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As you walk along the bustle of 5th avenue, it might be hard to imagine a quiet, tranquil reprieve just down W 56th street, but that’s the dichotomy of the Whitby. From the mind of Kit Kemp’s Firmdale Hotels, the layered, colorful, hotel’s only equals are their two other NYC properties (Warren Street Hotel and Crosby Street Hotel.)
A stay at one of The Whitby’s perfectly decorated rooms isn’t complete without ordering room service from bed or watching a movie from the bathtub. This is a spot for indulging and relaxing without leaving the middle of the city.
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We’re often in the neighborhood thinking, where can I get a good martini in a beautiful space…and we always turn to the Whitby. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, you can enter the world of color and pattern for just one night. Cozy up to the bar with a perfect martini and great fries, or grab a table for a full meal with all the steak & sides your heart desires.
PJ Clarke’s is a timeless New York institution that has been a quiet staple since 1884, serving up perfectly simple food in a no-frills, historic setting. Its wood-paneled walls and checkered floors feel like a time capsule, a place where legends like Frank Sinatra and Buddy Holly once held court without any pretension. The vibe is pure old-school New York.
Speaking of old-school New York, Smith & Wollensky is New York steakhouse royalty. While this place can definitely feel a little trapped in time, the warm service, stiff martinis, and rich sides keep us coming back.
This upscale Mediterranean restaurant is set in a beautiful, airy dining room servicing dishes that highlight and elevate the chef’s Greek heritage while still bringing a unique and contemporary perspective. Best of all? They have one of the best pre-theater prix-fixe menus in town!
For fun, all-day Mexican fare, Animo! is our Midtown secret. While they started as a spot for Mexican breakfast (think: Chilaquiles, Breakfast Tacos, and more) they’ve recently expanded to include a full-service dinner menu featuring an amazing Pollo Mole, and an edited cocktail list.
Is this Midtown’s answer to Balthazar? Perhaps. While more polished and a little more upscale, Benoit brings French Bistro classics to the lower 50’s. If you’re in a bit more of a casual mood, don’t miss their tiled bar that feels like the perfect place to begin the evening with an aperitif or end the night with an armagnac.
Take it from us: it can still be very fun to dine in a mall. Porter House, the swanky martini-laden steakhouse perched above Columbus Circle is a favorite place of ours to step back into the type of place that might take center stage during a night out in a Nancy Meyers film. Go here when you’re ready to order a little bit of everything, and have a great night.
Under Major Food Group’s direction, this New York City legend has continued to thrive offering steaks, prime rib, and seafood towers…just as it always has. The classic elegance of the space hasn’t faded one bit, and we really appreciate their commitment to making sure fellow diners are appropriately dressed…a word of advice: while they might be trending, leave your flip flops in your apartment.
Nestled in the bottom corner of the legendary Osborne apartment building which has housed dozens of legendary New Yorkers (including Fran Lebowitz) Carnegie Diner is a slightly overpriced spot serving deli classics late into the night (1am on weekends.) Just across from Carnegie Hall, this is a favorite post-show place to grab a reuben and an egg cream!
While there are many throughout the city, the Los Tacos location near Grand Central remains a back-pocket choice for midtown fare. Whether you need a quick lunch spot or something to help counteract a few $30 martinis, Los Tacos No. 1 will always be there for you with fantastic tacos, healing jamaica, and a complete lack of seating.
Located on the Rink level of Rockefeller center, Jupiter is a project from Clare de Boer, Annie Shi and Jess Shadbolt, the team behind King. Since opening a few years ago, their handmade pastas, seasonal veggies, and natural Italian wines have brought New Yorkers beneath 30 Rock…and experiencing it has had them happily return.
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In a neighborhood full of tourists and business people alike, there comes a time when you need to sneak into a spot just to get away from it all. You’ll enter Zibetto and immediately feel like you’ve stepped into an Italian coffee shop. All you need is a single-shot of espresso with sugar, but they’re also serving up Italian sodas and small cookies and treats - all standing at the classic Roman espresso bar.
In much of midtown, dive bars are few and far between. That’s what makes Strangelove so special. While you may walk in from East 53rd street, the red lights, stickered walls, and cans of beer make you feel like you’re in the Lower East Side.
In our book, returning to the Whitby after a night on the town calls for a nightcap from the Honesty Bar. Located within the guests-only drawing room, the Honesty bar is an amazing perk of staying on the property. Simply help yourself to a glass of wine or a pour of scotch, mark down your room number, and enjoy the drink on one of the rooms plush couches.
Have you ever noticed the old townhouse along Rockefeller Center’s 6th avenue edge? This multi-level bar feels like a members club for New Yorkers in the know. More recently they’ve opened up a summertime experience on Rockefeller Center’s ice rink that channels drinking aperitivos in an Italian square.
The hottest new spot in Rockefeller Center, Le Rock, is a massive, art deco restaurant from the team behind the legendary Frenchette. The space is a stunning mix of brutalist architecture and cozy banquettes, making it the perfect place to grab a martini and some oysters…and on Saturday nights in season catch a star before their SNL appearance.
