Curator’s statement
For the last four years, every two to three months, I’ve stayed near Manhattan/Midtown/Chelsea/Flatiron for three to four nights. And now, I finally I have some spots nearby that make me feel like I’m at home.
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Where to stay in New York City
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Things to do in New York City
When in New York, I want to do just a few things:
Go to a first-class spa (AIRE) or a club-like spa (Bathhouse).
Walk around the West End.
Art museum (MoMA).
Wander from restaurant to bar to bed.
Places to eat & drink in New York City
Don Angie Restaurant Instagram
Cocktails. Side of dinner.
Shukette: I never get tired of eating here, it is just so so good. Order all of the the rip and dips. Save room for tahini soft serve.
Atoboy: Eat the guksu, fried chicken, and granita, and drink the sool.
Thai Diner / Soothr: T(ha)ied for my favorite, can’t pick one over the other. Order everything. Both are perfect for groups/celebrations.
Tonchin: My go-to ramen place. Don’t skip the shaved ice.
Nemesis: Try the curry shank, rendang, and turnip cake. I suggest you eat here after a trip to the nearby bathhouse and hydrate with mocktails and tea.
Lunch alone. Lunch for two.
Konban: Quite possibly the best katsu I’ve ever had. Enjoy succulent pork with a hidden zen garden oasis.
Raku / Tsurutontan: My go-tos for udon. The latter is easy to get into, the former will come with a wait.
Jack's Wife Freda: Mediterranean diner with multiple locations. Order the Prego or Piri Piri kebabs, fries, green sauce, and a Pimm’s cup or melon juice.
After-hours eats
Nan Xiang: Soup dumplings, scallion pancakes stuffed with beef and hoisin. Open even later for delivery.
Los Tacos No. 1: You want the especial. Open until 11 pm.
Excellent Dumpling House: Very unassuming, and very delicious.
Need to know
Italian spots I‘m dying to try
Reservations are impossible to come by, so I’m crossing fingers for bar seats:
Don Angie
Via Carota
Rezdora
Cookbooks I own from the restaurants above & what I’ve made
Italian American, Don Angie: Classic meatballs, short rib ragu Genovese, charred broccoli, eggplant agrodolce (I adore this cookbook)
Cooking from New York's West Village, Jack’s Wife Freda: Piri Piri kebabs, green hot sauce, cocktails
A Celebration of Seasonal Cooking, Via Carota: Risotto al limone
Travel Advisor
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our New York City page.
Cover photo by Sarah O'Shea