Walker Hotel Tribeca

Worth getting out of bed for

The Lobby Lounge is the hotel’s social heart – guests and locals unite over common ground, particularly the Blue Bottle Coffee outpost and iconic mid-century furniture. It’s a buzzy place to kill an hour or two, but if you’re looking for peace and quiet, decamp to the wood-panelled reading room. On sunny days and warm nights, ascend to the roof terrace for ice-cold drinks and quintessential NYC views.

New York has museums and galleries galore, many of them famous enough to need no introduction. One notable newcomer is Fotografiska New York, the second project by Jan and Per Broman, founders of the much-lauded Stockholm original. The Manhattan outpost has taken up residence in a neo-Gothic brownstone in the Flatiron District, and showcases work by some of the most exciting names in contemporary photography. For space and (near) silence, plot an escape to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a 52-acre green park with multiple themed gardens, including a blossom-wreathed Japanese section with over 200 cherry trees. Best of all, it lacks the caricature hawkers and other tourist traps of Central Park.

If you’re itching for a little retail therapy, style-savvy SoHo is just what the doctor ordered. The neighbourhood’s boutiques are as varied as the locals that live there – you’ll strike gold whether you’re hunting for a Chloé handbag or the designs of Rick Owens. Alternatively, head east to the South Street Seaport, New York’s original commercial hub. Hugging the banks of the East River, this historic area is home to the highest concentration of 19th-century mercantile buildings in the city, many of which now house boutiques, galleries and restaurants. In spring and summer, take the ferry across the East River to Grand Banks, an award-winning oyster bar on the decks of the Sherman Zwicker, a wooden schooner that once plied the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.

Local restaurants

If you’ve skipped breakfast, Bubby’s will hit the spot and then some. The thick pancakes, flakey strudels and pastrami-stuffed reubens are all winners at this comfort-food specialist. Franco-American bistro The Odeon has been a mainstay of Tribeca’s restaurant scene since 1980, when its orange neon sign drew diners like moths to a flame (back then, the surrounding streets were practically deserted after dark). Four decades later, the sign is still lit and the restaurant remains a go-to for burgers and steak frites, which are best accompanied by a martini mixed at the original art deco bar. Two Hands, at 251 Church Street, is another top-drawer burger joint. Don’t overlook its salad bowls, either, which are layered with grains or noodles and topped with succulent chicken, salmon or fresh greens. For a casual dinner, try Buvette in nearby Greenwich Village. It’s technically a French bistro, but chef-owner Jody Williams prefers the name ‘gastrothèque’ – an apt moniker given that it’s open for 18 hours at a time, making each day a succession of acts and actors. It’s no masquerade, however: Williams is serious about provenance, sourcing her ingredients from some of the best small suppliers in New Jersey and New York state. For fine dining with sky-high views, head uptown to Manhatta, Danny Meyer’s window-walled restaurant on the 60th floor of the Liberty Building. Chef Jason Pfeifer has created a menu that matches the stripped-back interiors – a three-course, prix-fixe selection of French classics.

Local bars

The Walker has one bar on the roof and another in the basement, making it easy to have a night out without actually leaving the building. If you’re set on an after-hours wander, one local spot that’s well worth a visit is Bar Pisellino, a wood-panelled, marble-topped homage to the quintessential Italian café. Early in the day, most people come for the energy-giving espressos, freshly squeezed orange juice and bombolini. As aperitivo hour approaches, attention turns to spritzes, Campari-spiked cocktails and plates of moresome cicchetti.