Out of Bounds

Out of Bounds

New York, New York. Who doesn’t want to be a part of it? For the Exclusive Resorts Member who lives for the city, we have 28 under-the-radar ways to experience a whole new side of the Big Apple.

Written & Photographed by Jackie Caradonio

Waterfront views of Manhattan and the famous Jane’s Carousel from the edge of Dumbo in Brooklyn.

The most remarkable thing about New York—and there are many remarkable things about this wonderful city—is that it can be anything to anyone and everything to everyone. It’s a shapeshifter, a chameleon, the ultimate democratic destination where no matter who you are, you can find somewhere to feel at home. And it’s all due to its dizzying concentration of neighborhoods.

The Heather Garden at Fort Tryon Park.

For a sample of just how quickly the NYC landscape changes, start at Exclusive Resorts’ Park Avenue Place residences in Midtown East (all 14 of which are fresh off a renovation) and go a few dozen blocks in any direction to find yourself in another world. Head south and you’re in Murray Hill, dining on the best Indian food you’ve ever had outside of India; go north, and you’re on the Upper East Side, strolling Museum Row and sipping martinis at Bemelmans Bar; head west and you’re in Columbus Circle at the edge of Central Park; and if you’re traversing east, you’ll end up in another borough entirely, crossing Roosevelt Island to the cool Queens neighborhood of Long Island City (more on that later).

A renovated 19th-century residential building on one of Dumbo’s tree-lined streets.

Of course, for the nascent New York visitor, there’s a certain migration that takes place in this sea of mini-districts, from Midtown to Flatiron, up to Fifth Avenue, and down to the Village and Soho. But what happens when you’ve been to New York more than a few times, and you’re looking for that elusive, local, “secret New York” experience? Truth be told, there are hardly any secrets in New York anymore—not for always-in-the-know New Yorkers anyway. But for even the frequent visitor, there’s a whole world of surprises to be un- covered. Secrets like the best place for dinner with a view (no, it’s not the Rainbow Room anymore) or the best sweets to indulge in (cronuts are so five years ago) or the museums you have to visit to discover the next big artists (we’re not talking about MoMA). Once you’ve been around the block a few times, you might just be ready to check out a brand new range of neighborhoods that will have you loving NYC in a whole new way. Here, with the help of Exclusive Resorts’ all-knowing Concierges, we take you on four perfect days in four neighborhoods you’ve probably never seen before.

The coconut stand at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club.

Long Island City

Just one subway stop from Grand Central Station, Queens’ most dynamic neighborhood has gone from industrial desert to artistic epicenter in a single decade. “Long Island City has a whole vibe of its own,” says Sergio Martinez, an Exclusive Resorts Concierge who was born and raised in Queens. To experience this vibe at its best, we start at PS1, MoMA’s smaller, cooler art museum set in a former public school. During summer weekends, its giant courtyard turns into one big party, DJs and all; year-round, its exhibits span everything from contemporary paintings and sculptures to architecture and design. It’s a perfect intro to this neighborhood, which has, in the last few years, seen so many chic—and diverse—restaurants and bars that even the locals have a hard time keeping track.

The art-filled courtyard at MoMA PS1.

“Just walking down my street, I can pick from Argentinian arepas, Brazilian food, Colombian, French, and a fish market,” says Septimia Lechintan, Regional Residence

Manager and Park Avenue Place Concierge, who has lived in the neighborhood for nine years. From PS1, we head west to Vernon Boulevard, where we struggle to decide between authentic Italian at Manducatis, magnifique French fare at Tournesol bistro, and Michelin-starred Mexican at Casa Enrique. We opt for Chef Cosme Aguilar’s south-ofthe-border spectacular and don’t regret it for a minute as we dig into mole de Piaxtla—a rich sauce originating in the town of Puebla and made from seven different chiles, plus raisins, chocolates, and plantains—and sip on spicy Chimbobo margaritas.

Octopus ceviche at Casa Enrique.

Heading farther west we arrive at LIC’s most postcard-worthy site: Gantry Plaza State Park. It’s hard to imagine this pristine stretch was once a blighted industrial complex. Today, it’s surrounded by brand-new glistening towers and overlooks Midtown Manhattan across the East River. A giant Pepsi sign—a beloved landmark for many New Yorkers—is the last remnant of the warehouses that once lined this picturesque coast now covered in greenery and teak lounge chairs for sun-soaking all year. As the shadows grow long, however, we have one more view to check out: The cityscape from the rooftop bar at Boro, a trendy new hotel just a handful of blocks away where we sip Negronis and pick out our favorite Manhattan landmarks—from One World Trade to the George Washington Bridge—as the sky falls dark.

The bar at Boro Hotel.

Rockaway Beach

Surf City, U.S.A., might sound like California, but turns out New York City has a beach bum’s paradise all of its own. Of course, the sand at Rockaway Beach has always been there, but only recently has this coastal Queens neighborhood become the daycation getaway New Yorkers crave. To get there, we skip the train or traffic-jammed drive and hit the water right away by taking the hour-long ferry ride from Wall Street. We pass the Statue of Liberty and Governor’s Island, zip under the enormous Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and speed past Coney Island before we land on the sands of Rockaway.

