Word of Mouth: Where To Stay Cool in Manhattan
Some of our favorite places to duck into and dodge the heat
It’s hot out there. However that doesn’t mean that one needs to cower in the air conditioned confines of their apartment or book an escape to cooler coastal locales to find relief. This is Manhattan after all—the place where everything and anything exists. So no matter how high the temperature climbs, there are plenty of ways to stay cool, from a soothing hotel and distinct public park, to body-friendly technical fabrics and refreshing libations. Please enjoy this selection of some go-to spots to chill out around the city.
Aether SoHo
California-based apparel brand Aether knows a thing or two about staying cool. From their new Emery Collection featuring Pima cotton fabric to their generously ventilated Mulholland moto jacket, the brand has proven themselves adept at making apparel that works hard to keep you comfortable. Our first experience with Aether was with their winter pieces, which are equally as good at retaining heat as the spring/summer pieces are at dispensing with it. From this we’ve tended to associate Aether with waterproof down jackets and cozy knitwear, but now having gotten our hands on pieces in their new SoHo boutique we’re just as likely to think of their “Wonder Technical” and “Trek” pieces.
Dante
Since winning the World’s 50 Best top honors in 2019, much has changed for the little bar on MacDougal Street, but fortunately much has remained the same. While the brand has expanded to include Dante West Village and Dante Beverly Hills (on the roof of the Maybourne Hotel no less) sidewalk tables in front of the original Caffe Dante remain our favorite place to sip one of their signature Negronis or Martinis. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but the Golden Sbagliato included in the daily 3 to 5PM “negroni sessions” is one of our enduring favorites, as is the Bicicletta from their spritz menu. Similarly, we rarely visit without ordering the house-made focaccia, marinated olives and burrata. If you’re opting for something more than a snack, their bucatini amatriciana and black sea bass are standouts and a more robust menu of large dishes is offered at the West Village location thanks to the expanded kitchen with charcoal oven and wood fired grill.
Cork Cafe & Wine Bar
Occupying the former home of Vin Et Fleur, Cork Cafe & Wine Bar has a lot to live up to. Fortunately they’ve retained the European neighborhood cafe vibe that made the previous occupant so attractive on hot afternoons and warm, breezy evenings. Cork primarily serves wines from small family-owned producers in Europe and we’ve found many a bottle on their extensive list that we’ve added to our stock at home. Whether you’re drinking a juicy chilled red from Beaujolais or crisp Gavi di Gavi from Piemonte, there’s a selection of cured meats and cheeses to pair with it. In addition there’s a small cafe menu served until 3PM daily and a tapas menu after that. Cork is one of those places we can return to again and again, especially on Sunday evenings when they have live jazz from 6 to 8PM. If you’re looking for a quintessential summer evening in Manhattan, we can’t recommend it enough. Sure, there are a multitude of other places in the city that offer a similar experience, but at this little hallway bar on Thompson Street, it feels authentic.
& Son Steakeasy
Occupying a 190 year townhouse at 62 W 9th Street in Greenwich Village, & Son Steakeasy is one of those rare examples of the experience living up to the hype. Their $25 “Adult Happy Meal” (consisting of a prime beef burger, skinny fries and a cold brew cream martini) has made the rounds on social media and having tried it ourselves we’d agree that the attention is well deserved. The interior design and menu lean heavily toward traditional NYC steakhouse cuisine, but there’s enough self-awareness at play to make it feel contemporary. For example, the “Martini Dinner” available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays features four USDA prime beef options served with fries and a martini served “Filthy AF.” You’d also do well to not skip their Pigs in a Blanket or the Mason Jar Blueberry Cheesecake. When all is said and done downstairs, try and head up to “Father’s Study Speakeasy,” which has the distinction of reviving a space that was in fact an actual speakeasy during Prohibition. The cocktail menu is thoughtfully crafted and there’s plenty you’ll want to sample, but nothing is quite as refreshing during the summer as a great gin and tonic—and wouldn’t you know it, they call theirs the “Perfect G&T.”
Greenacre Park
Did you know there’s a public park with a waterfall in Manhattan? Designed by the renowned landscape architect Hideo Sasaki and completed in 1971, Greenacre Park is certainly among the most tranquil public spaces in Manhattan. The 25-foot waterfall, made of granite blocks, may be the headline attraction, but the brook it feeds and the twelve honey locust trees make Greenacre a truly pleasant place on a sunny, summer day. Unique in so many ways, the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. We urge you to not only make a detour to the park if you find yourself nearby, but to make it a destination, as Sasaki envisioned it as such.
SoHo Grand Hotel
From the moody lobby to the relaxing rooms, the SoHo Grand is most certainly a spot to stay cool in Manhattan. The city views, friendly staff, convenient location and reliable bar menu have kept us coming back to this hotel for years. Those traveling dogs will be especially grateful for access to the shady private dog park just around the corner. A few steps in the other direction when exiting the front door of the hotel you’ll find access to Gilligan’s, the lushly decorated seasonal patio bar and restaurant that transports you far from Manhattan. Start with a round of one of their signature frozen drinks like the Limoncello Pina Colada or the refreshing Sea La Vie. Then order the roasted branzino to share. alongside a squash blossom pizza or some oysters. Wash it all down with a glass of chilled Albariño or one of Gilligan’s signature frozen drinks.
What are your thoughts?