Forget the over-exposed tourist spots and well-worn visitor trails, there is nothing quite like experiencing a city the way a local would do. With that in mind, we caught up with chief designer of eyewear brand Moscot (and all-round cool cat) Zack Moscot, to give us the low-down on his hometown: New York City.
***
AREAS
Astoria, Queens
New York is the most culturally diverse city in the world and Astoria is arguably one of its most diverse neighbourhoods. You can go to a Puerto Rican bar next door an Eastern European club, and eat the best Greek food in the city, all in one night.
Bushwick, Brooklyn
A cool melting pot of hipsters and local residents in an industrial part of town. The community is cultured in music and art, and isn’t as over exposed like the neighbouring area of Williamsburg.
Times Square, Manhattan (below)
Avoided by most New Yorkers, it is a pretty amazing place to go to people watch. Sitting on the steps of the TKTS booth and watching the insanity that goes on around you.
EAT
Breakfast
Russ & Daughters Café (below) in the Lower East Side is a great spot of breakfast. It’s down a block from Moscot’s Orchard Street shop, and is operated by Nikki Russ who is the fourth-generation member of the family to run the business.
Business meeting
It depends on who I am meeting, but in general I prefer an intimate space with enough room to speak privately – the bar at The Jane Hotel fits that brief perfectly.
Special occasion
For birthdays or anniversaries I normally book a table at one of Downtown’s many BYOB sushi bars. It’s always fun to bring you own drinks and it keeps the price of food really reasonable.
Late night
If I’m in the East Village then I will normally go to Kenka on St Marks. It’s a wildly authentic izakaya restaurant known for its street-food-style fare and flashy decor.
ART
New York is the capital of global capital of street art and urban culture. In SoHo there is a public wall (below) located on the corner of Bowery and Houston Street which features constantly updated art works from some of the best street artists in the world. It’s pretty inspiring.
COFFEE
New Yorkers love coffee, and everyone has a passionate opinion on where to get the best coffee in town. Personally, I think the city’s best coffee comes from La Colombe (below). This artisanal coffee shop has a great variety of beans and roasts them in-house to ensure it maximises flavour.
BAR
When it comes to going out, my mood factors into where I go. If I want to keep it local, I will go to the Roof Bar in Midtown Manhattan. It’s near my apartment, and a great place to go for a good cocktail and an even better view. If I’m out on a date, one of my favourite bars to go to is Hill & Dale (below) on Allen Street in the Lower East side. It has great vibes and a cool crowd. If I want something a bit more low-key, then my favourite dive bar is Lucky Jacks in the Lower East Side.
