STARTING OUT
57th - 62nd Streets
The first stretch of Madison offers celebrity haunts and neighborhood favorites.
EAT & DRINK
Grab a bite at Tao (42 E. 58th St., 212-888-2288), where Bill Gates has been spotted and Michael Jordan and Vin Diesel like to party. Although Lavo (39 E. 58th St., 212-750-5588) is well known for its after-hours scene, the restaurant offers great salads and scrumptious brick-oven pizzas at lunch. Tucked away on the second floor of The Lowell Hotel, The Pembroke Room (28 E. 63rd St., 212-605-6825) is one of the city’s favorite spots for traditional afternoon tea. Here you can select from more than 20 teas to go with the sweet and savory finger food. Le Bilboquet (20 E. 60th St., 212-751-3036) has been attracting A-listers like Bill Clinton and Sting for more than two decades—make sure to order the Cajun chicken, the house specialty. A longtime favorite of visiting Euros for its see-and-be-seen crowd, Nello (696 Madison Ave., 212-980-9099) also draws boldfacers like Jennifer Lopez and Gisele Bündchen. Go to Amaranth (21 E. 62nd St., 212-980-6700) for a casual lunch of authentic Mediterranean eats, or join stylish locals at Il Mulino (37 E. 60th St., 212-750-3270), known for its superb Italian classics.
SEE
At the northeast corner of 57th Street, the 40-story Fuller Building (41 E. 57th St.) rivals the Chanin and Chrysler buildings in its Art Deco grandeur and is home to numerous prominent art galleries. The French Institute Alliance Française (22 E. 60th St.) is housed in a beautiful Beaux Arts building whose design is reminiscent of Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann’s famous Paris architecture.
SHOPPING HIGHLIGHTS
Shop for the whole family at Qiviuk (40 E. 58th St.), an ultraluxury knitwear brand whose pieces are worn by everyone from the Queen of England to Sarah Jessica Parker. For the hostess who has everything, stop by Lalique (609 Madison Ave.) for a set of crystal decanters, fine crystal jewelry, or an exquisite item from the new line, Anémone. The Fall/Winter 2015 collections at Mulberry (605 Madison Ave.) and Michael Kors (667 Madison Ave.; 790 Madison Ave.) offer stylish, layered looks that guarantee chic when temperatures drop. Stop by Morgenthal Frederics (680 Madison Ave.) to scoop up a pair of this season’s most stylish specs.
HOLIDAY GIFT PICKS
These gorgeous items do good and are guaranteed to make anyone on your list happy.
BAYSWATER BAG IN OXBLOOD DEEP EMBOSSED CROC PRINT
Considered a Mulberry bag icon, the Bayswater ($1,920) is a classic shoulder bag brought up to date with beautiful leather finishes like this deep embossed croc print. 605 Madison Ave., 212-256-0632; mulberry.com
GRACIE COLOR BLOCK TOTE
Lightweight and luxurious, the Gracie tote ($1,190) fuses essential functionality with elegant craftsmanship. 667 Madison Ave., 212-980-1550; 790 Madison Ave., 212-452-4685; michaelkors.com
TYRA
From the Style Icons Series by Morgenthal Frederics, the Tyra ($465) pairs classic styling with elite technology. The glamorous piece is handcrafted in Japan from lightweight beta-titanium and thin-gauge acetate. 680 Madison Ave., 212-838-3090; 944 Madison Ave., 212-744-9444; morgenthalfrederics.com
ELTON JOHN MUSIC IS LOVE FOR LALIQUE
To benefit Elton John’s AIDS foundation, the French lifestyle company and master of crystal has collaborated with the entertainer on a collection of decorative items, which includes three limited-edition crystal pieces: a standing angel ($1,800), a red heart ($1,800), and a clear heart ($1,200). 609 Madison Ave., 212-355-6550; eltonjohnmusicislove.lalique.com
GOLF JACKET AND ARCELIA DRESS
The knitwear company specializes in clothing made in its namesake material, qiviuk, a superfine fiber from the innerdown of the musk ox. The ultralight yet warm golf jacket ($2,600, left) and Arcelia dress ($1,275 , right ) are both handcrafted with the precious fiber. 40 E. 58th St., 212-826-3388; qiviuk.com
