Photo courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
I was experiencing a perfect day in New York. In front of me was the last bite of a divine lunch at one of the most sought-after tables in town, in my handbag beside me were tickets to one of Broadway’s biggest hits, and ahead of me were three more giddy Gotham days and nights.
For someone who adores long weekend getaways, it doesn’t get better than this. But it doesn’t happen by chance; plenty of planning goes into every one of these Big Apple adventures. Here’s fodder for your next trip, with notes on locales that will help you organize, thereby making the most of your time. Put some of these hot tables, cool shops, hip hotels and hit shows on your list, and you’ll have the perfect long weekend in New York waiting for you.
BOFFO BITES
>> Bouley: That late, lovely lunch in Tribeca began at 2 p.m. and lasted a very civilized two hours, allowing my sister and me plenty of time to luxuriate in the posh, red dining room, furnished with pretty banquettes topped with comfy satin pillows. With the help of the sommelier, we chose a bottle of white Bordeaux to complement our four-course tasting menu; it saw us through our baby skate over mushroom ragout as well as the buttermilk-baked chicken with rapini and the pistachio cake with pineapple meringue. Servers swirled about us silently, pampering us without interrupting our conversation for even an instant. Our parting gift was a little shopping bag holding one of the signature Bouley baked goodies, a lemon tea cake.
>> Bellavitae: Anyone who can take radicchio to a level hovering between sublime and stupendous is a genius in my book, and that’s precisely how I would describe Rolando Beramendi, who opened this intimate, rustic hideout in the Village last year. The tender, hand-picked radicchio, wrapped in pancetta, grilled and then drizzled in a sweet, velvety 12-year-old balsamic vinegar, is just one of several small dishes with Tuscan and Sicilian influences we shared at our cozy, corner table. Impressive in an understated way was the cauliflower sauteed in olive oil with pine nuts and currants, as well as the crostini smeared with creamy chicken livers that had been mixed smooth with white wine vinegar, garlic and anchovies. Whereas many of New York’s dining experiences are elaborate and monumental, the effect at Bellavitae is subdued and snug.
>> Per Se: For every laid-back al fresco meal that we enjoy downtown, where sidewalk doors are thrown open in pretty weather, we also enjoy the luxe meals that allow us to pretend we live a life of carefully tended Upper West Side privilege. That’s the effect at Per Se, Thomas Keller’s ode to elegant eating above Central Park, times 10. Unfolding on the fourth floor of the flashy Time Warner Center, this rather regal dining room from the guy who made his French Laundry in Napa Valley possibly the most coveted reservation in the nation remains the paragon for foodies in Manhattan. Is it because of the handwritten menus that change every day, the black sea bass stuffed with watercress, the foie gras confit with apple puree, or the nine-course seasonal vegetable menu, which – like each of the several fixed menus at Per Se – costs $210 per person? Um, yes.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Boulud restaurants
>> Celeb chefs: If we’re doing an early dinner before our show, we’ll head to DB Bistro Moderne in Midtown (pictured above), one of the celebrated Daniel Boulud’s restaurants. This one’s less formal than some, but it’s still a chic stop and it’s an easy walk to everything in the Theater District. Here’s the original ultimate burger of ground sirloin stuffed with braised short rib, foie gras and black truffle, but lighter is the sautéed sole with Meyer lemon marmalade. Otherwise, we make a bee-line for Craftsteak (pictured below), one of Tom Colicchio’s famous spots and a destination spot on the west side with a very cool lounge. For lighter dinners, we’ll graze in the raw bar, where icy clams and oysters and chilled, marinated goodies include the likes of hamachi with pineapple, lavender and radish.
Photo courtesy of Eduard Hueber
COOL SHOPS
>> Uptown: Think fluffy frocks, perfect in spring with a colorful pair of Manolo Blahnik mules, and you’re so shopping at Montmartre. Dresses from Trina Turk, Milly and Nanette Lepore are plentiful, and at three locations-Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center, 1157 Madison Ave on Upper East Side and 2212 Broadway on Upper West Side. At the fabulous Gourmet Garage, you’ll find goodies that were once available only to the restaurant trade. Loads of organic products are stocked, as are fancy picnic items to take for an al fresco lunch in the park. 2567 Broadway, between 96th and 97th.
