I recently took a week-long trip to New York, one of my favorite places in the world. From home decor boutiques to architectural gems and inspiring tours, here are 10 design destinations on the island of Manhattan.
You can just walk the streets of New York and take in the sights.
There are the old buildings with their architectural details, which bear witness to the history of the city; the fire escapes, typical of the Big Apple; the facades of cafes and restaurants, highly Instagrammable… There are also the majestic plane trees, which unfortunately do not grow in Quebec; the yellow taxis that stop at yellow traffic lights… Then there are the stylish people, lots of stylish people – and others who look like characters from a movie. And if you go at the end of April, as I did, there will be the pretty soft green of the trees coming back to life, as well as the soft bloom of the cherry blossoms that brighten up many parks.
You can just wander the streets of New York and take in the sights, I said, but the ideal is to set a destination… and wander around on your way there and/or back to your hotel or Airbnb.
Here are 10 New York destinations for design and architecture lovers, for those who love beauty.
1 – Brooklyn Bridge: a walk with a view
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge, opened in 1883, is more than just a destination: it’s a pleasant 45-minute walk on a wooden pedestrian level that, if you’re starting from Brooklyn, offers the best view of Manhattan. The geometry of the metal cables as you approach the pillars is mind-blowing. You can also admire the monumental structure beforehand by walking along the bank of the East River. Bonus for parents: at the foot of the bridge, you’ll find a splendid restored carousel protected by a glass pavilion – what child would say no to a ride? Definitely a $3 well spent!
Photo credit: 
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
2 – Restoration Hardware: luxury on six floors
If you love interior design like me, you'll take advantage of your visit to New York to rummage through the Mecca of chic and luxury, namely Restoration Hardware (now simply RH), which moved to the Meatpacking District, on the west side of the island, in 2018. We walked around the old store in 15 or 20 minutes... The new "store" has 90,000 square feet spread over six floors - it's like being in a small shopping center! The building also includes a restaurant and a rooftop terrace (phew!). After your visit, wander the surrounding streets of the Meatpacking District, which has become a mecca for fashion and design.
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
3 – Soho and Greenwich: for the architecture and the vibe
For anyone who loves beauty, going to New York and not wandering the streets of Soho and Greenwich is a sin! The century-old stone and brick houses, their ornate cornices and dormers, the meticulously maintained vegetation, the cafes and restaurants on every street corner (or almost): so many charms to which it is impossible not to succumb. If Soho can be rather vibrant and commercial, Greenwich is calmer and more intimate. Both neighborhoods can be explored, even at a slow pace, in just a few hours. Plan an extra hour for an aperitif on a terrace, watching the stylish people come and go... The vibe is very New York.
Photo credit: 4 – The High Line: nature perched high up
The High Line is a linear park built on former elevated railway tracks on the Lower West Side. It stretches for 2.3 kilometres, from 34th Street in the north to Gansevoort Street in the south. I walked it in 2012, shortly after it opened, and fell in love with it. Twelve years later, the vegetation is so much more luxuriant! Modern street furniture (benches, tables and terraces) is placed all along the path, allowing you to stop if necessary. The views of the city are new, and the buildings that line the park – just a few metres away – display unusual architecture. And to think that, at the end of the last century, the City almost razed the railway tracks!
Photo credit: 5 – Times Square: a futuristic beauty
The place is highly touristic, yes. But it is also unique in the world. Times Square is the peacock of New York – a peacock that ostentatiously displays its giant multi-colored screens to impress the entire world. Times Square is a mixture of exuberance, excess and modernity, perhaps the greatest symbol of the USA. Constantly evolving, the neighborhood next to Broadway is an example of a development that reinvents itself as technology advances. I don’t go there every time I travel to New York, but if you’ve never been, a visit is a must. It has a futuristic beauty. (PS. Where does Times Square get its name? From the New York Times newspaper, which set up its headquarters there in 1904.)
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
6 – Grand Central Terminal: a well-kept secret
Among all the attractions that the Big Apple has to offer, Grand Central Terminal goes unnoticed. And yet, the Midtown train station is an architectural gem. Dating back to 1871, partly demolished and rebuilt over a few decades, the station was restored in the 1990s. Surprise: under layers of dirt and soot, we rediscovered the magnificent ceiling of the main hall, a starry sky created by the French painter Paul-César Helleu. Many movie scenes have been shot in the building, including North by Northwest, Superman, K-Pax, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I Am Legend and Avengers … My advice: go buy a coffee on the lower level (a food court ) and wander for 30 minutes in the main hall looking all around and, especially, at the ceiling.
Photo credit: 7 – Crate & Barrel: in the absence of a store in Laval
I have always loved Crate & Barrel , for its designer products at a price that is, all in all, affordable. From 2012 to 2022, I frequented its only Quebec branch at Carrefour Laval. When it closed, I couldn't hold back a little "sniff"... So it was with pleasure that I reconnected with the American brand, right near the Flatiron Building, in a huge decor space spread over two floors. I particularly enjoyed the children's section. My son did too, by the way. The miniature furniture and little toy houses kept him busy for several minutes - while I rested in a seat next to it, as if everything had been planned (which is surely the case).
Photo credit: 8 – World Trade Center and Oculus: architectural high-flying
You can see it from afar, the World Trade Center, like a beacon indicating the southern end of the island. You take the subway and as you exit the station, “Wow!” you are blown away by its immensity. And yet, with its glass covering reflecting the surrounding clouds, the obelisk-shaped skyscraper blends into the sky. It was the first time I had visited Ground Zero without construction sites everywhere. It was also the first time I could see the spectacular Oculus completed. This subway terminal adjacent to the tower represents, in the words of its architect Santiago Calatrava, “a bird freed from the hand of a child.” You have to go inside to appreciate its vast hall and its impressive skeleton.
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
9 – Central Park: the must-see (even if you only have an hour)
Since we’re talking about beautiful things in New York, we have to mention Central Park. The work of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted (who also designed Mount Royal Park) has been spread over 341 hectares (477 football fields) since 1873 and includes several bodies of water. The Lake, located between 71st and 77th Streets, is probably the most romantic – you can even rent a boat (US$25/hour) and go rowing with your loved one. Only have an hour to spare? Opt for a mini-hike around The Pond, easily accessible via the southeast entrance. At the end of the day, in an unexpected calm, the view of the expanse of water with the buildings of 59th Street in the background is contrasting and memorable.
Photo credit: 10 – MoMA Boutique and Fishs Eddy: small souvenirs at reasonable prices
I always bring back a little souvenir from each of my trips. Nothing extravagant, most of the time a beautiful decorative object that will remind me of my trip. Where to go in New York to find such an object? My recommendations: the MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) boutique and Fishs Eddy . At the MoMA boutique (directly at the museum on 53rd Street, or in Soho on Spring Street), you will find typical New York items – I bought a small yellow taxi there for my son –, but especially derivatives of iconic objects of modern design. Think Marimekko or Mondrian. At Fishs Eddy (near Crate & Barrel), in a rustic farmhouse style decor, you will find a multitude of kitchen accessories, and lots of tableware. I still have at home a large glass, bought there in 2015, decorated with an engraving of the Brooklyn skyline ; When I drink Montreal water, I don't taste New York water – but images of the Big Apple inevitably come to mind...
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
Photo credit: @jfsm2010
Opening photo credit: @jfsm2010
