PEOPLE
A Londoner’s
daylist 11am
Fika, 10th Ave - 54th/55th St I like to start my weekends with a (not too early!) workout at my local NYSC. After class, you can find me in Fika ordering my usual almond latte and, with coffee in hand, I’ll retreat to my rooftop which has 360-degree views of the city and remind myself just how lucky I am to live here! 3pm Ousia, W57th St - 12th Ave Greek food makes me so happy and reminds me of vacations there with friends. I perch at the bar with my laptop, people watching and creating content for my blog. The staff are really lovely and I always feel so welcome – it’s fast becoming a second home.
6.30pm
Method Kitchen and Sake Bar, 10th Ave - 50th/51st St I walked past Method every day for at least a year before I noticed it, but I’m so glad I finally went in. I count it as one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in NYC. It’s tiny, discrete, and serves the most unbelievable food – get the lamb chops, you won’t be disappointed! Sake is a favorite of mine and I love the selection here, especially the Brooklyn Kura!
9pm
Landmark Theatres, W57th St - 12th Ave A perfect, low-key evening would be catching a film at my local, the Landmark at 57 West, which is in one of the most striking buildings I think we have in Hell’s Kitchen. It has smaller screening rooms than most movie theaters and comfy reclining chairs. I also really like how they often invite actors and directors for an intimate Q&A. I recently saw Elizabeth McGovern talking about The Chaperone. Don’t get me started on how excited I am to see her reprise her role in the Downton movie!
11.30pm
Ardesia, W52nd St - 10th/11th Ave A great place for a nightcap, this is such a cute bar with a really interesting, ever-changing wine list. And they serve a mean cheese plate too. I also really appreciate the fact that it’s a female-owned business and I try to support it whenever I can. On a pleasant evening, the patio is the perfect spot to end the night with someone special. Ardesia will always have a dear place in my heart because it was the very first bar I visited after moving to NYC, before I even moved into the neighborhood. I remember cheers-ing to the start of new adventures and feeling so excited for what was to come. I get a little chill of excitement every time I’m back!
IMAGE: CID ROBERTS
Leesa is an HR and talent development consultant by day and a blogger by night. Originally from London, she moved to NYC two years ago and, as a way of keeping connected with friends and family back home, she started a blog to chart her experience of moving country, settling into NYC, and trying to see as much of the world as possible. thenewnewyorkerblog.com
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