from May/June 2005
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Insider's New York
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Deeper in the borough is the newly renovated Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Pkwy.; +1 718 638 5000), known for its ancient Egyptian art as well as its superb collection of American painting and sculpture. Next door are two terrific plots of greenery: the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (1000 Washington Ave.; +1 718 623 7200) and 526-acre Prospect Park, which locals swear is lovelier than designer Frederick Law Olmsted's other New York creation: Central Park.
In the evening, visit downtown Brooklyn and catch a performance at the noted Brooklyn Academy of Music (30 Lafayette Ave.; +1 718 636 4100). Afterward hit Smith Street, between Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, where dinner crowds throng intimate bistros. Panino'teca 275 (275 Smith St.; +1 718 237 2728) and Sherwood Café (195 Smith St.; +1 718 596 1609) are good picks.
Top Noshing
Nolita's sidewalks glisten softly in the rain. It's a perfect evening to retreat into the cozy confines of Mediterranean-rustic Peasant (194 Elizabeth St.; +1 212 965 9511), where Time Out: New York food editor Maile Carpenter holds forth over the rabbit lasagna and a glass of Tuscan red. The candles flicker. Carpenter's opinions don't. There are old standards like the brasserie Balthazar (80 Spring St.; +1 212 965 1414), but also new favorites. An example? WD-50 (50 Clinton St.; +1 212 477 2900). "It's won our readers' pick as best new restaurant," she says. Since Manhattan serves some of the world's best food, getting a reservation can be hard. Carpenter's tip: Head for the bar. "Mario Batali's Babbo [110 Waverly Place; +1 212 777 0303] has a surprisingly accessible bar. Try the oxtail gnocchi."
Another trend: popular restaurants open up smaller, more accessible versions next door. "Japanese Nobu [105 Hudson St.; +1 212 219 0500] has opened Next Door Nobu, [+1 212 334 4445], and Craft [43 E. 19th St.; +1 212 780 0880] has Craftbar [47 E. 19th St.]."
"New York caters to every kind of food fetish," Carpenter says, offering up Peanut Butter & Co. (240 Sullivan St.; +1 212 677 3995), the Greenwich Village restaurant specializing in peanut butter sandwiches. One of Carpenter's favorites is Gertel's, a Jewish bakery that has a branch downtown (53 Hester St.; +1 212 982 3250) and on the Upper East Side (1592 Second Ave.; +1 212 734 3238). Her recommendation? "The bialys."
New York satisfies the sweet tooth, too. "ChikaLicious [203 E. Tenth St.; +1 212 995 9511] serves a three-course meal, but it's all dessert." Another sweet spot to tempt you: Laboratorio del Gelato (95 Orchard St.; +1 212 343 9922). Sometimes restaurants are about being seen in the scene. What's sizzling? "Schiller's Liquor Bar [131 Rivington St.; +1 212 260 4555]," she says. "They've nailed that Euro thing, and the models love the place."
Skybar Views
A drink on high as the sun begins to set and the lights wink on across the city is a quintessential Manhattan treat. Here are six bars to put you and your head in the clouds:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Roof Garden Café (1000 Fifth Ave.;
+1 212 535 7710) offers an afternoon's respite, surrounded by Central Park's treetops.
The expansive Lobby Lounge on the 35th floor of the new Mandarin Oriental (80 Columbus Circle; +1 212 805 8800) drips with old-time Manhattan swank.
Reserve a seat here. (Adjoining MObar doesn't have the views, though it does have the occasional movie star.)
Ava Lounge (210 W. 55th St.; +1 212 956 7020), named for sultry actress Ava Gardner, whose penthouse this was, tops off the Dream Hotel. It sports great views of the West Side and Broadway from its warm-weather deck.
The 26th-floor Top of the Tower (49th St. and First Ave.; +1 212 980 4796) in the Beekman Tower Hotel features midtown views, a lounge, and restaurant.
The Rise Bar at the Ritz-Carlton (2 West St.; +1 212 344 0800) is set on the 14th floor in the Ritz-Carlton's downtown property. The terrace offers one of the best views of New York Harbor and excellent Kobe beef miniburgers.
The Hotel Gansevoort (18 Ninth Ave.; 877 426 7386 [U.S. and Canada]) has a wraparound roof garden, but what's special is a 45-foot pool, all smack in the middle of the trendy Meatpacking District.
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