Style That Travels | A New York Minute

Land in style with Rachael Armstrong's guide on what to pack for a New York getaway and where to find the best places to dine, wine, and stay.

We stayed at W Hotel Union Square which has recently been renovated. The rooms were wonderfully spacious, modern and stylish, and we found them much more competitively priced (I would certainly rather allocate that budget to dining & shopping!) While you could certainly stay in trendier areas, we enjoyed being closer to mid-town for access to the whole city.

For those that have been to New York before and simply want to immerse themselves in said trendy areas, I would opt for The Bowery. Located in the heart of Soho with an abundance of dining & shopping on your doorstep; plus, the hotel itself will fill your camera roll in minutes.

Buckle up, because the dining scene is truly overwhelming (as was summarising my top picks). For more casual options check out Sant Ambroeus, La Mercerie, Balthazar, Dante & Gramercy Tavern.

Our favourite dinner venues were Sartiano’s, The Polo Bar, The Nine’s (tip: book one of their live jazz nights) Obvio & Estela.

If you’re up for a challenge, try Carbone, Torissi, The Corner Store, Chez Fifi and 4 Charles but be warned, securing a reservation can be nothing short of the Hunger Games (no pun intended).

Adjusting to a later dinner reservation can be a challenge for the average Australian, which leaves you with no choice but to explore the abundance of bars on offer. Our favourites were The Clemente Bar, Titsou at Fouquet’s, Bemelmans, Soho Grand Hotel and Bar Room at The Beekman.

New York has the most expansive selection of galleries on offer (most of which are free to visit). My favorites include The Guggenheim and The Met (duh), but be sure to hit Salon94, Gilder Centre, Studiotwentyseven, The Frick and Levy Gorvy Dayan Gallery.

One of my favourite days included wandering Central Park and simply dog-watching, but I also highly recommend renting one of the row boats from Central Park Boathouse followed by lunch.

Don’t miss a visit to Little Island in Chelsea, as well as venturing across the Brooklyn Bridge to Dumbo and Brooklyn Park with perhaps a visit to Harriet’s Rooftop Bar.

Possibly even more overwhelming than the dining scene (but equally as important) is planning your wardrobe appropriately.

Planning your wardrobe staples that will mix and match well is important. This includes a versatile jacket that goes with everything, such as the Prudence Wool Short Coat.

A statement look is an absolute non-negotiable for a trip to Manhattan, enter: the Nadia Suede set. This set is my favourite pick for an overseas trip, enabling you to style the individual pieces and maximise cost per wear.