BREAKFAST
Parisian-inspired all-day café Buvette is definitely worth heading to. It’s a busy little spot and the ideal cross between a relaxed morning croissant and a frenetic New York coffee. It’s quaint – everything about it is effortlessly French and they have a big focus on farm-to-table and local produce, which is best enjoyed on the weekend when there is more time to savour it.
42 Grove St., West Village
www.newyork.ilovebuvette.com
COFFEE STOP
We have such great coffee at Dante (below) and the hands that make it are very able. There is a range of espressos and the nitro cold brew is insane. There is something convivial about Dante that comes from its history as a meeting place, I think. Conversation and ideas flow – the atmosphere is relaxed and ideal for catching up with friends but also civilised enough for productive meetings.
79-81 Macdougal St., Greenwich Village
+1 212 982 5275
www.dante-nyc.com
LUNCH
I have probably eaten more sandwiches in my life than anything else, and The Meat Hook sandwich shop takes it to the next level. Anything made with pig face automatically has my interest. It is fundamentally a butcher and therefore does meat exceptionally well. It’s classic American but the sandwiches take inspiration from everywhere – say Italian, French and British, with character too; their roast beef sandwich has “horsey” sauce and hash browns.
495 Lorimer St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn
+1 718 302 4665
www.the-meathook.com
LOCAL FLAVOUR
Tacos el Bronco covers both snacks and authentic cuisine – this is a really popular place in Sunset Park, where I live. They have namesake bronco murals on the walls, and it’s always busy but consistently good. Their menu is relatively huge, with the traditional Mexican antojitos “snacks”, which has a range of flautas (rolled taco), and around 12 to 16 different types of tacos, which I love – tongue and al pastor (roast pork) are among my favourites.
4323 4th Ave., Sunset Park, Brooklyn
+1 718 788 2229
www.tacoselbronco.net
DINNER
It is hard not to love the space in L’Artusi – it is all banquette seating, light, airy and communal with an open plan, yet it feels cosy and comfortable. The service is unobtrusive but highly skilled and knowledgeable. The food is simple, traditional but executed well and in a timely fashion – as a chef this covers all the bases for me. It’s an easy choice.
228 West 10th St., West Village
+1 212 255 5757
www.lartusi.com
NIGHT MOVES
I gravitate towards cocktails when I go out to drink, and the bartenders at The Daily (above) are incredibly experienced and always introduce me to something different to try, whether it is a different method, liquor brand or flavour combination. It is a really hospitable place, which is an important thing to be able to rely on, and the staff is outstanding, which is invaluable in the industry and not always easy to find.
210 Elizabeth St., NoLIta
+1 212 343 7011
www.public-nyc.com/the-daily
DON'T MISS:
The pastrami on rye in Katz’s Delicatessen in the Lower East Side is hands down one of the best bites in the city, and quintessentially New York City. You can feel the culture and history in there; it’s been in operation for well over a century with no signs of slowing down, which (as well as the incredible eats), makes it the ideal place for visitors. It’s where I take friends when they come to visit.