New York Fashion Week has officially commenced, which means that legions of designers, models, and editors are patronizing the city’s finest, buzziest restaurants and bars. In honor of the festivities, we’ve curated a selection of our favorite places to drink and dine—from Caviar Kaspia to Beefbar, and more.
Caviar Kaspia
992 Madison Avenue, New York, New York
Courtesy of Caviar Kaspia.
Inside of the Mark Hotel is Caviar Kaspia, a temple of indulgence known for the famous, fashionable crowd it attracts. Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant was designed by Jacques Grange; signature details of the original Caviar Kaspia, located in Paris and founded in 1927, remain. Tablecloths come in a rich, saturated shade of blue, and cigarettes stand in a small jar next to the matchbooks. Eight types of farm-raised caviar are on the menu, to be paired with a glass of champagne or a shot of vodka. In the morning, guests may opt for poke bowls or bagels loaded with Baeri caviar; at night, dishes range from truffle tagliolini to baked potatoes to blinis.
What we love: Caviar Kaspia’s new partnership with Gigi Hadid‘s brand Guest in Residence, which comprises cashmere sweaters in two vibrant colorways.
Smith & Mills
Rink Level, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York
Courtesy of Smith and Mills.
The Tribeca-based cocktail bar Smith & Mills recently opened its new location in Rockefeller Center, yielding a quiet, atmospheric refuge from Midtown. Rob Krueger’s beverage program is admirably innovative: a trio of mini martinis stars, alongside an M & M & M cocktail featuring mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, and mango. Executive chef Miguel Diaz’s menu is similarly thoughtful, ranging from mussels swimming in saffron broth to tagliatelle with puttanesca and Calabrian chiles.
What we love: People-watching while drinking the trio of mini martinis.
Desert 5 Spot
Photo by Richard Stow. Courtesy of Desert 5 Spot.
94 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
This popular L.A. bar arrived in Williamsburg this summer, offering a more casual respite for those looking to blow off steam during NYFW. Desert 5 Spot is inspired by 1970s Palm Springs, country music, and cosmic Americana, and its interior was designed accordingly. Furnishings were carefully hand-selected from vintage dealers and thrift stores across the West; the bar is replete with a mechanical bull, disco cowboy boots, and a DJ booth fashioned from a vintage Chevy truck. Here, guests may enjoy agave-based cocktails and tacos while watching country-forward DJ sets.
What we love: Trying a mezcal-based cocktail before getting on the mechanical bull.
Beefbar
Photo by Francis Amiand. Courtesy of Beefbar.
105 Hudson Street, New York, New York
This sophisticated, splashy Monte Carlo concept has officially arrived in Tribeca, taking hold of the neighborhood’s former Nobu location. Beefbar is one of just seven restaurants in New York to be part of the Kobe Association, allowing Executive Chefs Thierry Paludetto and Peter Jin to serve the finest cuts of beef available. French-inspired croque sandos, wagyu bolognese topped with 101-month-aged parmigiano reggiano, and burgers with steak au poivre aioli are all options for indulgence; pescatarians may choose to partake in the brightly acidic passionfruit tiradito or umami Caesar salad. With an airy, opulent dining room dreamed up by the French interior design firm Humbert & Poyet, this restaurant is certainly not to be missed during NYFW.
What we love: Having a cocktail and a croque sando.
Roberta’s
One Penn Plaza, Plaza 33 East, New York, New York
Courtesy of Roberta’s.
Roberta’s has finally landed in Manhattan, offering perhaps the best dining option within Plaza33 in THE PENN DISTRICT. The culinary institution’s signature wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas return in thoughtful new iterations, topped with everything from tiny, chewy clams to thick streaks of stracciatella. Other dishes offer a refreshing break from Midtown’s gastronomic landscape: thick wedges of melon are topped with shiny slices of prosciutto, and skate wing, porchetta, and corn mezzaluna make appearances. The beverage program ranges from natural wine to inspired cocktails, all to be enjoyed while taking in Roberta’s dramatic skyline views.
What we love: Trying a few primi piatti while basking in the sun on the rooftop.
Le Dive
37 Canal Street, New York, New York
Photo by Teddy Wolff. Courtesy of Le Dive.
Despite opening just a year ago, Le Dive has the feel of an old-school French bistro. This Tabac-inspired natural wine bar and restaurant is intimate thanks to the small number of tables inside, but sprawling outdoor seating crops up in the street during warmer months. Skin contact, sparkling, and chilled red wine are to be found on the menu, while dishes keep it classic. Radishes and butter are served with a warm baguette; mussels come in a deep dish of vadouvan curry and crispy shallots.
What we love: Having a glass of natural wine at one of the tables outside.
Courtesy of KYU.
KYU
KYU opened in New York in 2022, but its Miami roots remain clear. In the airy, expansive dining room, music pulses as servers bring out Asian-inspired dishes like tuna crispy rice and truffle wagyu toast. Guests can watch chefs work in the wood-fired open kitchen, employing traditional yakiniku techniques to grill yakitori skewers, pork belly pastrami, and Korean fried chicken slathered in chili butter. Cocktails are also innovative, featuring ingredients like charred shishito peppers, Vietnamese cold brew, and Japanese sweet potato.
What we love: Ordering the tuna crispy rice and any of KYU’s signature cocktails.
