NEW YORK CITY GUIDE
"There's something in the New York air that makes sleep useless."
-Simone Beauvoir
It doesn't matter how many times I visit New York, it always offers new and exciting experiences! There's an energy in the air that is so inspiring! I had the opportunity to attend the 2017 US Open for the first time, and it was such an incredible experience. I've been back a few times since and here is a wrap up of some of my favorite places to eat, shop, and visit!
TENNIS
US Open There are so many reasons why the US Open is so exciting! It's the last of the four major Grand Slam events before the end of the year, and it's hosted in one of the most dynamic cities in the world!
Tickets- I like to buy good seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium for the day sessions. These tickets include assigned seats in Ashe Stadium, plus first-come, first served access to Louis Armstrong Stadium, the Grandstand and all field courts. To me, this is a better value, and I prefer to be at the tournament during the day when there re so many matches going on and the crowd is lively and bustling. Some people prefer the night sessions, which usually feature more popular players, but it's really a personal preference. I like to spend a full day at the Open, then head back to Manhattan for dinner and drinks at a local pub where we can watch the night matches with fellow tennis fans.
Safety - This link will take you to the health and safety page of US Open.
RPNY Tennis New York - Tennis Racquet Restring
Visit Roman Prokes, a master at racquet customization. His knowledge is priceless!
Coach A.J. Tennis Pro Consultant
This fitness coach and tennis instructor can organize private lessons for you or a group. He takes care of all the details, so you just show up and play!
HOTELS
Where to Stay?
Each neighborhood in New York City has a unique feel. I've stayed in Midtown, SoHo, Chelsea and the Financial District. Here are my favorites.
MIDTOWN
I've come to like staying in Midtown because of its proximity to Central Park. I come from wide open spaces, and being deep in the city without open space can make me feel a bit claustrophobic. The park is a great place to get some fresh air, go for a run, and stay attached to nature. I also love being able to walk to great museums like MoMA, Guggenheim, and the New York Public Library.
SOHO
My husband and I stayed in Soho on our first trip to New York City. The vibe in Soho is effortlessly cool. Picture a young crowd in "model off duty" street style, artists, designers, and NYU students.
JW Marriott Essex House A lovely art-deco hotel located at Central Park South.
Park Hyatt New York One of our favorite places to stay, stylish and luxurious.
Conrad New York Midtown Formerly The London hotel, this all suite hotel is just as stylish as ever. We stayed here in 2017, and saw Sloane Stephens and her coach in the lobby! She went on to win the women's singles title and we're convinced our positive juju was the trick!
The New York EDITION Though I haven't stayed here, my friend Laura is a huge fan of The New York EDITION hotel! They have locations in major cities around the world like London, Miami, Barcelona, and Shanghai. It's on my list of places to stay!
Soho Grand Stylish, and newly renovated, a great place to soak in everything Soho.
The Box House Hotel a boutique hotel in Brooklyn, my friend Susan loves. If you have tickets to the open for several days, this would be a great choice as its a short walk to the 7 train that goes straight to the Open.
RESTAURANTS
There are so many incredible restaurants in NYC, it can definitely get overwhelming. We
spent a small fortune on an incredibly fancy anniversary dinner one year. We were so hungry when we left, we couldn't resist stopping at the hot dog vendor on our walk back to the hotel! The chef would be horrified! We've also been to a popular steak restaurant where JLo and ARod were spotted only to leave incredibly underwhelmed. When we relay these experience to our friends who've lived in New York, they say, "That's New York."
We like to think we're older and wiser now. Over time, we've found our favorites and we always make time for them, plus try a few new places each visit. Honestly, after a long day of watching tennis at the US Open, nothing sounds better than walking to the corner pub, having a cold beer, and watching the night matches on TV.
Here are some of my favorites, along with some places I plan to visit when I'm in New York next month.
Sarabeths We always try to have breakfast at least once at Sarabeths. There are several locations throughout the city, and always popular, so make reservations early.
Levain Bakery Home of the most delicious chocolate chip cookie I've ever had! You won't regret it!
Balthazar I love this restaurant so much, everything is delicious! I'm already dreaming of a pain au chocolat and cappuccino!
