Each year, millions of Angelenos trek nearly 3,000 miles across the city to experience the hustle and bustle of New York City. Without a doubt, Manhattan is exciting. In addition to being one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, it’s also an epicenter for luxury, culture and entertainment. Here, Haute Living breaks down the best way to take a bite out of the Big Apple during a long weekend away in The City That Never Sleeps.

TRAVEL

Delta One

The Sky Deck at JFK's Delta Sky Club — The Sky Deck at JFK’s Delta Sky Club

Delta is bringing luxury to Los Angeles residents traveling to New York City with its new LAX to LUX initiative. The high-end journey begins at the new Delta One priority check in the newly renovated Terminal 5, where you’ll check in at a one-of-a-kind reception desk crafted from a retired DC-9 jet. Once through security, head to the airline’s swanky, enhanced new Sky Club, where you’ll experience a plethora of food and drink options, including a full-service bar with complimentary wine and beer, expanded seating and new luxury showers. Once on board, you’ll be able to relax in style. Expect to experience fine dining, 180-degree, flat-seat beds and some great in-flight entertainment. Delta One’s cuisine is curated by James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Chiarello and Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson; ask for an on-board wine pairing and you won’t be disappointed. The culinary team can also provide customized options from kosher cuisine to gluten-free eats to vegan options. Get ready for bed with your Tumi amenity kit, filled with Malin & Goetz beauty items, before stretching out on the Westin Heavenly in-flight bedding, of which includes a plush, oversized white comforter and hypoallergenic, down alternative pillows. Once you’re nice and cozy, make sure to put on your noise-cancelling headphones and check out the
Delta Artist Spotlight: a monthly, in-flight music discovery platform featuring music and video content from artists like Sam Smith, Banks and Charlie Puth. The airline also offers its signature Delta Studio: onboard entertainment options which include the latest movies, live satellite TV, HBO, SHOWTIME, games and thousands of songs which can be enjoyed via in-flight streaming on seat-back screens or overhead screens. Upon departing New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport,
you’ll relax at the brand’s flagship Delta Sky Club at the newly revived Terminal 4. On a sunny day, head outdoors to soak up the sunshine at The Sky Deck, a stylish al fresco terrace designed in partnership with Thom Filicia and Architectural Digest. Here, you’ll enjoy 24,000 square feet of space to work, play and relax with six shower suites, a relaxation room and a private VIP room.

STAY

UPTOWN: LOTTE NEW YORK PALACE

For those seeking a supremely elegant stay, check into The Towers at LOTTE New York Palace. You’ll arrive through a private entrance and be welcomed with champagne when you book one of the 176 Tower rooms or suites, which are located on the top 14 floors of the hotel. Though each space has amenities like marble bathrooms and maître d’étage butlers at your disposal, there’s really no more opulent option than the hotel’s Champagne Suite, which, as you might imagine, is simply
bubbling over with beauty; its piece de resistance is a gigantic teardrop chandelier that’s meant to mimic the bubbles spilling over a champagne flute. You’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the Grand Parlor with natural light, a fully-stocked
wine cave filled to the brim with Dom Perignon—designed for hosting exclusive tastings led by trained sommeliers—and a black-andwhite wall mural created by French artists Alex & Marine Tatoueurs de Murs. The design of the second floor is inspired by the distinct shades of champagne varietals to create an intricate color story of soft creams and smoky reds, while
the décor of the Master Bedroom Suite is influenced by the refreshing Chardonnay grape with a palette of ecru, cream and amber tones. The light, bubbly color scheme continues into the suite’s lavish Master Bathroom, where guests can pamper
themselves in the large walk-in shower or indulgent soaking tub. To contrast these light colors, the Guest Bedroom Suite pulls from the more intense notes of a Pinot Noir with glistening rose-tinted silvers that aerate warm copper and deep, red accents. The suite also features a library, a huge rooftop terrace with its own Jacuzzi spa, a private bar, a wood-burning fireplace and a private elevator. You’ll also have the use of a house Maybach car service, an ensuite kitchen and Molton Brown bath products. Conversely, you may also wish to check out the Jewel Suite by Martin Katz, a 5,000-squarefoot romantic palace perfect for honeymooners that showcases roughly $1.5 million of the celebrity jeweler’s stunning creations.

