People watcher's paradise
New York stay and eat
TINY HOTEL BEDROOMS don’t go down well with Americans as any trawl through Trip Advisor will tell you, but when the rooms are as cute as those at Yotel, by Times Square, it’s a different matter. Called cabins in fact, they’re neat and shipshape, with a bed that glides out from the wall at the press of a button, a power shower with a view of the street, and storage in the form of shelves, recesses and hooks designed to take everything from a washbag to an iPhone. The hotel’s common areas are great with a big outdoor terrace where you can take breakfast – free coffee and muffins – and a lobby with several meeting pods that are available to guests. Room rates fluctuate depending on the time of year. We found a January rate of $169 but December rates were over $300 for the same room. See yotel.com
At the other end of the price scale is the London Hotel at West 54th Street where Irish designer David Collins’s stamp is everywhere, particularly in the fabulous art deco-style restaurant called Maze by Gordon Ramsay.
Blake Lively and crew from Gossip Girl are often to be found here, nibbling on butter lettuce and Amish chicken while avoiding the boxes of delicious hand made chocolates that come with coffee. See gordonramsay.com.
A good burger is surprisingly hard to come by in NYC, but we found ours in the Bowery, at DBGB Kitchen and Bar, an outpost of Michelin chef Daniel Boulud’s empire, where he serves big hefty dishes of sausage and meat, with lashings of gravy – all washed down with over 22 varieties of beer. The decor is oh so stylish, with open shelves filled with copper pans donated by the (other) great chefs of the world. The burger was epic, with its topping of smoky pulled pork, and crispy fries on the side. danielnyc.com
Both venues participate in NYC Restaurant Week, when scores of well-known eateries drop their prices to fixed rates – a three course lunch set at $24 and dinner at $35 plus tip and tax, Monday to Friday. The next Restaurant Week (which in fact usually runs for four weeks) will be from January 14th to February 8th.
For more on where to stay and eat, in New York City, check out nycgo.com, where details of Restaurant Week offers will be published nearer the date.
