Postcard from New York
We say that someone from the Local Foreigner team is always on the road, visiting destinations across the globe - but we really mean always. Our monthly Postcard takes you along for the ride, and this month, we're taking you to Local Foreigner's hometown, New York.
From the skyscrapers of Wall Street to the neon lights of Times Square to the trendy Brooklyn cafes, the Big Apple has an infinite amount of personality. Here, the buildings are taller, the people are more diverse, and the five boroughs form a more unique whole than anywhere else on earth. Home to some of the world's best museums, the city is known for its attractions, which span art, design, history, fine dining, music, and sports. No matter what you're looking for, you can find it in New York.
As Betty Comden and Adolph Green's sailors sang in On the Town, "New York, New York, it's a helluva town!" The Big Apple is an environment that inspires open-mouthed wandering, endless criss-crossing of the grid of streets by yellow taxi or by subway, and finding the stomach space to eat at five different restaurants in a day. A hundred people could come to "The City," as locals call it, and have a hundred different experiences - and that's what makes it magical.
Everyone has a different favorite season for visiting NYC - cherry blossoms explode into pink during the first week of April, rooftop bars and riverside parks come alive with picnickers in the summer months, the first crisp breezes and the riots of colorful leaves make New York one of the most beautiful places in the world to spend a long fall weekend, and the holiday spirit, Christmas decorations, and epic shopping are the stuff of winter Hallmark movie dreams.
The Greenwich Hotel
A beloved Tribeca hideaway that manages to feel like the perfect boutique hotel and a private residence rolled into one, The Greenwich is part of de Niro’s Greenwich Ave mini empire, which includes on-site restaurant Locanda Verde and neighboring Tribeca Film Center. The hotel is a tried and true classic, that has managed to stay relevant in a city obsessed with innovation and change. Décor throughout is warm and residential, without feeling staid – think weathered (but not worn!) leather settees, oriental rugs, Carrera marble, Moroccan tiles, and deep Mahoganies. If you can fathom ever leaving the hotel’s central courtyard, the underground Shibui Spa and pool are worth a visit. | View the hotel
The Lowell Hotel
Between Park and Madison Avenues, The Lowell Hotel epitomizes timeless luxury in Manhattan's Upper East Side. Just steps from Central Park and iconic fashion houses, this boutique hotel blends classic sophistication with modern comforts. The marble foyer, chic spaces, wood-burning fireplaces, and curated library evoke a private home atmosphere. Built in 1927, with interiors by Michael S. Smith, it boasts 74 uniquely designed rooms, including suites with landscaped terraces and city views. Guests savor French-Moroccan cuisine at Majorelle, enjoy a martini at Jacques Bar, and relax in The Club Room before exploring nearby Manhattan treasures. | View the hotel
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York
In the heart of Tribeca, New York's neighborhood of the moment, Hôtel Barrière Fouquet’s New York is where Parisian elegance meets Tribeca’s vibrant charm. Inside the understated doors, you'll find refined interiors by Martin Brudnizki, a modern New York take on the classic French brasserie, a buzzy speakeasy bar, and a serene spa. There's a chic private cinema that connects Cannes and Tribeca, a perfect analogy for the hotel itself - its blend of Parisian style and New York energy means Barriere's presence in the US is off to a chic start. | View the hotel
Faena Hotel New York
The west side of lower Manhattan keeps getting buzzier, and Argentina's Faena brand will add to the energy when it opens overlooking the High Line in early summer, in a striking pair of buildings by Bjarke Ingels. With celebrated destinations in Buenos Aires and Miami, Faena is known for creating cultural epicenters—spaces where art, hospitality, and community converge. The Faena New York debut will features the renowned Tierra Santa Healing House, and the first-ever New York restaurant by legendary Argentine chef Francis Mallmann. Sounds caliente to us! | View the hotel
L'Artusi
Opened in December 2008 and still firing on all cylinders, L'Artusi is named for Pellegrino Artusi and presents a modern taken on traditional Italian cuisine. The restaurant features two floors of comfortable banquette seating, extended traditional bar, cheese bar, and a chef's counter overlooking the open kitchen. Start with the light-as-air homemade ricotta before moving on to one of the excellent crudos and then pasta(s).
