Expert list • August 2015
Looking for a quick bite, quirky experience or romantic dinner à deux? Who better to ask than the experts – British Airways staff who work in the Big Apple and the crew who fly there
Jennifer Forest, Cabin Crew
For a meal with friends, try the buzzy atmosphere of Spice Market in the Meatpacking District. For something more romantic, visit The River Café (above) – the white linen tablecloths, table lamps and waiters in tuxedos give a feeling of stepping back in time, and the bartender can make you any cocktail you like. To rub shoulders with locals, visit Babbo on Waverley Place. People come from Brooklyn, Queens and Jersey to eat the delicious Italian dishes, including beef cheek ravioli and pan-seared grouper with salsa verde.
Miranda Mihkelson, Change Executive
Want somewhere a little different for lunch? Café Sabarsky is a stunning Viennese café on the Upper East Side that has a pianist and a gallery of Klimt originals.
Maria Amista, Customer Service Agent at JFK
Mamoun’s Falafel (above) on Macdougal Street is a New York institution and great for a quick snack. For a classic New York brunch, try the lemon ricotta pancake with candied almonds at The Spotted Pig. For a fun evening with friends, start with an unusual beer at Black Tree followed by dinner at Sweet Chick on Lower East side – creamy mac ’n’ cheese, bacon-wrapped oysters and roast quail are on the menu.
Richard Putterford, Cabin Crew
New York has plenty of places for a snack, but visiting the Dominique Ansel Bakery on Spring Street for a cronut (pictured) is a must. Having a croissant crossed with a doughnut is a unique sensation.
Nina Williams, Customer Experience
Grab lunch at Minetta Tavern (above), which opened in 1937 and has been visited by Ernest Hemingway, E. E. Cummings and Dylan Thomas. Try the truffled pork sausage with salt-pond oysters on the half-shell. For evening drinks and free jazz, visit Garage in Greenwich Village. As you can tell from the outside (and the name), it used to be a real car garage, and still retains some of the laidback cool.
Daniel Muckle, Sales Consultant
Declared a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2012, the Rainbow Room is on the 65th floor of 30 Rockefeller Center. Visit SixtyFive (the cocktail lounge) and order a classic Manhattan as you take in one of the world’s finest views.
This article has been tagged Food + Drink, Destination