One of the best companies in the luxury travel biz is Abercrombie & Kent, which has been around since 1962. So I was thrilled when they joined our Williamsburg Bites Brooklyn Food Tour and then asked me to talk about a typical day in Williamsburg Brooklyn for their Sundowner Magazine!
The Cover
I get up early to hit a class at Yoga to the People or grab a Citi Bike to ride along Kent Avenue. I head to Greenpoint to explore the neighbourhood or towards the Williamsburg Bridge for a ride over the bridge into the Lower East Side and back. This is an excellent route for experienced runners as well.
Breakfast or brunch at Cafe Mogador makes me happy. To me, it epitomises a perfect blend of old and new Williamsburg. Everything on the menu is wonderful. Although chic and trendy, the pricing is still starving-artist friendly. It’s traditionally a Moroccan restaurant, so I usually go for the halloumi eggs – their homemade humous is delicious.
I’m a coffee lover and there are some amazing places to slow it down and enjoy conversation and people watching over a latte – Toby’s Estate, Blue Bottle and the local favorites, Devocion or Pudge Knuckles.
Williamsburg is chock full of amazing restaurants and cafés. French- inspired Juliette is a real gem of a neighbourhood eaterie. Meadowsweet has a Michelin star – be sure to make a reservation if you can. If you can’t, the waiting times for tables usually aren’t terrible. Alternatively, hit fantastic Motorino Pizza next door. Freehold showcases Brooklyn’s love for multi-use space. Creative types flock to this oversized complex, which contains a coffee bar, kitchen, massive cocktail bar, games area and courtyard space. The latest hotspot in Brooklyn is Sunday. A low-waste restaurant, it serves excellent food in stellar digs. If there’s a line at Sunday in Brooklyn, I head a couple blocks toward the Williamsburg Bridge and sip on a caipirinha from Brazilian bar Miss Favela – there might even be a samba band! On Saturday, there is also Smorgasburg, the world’s largest outdoor food market with over 100 vendors. It’s crowded but worth it: I just go early.
Afterwards comes the hard decision – to shop or to cocktail. Williamsburg is home to some of the best boutiques and vintage stores in all of NYC. My favourites are Concrete + Water, In God We Trust, The Vale Collective (Gentry across the street for men), Sprout Home and BEAM. For vintage pieces, I head to Beacon’s Closet. On Saturday and Sunday there is also Artists & Fleas, which is full of high-end artisans and vintage stalls.
During the summer, you’ll find me on the roof or at the pool at The William Vale hotel. Brooklyn Brewery is pretty special as is Brooklyn Winery. My hidden gem is Hotel Delmano, which is not really a hotel but a cocktail bar. It isn’t marked by any signage but it serves all the best drinks. It’s a firm favourite of the fashion set. You might spot Alexa Chung on the outdoor seating.
I try to catch sunset on the Williamsburg waterfront or on a rooftop. With the iconic New York City skyline in the background, it’s a fabulous way to end the day.
