Instagram Worthy Spots in New York City

**Disclaimer: this article was written in partnership with and belongs to The Tuscany - A St. Giles Signature Hotel.

No matter what the season, occasion, or time frame, there’s nothing like the photos that come from a trip to New York City. But with so many iconic spots amid its expanse of skyscrapers, how can you know what to document first? While you probably already know about Times Square and Central Park, New York offers a vast expanse of untapped gems that are just begging to be photographed. Below, we outline our top undiscovered destinations that will snag you tons of double-taps on social media.

1. Jack's Wife Freda

You have to start the day off right in NYC with a hearty breakfast that will hold you over as you walk through the city, so why not make it a beautiful one, too? Enter Jack’s Wife Freda, an eclectic American-Mediterranean bistro named after the owner’s South African grandparents. Between the hand drawn illustrations on the menus, the inventive dishes (try the rosewater waffle!), and the colorful saucers, you’re guaranteed to snag a gorgeous brunch flatlay.

2. Met Breuer

This art destination may be the lesser known sibling of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but is arguably even more Instagrammable due to its smaller size. Its dramatic front entrance hints at the at the depths of the art found within, which touches everything from large, thematic exhibitions to one-off artist commissions.

3. La Esquina

Even in SoHo, a.k.a Instagram central, La Esquina stands out. Only those in the know are aware that this renovated deli exterior houses the exact sort of authentic Mexican decor and cuisine that makes Instagrammers giddy. Pro tip: visit this location at twilight to see (and snap) their neon.

4. Happy Bones

Just down the street from La Esquina is one of Manhattan’s most stylish coffee shops, founded by New Zealand expats. Beyond offering some of the best natural light in the city, Happy Bones prides itself on featuring local art, interesting publications, and tortoiseshell spoons—all of which can be used as props for their gorgeous lattes.

5. Greenwich Village

With a prime location nestled just above SoHo, Greenwich Village boasts some of the city’s best cafes, galleries, and shops. You can also nab some of the best cityscape shots (featuring One World Trade Center) at the intersection of Houston and Sullivan St. 

6. Bond St (NoHo)

You know something is prime Instagram fodder when Gigi Hadid moves in, right? It’s not hard to see why models flock to Bond St in droves—between the cobblestone streets, ever-present white London taxi (it belongs to Bond No 9. perfumery founder Laurice Rahme), and the wealth of unique storefronts, it’s hard to envision a more fittingly aesthetic neighborhood. 

7. Eggloo

There are few things more instantly Instagrammable than Belgian waffles, but Hong Kong egg waffles topped with ice cream may have them beat. Eggloo is the golden standard when it comes to this specialty dessert, not the least because each concoction comes with unlimited toppings. Pro tip: if you opt for regular ice cream instead of soft serve you can get it shaped into a rose.

8. High Line

It goes without saying that you’ll walk quite a bit in NYC, and if you’re seeking out a particularly unique jaunt look no further than the High Line. Where else can you walk along a restored city railroad and get views like these?

9. Banter NYC

This Aussie cafe specializes in the sort of healthy, meticulously arranged food that is the lifeblood of Instagrammers. Pop into this beautifully decorated noshery and grab a few stools facing the street—it’s the perfect backdrop for a closeup of their golden latte (made with a healthy dose of tumeric).

New York City with Hotel 48LEX

Happy #WanderWednesday everyone! I am so excited to show you what I did during my weekend stay at Hotel 48LEX in NYC. The schedule of course followed the usual rotation of food, outdoor activities, and shopping, but I ventured out to some new destinations (a few of which were hand picked by the boyfriend!) and found some absolute gems. Keep reading to find out more about my new favorite soba, snow cream, and snooze spots!

FRIDAY

This NYC jaunt ended up being a quick, food-centric trip with the boyfriend. We were relieved when we finally arrived at Hotel 48LEX after a grueling bus ride and were completely enamored with its industrial chic vibes, not to mention its central location in Midtown.

We loved our room, a gorgeous corner suite with floor-to-ceiling windows whose modern transitional decor was punctuated with dark, edgier accents. We were also greeted with an awesome bottle of Prosecco, which we drank giddily before venturing out for dinner. 

Tim (the boyfriend) actually picked out Soba-ya after seeing videos of the handmade buckwheat noodles on Instagram. I was so excited to try this East Village gem out, as it's also recommended on the Michelin Guide for 2017.

We ended up sampling the tempura assortment, the Tanuki (fried butter flake and fish cake) with udon, the Kinoko (saute’ed shimeji, enoki and shiitake mushroom) with soba and chicken, and the Zaru (cold soba with nori seaweed). Every element in each dish was so flavorful, and the noodles had phenomenal mouthfeel. My favorite dish was far and away the Tanuki udon, but I definitely wouldn't hesitate to try out anything else on the menu!

