Glam.com's New York City Hot Spots

Where to Get Pampered

2006-01-25T11:36:00.000-08:00

BuffSpa, a lush escape in Bergdorf Goodman, offers the most lavish treatments and is considered to be the ultimate den of comfort for nails and brows. Pedicures (which come with a glass of champagne, darling) are done in a swanky private room, where your feet will be exfoliated to perfection and hydrated to the max, with a deluxe skin mask. A favorite of the celebrity set and fashion flock, the manicures are an hour-long treat that will leave your nails looking fabulous.

Glam users can receive the überluxurious “Glamicure,” a BuffSpa manicure and pedicure for only $60 (regularly $90) and a mini-maintenance buff package—manicure and brow touchup—for just $50. When making a reservation, please let them know you want the Glamicure special.

www.buffspa.com

John Barrett Salon: There’s a reason Bergdorf Goodman is the Shangri-la of style—after floors of Oscar, Missoni, YSL, Louboutin, and Manolo, not to mention the best chopped salad in town, shoppers can get coiffed at the swanky salon on the top floor, owned by celeb stylist John Barrett. Lovely orchids embellish each station of the airy, cheerful space, which is always filled with at least one star, and there’s complimentary cappuccino—just what you’ll need to return to your shopping.
www.johnbarrett.com

Where to Get Chic

2006-01-25T11:34:00.001-08:00

Diane von Furstenberg, the ultimate fashion icon and the most fabulous woman on earth, offers her coveted designs—graphic wrap dresses, flowy tops, sexy on-the-town staples, and modern classics—at her glamorous boutique in Manhattan’s trendy Meatpacking District.
www.dvf.com

Kirna Zabête is a posh, haute stop for designer labels galore, including Chloé, Lanvin, Gaultier, Rick Owens, Narciso, Behnaz, Stella, Balenciaga, Matthew Williamson, Proenza Schouler, and the list goes on. The SoHo boutique is a cheerful palace colored in splashy red tones, filled with the finest of frocks and frequented by celebrities aplenty, such as Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Simpson, and Nicole Richie. Run—don’t walk—there. (But don’t stumble on your Choos.)
http://www.kirnazabete.com/

Scoop is the perfect pit stop for all of spring’s best bets—tunics by Tory, Kors wedges, Marc by Marc Jacobs must-haves, DVF It items, killer denim, and then some. Beware: Trend indulgence is very addictive here, and there are Scoop locations all over the city whenever you’re in desperate need of retail therapy.
http://www.scoopnyc.com/

Jeffrey New York (a.k.a. heaven): This 10,000-square-foot salon begs for black-card action, especially when you walk through what is known as the best shoe selection on the planet (every major label you can think of —and the ones you’ve read about in Vogue but can never find anywhere). Bags are deadly (Balenciaga, YSL, Gucci, Devi Kroell, Bottega, Marni). And on the hangers, forget it. We’re talking an immaculately edited selection of Dior, Valentino, Lanvin, Pucci, Project Alabama, Libertine, and the kind of limited-edition, one-of-a-kind pieces that will melt your wallet. Don’t even look at the jewelry cases; it’s way too dangerous! Three letters: VBH. The gothic diamond pieces are to die for.
449 W. 14th St. near Washington St., 212-206-1272

Via Bus Stop is the kind of place you’d stumble upon in Paris or a high-brow neighborhood in fashion-forward Tokyo. More visionary gallery than typical boutique, the slightly avant-garde shop, a gleaming all-glass and white space on a prime corner of SoHo, is full of the most sophisticated and cool labels like Viktor & Rolf, Givenchy, Julian McDonald, and Bernard Wilhelm (a favorite of Bjork’s), and edgy accessories to match.
172 Mercer St., 212-343-8810

Most Coveted Tables

2006-01-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

Asia de Cuba is a high-energy culinary experience where you’ll taste a bit of Asia and a bit of Cuba, and it also offers fantastic people-watching. The crunchy calamari salad is a must order, and the desserts are deadly delicious and huge, so make sure you leave room. The creative cocktail menu will get you giddy, and the sexy music (Gipsy Kings) will, no doubt, put you in the mood for some love.
http://chinagrillmanagement.com

Ono, the sexiest Japanese den in N.Y.C., is a sultry multilevel setup with red lights, plush banquettes, high ceilings, and the most beautiful people around. The menu is innovative and playful—think tuna spare ribs, delicious rolls without rice (called “O No rice rolls,” as opposed to rolls with rice, called “O Yes Rice rolls”), robata (skewers of meat or fish you cook over an open flame at the table), and a sake sommelier to boot. Get the edamame soup—it’s a creamy must-have. And then check out the upstairs lounge après dinner.
www.hotelgansevoort.com

