New York Restaurants To Have On Your Radar

1. Jean-Georges’ Tin Building

I’m technically starting with a whole Tin Building packed with 15 restaurants and bars and six different retail spaces all curated by famed French chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Inspired by the flavours of his childhood spent travelling America, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico and all over Europe, the immersive concept is also a tribute to the now-closed Fulton Fish Market in which the Tin Building resides.

Tin Building market level, New York restaurants

Head to Tin Building to stock up on locally sourced produce. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

You could quite literally let your tastebuds travel the world by visiting the different restaurants, including timeless French fare at T.Brasserie, vegetarian creations at Seeds & Weeds, sushi and sake at Shikku, fun takes on the classic egg brekkie sandwich at Double Yolk, fresh seafood at Fulton Fish Co. and so much more. Or, my personal favourite, loosen your belt, gather a group together and indulge in a private degustation with a taste of every restaurant and cafe under the Tin Building roof.

This is also where you can come to grab grocery essentials, from locally farmed fruit, veg and fish to freshly baked bread to pantry items to bouquets of flowers. It’s so hip it was featured in season two of And Just Like That.

abcV restaurant at Tin Building, New York City

Or dine in one of 15 restaurants and bars, like abcV. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

2. La Cabra Bakery, Soho

Start your day right with a genuinely good coffee (as in, Australian-standard good) or authentic matcha latte to wash down the incredible selection of pastries on offer at La Cabra Bakery in Soho. This is where I finally understood why Americans are such big fans of cinnamon scrolls – Cinnabon, this is not. You’ll most likely have to line up, but it’s fast-moving, and you can spend your time watching the pastries chefs prepare and bake the goodies from their open kitchen behind the front counter.

The space features minimalist, sleek Nordic design features, including Kasper Würtz ceramics, to sit down in (if you’re lucky enough to nab one of the few tables set up out front) or simply enjoy while you wait to order. Their original location is in East Village.

La Cabra Bakery, Soho, New York restaurants

Watch the pastries chefs prepare while you choose your pastries. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

3. Dante, West Village

Owned by Aussie, Linden Pride, the West Village location of Dante is perfect for a creative cocktail and nibbles. Find everything from the Dante twist on the classic Martini, to original concoctions like the ‘With A Twist’ cocktail made with absolut citron, gin, carpano dry, essence of grapefruit, lemon and lime. While you shouldn’t sleep on the food offerings here – they’re focused on a wood-fire grill and charcoal oven – head to the original location on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village for dinner.

The decor feels like stepping back in time, to a classy, tiled bar of yore complete with leather booth seats and a three-piece live band. vines stretch around inside and out, making this the perfect oasis to step into off the busy (and greenery-free) New York streets.

Step back in time for a pre-dinner cocktail and nibbles at Dante. (Image: Kassia Byrnes)

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

3 New York restaurants to have on your radar, according to Neil Perry

Wondering where to eat in New York? Let Neil Perry’s top picks guide you on your next trip to the Big Apple.

1. Jean-Georges’ Tin Building

2. La Cabra Bakery, Soho

3. Dante, West Village

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