Nami Nori
Nami Nori is a minimalist hand-roll bar from three alums of the three-Michelin starred Masa (where temaki is famously the penultimate course in the omakase.) Here, the omakase is a more relaxed affair, consisting of five rolls chosen by the chef; start with the wasabi cucumber tataki and furikake fries before diving into your set.
Clemente Bar
Considering the care with which chef Daniel Humm approaches everything at Eleven Madison Park, the three-Michelin starred restaurant downstairs, it's no wonder that the cocktail bar that opened in the fall of 2024 has been a hit. Grab a drink and a snack in the lounge, or saddle up to the eight-seat tasting counter for a five-course paired menu.
Superbueno
Superbueno burst onto the cocktail scene in early 2023 and has been sweeping up awards ever since, including debuting at number 2 on the North America 50Best list. No wonder, since the vibes are pure party, the team reads like a who's who of cocktail culture, and the Mexican-inspired drinks list is both tasty and interesting (witness the Adobada Bam Bam slushy, a frozen symphony of mezcal, adobada falernum, pineapple, lemon, and pineapple shrub.)
Polo Bar
Ralph Lauren's third restaurant is inspired by classic New York establishments and the designer's personal favorites. The menu focuses on American cuisine - choose from crispy chopped salad and crab cakes to corned beef and the signature Polo Bar Burger - but you're here just as much because it's one of the most sought-after tables in town.
Chez Fifi
Six months ago, a townhouse on East 73rd and Lex might not have been an address that caught the ear of the city's scenesters, but French bistro Chez Fifi, which opened in December, has changed that. Calders and Mirós grace the walls, and on your table, you should have the whole roast chicken with foie gras jus.
Privately Guided Tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of the world’s most comprehensive art collections, spans over 5,000 years of history and houses more than 2.5 million objects. This privately-guided "crash course" tour, led by an expert art historian, offers a detailed overview of the museum’s most significant collections. Highlights include the iconic Temple of Dendur in the Egyptian galleries, exquisite works in the Chinese and Japanese sections, and masterpieces by El Greco, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Picasso in Western art.
New York Food Tour: Chinatown
Embark on a culinary and cultural tour through Chinatown, one of North America's largest immigrant communities. You'll explore historic sites such as temples, schools, and monuments while savoring delicacies from local shops and eateries tucked down the neighborhood's streets and alleys. Enjoy beef pancakes, rice rolls, dumplings, and egg tarts, as you learn about Chinese-American history, including the legacy of the “Bloody Angle” at Doyers Street.
Culture and Architecture of the Gilded Age
Step onto Fifth Avenue and experience the grandeur of New York’s Gilded Age. Begin at the iconic Plaza Hotel, a French Renaissance château where presidents and stars once mingled. Stroll through Grand Army Plaza, a Beaux-Arts triumph, and peek at exclusive clubs like the Metropolitan Club. Walk in the footsteps of the Vanderbilts and Roosevelts, marveling at palatial mansions. Visit the Frick Mansion, now a museum, and the Ukrainian Institute, each a testament to the city’s opulence. This tour unveils the secrets of Fifth Avenue’s most luxurious landmarks, immersing you in its rich history.
Town and Country
One of the best parts about New York is how easy it is to escape, and how quickly the surrounding landscape turns verdant. In less than two hours, zip up to the brand-new Belden House & Mews, in Litchfield, Connecticut for a taste of classic New England.
Nuuk York?
Calling all off-the-beaten pathers: For 2025, United has launched seasonal, twice weekly non-stop service between New York and Nuuk, Greenland, the first time a US-based airline has ever flown non-stop to the world's largest island.
Record Setter
The longest nonstop passenger flight currently operating is Singapore Changi Airport to New York–JFK on Singapore Airlines, but aviation geeks will find more than just an amazing airline to recommend this pairing of melting pot cities.
