Travel Guide 01: New York
Some of our most-loved spots across the pond.
Ask anyone from GB&C where their favourite city is, and nine times out of ten, they’ll say New York. With its dynamic dining scene, endless cultural offerings, and unwavering energy, it’s a city that never stops inspiring us. It also happens to be where we celebrated the second instalment of the St. JOHN x Drake’s collection earlier this year — so it only made sense for our first travel guide to be dedicated to it.
It would of course be remiss of us to publish this without acknowledging the recent US election, which, like many of you, left us feeling both frustrated and disappointed at the current state of affairs. But, it’s during such times that cities like New York remind us of the importance of resilience and diversity, and the power of community — and we hope this guide leaves you feeling inspired by all that the city has to offer.
BEST CHEAP EATS
Jessie: Shu Jiao Fu Zhou is a great little cash-only spot in Chinatown specialising in Fuzhou-style handmade noodles and dumplings. The peanut noodles are a must-order, and for only $3, they're one of the best value (and tastiest) dishes you can find in the city. If you’re in the mood for tacos, Los Mariscos in Chelsea Market has excellent fish and seafood options.
Melis: You can never go wrong with a pizza slice, and Scarr’s Pizza is one of my favourites in the city — it never disappoints.
Pink: Birria Landia is a legendary a taco truck right outside a dive bar in Williamsburg. They have a few locations across the city, but this hits all the spots after a night of serious margarita drinking. Birria tacos, as the name suggests, were our main point of call, but actually everything on the menu is excellent.
WHERE TO SPLURGE
Pani: The Grill is the most timeless and elegant NYC dining experience, in a beautiful room with exquisite service. Situated in the Seagram Building designed by Mies van der Rohe, The Grill's waiters wear black bow ties and white jackets, the cutlery is chunky polished silver, the Ladies Lounge (loos) are a pink marble paradise and Pasta à la Presse - served with table side flair - is a must order. If you are looking to splash out, this is the spot to do it.
Gemma: I have my favourites in NYC, those places we can’t miss out on each time we visit. But the place I get really excited about going back to is The Four Horsemen in Brooklyn. Intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring cooking, and with a very exciting wine list to match.
Jessie: I recently had the most special dinner at King, a wonderful little neighbourhood spot in the West Village. The menu, which changes daily, is nothing short of delicious, and the service is unmatched. They also have an excellent cocktail list, as well as a very good house rosé. Say hi to the lovely Jess and Annie if you’re passing by!
WHERE TO GO FOR A DRINK/OUT OUT
Gemma: My favourite place for a cocktail used to be the bar at the NoMad Hotel in Manhattan (oh how I miss the Library Bar). Now, it would have to be Long Island Bar in Brooklyn for a classic gin martini. I love the original interiors, the laidback party vibe, and they also serve one of the best burgers in town.
Jess: New York has some of the best drag artists in the world, and you can find a good drag bar in basically every neighbourhood. Industry Bar in Hell’s Kitchen has a weekly show called Queen, where you can enjoy performances from both emerging and well-known drag artists. It’s so much fun.
Pink: Angel’s Share is a great speakeasy-style bar in the West Village. It’s one of those cool ‘hidden’ bars that we spent around 40 minutes trying to find, until we realised it was right in front of us the whole time. The search was well worth it though — the martinis left us feeling very merry indeed.
BEST NEIGHBOURHOOD TO EXPLORE
Chanelle: The East Village is my favourite place to spend the day exploring. There are so many great vintage stores and bookshops for hours of browsing, as well as great foodie spots nearby like Russ & Daughters for a next-level smoked salmon bagel, and the iconic Katz Deli for an epic pastrami sandwich.
Melis: Most of my friends live in Williamsburg, a neighbourhood packed with gems like Lilia, The Four Horsemen, and Cafe Colette, which does one of the best Bloody Marys I’ve ever had. Recently, I ventured a bit further to Taqueria Ramírez in Greenpoint, and it was truly life-changing. They serve incredible nose-to-tail tacos, and their al pastor is hands down the best I’ve ever tasted.
BEST COFFEE SPOT
Lily: My go-to has to be Daily Provisions in the West Village. I love it because it’s so much more than a coffee shop, the food is equally delicious so it’s the perfect pick-me-up at any time of day.
Chanelle: Tucked away on a quiet backstreet in Brooklyn, IXV Coffee is a hidden gem with great coffee and homemade bakes. The perfect spot to people watch or get lost in a good book.
CULTURAL PICKS
Pani: The Met and its extreme Egypt collection put the British Museum and the Louvre to shame. Make sure to visit The Temple of Dendur situated in the most incredible glass box built specifically to house it. Marble clad, featuring ponds of water and a view of Central Park, it's a magnificent room and a very serene space to soak in ancient history.
Lily: MoMA Design Store is a must pop into when in the city. It’s the most fantastic collection of excellently designed homewares, fun trinkets and contemporary art. I could spend hours browsing and, in another life, I would have one of everything.
BEST SPOT FOR A… BAGEL
Jess: Shelsky’s of Brooklyn is my favourite bagel in the entire city. It’s the quintessential New York deli — neon lights, sides of lox, briskets, schmear, everything you’d want. The bagels go for between $8 and $15, but they’re gigantic and worth every single penny.
Jessie: The bagels from Apollo might just be the best I’ve ever tasted. Tangy, chewy, and perfectly crisp, they’re everything you want in a bagel. They also do fun collaborations with new restaurants and up-and-coming chefs from NYC and beyond, including Cervo’s, Ha’s Dac Biet, and most recently, Ellie Bouhadana.
Melis: Nothing beats an egg and cheese bagel from Frankel’s Deli in Greenpoint. McCarren Park is nearby, which is a lovely place to tuck into your bagel.
More city guides coming from us soon,
GB&C