Bette, a far-west Chelsea neighborhood haute spot with the inviting décor of an exquisite home you’d die to live in (a soothing taupe palette, textured carpeted ceilings, deco Lucite lighting fixtures, chairs upholstered in a Chanel fabric, and the sexiest carpeted wall hanging of a three smoky-eyed ’70s beauties). Owned by doyenne of the p.m. Amy Sacco, the diva behind iconic N.Y.C. scenes Bungalow 8 and Lot 61, Bette (pronounced Betty and named after Sacco’s mother) is not about being hot and trendy, but rather classic, the kind of simple yet sophisticated fare you can count on. Think truffled fries, rack of lamb, strip steak, lobster ravioli, and caviar with baked potato and crème fraîche. The new afternoon tea menu is one the British royals would approve of, and the sightings—Nicole Kidman, Calvin Klein, and hot-shot artists like Ross Bleckner—are perhaps even more delish.

461 W. 23rd St. near Tenth Ave., 212-366-0404

5 Ninth is the ultimate culinary experience in the ultimate Meatpacking District location, an old brownstone that, according to rumor, was once the address of Grace Jones. The three-level space (the third is a private lounge for friends of the owners and diners alike), complete with gorgeous outdoor garden seating in the summer, is dotted with black-and-white photography of rock and roll legends and simple, chic design. But the main attraction is the menu—panini filled with Vietnamese sausage, flat rice noodles in a creamy coconut broth with juicy lobster and galangal flowers, braised pork belly over pea shoots, John Dory in a green garlic sauce with tumeric, shallots, and a bit of mustard. Your taste buds will thank you.
www.5ninth.com

Pastis: Try to hit it for lunch or brunch if possible, when the scene is at its most beautiful (Christy Turlington, every fashion editor imaginable, Kate Moss, Julianne Moore, and then some). The bistro menu is always satiating (though not inspiring). Fine herb omelets are a must, especially when you add goat cheese. The old-school French sandwiches and French onion soup are house favorites. And the décor, straight out of the 6th district of Paris, is low-key cool with vintage mirrors, bistro tables, and waiters who are oh so cute. A classic.
www.pastisny.com

Where to be Seen

2006-01-25T11:29:00.001-08:00

Marquee is a glamorous after-dark spot. (It gets good after midnight.) Think disco ball, giant crystal chandeliers, super-sleek lounge furniture, high-drama staircases, and, more often than not, a few table dancers. The music is always kicking and the cocktail menu rules. (Try the drink with Tab Energy for a caffeine boost.) Keep your eyes peeled for Natalie Portman, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton.
http://marqueeny.com/

Make sure you are decked out in the chicest thing you own if you plan to get into Bungalow 8, where you are sure to encounter arguably the most discerning doorman on earth. Inside this sophisticated haven of style, you’ll find the most decadent atmosphere of overstuffed lounge chairs, artful wall installations, and supersexy lighting. Kevin Spacey, George Clooney, Nicky Hilton, Sting, Bono, Kirsten Dunst, and Leo are regulars.
515 W. 27th St. between Tenth and Eleventh Aves., 212-629-3333

Double Seven: The chic younger sister of Lotus, a disco-size club/lounge that virtually started the nightlife scene in the Meatpacking District, Double Seven is smaller, more intimate than its predecessor (same owners at Lotus), with a cocktail menu that will knock you off your five-inch Louboutin heels. Every day the ingredients change based on what is fresh from the market. The music is a sultry, sexy mix, and the crowd is even sexier. A great place for mellow drinking and laid-back glamour, darling.
418 W. 14th St. between Ninth Ave. and Washington St., 212-981-9099

The Hotel on Rivington is known for its funky lounge vibe. With the modular sofas, blob-like structure emerging from the 20-story glass-and-aluminum entrance foyer, low modular sofas, and black-and-white kaleidoscope wallpaper, it’s sort of like being inside a lava lamp. The crowd is a hipster blend of tattooed East Village dark-haired, black-clad rocker boys mixed with uptown opulence. A visual paradise. And if you get hungry, there’s Thor, the Austrian restaurant within.
http://www.hotelonrivington.com/

Where to Lay Your Pretty Little Head

2006-01-25T11:29:00.000-08:00

The Hotel QT is the latest hotspot from hotel king Andre Balazs, the man who brought us the Mercer Hotel in SoHo, the Standard in L.A., and the Raleigh in Miami. A chic picture of modern cool, the design is sharp and groovy with a little bit of cheekiness. There’s a swimming pool, sauna, and steam room in the lounge, and you can swim up to the bar for your martini. Like all things Balazs, the hotel attracts a sophisticated, well-heeled crowd of socialites, stars, and the world’s biggest tastemakers.