There's no denying that a huge part of
New York City lives in the lap of luxury. As the American fashion capital, most of the country's biggest designer brands operate here, not to mention a few European fashion houses as well. Here, they've taken over the fashion industry and, surprisingly enough, the culinary scene too. From Armani/Ristorante to The Polo Bar by Ralph Laurent, luxury labels have opened their own exciting hotspots throughout the Big Apple. Naturally, they offer the same high quality in their food and service as they do in their clothes and accessories.
Armani/Ristorante
If there's one designer who has truly proven that you can transform a fashion brand into an entire business empire, it's Giorgio Armani. After taking the fashion industry by storm in the 80s with his sharp suits and elegant style, he eventually took on the hospitality industry with his five-star hotels and culinary scene with his signature Armani/Ristorante. The one by Fifth Avenue, one of the more affluent
New York City neighborhoods, is right at home in the upscale district. The place serves up first-class Italian and Mediterranean cuisine complete with equally first-class service.
Source: Armani
The Polo Bar by Ralph Lauren
It's safe to say that Ralph Lauren is Giorgio Armani's American counterpart. Or to be more accurate, his rival! With the way both industry icons have expanded their fashion brands, it's almost as if they're competing to take over the world. Now, Ralph Lauren may have yet to open his own signature label hotels, but he does have The Polo Bar in Midtown Manhattan. It's a classic American restaurant that serves traditional American dishes in what is perhaps the most sophisticated hotspot in the city. Here, you can indulge in Tuna Tartare and Caviar & Potatoes paired with the bar's signature cocktails.
Source: Ralph Lauren
Ralph's Coffee
Ralph Lauren didn't just stop with The Polo Bar for his culinary endeavors. He has also set up “Ralph's Coffee” kiosks and cafes throughout Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue. They're not exactly traditional cafes in New York City, per se, but rather small coffee stops where you can get a quick cup and be on your way. The brand has even introduced a mobile coffee bar too, which stops at various parts of the metropolis, including the other
New York City boroughs. If you need a caffeine boost but have no time to sit down in a cafe, Ralph's Coffee is your next best bet.
Source: Ralph Lauren
The Blue Box Cafe
Did you know that you can actually have breakfast at Tiffany's? No, you don't have to buy a croissant and eat it in front of the iconic Fifth Avenue store a'la Holly Golightly! The iconic
American jewelry brand set up The Blue Box Cafe to let people live out their truest Audrey Hepburn fantasies in real life. Headed by Michelin-starred chef and French restauranteur Daniel Boulud, this Tiffany blue-rendered space is the chicest brunch spot in the Big Apple! Indulge in some soft Madeleine cakes and Chocolate & Banana Parfaits pared with a Glass of Golightly (fruit juice). Or, of course, a soft croissant with a warm cup of coffee.
Source: Tiffany & Co.
RH Rooftop Restaurant
Fashion labels aren't the only designer brands that have set up culinary hotspots in New York City. Luxury home furnishings retailer Restoration Hardware has its own Rooftop Restaurant atop its six-story flagship in the trendy Meatpacking District. Naturally, this elegant space is filled with the retailer's finest designs, making it a treasure trove for any homebuyer and interior designer out there. But what about its food? Does it match the high-class restaurant? Of course,, it does! European dishes and expensive caviar define this place's menu, perfect for its elite customers.
Source: Restoration Hardware
Fashion truly reigns supreme in the Big Apple. The biggest designer brands have also set up some of the chicest luxury restaurants in New York City, further proving that they can incorporate their signature high-class styles in the city's foodie scene too.