The cheerful courtyard at the Rockaway Surf Beach Club.

Locals Collective surf shop and cafe.

Nearly everything here is accessed by a casual saunter along the boardwalk, which stretches for miles along the coastline. First, it’s a stop at hang-ten hangout Locals Collective, a café, surf shop, and art gallery all in one. We sip watermelon juice and browse the surfboard selection while plotting out our day before heading back into the sun and walking a few blocks to Rockaway Brewing Co.—a favorite haunt during all seasons for its amber, stout, and fruity beer (the brewery also has an outpost in Long Island City). Back on the boardwalk, we head south among a sea of bikinis, bicycles, surfboards, and sandals to arrive at Ripper’s, an al fresco burger joint where the “beach juice” (a frozen concoction resembling sangria) is sweet, the picnic tables are electric pink and blue, and the vibes are always cool.

Just steps away, the surf is calm, calling for a dip—the Atlantic water is warm enough for a swim from late spring until early fall—but it’s a quick siesta on the sand before we grab one of the lime-green rental bikes dotting the boardwalk and ride over to the Rockaway Beach Surf Club for an afternoon cocktail in a colorful courtyard covered with dancing umbrellas strung overhead. There’s fresh coconuts and strong margaritas, and out back, the famed Tacoway shack serves fish tacos and citrusy guacamole. It’s only 3 p.m., yet the party is already well underway: There’s the crowd that played hooky from work, still dressed in their business attire; the group dancing in their wet bathing suits (no dress code here!); and the surfers chilling in the shade—all making for a scene that’s a little bit New York, a little bit Surf City, and 100-percent authentic.

The tide guide at Ripper’s.

Washington Heights

Exclusive Resorts Members rarely make it north of Columbus Circle, Sergio Martinez tells us. But there’s one neighborhood near the tip-top of Manhattan that is a must for those in search of a perfect “local’s day.” Washington Heights has long had plenty worth heading north for—culture, history, and spectacular views—but with the forthcoming release of local resident Lin Manuel-Miranda’s film, In the Heights, based on the Hamilton creator’s 2005 musical, the neighborhood is suddenly on everyone’s radar.

Pastoral views over the Hudson River from Fort Tryon Park.

We emerge from the A train at 190th Street to find a charming tree-lined neighborhood—like the old New York you see in movies. “There’s a real sense of quiet up there,” says Jeffrey Behrens, an Exclusive Resorts Concierge who has lived in WaHi, as it’s known to locals, for five years. “But you still get the sensibility of being in a classic New York setting.”

We’re at the southern entrance of Fort Tryon Park, a spectacularly verdant retreat created by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in the early 1900s and designed by the Olmsted Brothers (better known for their work as the architects of Central Park). We walk north through the garden’s rows of giant hibiscuses and violet crocuses and roses in every shade of red and pink, then wind through towering linden trees with views over the Hudson River and across to the Jersey Palisades, a lush stretch of land that Rockefeller also purchased to forever preserve the views.

Eggplant ragu croquettes at the Uptown Garrison in Morningside Heights.

As we head deeper into the park, we encounter a stone cottage— actually it’s New Leaf, a restaurant housed in another Rockefeller structure, where we dine on watermelon salad and crispy calamari. But more discoveries await. Farther north in Fort Tryon, we find a medieval structure right in the middle of the trees. Yet another Rockefeller creation, it’s the Cloisters, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts’ branch housing more than 2,000 works of medieval European art and artifacts. We linger in the museum’s gardens—themselves a display of medieval horticulture—before grabbing a quick cab down to 181st for speakeasy-inspired sips at Uptown Garrison, like the Business (a riff on the Prohibition-Era Bees Knees gin cocktail using lime instead of lemon) and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned (a twist on the bourbon classic using mezcal). Then it’s one last view to top off our day: Down to 175th to cross the High Bridge on foot. New York’s oldest standing bridge, built in 1839, it was closed for 40 years, until in 2015, when it opened as a pedestrian walk across the Harlem River. It’s a little-known stretch of past and present—some even say it makes for better photos than the Brooklyn Bridge. And it’s one of the city’s most magnificent secrets—whether you’re a local or a visitor who truly loves New York.

The gardens at the Met Cloisters.

Dumbo

You know Soho. You know NoMad. But do you know Dumbo? According to Lechintan, the nascent Brooklyn neighborhood is one of the destinations she sends venturing Members to most. “It’s one thing I always tell people to put on their to-do list,” she says. “It’s a really cool experience.”

Picture-perfect views of the Manhattan Bridge on Washington Street.

It starts with a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge—an iconic New York experience if ever there was one. Then, a short walk east takes us toward the Manhattan Bridge, which is where Dumbo gets its name from: the acronym means “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” Here, the neighborhood has been revitalized, yet retains its quintessentially Brooklyn vibe, brownstones, cobblestone streets, and all. We can’t help but take a few selfies on Washington Street, where the rows of red-brick buildings perfectly frame the bridge—a favorite on Instagram—before we cross over to the waterfront, where Empire Stores, an old warehouse turned new shopping complex, has everything you could want to eat, drink, or buy: jewelry from local designer Miansai, watches from Detroit game-changer

Empire Stores, a pre-Civil-War-era warehouse turned trendy shopping center.

