New York is overwhelming. It always makes me want to do things. I don’t know if it’s the people, the pace, or just something in the air, but every time I’m here, my dreams feel a little more possible.
I’ve lived here and come back at different ages, through different chapters of my life.
As a little girl, as a student, as a businesswoman, with my dad, with different boyfriends. Happy, heartbroken. With a plan, and with absolutely no idea what I was doing.
October is one of my favorite times to be there. The air gets crisp, the city starts dressing up for Halloween, storefronts get their seasonal makeover and there’s a certain energy that makes you want to spend the entire day outside discovering new places.
Over the years, I’ve walked countless blocks, made a few questionable reservations, found places I keep coming back to, and collected addresses I always end up sharing with friends.
So, here’s my New York edit for October.
A mix of places I love, new discoveries and a few personal favorites. From a day wandering around SoHo to a good dinner, a coffee stop or a hotel worth checking into, these are the places I’d put on my list right now.
SoHo edition
A neighborhood I never get tired of. The best way to experience SoHo is to leave some room for wandering. Between its cast-iron architecture, independent boutiques, beautiful storefronts and excellent coffee stops, you can easily spend an entire day here without needing much of a plan.
WHERE TO EAT
- Bar Pitti
- Oresh
- Chinese Tuxedo
- Graciela
- Lure Fishbar
- Strakers
- Quique Crudo
- Lilia Ristorante
WHERE TO SHOP
- Khaite
- Róhe
- APL
- The RealReal
- The Doors
- Fleur du Mal
- Jacques Marie Mage
WHERE TO STAY
- The Twenty Two
- The Greenwich Hotel
- The Mercer
- Fouquet’s
- Casa Cipriani
- The Dominick
- Crosby Street Hotel
- Faena New York
COFFEE STOPS & LITTLE BREAKS
- Blank Street
- Sant Ambroeus
- Happier Grocery
- Fast Times
- Maru
Hidden gem: Happy Beginnings Studio
I came across Happy Beginnings Studio in Chinatown, a photography studio run by photographer Tomas Tran, and immediately knew I wanted to share it.
The concept is simple: you get one photo. Just one. No endless retakes, no scrolling through a hundred options, no trying to find the perfect angle. Tomas takes the picture with a camera an ex-girlfriend once gave him, and he doesn’t even know exactly what year it’s from.
For someone who is used to taking a hundred photos just to choose one, having to trust the first shot was a different kind of experience. And somehow, it turned out perfect.
I loved the idea behind it. In a city where everything moves so fast and we’re constantly trying to capture the perfect moment, there’s something refreshing about letting go of control and keeping just one photograph. Some experiences are better when you don’t overthink them.
This is definitely one of them.
