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Manhattan Luxury: How to Live Like a Celebrity In NYC

By , September 25th, 2014

Manhattan is teeming with celebrities living out their every day lives in a non-glamorous, throw-on-sweats-to-go-to-the-coffee-shop kind of way. But that doesn’t mean your trip to the Big Apple can’t be A-list. Here are some ways to add glitz and glam to your next jaunt around the Big Apple.


Spend your night here

Manhattan Luxury hotel

The elegant facade of the Library Hotel. Photo by author

The Library Hotel, a boutique hotel located in Midtown, has a European feel to it and exclusive service that will make even the pickiest movie star happy. The rooms may be a bit “New York sized,” (meaning small) but their Junior Suites have enough room to spread out and curl up with your favorite novel. The real luxury from this hotel comes from their amenities: the rooftop reading garden turns into a hip bar after hours; their 2nd-floor reading room provides a variety of snacks throughout the day, including a wine and cheese social in the evenings and breakfast in the morning; and the Wi-Fi is free and fast. In a quirky touch, every room is numbered after the Dewey Decimal System and themed accordingly.

Do This in the Morning

MoMA in NYC

Enjoy a private tour of the MoMA. Photo by Ed Schipul

Skip the crowds at New York’s popular Museum of Modern Art and instead take a private tour. Offered to a small number of guests, private tours are led by a museum lecturer in the morning and guarantee an exclusive look at some of the museum’s most famous works. Once you’re done at MoMA, stroll a few blocks up 5th Avenue to Central Park where you’ll meet your guide from Central Park Tours to wander the Park’s quiet paths on your way to the Boathouse for lunch.

Eat Lunch Here

Luxury dinning Central Park

Pull up to the Boathouse in a rowboat. Photo by Kristi Kirschner

There’s something quintessentially New York about lunch lakeside at the Boathouse in Central Park. Tables under a beautiful covered terrace provide views of both the lake as well as Manhattan’s magnificent skyline. The menu changes seasonally and always features fresh seafood, perfect munchies and desserts that are to die for (if Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp is on the menu, order dessert first).

Do This in the Afternoon

La Prairie Spa NYC

Pure gold facial treatment. Photo by La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa

After a busy morning of sightseeing, it’s time to indulge in something truly relaxing and wonderful. While New York City has many great spas, there is none better than the La Prairie day spa at the Ritz Carlton. Treat yourself to a caviar massage, followed by one of their signature facials. Following the treatment, relax in their lounge, which feels right out of old Hollywood, or bliss out in one of their steam rooms. Whatever you choose, you’ll spend the afternoon completely relaxed.

Eat Dinner Here

Luxury Dinner in Manhattan

Three Michelin stars for the Bernandin. Photo by the author 

Chef Eric Ripert has developed quite a following thanks to his celebrity status and notorious friendship with bad boy chef Anthony Bourdain. But the cooking that happens at his flagship restaurant Le Bernardin is no laughing matter. This Michelin rated three-star restaurant features several evening tasting menus, but splurging on the Chef’s Tasting Menu (crafted by Ripert himself) is a must for any foodie. Each dish is prepared simply in a traditional French style; the simpler the preparation, the tastier the dish in my opinion. If you’re lucky, Ripert himself – with his quick wit and sexy French accent – may come out and greet you personally.

Do This in the Evening

Jazz bars NYC

Feel like you’re getting a personal jazz concert. Photo by Ryan Healy

One of the best things about being a celebrity in New York City isn’t all the glitz and glamour, but knowing the hidden little spots that tourists sometimes miss. You’ll feel like you stumbled into your own personal jazz concert when you descend down the steep, dark staircase to attend an evening show at Small’s in the East Village. It’s gritty and dark and the type of place you wouldn’t want to see with the lights on, but the jazz is sweet and soulful, the bartenders friendly and the crowd sways to the music until the pre-dawn hours.

What are you favorite posh experiences in New York City?