameras allowed' and looking around you'll figure out why pretty fast. On various visits I've spotted Beyoncé and Jay Z, Jake Gyllenhaal and Adrien Brody to name just a few."
106
Kenmare Street. Phone: 001 646 613 71 00, esquinanyc.com
The Smile
"The Smile is a rustic café in NoHo (North of Houston Street) which has recently added a dinner menu to its charming offering. One of my all-time favourites in NYC, The Smile's the ultra-cool spot for the downtown crowd."
26 Bond Street. Phone:
001 646 329 58 36,
thesmilenyc.com
Ace Hotel
"One of the latest in town, this 12-storey hotel in the newly-created NoMad district is the hip and happening spot to stay, eat and drink. It’s slightly grungy grandeur is delightful."
20 West 29th Street, between Broadway and Fifth Ave. Phone: 001 212 679 2222, acehotel.com
Raoul's Restaurant
"Raoul's has been around since 1975 and judging by the crowd on the frigid Wednesday night I was last there, it's still one of New York's favourites. Start with martinis at the bar and note that the best tables are the booths in the rear salon. The artichoke vinaigrette alone makes Raoul's worth a visit and the old school charm of the place, all dimly lit and slightly chaotic, makes the experience even better."
180 Prince Street, SoHo.
Phone: 001 212 966 3518,
raouls.com
The
Standard
Hotel
"A recent addition to the Meatpacking District, The Standard Hotel straddles NY's newest park, the spectacular Highline, which runs the length of a long
disused raised railway line. The top floor bar's the hip place and the ground floor restaurant is the place to be seen for breakfast, lunch or dinner. While in the
neighbourhood, check out its other favourites — Jeffrey (449 West 14th Street, jeff reynewyork.com), especially for the shoe department, and Pastis (99th ave, pastisny.com) for a meal, snack or drink at any time."
848 Washington Street at
West 13th Street. Phone:
001 212 645 46 46,
standardhotels.com