>> Downtown: Head to Nolita, the hottest neighborhood among insiders, to shop for frocks at Mayle. There’s no sign at the door at this boutique at 242 Elizabeth Street, but regulars like Sofia Coppola know it’s the place to get the Provence-boho look. You can drop some serious change on home furnishings at the wonderland known as ABC Carpet & Home Warehouse Outlet in the Union Square neighborhood; chandeliers, Mod home décor, fabulous bedding and rugs – you name it, it’s crammed into this seven-story flagship store on Broadway at 19th St. A few blocks down in Soho, Pearl River Mart stocks all the embroidered satin slippers and Chinese jackets your heart desires, along with paper lanterns, sushi sets, tea pots and bamboo accents your home needs; 477 Broadway between Broome and Grand streets. When you need a small painting of fish for that tiny corner of your hallway, a new pair of dangling earrings or a bracelet hung with shimmering buffalo nickels, look no farther than the hundreds of vendors on Soho’s bustling sidewalks.
HIP HOTELS
>> Hotel Gansevoort: Let’s face it, as much as you want a good concierge and location, you want a great bar scene at your hotel. That’s on the menu at the first posh hotel in downtown’s Meatpacking District, where the rooftop lounge called Plunge offers a swimming pool and 360-degree views that let you swim in the sea of skyscraper and Hudson River vistas while sipping a martini or – what else? – a Manhattan. Rooms and corner suites come with plasma TVs, featherbeds, sound systems. Public areas feature an art collection with pieces by Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat.
>>Mercer Hotel: Loft living in a hotel is yours in this Soho dream spot. The gorgeous old red stone Romanesque building holds 75 rooms, lofts, studios and suites, some with fireplaces, hardwood floors and bamboo garden balconies overlooking Prince Street, many with workspaces and walk-in showers in addition to two-person tubs, all with contemporary elegance. Loaner cell phones, personal Pilates trainers, limos and butler service available. The Mercer Kitchen serves Asian-inspired fare from celeb chef Jean-Georges Vongerichton.
>> Great for drinks: Among choice hotel bars that make good unwinding spots during your sightseeing-shopping mission is the Yard at Soho Grand, a pretty outdoor space with cushioned banquettes, pitchers of sangria, snacks from a sizzling grill and DJ-orchestrated tunes; open only in warm weather. Rise at the Ritz is the 14th-floor bar at the Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park, where your split of champagne comes with a view of the Statue of Liberty. The Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental atop the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle has the best Central Park view in town, but be prepared to wait in line for a table.
I WANT TO GO
DINING
Open Table handles reservations for many New York restaurants. Go to www.opentable.com, pick the city, restaurant, date and time, and you’re set. You’ll receive email reminders and confirmations. Most of the restaurant listings will link you to the individual websites with menus, too.
>> Ono: Small dishes are $4-$18; large, $17-$49. Open daily for lunch, dinner Monday-Saturday. 18 Ninth Ave. in the Hotel Gansevoort; in Meatpacking District; (212) 660-6766.
>> Bellavitae: Dishes are $8-$18. Dinner only. 24 Minetta Lane in the Village; (212)473-5121.
>> Bouley: At lunch, the three-course tasting menu is $38 and four-course menu is $48; at dinner, five-course tasting menu is $95 or $155 with wine pairings. 120 W. Broadway, 212-964-2525—left msg In Tribeca at 120 W. Broadway; (212) 964-2525.
>> Per Se: Menus include three, five, seven and nine courses; all prix-fixe, all $210 each. 10 Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Building (uptown); (212) 823-9335.
SLEEPING
>> The Mercer, 147 Mercer St. in Soho; (212) 966-6060; www.mercerhotel.com. Rooms, $440-$480; studios, $550-$680; lofts, $1,250-$1,900; suites, $2,450.
>> Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Ave. in Meatpacking District; (212) 206-6700. www.hotelgansevoort.com. Weekend packages, $380-$650 per night.