Tucked away on East 54th Street, this Midtown institution is where old-school glamour meets a modern, buzzy crowd. The iconic red banquettes and murals of frolicking monkeys set the scene for a perfectly poured martini, a throwback to the days when this was a haunt for literary giants and Hollywood legends. It’s a place that feels both timeless and of the moment, a hidden gem that’s still alive thanks to the covid lifeline of Graydon Carter.
Able to secure a reservation? Have on your best dress or favorite tie? Then you’re ready to enjoy the Polo Bar: Ralph Lauren’s restaurant off fifth avenue that proves to be one of New York’s hottest rooms. Let it be known that coolstuff has yet to personally touch the tables here, but perhaps speaking it into the universe will turn our fate around.
The best coffee in Midtown comes to us by way of England. WatchHouse, the specialty roaster and cafe, has two locations in the city, both of which favor those of us who frequent the neighborhood. Their newest cafe is in the base of the Chrysler Building and fulfills a modern interpretation of an art deco dream. In addition to classic cafe drinks, this location also offers a special reserve menu of coffees that have been frozen at subzero temperatures at their exact moment of peak freshness.
The visuals of red checker tablecloths in such a historic and beautiful space always feels off-beat - in the best way possible. With one of the largest seafood menus in the city, you can find a lot more than just oysters. This space has the city’s spot for oysters OVER A CENTURY, and it plans to keep it that way. Formally the Oyster Bar, and currently Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant - they’ve always been serving up a seafood escape for America’s travelers.
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Every neighborhood needs a good bookstore. Currently in its 3rd generation of family ownership, this 1925-founded bookstore is housed inside a six-floor building in Midtown. You can find everything on Americana, modern first-editions, autographs, art photography, and antique maps (plus thousands of books in other areas) all under one roof.
Just across the street from MoMA, sits the MoMA Design Store - a jewelbox of a shop filled with fun discoveries and well-designed daily objects. You can find everything from a perfectly MoMA branded bag, to your new favorite set of dishes and electronics that always feel both futuristic and retro.
This Japanese bookstore chain has a NYC location right in the heart of Midtown off of Bryant Park. Known for its collection of books and magazines plus gifts and stationary galore, this is such a fun spot during a jaunt around the neighborhood. Grab a bite in the park, then skip over to Kinokunyia for a new Japanese magazine and the best origami paper selection in the city.
Over the last few years, legendary English record shop, Rough Trade, has expanded it’s footprint in Rockefeller Center! The new, additional space Rough Trade Below will offer a selection of records curated by moods like “New York Classics,” even more used records, and exciting partnerships with like-minded indie companies in the video space: A24 and Criterion Collection.
This one’s a given…but we’ll remind you anyway! Even if you have NO plans to actually buy something, it’s always worth it to enter the world of Bergdorf’s - even for a quick walk through. Our favorite floor though, houses all of the best candles, plates, cutlery and design-y luxury home goods you could imagine.
For Upper East Siders in the know (or of a certain age) Belgian Shoes are the only loafer there is. The price tag is high, and they are only available in person at the midtown showroom, but there is something especially New York about the shoe – finished with a bow and available in any color of leather or suede under the sun…including cheetah print.
Indulge in the garment district heritage with a stop in East Coast Trimming. From pearl buttons for a specific project, to every hand-dyed color silk ribbon you could think of - it’s a treasure trove of baubles and adornments that will give you endless inspiration.
NYC-based jewelry brand, with locations in Nolita, Williamsburg and now in Midtown, posts up in Rockefeller center with a kaleidoscopic world of dainty jewelry and the famous forever bracelet. The mini dollhouse complete with perfectly mini furniture is always what keeps us coming back for another look.
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The city’s only single-screen theater, and the longest-running arthaus cinema is our favorite movie theater in NYC. Open since 1928 and now run by Netflix, the nostalgia runs deep in this 535 seat theater. We often come by for their film-themed runs like the Alfred Hitchcock series, and Kirsten Dunst marathon. Directors and stars will often come by showings for Q&A’s so keep your eyes pealed.
Every Friday night at The Whitby, you can indulge with casual and fun jazz right in the dining room/bar of the Whitby Bar & Restaurant. Sometimes with vocals, sometimes music only - it’s always a perfect addition to a night in one of our spaces in the neighborhood.
There’s something so nostalgic about getting all dressed up to go have dinner and a jazz show at Birdland. In the heart of the city, this spot remains to be un-fussy and fun - with all of the comforts of a dinner & a show experience.
One of the city’s most iconic main-stay interiors is the Rose Reading Room. Roughly the length of 2 city blocks, this space has been giving New Yorkers the access to Old World Architecture glamour for more than 100 years. Stop in for study-time only!
Another “do we really need to tell you?” moment. But we really do! With such an expansive collection of modern and 20th century art, we’re always stopping by to see something new. With a mix of forever collection galleries and ever-changing shows, we always leave feeling inspired and happy we gave ourselves the time to give focus and attention to our daily lives.
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