SATURDAY

We had a late start to Saturday but ended up strolling through SoHo towards brunch. I used the ShopDrop app to find a few sample sales in the area but didn't end up seeing anything I absolutely needed (I'm also saving up for a new Gucci Dionysus so I'm trying to cut down on the random sample sales for now!). 

We were dead set on trying out the smoked salmon towers at Sadelle's, and were not disappointed in the slightest. The smoked salmon is thinly cut by hand, and each tower comes with fresh veggies, homemade cream cheese, and warm bagels. Suffice it to say that it was one of my favorite brunch experiences to date. We also tried out their famous sticky buns, which were incredibly delicate and delicious. I seriously could've eaten 5 more!

We then meandered through Chelsea for the better part of two hours to walk off brunch, with the goal of hitting Chelsea Market and The High Line. We didn't have any itinerary in mind and just ventured into a few small shops along the way. I'd definitely recommend ambling around Chelsea if you're looking to find the more serene side of Manhattan.

We did stumble upon Snowdays in West Village, which serves up shaved cream, a type of shaved ice with the fluffy texture of snow and the taste and creaminess of ice cream. We ended up trying the Original, which featured their Sweet Milk base with peanut butter sauce, Cap'n Crunch, strawberries, and mochi. The texture of the shaved cream was impossibly light and delicious, and paired perfectly with the heavier toppings. This is definitely a must-try if you're in the area, especially if you're looking for a lighter dessert.

We finally reached The High Line around dusk, and ended up walking the length of it to The Whitney before turning around for dinner. It was actually my first time at The High Line, and I loved how idyllic and community-centered the whole park felt.

We rounded out our Saturday night with dinner in Chelsea Market itself, and sampled LOS TACOS no. 1, which were every bit as good as promised. So good, in fact, that we scarfed them before snagging a photo!

SUNDAY

We were sad to leave this view behind on Sunday but glad we were able to enjoy it for the weekend. 

We did get a chance to grab a cup of coffee in Hotel 48LEX's gorgeous lounge before we left, and definitely took a few interior design notes along the way. We weren't able to sample it this time, but the lounge also serves a daily European-style breakfast each morning and an evening wine and cheese pairing each night. I loved the little touches like these that really made our brief stay superb, and will definitely be back for a longer visit!

I hope you enjoyed my rundown of our trip and would love to hear your thoughts my restaurant recs! Feel free to comment if you have any questions on how I plan my trips, too.

x Kira

New York City with Hotel Elysée

Happy #WanderWednesday everyone! Today I’m bringing you highlights and recommendations from my trip to NYC over Memorial Day weekend, which features a stay at Hotel Elysée by Library Hotel Collection. Keep reading to find out what I did over the course my trip and what to bookmark for your next NYC excursion!

Friday

I was traveling to NYC with my little brother Alec and after slogging through Friday night traffic we decided to reward ourselves with some Chinese standards. We ventured out to Hop Kee, where we had sautéed watercress and beef lo mein underneath a dozen framed photos of Anthony Bourdain. The dishes was extremely tasty and authentic, and hit the spot for late night noms. 

Saturday

After waking up bright eyed and bushy tailed (read: in desperate need of caffeine!) at Hotel Elysée, we trotted to the second floor to take full advantage of the coffee station they have round the clock. This one undoubtedly one of the nicest amenities of any of hotel I've stayed at recently, as coffee is one of those things that is never in too full supply. 

We headed over to Chelsea for some photogenic brunch courtesy of Forager's Table. The restaurant is an offshoot of Forager's Market, an artisanal grocery store known for its ready-to-eat options. Alec had multigrain waffles with bacon jam and fresh berries while I gravitated to the chickpea and heirloom tomato stew with Merguez sausage and rosemary potatoes. My mouth is watering just thinking about how good these dishes were, and the service was awesome to boot!

We then ambled over to Chelsea Market to see the highly touted Artists & Fleas flea market. We ended up honing in on a Theory sample sale found through the ShopDrop app (where I scored a beautiful suede bomber for 80% off!) instead of perusing the stalls as the crowds were intense but could definitely see the appeal of snapping up unique jewelry, clothing, and vintage items.

We stopped into Toby's Estate for a quick mid-afternoon pick-me-up and had a really delicious mocha and flat white respectively. 

We stopped by Canal Street Market in SoHo on our way to Chinatown--there was an ample selection of curated retailers, ranging from food-based beauty products to hypebeast streetwear and everything in between. 