455 Madison Ave., 212-888-7000

DOWNTOWN: TRUMP SOHO

If you’re seeking the ultimate luxury experience, head south of Houston Street, and book yourself into Trump SoHo, the downtown Manhattan neighborhood’s only AAA Five Diamond-rated hotel. This 46-story building features 391 guestrooms and suites, all of which have floor-to-ceiling windows and sleekly designed interiors. The grandest, and by far the most luxurious, is the Duplex Penthouse, a 2,000-square-foot affair with its own terrace that offers epic, awe-inspiring views of The City That Never Sleeps. Should you choose to stay and play in the Duplex, you’ll be offered daily breakfast via in-room dining, private airport transfers, spa treatments, beautiful in-suite floral arrangements and use of a house Bentley or house Maybach. The décor—as overseen by Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka—is clean and vaguely masculine, with furnishings by Fendi Casa and custom-made Italian bedding by Bellino. And how’s this for VIP: guests can even choose their own customized headrests from the signature Trump Pillow Menu. The hotel also features an innovative Control4Suite System, which allows you to easily control your lighting, temperature, televisions, three dual-line telephones, music and curtains, with a click from one console. Make sure to check out the hotel’s high-end Japanese eatery, Koi, for a sexy night out on the town, and the poolside bar, Bar d’Eau, when the weather is just right.
246 Spring St., 212-842-5500

DINE

OIJI

East Village hot spot Oiji offers an experience it refers to as “refined, authentic Korean.” Here, you’ll explore traditional flavors and dishes with a modern flair, thanks to new cooking techniques ,ingredients, artful plating and portions. The intimate, but stylish restaurant from Brian Kim and Tae Kyung Ku (both formerly of Bouley and Gramercy Tavern) is accented with an
open kitchen, reclaimed wood, exposed brick and ambient lighting with factory sash windows that open out to the bustling streets of downtown Manhattan. If you’re able to actually get a reservation at this intimate, 32-seat eatery, you won’t find traditional Korean dishes. Instead, expect to find items like Jang-jo-rim, a Korean version of mac & cheese: buttery rice topped with thin slices of braised beef shank, pickled daikon, mushrooms and shishito peppers. The beverage program is thoughtfully both Korean and American. One Korean element can be found in each of the eight seasonal cocktails, such as Seoul Paloma, with a base of tequila and grapefruit, and the addition of Makgeoli, an unfiltered Korean wine.
119 1st Ave., 646-767-9050

THE CLOCKTOWER

One of the hautest tickets in town is a meal at The Clocktower, the muchanticipated, first American restaurant from British, Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton and restaurateur Stephen Starr. The restaurant, situated on the second floor of Ian Schrager’s New York EDITION hotel overlooking Madison Square Park, is composed of three dining rooms, a billiards room and a bar. Adorning the walls is a series of black-and-white photographs carefully curated by Trunk Archive, displayed in opulent French baroque, gold-leaf frames. Each room has its own unique theme, including Great American Artists, New York Street Scenes, American Icons and Great American Musicians. Drawing from more than four centuries of art and design, the
rooms feature original herringbone oak floors, original mahogany wainscoting on the walls and a restored Venetian plaster ceiling. The velvet chairs and banquettes, upholstered in rose, green and blue, are inspired by the vibrant colors of the Dutch masters, notably Vermeer. Each of the three dining areas has a large chandelier by modernist designer Eric Schmitt. At this stunning, 90-seat restaurant, you’ll be treated to contemporary cuisine with British sensibilities. The menu will feature a variety of dishes ranging from twists on traditional British fare to updated takes on more classic dishes. Guests can expect selections such as Big Eye Tuna Tataki with English cucumber, radish, avocado and ponzu; Tomato Salad with tomato jelly, Lioni burrata and basil granite and North African-Spiced Colorado Lamb with yogurt, smoked eggplant and young, curried onions. Handcrafted cocktails, such as a take on Milk Punch with rum, applejack, cognac, arrak, pineapple, citrus, spices, sencha tea, clarified milk whey and ice rock; American Cereal Killer featuring rye, cereal milk, bourbon vanilla syrup and angostura bitters or Dill or No Dill made of gin, fresh dill, smashed cucumber, lemon juice, elderflower syrup and smoked salt solution, will really whet your whistle.
5 Madison Ave., 212-413-4300

SESSANTA

For a taste of Sicily in SoHo, head to Sessanta, an Italian eatery from John McDonald, Steven Eckler of Mercer Street Hospitality and Chef Jordan Frosolone at 60 Thompson. Designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, Sessanta takes
inspiration from mid-century Italy, combining the avant-garde aesthetic of Giò Ponti with the glamour of Federico Fellini to transport diners to the postwar heyday of Italian culture. This is the perfect boite to while away a cold winter evening with a glass of Barolo in a masculine dining room of dark, polished wood and flickering candlelight while noshing on dishes, such as tortelli with fennel, Sicilian anchovies, pine nuts, golden raisins and saffron, and roasted branzino with spigarello, pachino
tomatoes and noto almonds.
60 Thompson St., 212-219-8119

