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Waking up a few stories above Park Avenue South as Manhattan’s streets tip from teem to bustle is one of the most authentic ways to observe and experience life in New York City. The new and gorgeously designed Hotel Park Ave can make this dream into reality across a number of rooms and a handful of suites designed by Jacu Strauss, Lore Group’s creative director. If you’re looking for a hotel where you can live like a real New Yorker, this is it.
One the best parts? Hotel Park Ave is DOG FRIENDLY. That means if you're a New Yorker with a four legged friend, like us, this is a great spot for a staycation with the entire household.
Yes, Hillstone may be a part of a larger collection of restaurants but it has everything going for it. A great room, delicious food, and fantastic service. Something that really puts the last point into perspective is the fact that if you order a martini, a new frozen glass will appear when you’re halfway finished to ensure you never are sipping a warm drink.
Just a stone’s throw away from Hotel Park Ave is Manhattan’s hottest restaurant. Borgo, the first Manhattan venture from the restaurateur behind Brooklyn’s legendary Marlow group features a unique take on Italian food and a stunning interior space. Despite being a large dining room, Borgo books fast so plan your dinner with as much advance as you can!
One of the most underrated restaurants in Nomad, Lola’s takes a refreshing approach to Filipino cuisine, inspired by the ancestry of chef Suzanne Cupps. This familial influence, paired with her upbringing in South Carolina and years spent in some of NYC’s best kitchens have honed the completely singular dishes you can find here.
This may be the little sister to the ultra-recognized Atomix, however Atoboy is anything but demure. The prix fixe menu features innovative and fun dishes influenced by Korean cooking, and a cocktail menu full of delicious soju bevvys.
The newest spot on this list is Mama Mezze, a Mediterranean restaurant from the team behind La Pecora Bianca. Despite the group making their name in the city with Italian food, Mama Mezze’s dishes, largely wood-fired, demonstrate how with the right care and team, a business can easily pivot.
If you’re looking for a coffee shop that’s more about finding a space and settling in, Felix is for you. The otherworldly Ken Fulk interiors of this large space are akin to something out of a Wes Anderson vision of old monied Europe. Yes the price of a coffee or matcha here is a bit steep, but you’re really paying for the ambiance, so make sure you snag a table and get it to stay.
This hard to get in, but always worth it bar is a cozy hideaway from the bustle of NoMad just outside the Fifth Ave Hotel’s lobby. Make sure you book a reservation to the artwork covered jewel box of Portrait Bar, and save room for snacks when you get there!
Recently, cult downtown natural wine bar, La Compagnie, opened a new location slightly more uptown. Just a short jaunt from Hotel Park Ave, across Madison Square Park, La Compagnie pours exciting wines in a swanky-yet-cozy interior.
For something a little more classic, the small wine bar empire Vin Sur Vingt has a location just across the street from La Compagnie. This is where we’d recommend if you’re looking for something a little more predictable and easy to get into. Note: they have a fantastic selection of champagne.
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Year round, rain or shine, the Chelsea Flea pops up in an unassuming parking lot every Saturday and Sunday. Here you’ll find longtime vendors selling anything from old watches to vintage paintings and occasionally a treasure or two. Unlike brick and mortar vintage shops in NYC these days, the Chelsea Flea still has plenty of deals to be had – so long as you come with patience and cold hard cash.
Art book publisher Rizzoli has an impressive shop right on Broadway that is always one of our favorite places in the neighborhood for a last-minute gift. The wide array of books has something for anyone you may be shopping for – and if that wasn’t enough, they often use this flagship space to host visiting artists and authors when a new book has been released.
The home of avant-garde fashion in NYC lies across many floors of a quiet corner of 30th & Lexington inside Dover Street Market – the niche department store owned by Comme Des Garçons. From more recognizable names to emerging designers, this is where New Yorkers who spell “Fashion” with a capital F come to find the finishing touch of their looks.
Among the dozens of grocers and shops lining Lexington Avenue, Kalustyan’s stands out among the rest – and not just because a president once took the oath of office inside the building. Within its many narrow aisles you can get lost at the staggering variety of peppercorns, spices, and dried edible flowers. This Armenian grocer has also expanded to serve the neighborhood’s Indian and Bengali population, so if you’re looking for lime pickle or another harder to find Indian spice blend, this is absolutely the place! Don’t miss a slice of homemade baklava or halva on the way out.
It’s also good to have a spa or nail salon in the back of your mind in every neighborhood. We love that Sundays focuses on natural polish while giving you a true spa-like experience during what is typically a quick in and out errand.
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It’s impossible for us to visit the neighborhood without a stroll through here, and in fact, the “Mad” in Nomad comes from Madison Square Park. In addition to the requisite greenspace and benches, Madison Square Park is among the best maintained in the city. From daily children’s performances to a rotating art program, and an amazing Dog Run, this is a space MADE for New Yorkers. Just head to the south area with tables during a mid-week lunch rush to get a glimpse of the wiser office workers enjoying a lunch break al fresco.
