Everywhere Fashion People Will Be Eating, Drinking, and Shopping in NYC This Fall

There's really nowhere else like New York. Between the energy, the people, the entertainment, and the style, NYC has always had that It factor that makes it irresistible to anyone who's ever visited—and impossible to live elsewhere for anyone who calls it home. And it doesn't take an expert to see that one of the most defining experiences of New York is the social life. Going out for a drink or dinner, or finding a place to stay can be an overwhelming endeavor since the city is flooded with world-renowned restaurants, buzzy bars, and iconic boutiques at every corner.
Well, not to sound biased, but no one has a better pulse on the city's coolest hangouts than our team of fashion editors. The previews, events, and dinners we regularly attend bring us all over the city and often allow us to be one of the first to experience a new restaurant, bar, or shopping destination. I recently surveyed our fashion team to find out where they're actually hanging out, so you don't have to get lost among all the TikTok reviews and "best of New York" lists out there. Simply take our word for it: these nine hot spots are the only you need to know.
Dining
Chez Fifi, Upper East Side
Uptown is becoming the new downtown with the arrival of several buzzy spots on the Upper East Side, first and foremost being Chez Fifi. The lacquered bistro blends French and Japanese influences but perhaps even more inviting is the design: luxe velvet booths, vintage chandeliers, and the family's personal art collection including works by Miró and Calder punctuate the space.
What to Wear
I Cavallini, Williamsburg
Brooklynites have plenty of incredible restaurants to make Manhattanites jealous these days, and the arrival of the city's hottest—and hardest-to-get table—is only further cementing their bragging rights. I Cavallini is the new seasonal Italian spot by The Four Horsemen team that also happens to sit cattycorner from the original small plates and natural wine concept. Expect fresh pasta dishes, a bar stocked with Italian amari, and of course, good music to match. One of the owners is the mastermind behind LCD Soundsystem, after all.
What to Wear
Maison Nur, Lower East Side
Sometimes the dinner reservation is driven by the vibe of the place more than it is by the menu itself, and that's okay. Actually, it's more than okay when the spot in question looks as good as Maison Nur does. The French-American restaurant is dark and intimate with a marble bar and jewel-toned velvet banquettes. Situated on Bowery just below Houston, it's the ideal starting point to a downtown night out.
What to Wear
Drinking
Pearl Box, SoHo
Tucked inside a SoHo townhouse is one of the most glamorous and opulent places to drink a martini in New York right now. The whole place is lined in red with a heavy 1970s aesthetic that works well. This is where to head for a sultry date night complete with caviar service and a candy bowl dessert.
What to Wear
Bar Oliver, Chinatown
Whenever you're feeling the urge to pack it all up and move to Europe, head down to Bar Oliver. Situated at a sharp corner not far from the buzz of Dimes Square, the San Sebastian-inspired spot is quickly earning Le Dive-level cult status with a Basque country twist. Head here to sit outside on a low stool, sip on vermouth and graze on pintxos, jamon, and pan con tomate while people watching. It's a bit of scene, but makes for a chic evening.
What to Wear
People's, Greenwich Village
There's nothing the fashion crowd loves more than a word-of-mouth recommendation, and when People's first arrived on the scene, getting in was by invitation-only. The evening club, art salon, and speakeasy is a space that defies definition. Is it an art gallery? A nightclub? Owners Margot Hauer-King and Emmet McDermott describe it instead as "the kind of place one might sneak away to after dinner with close friends."
What to Wear
Shopping
Printemps, FiDi
A feast for the eyes, Printemps is the iconic French department store that's landed in downtown NYC to much fanfare. To get a sense of just how much is involved here (five dining options! A champagne bar! An entire shoe floor!), the website's landing page asks you to plan your visit based on whether you have one hour, a few hours, or an entire day to spend—and an entire day is needed to soak in every inch of the whimsically-designed spaces.
What to Wear
Luisaviaroma, NoHo
Sleek and hypermodern, Italian e-tailer Luisaviaroma's outpost at 1 Bond Street is the curated luxury destination of every fashion person's dream. Think the soon-to-be-sold-out Alaïa flats next to Phoebe Philo's latest collection.
What to Wear
Still Here, NoLiTa, Upper East Side, and Williamsburg
Only the coolest girls shop at Still Here, and that's a fact. The denim brand just opened its third outpost in Williamsburg and is officially well on its way to outfitting every stylish New Yorker in its denim and basics inspired by '90s nostalgia. Pro tip: don't skip the selection of hand-curated vintage at the UES location.
What to Wear
Anna is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of the Who What Wear team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a number Who What Wear cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.
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