DAVID BURKE FABRICK

Set on the ground floor of the Archer Hotel, David Burke Group’s latest NYC restaurant David Burke fabrick, offers a menu of modern American dishes served with the group’s signature side of flare. The emphasis here is on sharing and seasonality. Sample snacks like avocado panna cotta, candied bacon and a smoked pastrami salmon flatbread or a more indulgent dinner of pork shoulder or grilled saltbrick NY strip steak from Chef Adin Langille underneath the dining room’s airy skylight windows. Thanks to touches like exposed brick walls, mirrored accents and a gilded, beaded curtain that separates the Bugatti Bar—named after the Bugatti model car situated at the front of the restaurant) from the main dining room—you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into Alice’s Wonderland.
47 W. 38th St., 212-302-3838
ALSO TRY: Cool Lower East Side brasserie Dirty French, luxurious Upper East Side French eatery Vaucluse and Mario Batali’s eatery at the Maritime Hotel, La Sirena

DRINK

MR. JONES

Mr. Jones, located at The Trump SoHo, pays homage to the classic gentlemen of the 1960s with a true bon vivant sensibility. The latest high-end watering hole from Shaun Rose and Udi Vaknin, the team behind GoldBar and Sweetwater Social, feels
like the personal pied-à-terre of a well-heeled, wealthy gentleman of leisure. The decor is a celebration of classic ‘60s Americana, thanks to lightboxes featuring classic film stars like Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, and tchotchkes the owners have collected during their world travels. The cocktail list includes the house signature Mister Jones cocktail, the Preferred Old Fashioned—Elijah Craig bourbon, High West Rye, Demerara, angostura and orange peel—the exotic Doctor Mumbai—Cana Brava Rum, mango, curry, lime, ginger honey, club soda and Peychauds—and the shareable Perennial—Absolut Elyx Vodka, pineapple, Averna, apricot, lime, cinnamon and angostura. Mr. Jones is more of a philosophy than a real person, but regardless of what he is, those who come here will share the sensibility that luxury is the only choice that matters.
246 Spring St., 212-842-4566

THE POLO BAR

Ralph Lauren’s third restaurant is a fantastic place to enjoy seasonal cuisine, but we also find it to be a completely elegant place to enjoy a gorgeous glass of wine or an elegant cocktail. Expect to be wowed by the Henry Koehler polo match-inspired mural exterior and the saddle leather and equestrian art inside. Check out the waitstaff—outfitted in head-to-toe Ralph Lauren uniforms of grey flannel trousers, leather wingtips and silk repp ties—while sipping on classic cocktails such as a Vesper martini or an Old Fashioned.
1 E. 55th St., 212-207-8562

RARITIES

“Rare” is an understatement when talking about Rarities, the intimate, 25-seat salon located at Lotte New York Palace. Inspired by historic ‘men’s clubs,’ this exclusive, reservation-only venue serves a sampling of the world’s rarest wines and spirits. At Rarities, the menu is both eclectic and abundant, with guests enjoying exceptional champagnes, Prohibition-style bottled spirits, modern classics and a connoisseur’s wine cellar. Included on the extensive beverage list are wines almost never seen anywhere else in the world, ranging from the $485 per glass Fladgate Scion 1855 Vintage Port to the $27,000 per bottle 1985 Romanee-Conti Grand Cru. Access to this exclusive lounge is made through a discreet entrance. One of the salon’s most dramatic features is the illuminated, custom-made glass vitrine, showcasing the curated, rare scotches. Designed by New York practice HOK, the space was reimagined with upholstered walls, an eclectic mix of period-inspired furniture, ambient lighting, antiques and artwork to complement the historic elements, such as the original fireplace,
stained glass window, millwork and ceiling. Inspired by the richness of whiskey, the décor consists of aubergine, burnt red and amber colors combined with the original wood, evoking a sense of timeworn elegance in a regal and rarefied atmosphere.
455 Madison Ave., 917-202-8379
ALSO TRY: The Midtown boite Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, Danny Meyers’s Porchlight and Alta Linea, a trip down the Italian Riviera at The High Line Hotel

RELAX & REFRESH

There are numerous options for ultimate relaxation on your trip to the Big Apple, but we’ve curated a list of our favorites. Definitely indulge in a hammam visit at The Spa at Trump SoHo, which is the only luxury day spa in New York City that incorporates the indulgent, Middle Eastern bathing tradition. Conversely, to turn back the clock in a non-invasive way,
book yourself the NYC SoHo Alternative to Injectable facial, which dramatically reduces expression lines and wrinkles with Inhibit, the first anti-wrinkle treatment formulated with Natura Bisse’s Octamioxyl and a lipofiller complex to fill existing lines. You also can’t miss the wow-factor treatments and facials from Susan Ciminelli, a world-renowned, holistic beauty guru and healer known for her reflexology work. Finally, there’s no better place to get beautified than at Sally Hershberger’s Meatpacking District salon. If you can’t get Sally, herself (this celebrity stylist has been in hot demand for decades), one of her fantastic team members will easily be able to provide the cut, treatment or style of your dreams.
The Spa at Trump SoHo, 246 Spring St.,
212-842-5505
Sally Hershberger New York, 425 W. 14th
St. #3F, 212-206-8700
Susan Ciminelli Beauty Clinic, 118 E. 57th
St., Third Floor, 212-750-4441