I had been eyeing Eggloo for a while, as who doesn't love imaginative, beautifully prepared ice-cream based snacks? This Hong Kong-based shop creates "cones" made from egg waffles that they then pair with ice cream or soft serve and unlimited toppings. We tried out the original waffle with chocolate ice cream, Oreos, whipped cream, chocolate drizzle, and chocolate Pocky and the chocolate waffle with black sesame soft serve, almonds, and mochi. Both were impeccable but I can tell you that chocolate waffle with soft serve is definitely the way to go!

We sauntered over to the waterfront to snag a few pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge before heading to Golden Unicorn to get our dim sum fix. This is one of my favorite places to get round the clock dim sum--the premises are clean and efficient, and while there is something lost from not having the Chinese women pushing carts around, the dim sum itself is still wholly authentic. 

Sunday

Sunday was much lazier, and getting out of bed was made that much more difficult by how cozy the bed at Hotel Elysée was. I loved the gold detail throughout the suite too, and the bathroom made great use of a tighter space--the luxurious feel was real between the gold and the fact that I had more than enough room for all of my toiletries!

After muscling my way out of bed, we traveled down to Atrium DUMBO to be met with the best blood orange mimosas ever. We also sampled their biscuits, eggs Florentine with crab, and fried chicken and waffles, which were all phenomenal. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I had suggested we come to DUMBO almost exclusively for this shot, and I was so glad I was tall enough to snag this over the heads of dozens of people who had the same idea.

We crammed in another caffeine sojourn at Brooklyn Roasting Company, which was beautiful and inviting with great coffee. The space looked like the perfect place to set up shop and work for the day, and I was almost sad to leave it so soon.

We stopped back at Hotel Elysée for a quick break and were delighted with the chocolate and wine that was left for us--a perfect snack on an easy Sunday, and one of those little details that made Hotel Elysée truly stand out. 

We rounded out the day with a trip to the Met, which was my favorite museum visit to date. They're currently featuring a truly stunning exhibit by Comme des Garçons at the moment so if you're going to be in NYC any time in the next few months you should absolutely check it out!

I hope you enjoyed this breakdown of our excursions--let me know if you end up visiting any of these places + if they are as awesome as you expected!

x Kira

What I'm Wearing: Paridaez

Since you guys know that I’m always on the lookout for luxe essentials that strike a balance between beauty and function, I’m hella excited to show you my latest collaboration with a local Boston brand, Paridaez! This clothing line transforms into completely different articles of clothing so you can do what you want, when you want, meaning you can take one top and wear it to work, cycling class, and then out again for drinks. Founder Allison Daroie’s stated mission from the get-go was empower women by giving them high-quality, versatile pieces that can transition across the many activities women have day-to-day, which is something I can 100% get behind, and a capacity I definitely saw while wearing these pieces.

I ended up shooting the Albatross, Heron, and Bird of Paradise pieces, and had a ton of fun shooting them and highlighting the simplicity and flexibility of the entire wardrobe. The neutral palette of the items fit perfectly into my current aesthetic as well, and I loved that I was able to convert each of the items so that it would have an entirely different function. Check out Paridaez itself for more info on the brand itself (highly recommend checking out the Shop page to see GIFs of all of the ways you can wear the different pieces!), and keep reading to find out more about how I personally styled them. 

1. Paridaez Heron in Light Blush // 2. Carbon & Hyde Empress Hyde Choker (see a replica by Forever21 here) // 3. SojoS Cat Eye Mirrored Sunglasses SJ1001 in Silver/Silver // 4. Zara Suede Effect Jacket in Grey // 5. Seychelles Ankle Strap Heels (mine are sold out but I found a very similar pair: Corso Como Caitlyn Sandals in Black Nubuck Leather)

The first look I shot centered around the Heron, which can convert between 2 dresses (1 wrap, 1 gathered) and 1 cardigan. I chose to highlight the wrap dress (hello my favorite way to show off curves!) and paired it with a leather choker, mirrored sunnies, suede moto jacket, and my favorite ankle strap heels to give it a little edge. I'd wear this out for a high-end brunch with my boyfriend in NYC, and could swap in some cute espadrilles or lace up flats to make the whole look a bit more wearable for an all-day look.

1. Paridaez Albatross in Black // 2. H&M Rough Texture Bomber (no longer available but here's a similar option: H&M Textured-weave Bomber Jacket in Black // 3. Aritzia Talula Monterey Bralette in Black // 3.1 Phillip Lim Hana Saddle Chain Bag in Black (only 2 left!)

I capitalized on the length of the Albatross skirt/dress/tank combo for my second look (my favorite overall!), which I styled as more of a going-out look, perfect for a rooftop/outdoor bar in Cambridge. I wore a bralette top, textured bomber, and my ankle strap heels along with my new fave accordion purse (a steal from Nordstrom Rack!), and loved that the Albatross kept everything trim around my midsection while flowing out nicely towards my knees to give me more mobility (something that more traditional pencil skirts lack entirely).  

