To say that Taylor Swift is a “tastemaker” might be the understatement of the century. Whether she’s producing record-smashing hits or inspiring Swifties to wear a red lip, Swift has mastered the art of trend-setting. When it comes to food and restaurants, Swift’s influence is equally powerful. When Time’s 2023 ‘Person of the Year’ gushed over her love for Levain Bakery’s cookies or Momofuku Milk Bar’s iconic birthday cake, the sweet treats instantly attained cult status.
It’s no wonder that people pay close attention to where Swift dines out, accompanied by the likes of boyfriend NFL player Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, or any of her famous friends.
Here, The MICHELIN Guide shares Inspector takes on seven restaurants and five hotels around the world that T-Swizzle can’t get enough of.
Torrisi (One Star)
New York, New York
There is perfection in the details at Torrisi, where waiters are crisply dressed in dinner jackets and tables are draped in pressed linens, but the buzzy warmth is as charming as the good looks. Nothing feels copied or contrived, and while some of the dishes may seem familiar, they've all been revamped with panache.
Inspector notes: "The team caters to excited diners who feast on items like the escarole and endive salad and chicken stracciatella soup with textbook chicken broth, fluffy egg and savory meatballs. It's the boule, baked, finished on the grill and filled with dreamy clams, that's pure aromatic bliss."
Minetta Tavern
New York, New York
While this circa 1937 watering hole has been restored, nothing here changes and that is its beauty. It is the quintessential New York City tavern and is still decked out with dark wood, checkerboard tiled floors, red banquettes and those caricature-lined walls.
Inspector notes: "Like the throwback ambience, this menu reveres tradition and reads classic gastropub with dishes such as grilled oysters with pancetta in a Fresno chili butter; and a lusciously grilled beef filet dressed with a classic sauce au poivre. Pommes aligot, whipped into submission and loaded with garlic, butter and cheddar curds, is a crowd-pleaser, not unlike the bittersweet chocolate soufflé. The legendary burger is much-talked-about, and manages to lure the crowds."
Casa Cipriani New York (Three Keys)
New York, New York
Lower Manhattan’s iconic Battery Maritime Building, a 1906 ferry terminal in an ornate Beaux-Arts style, is the venue for Casa Cipriani, a members’ club and luxury boutique hotel by the legendary Italian restaurateurs and hoteliers. Inside is probably the purest dose of contemporary Italian luxury design available this side of Milan; the rooms and suites are remarkably restrained in their opulence, in contrast with the building’s exterior ornament, and those that face the river offer a view unlike any other hotel in town.
Emilio’s Ballato
New York, New York
Step inside the narrow, weathered space, where owner Emilio Vitolo and son, Anthony, offer each guest a personal welcome and a genuine Italian-American experience. Here, the menu is filled with pasta classics like Roman cacio e pepe, tossed with sharp pecorino and freshly ground black pepper.
Inspector notes: "Signature specialties include pollo Emilio, a delicately breaded chicken cutlet draped in lemon-caper sauce; and clams oreganata speckled with garlicky breadcrumbs."
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York (Two Keys)
New York, New York
Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York brings together two worlds we never expected to see combined. The renowned Parisian luxury hotel brand has made its mark in Tribeca, seamlessly blending French Art Deco elegance with the raw, post-industrial charm of Lower Manhattan’s iconic brick structures. The result is an irresistible fusion that resonates with both the fashion-forward and food-savvy crowds, capturing the essence of what makes both Tribeca and Paris so beloved.
The Greenwich Hotel (One Key)
New York, New York
It’s got a celebrity owner (none other than Robert DeNiro), a prime Tribeca location, impeccable design credentials, and some truly obsessive construction, having something to do with thousands of very expensive handmade bricks. Even the humble courtyard rooms are luxurious, and smart-looking as well, eschewing minimalism for a detailed and lived-in look, down to the Moroccan tile in the bathrooms. As you move up the range into the bigger and bigger suites, the sheer luxury of it all becomes almost comical — book well and you might get your own private sauna.
Lucali (Bib Gourmand)
Miami Beach, Florida
Although it's located in sunny South Beach, Lucali exudes a charming rusticity that calls to mind its original Brooklyn locale (the one that Swift went to). The wood-fired brick oven at the rear is sure to stoke the appetite.
Inspector notes: "The 20-inch pizza is lusciously charred and sports a light crust crowned with fresh pomodoro sauce, a combination of cheeses and fragrant sprigs of basil. Various toppings are offered to embellish the pie, and one may even choose to have just half dressed with say, meatball crumbles and green chili slivers."
The first Nobu in Europe, this iconic London restaurant opened its doors in 1997, offering Nobu’s signature blend of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine. Here, the dining experience is both luxurious and timelessly cool. [Note: Taylor Swift has dined at Nobu Downtown in New York and Nobu Malibu, adding another star-studded visit to Nobu’s legacy.]
Inspector notes: "Like seeing a favorite popstar on stage, you can expect all the greatest hits, from seafood toban yaki to rock shrimp tempura and, of course, the dish that’s been copied a thousand times: black cod miso."
Spago Dining Room
Singapore
Since debuting in the 1980s in Beverly Hills, Spago has become an American institution by Wolfgang Puck that never seems to age. [Note: Taylor Swift dined at the Beverly Hills location.]
Inspector notes: "The menu is an appealing blend of American, Asian and European influences, with dishes ranging from honey miso broiled black cod to a falafel burger with roasted capsicum."
Via Carota
New York, New York
Occasionally, predictability can be a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to rave-worthy Italian cooking. Via Carota is not so much robotically perfect as it is pleasing—in fact it’s the kind of place where dishes can (and should) be piled on. Italian style and artistry combine in this homey space that features bare wood farm tables, sideboards and whitewashed brick.
Inspector notes: "A luscious (and unmissable) risotto cacio e pepe arrives loaded with pecorino and fresh pepper."
Amangiri (Three Keys)
Canyon Point, Utah
The Amangiri is known as one of America's most exceptional hotels. Given Aman's dedication to luxurious living, the visual impression is only half the story — the hotel somehow manages to make this alien landscape feel inviting — and that’s before you even take account of the spa, the swimming pool, the yoga pavilion and the open-kitchen Dining Room.
Blackberry Farm (Two Keys)
Walland, Tennessee
Blackberry Farm may well be the most delightful place on the Eastern seaboard. Nestled at the foothills of the Tennessee Smokies, it includes the best parts of American hospitality. Picture this: 4200 acres of wildflower-strewn land, 44 rooms of feather beds and English country antiques. Then add a regime of iced tea picnics, horseback riding, tennis, fishing, hiking, and swimming. The point, of course, is to work up an appetite for the star attraction at Blackberry — the food.
Address Book
Torrisi (One Star)
275 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Casa Cipriani New York (Three Keys)
10 South St, New York, NY 10004
Emilio’s Ballato
55 E Houston St, New York, NY 10012
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York (Two Keys)
456 Greenwich St. New York, NY 10013
The Greenwich Hotel (One Key)
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013
Lucali
1930 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Nobu London Old Park Lane
19 Old Park Ln, London W1K 1LB, UK
Spago Dining Room
10 Bayfront Avenue, Hotel, Tower 2 Level 57, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018956
Via Carota
51 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Amangiri (Three Keys)
1 Kayenta Rd, Canyon Point, UT 84741
Blackberry Farm (Two Keys)
1471 W Millers Cove Rd, Walland, TN 37886
