For uptowner Alain Verzeroli, his New York is all about vibrancy and energy. From the moment he starts his day, coffee is ritualistic at haute spot Ralph's, a stone's throw from another Verzeroli fave, Central Park.
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Coffee: For coffee I love going to Ralph's on Madison & 72nd Street, especially in the morning when it’s quieter. It’s located very close to where I live and they have a truly delicious blueberry muffin that I like to enjoy with a latte on one of their sunny outdoor tables.
Breakfast and/or lunch: Sometimes I like a classic bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon combo. For this, I’ll go to Sadelle's in SoHo or Russ & Daughters. Concerning lunch, I enjoy quieter restaurants, nothing too noisy, and L'Avenue at Saks is my place of choice. It has classic cuisine and a comfortable and serene atmosphere.
After-hours: I love Baretto, the jazz bar at Fasano New York. It’s a great setting and vibe, you're never too far from the stage and the singer, and they’ve managed to create an intimate space for a rather large venue. Their program is always changing and well-curated.
Guilty pleasures: I love sweets, so I will say Lysee from Chef Eunji Lee is my guilty pleasure, which is a very refined, delicate pastry shop where the offerings are executed with great technique.
Special occasion: If we’re celebrating something, such as a birthday, we love Le Coucou. Their unique atmosphere and light quality at night as well as their refined but not overly sophisticated or complicated French cuisine make for a fantastic experience. We also love Atomix for a guaranteed great culinary experience and fantastic hospitality from Chef Junghyun and Ellia Park. It reminds me of the restaurants in Japan, where I used to live for 18 years.
Where you'd take an out-of-towner: I try to show people who visit different districts and neighborhoods of New York, anywhere from the West Village, Tribeca, SoHo, Upper East Side, Financial District, etc., because you can feel and enjoy the fantastic diversity and cultures of New York, not only with food offerings but within the different crowds and vibes. New York has always been such a vibrant and energetic city - a unique experience unlike any other.
Favorite NYC spot: Central Park, of course, for its size and ever-changing atmosphere with the seasons. There’s also a spot within the park, the Solomon R.Guggenheim Museum, that has such unique architecture and I’m always amazed by the natural light that comes from the dome along with the circular ramp.
Where we might find you on your day off when you’re out and about: In the morning, at Central Park, and in the afternoon, shopping in SoHo or in the West Village having a delicious lunch at L'Artusi. I also love having aperitivo time at my secret place - a cute terrace very close to Central Park with Italian drinks, cheese, and charcuterie.
Hero image: Courtesy of Chef Alain Verzeroli
