48 hours in New York
If you've been to New York a few times or want to spend your time in the Big Apple like a true local, follow New Yorker Anne Bourgeois-Vignon around the city as she hand picks where to dine, shop and explore within 48 hours.
Culture: MoMA PS1
For provocative exhibitions right at the cutting edge of contemporary art, PS1 can’t be beaten; it has also proven its dedication to bringing together artists and the public with an ever-broadening programme of activities for adults and young people.
Culture: 111 Front Street Galleries
Galleries, bookshops and creative agencies have mushroomed in DUMBO’s cobbled streets and converted warehouses. The second floor of 111 Front Street is dedicated to art galleries – discover brilliantly curated under-the-radar photography at United Photo Industries and KLOMPCHING Gallery.
Lunch: Smorgasburg
Serving indoors during the winter and outdoors from April every year and open on Saturdays and Sundays, Smorgasburg brings together the best young food entrepreneurs in what The New York Times calls “The Woodstock of Eating”. Wander through the stalls until you find just the thing to satisfy your cravings – from Asian fusion hotdogs to fish tacos, via the best coffee in town.
Shopping: Brooklyn Flea
Nose through old photos, vintage porcelain, perfect 60s fur coats, rare vinyl, handmade jewellery, salvaged furniture and other mid-century gems, in the hope of bagging the perfect find.
Dinner: Marlow & Sons
No reservations are taken at this pioneer of farm-table eating in Brooklyn – but if you do manage to get a table, don’t miss the oyster tasting platter. If you don’t, buy your own house-made charcuterie at sister establishment, Marlow & Daughters.
Culture/Entertainment: BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music)
An avant-garde programme of contemporary dance, music and performance at this gloriously renovated building, that bears testament to the great cultural ambitions of old Brooklyn.
DAY TWO – Chelsea, the West Village and Lower East Side
Breakfast: Estela
The most satisfying American food paired with a European lightness of touch. Thomas Carter (Blue Hill at Stone Barns) and Ignacio Mattos (mentored by Francis Mallman and Alice Waters) have created a delectable menu at Estela featuring small plates, savvy cocktails and a very satisfying wine list. A gastronomic joyride, but totally chilled out.
Culture: Rachel Uffner Gallery
Once the preserve of Chelsea, gallery hopping in the Lower East Side is now possible with many of the most prominent dealers opening secondary – and often much more interesting – galleries, clustering around the wonderful New Museum. While Rachel Uffner has had a permanent place on Suffolk Street since 2008, Larry Gagosian opened a pop-up space on Delancey Street in 2014.
Lunch: Ivan Ramen
Quite possibly the most coveted bowl of noodles in the Western world, each of the ingredients in chef Ivan Orkin’s ramen recipe is perfectly thought out, for the most satisfying umami experience.
Shopping:Maryam Nassir Zadeh
From Rachel Comey to local artists’ jewellery, Maryam Nassir Zadeh curates a most covetable selection of garments, accessories and textiles in her eponymous boutique.
Culture: The new section of the High Line
Phase three of the High Line – the park and nature reserve that sits atop Manhattan along a disused elevated railway line – takes in breathtaking views west of the city, across the Hudson to the Jersey Shore. Perfect to watch the sun set.
Dinner:Minetta Tavern
Satisfy meat hankerings at the legendary Minetta Tavern, where burgers have also been enjoyed by notorious past patrons, including Ernest Hemingway and Ezra Pound.
Culture:The Comedy Cellar
From Louis CK to Dave Chappelle, and the late, lamented, Robin Williams, the Comedy Cellar is a fixture of every stand up career. Catch the next generation of SNL (Saturday Night Live) writers there, and current stars, too.
Still craving moredining options? The American Express Taste program offers Cardmembers exclusive offers at even more New York restaurants, handpicked by locals in the know.