Shinola, and an upscale food hall featuring stalls by celebrity names like David Bourke and Pat LaFrieda from the New York knowit-alls behind Time Out magazine. We linger on the Time Out terrace, admiring the views of Manhattan and Jane’s Carousel (a historic landmark that will soon celebrate its centennial), before heading over to Cecconi’s for upscale pizza and old-school charm. Our bellies stuffed with burrata, wild mushrooms, and parmigiano, we walk off some calories with a leisurely stroll to

Elegant cocktails are made by mixologists in black ties and white jackets at Cecconi’s Dumbo.

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. Opened in 2017, the hotel is a gathering place for locals and travelers alike—it put this neighborhood on the map when it debuted its rooftop terrace and excellent collection of restaurants that even includes a lobby farm stand. But this day, like any good day in New York, is all about views so we head straight to the top to Harriet’s Rooftop & Lounge to order a round of “wellness cocktails” (concoctions like vodka-cucumber-lime and tequila-watermelon-jalapeño have us almost feeling like we’re being healthy) and watch the Brooklyn Bridge and, just across it, Manhattan, abuzz with energy.

The lobby at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

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Change of Scenery

Skip the well-beaten tourist track and bypass the usual guidebook stops. These alternatives to the typical New York itineraries will have you discovering more of the Big Apple like a local.

Instead of Little Italy… Try Arthur Avenue

There once was a time that proud Italian immigrants ran a large portion of Lower Manhattan—which meant amazing pizza and pasta for all!—but today the neighborhood known as Little Italy is hardly more than a tourist trap. For the real deal, head to the Bronx’s Arthur Avenue, where the Italian contingent is still strong, with hot spots like the Arthur Avenue Market (a more authentic version of Eataly) and Zero Otto Nove (arguably the best trattoria in all of NYC).

Instead of Broadway… Try The Public Theater

There will always be another big-lights show on Broadway to get to, but for the culture vulture with a penchant for discovering the next Tony-winning show—before it makes it big—this landmark venue in NoHo has just the playbill. Some of Broadway’s biggest shows have started out here, from Hair to Hamilton.

Instead of Cronuts…Try Portuguese Egg Tarts

Sure, you could wait in line to try chef Dominque Ansel’s famous cross between a croissant and a donut (or, if you’re a New Yorker, you could just pay someone to stand in line for you). But once you’ve done it, move on to something with a little more soul and head over to Joey Bats Café, a charming bakery in the Bowery where the star is the sweet little pastel de nata, a warm crème brûlée wrapped in a flaky croissant that hails from Portugal.

Instead of Death & Co…Try Attaboy

The speakeasy trend has gotten so big, it’s nearly impossible to keep a good one “underground.” But Attaboy maintains the first rule of Prohibition drinking—secrecy—with its Lower East Side bar featuring just a handful of seats and nary a sign to welcome visitors. Arrive a few minutes before opening (6 p.m. daily) and ring the doorbell to get in.

Instead of Rainbow Room… Try Manhatta

Manhatta is hardly a secret by now, but while Danny Meyer’s much-talked-about restaurant on the 60th floor of a Financial District skyscraper gets plenty of buzz, it still manages to feel far more exclusive and intimate than the all-too-frequented Rainbow Room. Objectively speaking, its food is better; subjectively speaking, its views are better, too.

A wellness cocktail on the rooftop at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

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Five within Five

You don’t have to venture far from Park Avenue Place to have a perfect New York day. Here are five not-to-miss spots within five(ish) blocks of the Exclusive Resorts residences.

1. The Whitby

Drop in for an elegant breakfast or afternoon tea at the Orangery, a bright and eclectic dining room lit by a giant skylight in the back of this colorful hotel on West 56th Street.

2. The Grill

It’s ostentatious, yes, but this luxurious restaurant, and its bar, the Pool, is a must-try at least once. Come for the scene—you’ll find New York’s elite gathering here for lunch, drinks, and dinner every day of the week—and stay for the excellent Dover sole and flambé dessert.

3. Paley Park

One of a few “pocket parks” aroundManhattan, this pint-sized swatch of greenery at 53rd and Fifth is a pleasant respite—complete with a waterfall—during any afternoon shopping spree.

4. Rareties

This secret cocktail spot inside the Lotte New York Palace Hotel is hidden behind a velvet curtain just off the Madison Avenue entrance and packed with rare labels, from Louis XIII de Rémy Martin Rare Cask cognac to Pappy Van Winkle. Ask your Exclusive Resorts Concierge to request an invitation for you.

5. Monkey Bar

This storied restaurant—where F. ScottFitzgerald and Frank Sinatra were once regulars—certainly lives up to its name, with monkey paintings and memorabilia tucked into every nook and cranny. But it’s not all monkey business—the service is spot-on and the food is pretty fabulous, too.

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