Recently, I was lucky enough to spend a week in New York with my boyfriend and our beautiful friends Alison and Mick. It was a proper whirlwind trip with lots packed in - shopping, shows and so much food.
I’ve had a few people ask for tips - where we stayed, what shows we saw, where we ate - so I thought I’d put everything in one place.
Bookmark this if NYC is on your wishlist.
What I Wore (aka: how a summer-dress girl survived winter)
I am not a winter girlie. I live for summer dresses and prefer to hibernate in winter - so this was actually my first ever winter holiday.
Surprisingly… I loved it.
That said, I did not do this alone.
I had a lot of help from my clever friend Nikki from @stylingyou (she is a travel/packing genius).
Nikki even came over the day before we left to do a final suitcase edit – she was ruthless, and completely right!
Thanks to her, I was warm, layered and still felt cute (despite wearing the same blue puffer coat every single day).
I also trialed some new Maiocchi pieces while I was there - because someone has to test winter styles in New York, right?
Think:
- elevated track pants (plane-perfect, obsessed)
- new corduroy pants in blue and dusty pink
- knitwear I’ve been quietly working on
- bamboo skivvies and cami’s in grey and cream - absolute heroes for breathable layering
- our bianca ponte pants but more skinny in the leg – for a more elongated look
Winter dressing… I’m converted (kind of).
Broadway Shows We Saw
We saw two Broadway shows:
The Book of Mormon
This was my second time seeing it - I first saw it when it came out in 2011 - and it is still laugh-out-loud funny. Seeing it again with friends made it even better. If you like clever, cheeky humour, I would absolutely recommend it.
Gatsby
Alison and I saw Gatsby (the boys went to the basketball) which only opened last year, and it was beautiful. Sparkly, theatrical, fun - a real visual feast. Big yes from me. 10/10.
Where We Stayed
This was my fifth time in New York, and I always stay downtown - West Village, Meatpacking or SoHo. Times Square is just not my vibe.
I love the shopping, the restaurants, and the feeling that you’re living like a local rather than doing the tourist thing.
This time we stayed at ModernHaus SoHo, and it was perfect. Easy walking distance to SoHo shopping, the West Village and Chinatown - and the staff honestly made it feel like a home away from home.
Same faces every day, remembering where you’d been the night before (“How was dinner?”), and the best hot chocolate waiting in the foyer when you get home late.
We had a corner room with city views – it was stunning.
When I rang down asking for more hangers, the response was:
“How many do you want? Be honest… we do Fashion Week.”
I asked for 10.
Then had to ask for more.
Service and location: 10/10.
Where We Ate
I love trying new places to eat, and New York really delivered.
Dante
Greenwich Village, iconic, and featured on And Just Like That. Owned by an Australian couple. Italian small plates, great cocktails, classic New York energy. A perfect first-night spot. Bookings open up one month out.
Lafayette
Parisian, grand and romantic. We didn’t book - just wandered past and fell in love. Champagne, mussels, corner booth, very chic energy.
Chinese Tuxedo
Modern Chinese in a former opera house, co-owned by Aussie Eddy Buckingham (of Old Mates Pub). A real scene.
Everything was delicious, but the dessert might honestly be the best I’ve ever eaten. Stunning setting - so worth it. You need to book ahead for this one.
https://www.chinesetuxedo.com/
Pastis
A New York institution in the Meatpacking District. Buzzy, classic, effortlessly cool.
We snagged a last-minute lunch booking on the way to The Whitney and I think this may have been my favourite meal of the trip. Excellent people-watching, perfect food.
OIJI Mi
Michelin-starred Korean in Flatiron. A five-course set menu of beautifully presented little works of art. Incredible service, lots of tableside moments, serious wow-factor. Our friends made this booking quite far in advance!
Balthazar
A must-do. Loud, timeless, French brasserie perfection.
I go every time I’m in New York - and this time I took Drewe (partly because Alison was busy and I needed someone to hold my shopping bags in SoHo).
Salon Vert at Printemps
The raw bar inside the very fancy new Printemps New York on Wall Street.
Came for the shopping, stayed for the oysters.
Every detail is beautiful - hand-blown glassware, embroidered napkins, very luxe.
The Odeon
Retro, buzzy, downtown classic. Steak frites, neon signage, felt like a local. Great lunch spot.
https://www.
My top picks if you’re short on time:
Dante (Sex and the City vibes), Chinese Tuxedo (cool and beautiful), and Pastis (classic, delicious, very New York).
So grateful for the moments, the food, the shows, the friendships - and getting to experience it all with people I love.
I came home full of inspiration, stories, and a serious appreciation for not having to wear my blue puffer jacket every day back in Brissie.
Would do it all again in a heartbeat.
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