Maison Kayser This lovely parisian bakery is filled with the most beautiful pastries. I love admiring their bakery case. Unfortunately, their locations have been closed due to the pandemic. I'm crossing my fingers they'll open soon!
Rosie O' Gradys Irish Pub Home of the aforementioned cold beer, hot wings, and fun atmosphere.
Faces and Names We discovered this contemporary lounge when we stayed at The London Hotel (now Conrad Hotel) in 2017, our first visit to the US Open. We ended up here almost every night sitting by the window, people watching, laughing, and talking about our day. Many inside jokes and embarrassing stories have been shared here, and despite the service being "just okay," we keep going back!
STK I know what you're thinking, this place is a chain, I'm lame, I get it. However, we've been to STK in Vegas, San Diego, NYC and it always delivers. Sometimes, restaurants just get it right, and their locations around the world are a testament that STK has got it figured out. There's always a stylish crowd, great vibe, and really good food. My first visit was the location in the Meatpacking district, next month I'll visit the Midtown loc
The Modern This award winning restaurant is inside of the MoMA and has three different dining experiences, The Bar Room, The Modern, and The Kitchen. I'd suggest having a drink at the bar and soak in the scene.
Lombardi's The first pizzeria in the United States! Amazing pizza, and we like to imagine it's where serious business conversations take place, capisci?
Grimaldis (the original) We rented bicycles and rode across the Brooklyn bridge to the original Grimaldis at 1 Front Street in Brooklyn. We waited outside in line for about 40 minutes, then paid cash for the most delicious wood-fired pizza
A New York landmark, established over 135 years ago. Go here for great oysters. The burgers, truffle fries, and calamari are also amazing!
A Classic New York steakhouse, perfect for a burger and drinks at the bar, or an intimate steak dinner. save room the their incredible desserts!
Southgate Bar & Restaurant at JW Marriott Essex House
The perfect place to have a drink and watch sports on their giant projected screen.
SHOPPING
Anything you want, you can find in New York City. I'm very sentimental, and I love bringing something special home with me from every trip I take. The memory is the value and the item is a reminder. My husband bought me the most beautiful, soft black leather Chanel bag over 15 years ago from the Chanel in Soho. I still have the bag (and the card he wrote to me) and I plan to give it to our daughter someday. The memory is so special to me.
SOHO
The shopping in Soho is the best with luxury brands like Chanel, Dior and Chloe, and if you're traveling with GenZers, they'll love street brands like Stussy, Bape, Off-White, and Supreme.
ACTIVITIES
If time permits, here are some fun things to do. Although kids may complain about museum visits, my children admit they secretly enjoyed them. They just couldn't admit it at the time, because, well you know, they were too cool. *although most places are open, make sure to visit their websites ahead of time for details on requirements, advance tickets and reservations.
MOMA One of my favorite museums in the world! I saw my first Rothko here.
Guggenheim This museum doesn't take that long to get through, which is great if you're traveling with little ones (kids under 12 are free). The Frank Lloyd Wright building is a spectacular sight and it reminds me of the scene in Mr. Poppers Penguins when the penguins slide through the hallways. You can grab a snack at The Wright, the museum restaurant before you move on to your next adventure.
Central Park Zoo This small zoo in Central Park is a great way to spend a nice day outside with the kids. It doesn't take long to see everyone, but it super cute, and it reminds me of the movie Madagascar.
New York Yankee Game Seeing a Yankee or Mets game in New York is such a great experience. If time permits, I'd definitely make it happen!
EXTRAS
Dylan's Candy Bar We would usually keep this little gem in our pockets and pay a visit here when the kids had it with the museums and were on the verge of a melt down. The store is very visually stimulating and full of every confection you can imagine. In 2001 Dylan Lauren (daughter of Ralph) created Dylan's Candy Bar, and I like to think of her as a modern day Willy Wonka in a much more stylish suit.
JK TAT What better way to wrap up a great trip to the US Open than to take home a little something permanent? I found this incredibly talented fine line tattoo artist prior to my last trip to the Open. We set up an appointment and she did a beautiful little piece for me that I love so much! She's super busy these days, and travels all over to tattoo, but she's conveniently based in Queens.
I can't wait to go back to the Open! If there are any great new spots that you like or old favorites, please share!
XOXO,
Val