ELLE Escapes: New York City

They say New York is the city that never sleeps, and even though it took a solid snooze over the past year and a half of the pandemic, the energy and frenetic pace has returned with a vengeance. Heck, this month alone brought us fashion week, the Met Ball, and the MTV VMAs—three of many reasons why, to quote Bill Burr’s SNL monologue, “New York is back, baby!” With that in mind, we compiled a guide for the absolute best ways to pass the time in what is universally considered to be the greatest city in the world, especially in the fall.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art: In America: A Lexicon of Fashion

All your favorite celebs scoped out the Costume Institute’s much-ballyhooed exhibition and now you can too (hopefully sans crowds). In America: A Lexicon of Fashion is a two-part sartorial study of trends across the country, and showcases more than 100 men’s and women’s designs dating back to the 1940s.

Classic Harbor Line’s Sunset Cruise

What could be more romantic, nay picturesque, than a sunset cruise aboard a yacht? Classic Harbor Line offers a host of non-touristy options, including rides with live jazz and wine and cheese pairings. (Yes, you’ll still get to see the Statue of Liberty.)

Forest Hills Stadium

Originally home to the U.S. Open, this storied venue now hosts concerts with top billings like My Morning Jacket and Nas set against the backdrop of tennis courts. Come for the tunes, stay for the plethora of food vendors. And if you’re feeling extra luxurious, spring for one of the stadium’s Speakeasy Suites, complete with a private viewing porch, bar, and concierge service team dressed in tennis whites.

Kissaki

For authentic omakase miles from Japan, look no further than Kissaki. Located on the Bowery with a second outpost on the Upper West Side and a specially curated menu at the Gansevoort Rooftop, the intimate restaurant is ideal for a date night of primo sushi and sake. We recommend the 16-course flight for $150, because why not?

A Pasta Bar

An Italian-style pasta bar in the middle of downtown Manhattan? Sign us up, per favore. Menu highlights include cacio e pepe, 24-karat gold-flecked squid ink spaghetti, and wine. Lots and lots of wine. Do this one for the ‘gram.

SONA

SONA marks Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s first endeavor in the restaurant world, and it delivers. The new Flatiron spot specializes in modern Indian fare in a minimalist and stylish setting (it even partnered with art advisory Sunderlande to showcase works exclusively from India), and counts Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, and, of course, Nick Jonas among its fans.

City Winery

In case you missed it, Manhattan’s resident winery debuted a sleek new space at Pier 57 on the Hudson River. You’ll get live music, award-winning vino, and an unobstructed view of Little Island, which impressively lights up at night.

Ray’s Bar

The NYC equivalent of Cheers, Ray’s, nestled on a quiet corner in the Lower East Side and co-owned by Justin Theroux and Nicholas Braun, is the perfect place to order a beer and a shot and slink back into a booth for hours on end. Eventually, you’ll want to mosey downstairs to the newly opened Twin Peaks-inspired basement for after-hours revelry.

Dante

The West Village offshoot of the historic Italian bar—once a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and Bob Dylan—is our go-to for a cocktail with a side of people-watching. We recommend the selection of negronis in particular.

The Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC

Say hello to the new and improved Gansevoort! The iconic hotel underwent a multimillion dollar renovation in lockdown, and now boasts two new restaurants—a European-inspired café and a pop-up sushi bar, Saishin—Banksys in the lobby, and a newly renovated rooftop pool.

The Bowery Hotel

There’s a reason why The Bowery remains one of the city’s most desirable hotels, despite its slightly spooky history that it’s haunted by ghosts. Really, that only makes it more fitting for an autumnal stay in one of its opulent rooms (outdoor shower on the terrace, anyone?).

TWA Hotel

Surely you’ve seen the red and white corridors on Instagram, but how about the (surprisingly quiet) rooms? Don’t let the location at JFK fool you: the cozy bed, martini bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows will make you feel like you’ve transported to the 1960s in the best way possible.