Summers by the beach may be relaxing, yes, but there’s an undeniable energy and magic to a New York City Summer. As a longtime resident of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, our founder and creative director Marina Cortbawi knows exactly how to unlock that magic. Take a tour through Marina’s adopted hometown, from her favorite contemporary art galleries to her local brasserie to an iconic print newsstand. Plus, discover the perfect styles to wear for all your city adventuring.
Le Crocodile
Tucked inside Williamsburg’s Wythe Hotel, Le Crocodile is everything a neighborhood brasserie should be: warm, inviting, bustling with energy. Their food is inventive and familiar in the perfect proportions, and I love the way they use seasonal vegetables.
Hauser & Wirth
Hauser & Wirth is one of the greatest contemporary art galleries, and all exhibits at their West Chelsea space are free and open to the public. I find something inspiring every time I stop in, like painter Jennifer Rochlin’s series of autobiographical paintings on hand-built terra cotta vessels.
Dia Art Gallery
Everyone knows the Dia Art Foundation in Beacon, New York, but the Dia Chelsea is a modern art gem that’s not to be missed (and it’s conveniently right across the street from Hauser & Wirth).
Casa Magazines
For a print magazine lover like me, Casa Magazines is legendary: an iconic West Village newsstand where you can find every magazine on the planet (over 2,500 titles!) no matter how niche or obscure. I always discover new publications when I visit.
Café Cluny
Just around the corner from Casa Magazines is Café Cluny, one of my longtime favorite spots to eat. I meet friends here for breakfast or lunch whenever I’m in Manhattan, and I always leave happy.
Stella Dallas
When I’m shopping for myself I’m usually buying vintage, and for incredibly cool vintage apparel and home textiles it doesn’t get any better than Stella Dallas in Williamsburg. The curation is pitch-perfect and there’s an incredibly vast collection of pieces you won’t find anywhere else.
The Merlette Brooklyn Studio
Our atelier in Williamsburg is my home away from home, and no list of my favorite New York spots would be complete without it. It’s where we dream up all of our designs, and we’ve had so many meaningful breakthrough creative moments here through the years.
Photographed by Camila Gutierrez.
