There’s really nowhere else like New York. Between the energy, the people, the entertainment, and the style, NYC has always had that It factor that makes it irresistible to anyone who’s ever visited—and impossible to live elsewhere for anyone who calls it home. And it doesn’t take an expert to see that one of the most defining experiences of New York is the social life. Going out for a drink or dinner, or finding a place to stay can be an overwhelming endeavor since the city is flooded with world-renowned restaurants, buzzy bars, and five-star hotels at every corner.
Well, not to sound biased, but no one has a better pulse on the city’s coolest hangouts than our team of fashion editors. The previews, events, and dinners we regularly attend bring us all over the city and often allow us to be one of the first to experience a new restaurant, bar, or hotel. I recently surveyed our fashion team to find out where they’re actually hanging out, so you don’t have to get lost among all the TikTok reviews and “best of New York” lists out there. Simply take our word for it: these nine hot spots are the only you need to know.
Hotel Chelsea is simply brimming history from every corner. Andy Warhol, Mark Twain, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith are just a few of the artists and musicians who roamed its halls and gleaned inspiration from its Victorian Gothic architecture in the ’60s and ’70s. Despite its status as the city’s cultural landmark, the hotel actually hadn’t booked a single guest for the past decade. Now, a year after its highly-anticipating reopening by the team behind downtown favorite like The Ludlow and The Bowery, “the Chelsea” as many of its bohemian residents affectionally referred to it, is once again serving as the backdrop to the city’s most fashionable creatives and noteworthy celebrities. Whether you stay in one of its suites lined with rich velvet draping or head to its sprawling lobby bar to sip on a martini, stepping into the space is confirmation that a certain old New York glamour is alive and well.
When out-of-town WWW editors come for New York Fashion Week, they always make a point to stay at The Beekman. The nine-story Victorian atrium is worth a visit on its own, but the mouth-watering menus by James Beard Award Winner, Chef Tom Colicchio, quaint yet modern rooms, and welcoming staff are why you keep coming back. The property was built in 1881 and is one of New York City’s last significant architectural treasures. Randolph Gerner restored the building and if you ask any of the staff, they will enthrall you with tales of great writers and historic figures who once graced these walls.
Nine Orchard is the cool, new kid on the block everyone wants to brag about being friends with. Located in the buzzy Dimes Square on the Lower East Side, Nine Orchard has quickly made a case for the newest talked-about hotel in the city, period. This bank-turned-hotel underwent extensive renovations to get it in the pristine shape it’s in now, and it was certainly worth it. From the ceilings to the moldings, there is much to be admired, but the fashion crowd can’t stop talking about the Swan Room which features an impressive cocktail menu and an even more impressive setting. The move is to have a couple of drinks, and then mosey on over to Corner Bar for some proper sustenance.
“Casino is a hard reservation to get in NYC but once you’re in, you probably will want to say for at least three courses,” insists associate editor Sierra Mayhew. “The dining room is splashed with the fashion crowd’s favorite color this year—red. The dim lighting pairs well with it and the menu is that of one of New York’s finest Italian restaurants. I’ve only been once but can’t wait to go back.
New York may be filled with world-renowned pizza, but one of its latest newcomers just bumped every other spot off our list of favorites. Enter L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, the West Village outpost that will instantly transport you southern Italy. It’s a direct export from Naples and not only boasts the most authentic Neapolitan pizza in the entire eastern seaboard, but also happens to be *the* pizza joint where Julia Roberts’ character has an out-of-body experience in Eat Pray Love. Head here for the classic margherita pie, but don’t skip the pastas which are equally as life-changing.
“The moment Raf’s opened in Noho in spring 2023, the restaurant instantly became a favorite spot amongst the fashion set,” declares associate special projects director Kristen Nichols. “Net-a-Porter hosted an event during New York Fashion Week, where negroni spagliatos and affogato were on the menu. And the fashion crowd remains a regular fixture at the restaurant outside of fashion week for the pasta and crudo. Because of its popularity, the dinner reservations remain near-impossible to come.”
Assistant shopping editor Grace O’Connell-Joshua says that The Nines has been one of her favorite places to go out in New York for years. “It has a chic Manhattan supper club vibe but the red velvet walls, dim lighting, and live piano being played in the center of the restaurant gives the place a Parisian feel,” she notes. “Once the host walks you through the curtains and takes you to your table you’re going to want to make sure you order the caviar baked potato and their burger, my two personal favorite items on the menu. Snagging a res here can be tough, so my tip would be to check Resy in advance and try for a week day—you may get lucky. Once it gets late on weekends the piano stops and a DJ starts turning the space into more of a club/lounge. Making it the perfect spot for Saturday night drinks when you want to dress up a little bit and have a really great martini or a celebratory dinner, after all we are having caviar. I had my last birthday dinner at The Nines and will most likely be having my next one there, there is just something about their atmosphere that I’m obsessed with. If you’re in town during a movie premier, award show, or New York Fashion Week you can guarantee a celebrity sighting or two.”
“Whenever I’m feeling the urge to pack it all up and move to Europe, I make a reservation at Le Dive,” admits branded content editor Natalie Gray Herder. “Their signature martini, plate of fromage, and next-level people watching is all I need to feel transported to Paris. It’s located in prime real estate in the Lower East Side, next to buzzy favorites like Kiki’s, Casino, and Cervo’s to name a few. It’s a total scene, but one that makes for a super chic evening.”
You can never have a bad time at Temple Bar. The dimly-lit space is sultry and sophisticated and oozing with uptown New York charm for the downtown crowd. The drinks are superb, but the banana-tinged espresso martini is without a doubt the best-known in the whole city. Earlier this month, Burberry took over the space, transforming the front bar’s signature checkered flooring into an homage to the British house, complete with a menu of U.K. staples.
