In order to give you the best recommendations for your time in New York City, Whitewaller turned to the experts. Here we’ve included inside tips from Rafael de Cárdenas, the designer & founder of Architecture at Large, Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat, co-founders of WantedDesign, and co-founder and director of MECA Art Fair, Danny Baez.
RAFAEL DE CÁRDENAS
Photo by Les Ateliers NYC.
WHERE TO EAT AND SIP
The Grill is still the most chic room in New York City. I love the respectful and polished renovation, and the prime rib on the trolley, like they used to have. I like a gin martini and the lobster Caesar at The Carlyle. It’s classic and hasn’t changed much since my childhood. My local favorite near home is Locanda Vini e Olii in Clinton Hill.
WHERE TO SEE ART
MoMA PS1 still feels out of the way, and I also love the restaurant there, the M. Wells Dinette. Miguel Abreu has a consistently excellent program. Dia, as a New York City institution that continues to push the limits of scale, is near and dear to my heart. And The Cloisters I love visiting around Christmas and spring.
Photo by Magdiel Báez.
WHERE TO HAVE FUN AND RELAX
Ever since moving to Brooklyn, I’m at peace at home and relax there most nights. Going into the city on the subway every day feels oddly magical . . . I take the B line, which goes over the Manhattan Bridge. Exploring the boroughs, particularly Brooklyn’s many multicultural neighborhoods, is my favorite way to spend the weekend.
ODILE HAINAUT & CLAIRE PIJOULAT
Courtesy of Ráfael Cardenas.
WHERE TO EAT AND SIP
For great cocktails in a French bistro ambience, try Pardon My French in the East Village. In the same area, a great Moroccan place is Chouchou. The bar and lounge at the Marlton Hotel is cozy, and The Americano restaurant at Hôtel Americano is the perfect spot for lunch. Weather Up in Park Slope—you can’t see it unless you know it’s there. It has the nostalgic feeling of an old boat, and—the best part in the summer—it has a garden in the back.
WHERE TO SEE ART
The Invisible Dog on Bergen Street in Brooklyn is an interesting place to discover. Gagosian on West 24th is still one of our favorite galleries. The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City is one of our favorite museums, combining design and art.
WHERE TO HAVE FUN AND RELAX
Reconnecting with nature by spending a long weekend upstate in Woodstock, or combining nature with art by going for a day trip at Storm King Art Center or Dia:Beacon are a must. In the spring and summer, we love taking the ferry and going to Governors Island. It’s so close to the city and such a different vibe.
DANNY BAEZ
WHERE TO EAT AND SIP
Definitely, my top spot for food at this very moment is Los Mariscos. My go-to choices are fish tacos and fish ceviche. Another top spot when it comes to food is undoubtedly the home to the best burger in the U.S.A., and that place is called 4 Charles Prime Rib. For the thirst-quencher choice, I would go with Holiday Cocktail Lounge on St. Marks, Attaboy on Eldridge, and Suffolk Arms on East Houston.
WHERE TO SEE ART
Lower East Side galleries—91 percent of them. All due respect to Chelsea, but Downtown is the bold little tiny brother taking some of the elder’s spotlight. There are also two very amazing galleries in Harlem, Elizabeth Dee and Gavin Brown’s enterprise. For museums, I will go with the Whitney, New Museum, and Brooklyn Museum. In that specific order.
WHERE TO HAVE FUN AND RELAX
Home (if I can make it there) and the couches at Soho House in the not-so-busy days of this place. Honorable mention to a walk on the High Line. That also works for my relaxation needs. I usually kick back at some amazing Jazz Live Session + Drawing held every Sunday in Chinatown.
