New York City
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Paul Hawthorne / GettyJaded New Yorkers like to dismiss this glitzy retail emporium as a mall. But what a mall! On the fourth floor alone are two of New York's best — and most expensive — dining rooms: chef Thomas Keller's Per Se and Masa Takayama's namesake sushi restaurant.
The complex is located on Columbus Circle at the southwest corner of Central Park — sip a cocktail while enjoying spectacular views of the park from the bustling Stone Rose Lounge or the more refined Mandarin Hotel bar. Multitaskers can get the view and the drink while listening to first-rate jazz at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, one of Jazz at Lincoln Center's trio of venues in the building.
At lunchtime, grab a basket from Dean & Deluca on the second floor or Whole Foods downstairs, and head into the park for an impromptu picnic. Or, if you just want to shop in a mall, you can do that too: There are some 50 high-end stores to choose from.
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This neighborhood of quaint brownstones clustered along tree-lined cobblestone streets remains virtually unchanged since the 19th century. You'll need a map to navigate the puzzling geography — how does West 4th Street intersect with West 10th Street, exactly? — as it's one of the few areas in Manhattan that strays from the orderly street grid. Better, though, to just wander aimlessly. Highlights include the Jefferson Market Courthouse, a former women's detention center that once held Mae West, and the shops along Bleecker St. and Commerce St. — the most beautiful block-long side street in NYC. Ignore the temptation to join the curiously long line outside Magnolia Bakery (they're queuing for cupcakes — repeat, cupcakes). Head two blocks west instead to the Spotted Pig, a bustling gastropub where you can recharge your batteries with a cask-conditioned ale.