1. Paridaez Bird of Paradise Top in Light Beige // 2. H&M Wide-leg Pants in Black (on sale!) // 3. H&M Biker Jacket in Black (also on sale!) // 4. SojoS Cat Eye Mirrored Sunglasses SJ1001 in Black/Gray

My final look focused on the Bird of Paradise top, which is reversible to give you a more conservative or fun look depending on the neckline. I thought this piece would look rad as a crop top, so I folded the top and then paired it with some flowy, wide leg pants, a leather biker jacket, and some sunglasses as a headband (truly the intersection of beauty + function in real time!). This is something I'd wear out shopping with my girlfriends, and could then wear out to a nicer dinner in the evening. 

Let me know what you think of my looks in the comments below! I'd love to hear what you guys think of this concept.

x Kira

My Beauty Routine: Top Five Dry Shampoos

Whether you’re looking to spruce up your hair after a blowout or trying to combat 3-days worth of hot yoga-induced oily roots, lemme just say, guuuurl, I got you. I’ve been using dry shampoo on the daily for the past 4 years. This isn’t because I have ridiculously greasy locks or work out every day (although I definitely use dry shampoo to combat those situations), but rather because I’ve found dry shampoo to be an essential tool in my hair styling arsenal. I typically use dry shampoo after blow drying my hair to add a bit of extra volume, texture, and subtle fragrance, but have compiled a list of my favorite tried-and-tested dry shampoos to suit whatever hair needs you can come up with.

#1 BEST ALL-AROUND ALLY

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo ($23)

This is my go-to for any and all hair snafus. Whether I’m running out to drinks after a quick workout or trying to add a bit of volume to my next-day blowout, the Detox Dry Shampoo does the trick. While Dry Bar also has different shades for brunettes and blondes, which can lend extra coverage, I’ve found their regular dry shampoo offers the best of all worlds—no dark marks on my clothing or skin if I run my hands through my hair; a light, clean scent that kills any other odors (smoke, city ephemera, etc.); and a medium-weight powder that soaks up any and all oil while leaving your hair perfectly fresh.

#2 BEST DAILY BLOWOUT ENHANCER

amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($22)

amika’s dry shampoo is my current favorite, the holy grail for women like me who blow dry their hair on the daily and need a little boost to keep their hair looking fly. (Disclaimer: I know you’re not supposed to dry your hair every day but as someone who is hair-obsessed I find myself feeling a million times better when I blow out my hair~) I spray this dry shampoo at my roots and it does exactly what it says—I get a little perk up that results in touchably soft, lightly volumized tresses. I’ve also gotten the most compliments on Perk Up’s sea buckthorn scent, which smells lightly citrusy and woody and altogether ah-mazing.

#3 BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo ($6)

Not Your Mother’s does a lot of things right, and their dry shampoo is no exception. This was the OG dry shampoo for me, purchased at a time when I needed a quick, cheap, reliable solution for day-to-day grime. Clean Freak relies on a heavier powder to do the heavy lifting, and truly lives up to its name as a shampoo by cleaning your hair without having to take a shower. This dry shampoo is always my recommendation for those who rely on dry shampoo to absorb a good amount of oil or those who seldomly use dry shampoo and want an inexpensive option to have on hand. Either way you’re golden, girlie!

#4 BEST FINE HAIR FINESSER

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk ($20)

While I don’t fall into the category of fine hair by any means, I’ve had many a girlfriend ask me to help them pick out a dry shampoo to boost their limp locks. Klorane’s Oat Milk formula is the overwhelming crowd favorite for my fine-haired friends, who credit the combination of rice and corn starches to adding much needed volume and oil absorption without weighing their strands down. While this dry shampoo doesn’t quite have the clean scent of the others, some actually prefer the light, oaty fragrance as it doesn’t compete with other perfumes.

#5 BEST HEAVY DUTY HELPER

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo ($22)

Living Proof prides themselves on their commitment to using science to create better products, and seem to extend that same commitment to you, meaning that you may have to experiment to get that perfect hair day they tout. Their formulation boasts a unique patented molecule that absorbs oil while smoothing your hair, ultimately adding polish and strength to tired tresses. While this sounds awesome in theory, and will absolutely transform a legitimately greasy mane into a date-worthy blowout, it only works if you have a lot of oil, especially beyond your roots. Because my own hair rarely gets to this point, it ended up weighing down my clean-ish hair, leaving it flatter than when I started. However, I’d recommend this to gals with noticeably oily strands, as I think this dry shampoo can change your life.

I hope you enjoyed this dry shampoo run-down! Let me know if this info has helped all of you boss babes out there trying to find the right dry shampoo to look fly on the go~

x Kira