Okay, okay, I’m finally answering questions! I’m sorry it’s taken me a lot longer to do this than I planned (being on the road does take its toll!). Here are some of the most recent questions I’ve received—I’ll pick five each week and answer them here. Please ask yours in the comments (not in Instagram DMs!).
“WHERE SHOULD WE STAY IN NYC?”
Since I live in Brooklyn, I rarely stay in hotels in the city. I definitely frequent them for meetings and drinks—and the occasional staycation—but I rely on my friends who come here frequently to tell me their favorites.
Casa Cipriani just opened in August, and I think it’s probably the most exciting and chicest new spot in the city. It’s a private club in the Battery Maritime building (the old ferry building) in lower Manhattan, but non-members can stay in the rooms, which are huge (at least every one that I saw!) and very well appointed—but I’d make a point of getting one on the water side, because you actually have a balcony overlooking the river.
The Crosby in SoHo is where most of my friends from Europe love to stay. I also love it for morning meetings.
The Lowell: When Matt and I want to have a special night in the city and pretend we’re in Europe, this is our favorite—in the east 60s, just off of Central Park. Try to get a room with a terrace and fireplace (yes they are grandfathered in and are actually functioning!).
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is in Brooklyn Heights, with great views of Manhattan and of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. It’s a bit of a scene on the weekends, so I would suggest it for a weeknight.
The Greenwich Hotel is another favorite of my friends who want more dark, moody, and sexy vibes. It’s in TriBeCa, which feels like a real neighborhood—a little bit quieter than Soho and definitely not filled with the usual suspect global brand stores.
The Marlton is on 8th St in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood that is so easy to get to from everywhere (especially if you take the subway!) and is also filled with great restaurants and bars within walking distance. The rooms and the public spaces are so charming—but you have to be okay with small rooms!
The Sherry Netherland: I forgot about adding this old school spot right across from Central Park until friend of mine just asked me where he should stay with his family—”not a totally redone place that you spend double for their reno—something that’s just good, maybe has an old school vibe.” It’s basically privately owned apartments that are managed by the hotel, so they all have their own vibe. We had a huge room, and they are super dog friendly, so we brought ours—and we had the best time playing tourists in NYC.
The Carlyle: Bemelman’s Bar is one of my favorite places in the world, and I love this hotel. However, I’ve stayed here several times over the years and each time my room was very different, and I’ve heard that from others. Will update this once I’ve had a look!
The Baccarat in Midtown is fancy and beautifully done—and if you’re on a grand expense account, or it’s a special occasion, I think it’s great! Besides all of the Baccarat everywhere, I love the Champagne button the the phone.
“WHERE’D YOU GET THAT COVER UP?”
This summer I received many questions about this vintage French men’s shirt that I actually found in the house we renovated in France. Because it has no buttons and slits up the side, it really only makes sense for me as a coverup. You can look for them online by searching French vintage tuxedo shirt/farmer shirt/smock, in cotton. When you’re looking, you’ll probably surface a lot of linen smocks, but since French linen is much heavier—more like a hemp—I find them too hot for coverups, and only wear them as dresses on cooler summer evenings. Marston House looks like they have some of the cotton ones in stock right now, according to their most recent Instagram post.
“I NEED SOME CAIRO TIPS”
I turned to my friend Elise Hanna for this one.
“I’d stay in the city next time, not by the pyramids. We stayed near the pyramids and while it was amazing to have a view of them, the traffic is horrendous to all other things. We took the kids, so we did it differently than I’d have done with just my husband, and we would stay at Ville Belle Epoque next time. My favorites:
SHOP
Khan al Khalili Souq
EAT
Koshary Abou Tarek (walking distance from The Egyptian Museum)
SEE/DO
The Egyptian Museum: It is still partly in the original building. They are moving it slowly to the new museum, which is closer to the pyramids and more convenient, but it will lose a lot of the ambience of the original building.
Cave Churches in Coptic Cairo: You have to drive through the garbage collectors’ city, which isn’t for everyone, but I thought it was fascinating and important to see, and once you get to the cave churches they are really incredible.
A Nile cruise. We did a dinner cruise, which was pretty cheesy, but a friend of mine sailed and I would absolutely do that next time. I don’t think you can leave from Cairo, but if you have time to fly to Luxor, Nile Dahabiya would be my choice.”
“WHAT SUITCASE DO YOU TRAVEL WITH?”
On my last two trips I’ve been gone longer than a month, so I’ve brought my Rimowa trunk plus my canvas Yolo carry-on. I so wish I could swing a carry-on suitcase, but I’m an overpacker.
“WHERE SHOULD WE STAY IN PONZA?”
Ponza is an incredibly charming island off the Tyrrhenian Coast (it looks like it’s in between Rome and Naples, but it’s faster to get to via Rome—a train to a hydrofoil). I have a friend who goes there every summer, and the Grand Hotel Chiaia di Luna and Hotel Gennarino a Mare are her favorites.
Thank you! Love this newsletter.
Hi Yolanda, we have been to Patmos and loved it. Now keen to explore Symi, wondering if you have been/have any advice on where to stay? Would probably be more interested in renting a house. Thank you! Georgie