Haute Secrets: Style Guru and 1stdibs Founder Michael Bruno

Photo Credit: Jill Swirbul

It’s hard to keep up with Michael Bruno. A serial entrepreneur with a specialty in developing digital technology for the design industry, Bruno is the founder of 1stdibs.com, the Tuxedo Hudson Company, the Housepad App, and Art-Design-Carta. A passionate collector of historic homes and a dedicated land preservationist, Bruno owns period houses in Southampton, N.Y., North Haven, Maine and Tuxedo Park, N.Y. He spends most of his time in Tuxedo Park overseeing his project for redeveloping the historic 17 Corridor between the towns of Sloatsburg and Tuxedo. A lifelong New Yorker, Bruno lives by the credo: “Decide what you want, believe in it, and then get ready for the ride of your life.” Here are his New York city favorites.

Photo Credit: Gianni Franchellucci

Where were you born:

Greenwich, Connecticut

How long have you been in New York?

I spent my early years in Larchmont, and I’ve been in the city since 2001.

Favorite New York neighborhood.

The West Village because of the human scale of the landscape. It feels like you could be in a much smaller city

Favorite Restaurant:

The Waverly Inn

Best Italian restaurant:

Da Umberto

Favorite New York  dessert:

An apple tart

Favorite spot for cocktails:

Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle

Best for Sunday brunch:

At home in bed!

Best place for a power business lunch:

Sant Ambroeus on Madison Avenue

Night-on-the-town favorites:

It all starts at Carnegie Hall.

If you have out-of-town guests, which hotel would you recommend?

My new favorite is 11 Howard designed by Roman and Williams.

Photo Credit: Gianni Franchellucci

Favorite showrooms for design items:

Maison Gerard

Favorite retail stores for design pieces:

I collect vintage and antique items so I rarely buy new design pieces.

Favorite stores for clothing:

Brunello Cucinelli and Bergdorf Goodman Men’s

Favorite gallery:

Sean Kelly Gallery

 Best museum:

Museum of Natural History

What book or books are you reading now?

Arthur: The Dog who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home. My housekeeper gave it to me and I found it to be really sweet.  A Wall Street Tycoon and the Secret Palace of Science that Changed the Course of World War II by Jennet Conant. I gave her a tour of one of the properties we own, the famous Loomis Lab, and I had to read her book after that.

Best gym/athletic facility:

I love the running path along the west side of the Hudson River.

Favorite charity:

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

 Describe New York in three words:

World’s best city

Favorite historic/legendary New York place to see or explore:

Central Park because you can always find something you’ve never seen before.

Secret to your success?

Setting attainable goals and sticking to them