PortableNYC

Umberto’s Clam House

Come here for clams or scallops, and don’t mention what happened here in 1972… Location: 132 Mulberry Street, between Grand and Hester Streets in Little Italy Umberto Ianniello, the original owner, recognizing the dearth of Italian seafood restaurants in Little Italy, decided to open his own establishment. The restaurant, with its unpretentious atmosphere and flavorful…

Jefferson Market Library

The striking High Victorian Gothic building doesn’t just look beautiful… it’s certifiably beautiful. In 1885 Jefferson Market was voted as one of the 10 most beautiful buildings in the United States by a national poll of architects! Location: 425 6th Ave Built: 1873-77 Architects: Frederick Clarke Withers and Calvert Vaux Originally known as the Jefferson Market Courthouse,…

Little Church Around the Corner

A tranquil church with a peaceful courtyard in the heart of Midtown is known by its nickname – the “Little Church around the corner.” Location: 1 East 29th Street Founded: 1848 Architect: Frederick Clarke Withers Tucked away behind a serene courtyard, the Church of the Transfiguration is an unexpected oasis amid the hustle and bustle…

Appellate Division Courthouse

The statues on top of the courthouse represent the world’s most important lawgivers. But one is missing… Location: 27 Madison Ave Built: 1896-1899 Architect: James Brown Lord The most distinct feature of the stately courthouse is that it is embellished with about 30 statues designed by the sixteen most esteemed sculptors of the day. Around the…

The Players

The Players is a private social club formed to promote communication among artists and patrons of the arts. Modeled after London’s famed Garrick Club, The Players was the first American club of its kind. Location: 16 Gramercy Park South Built: 1844 Architect: Stanford White The Players was founded in 1888 by Edwin Booth, the widely-known…

The Ansonia

Scandalous and stylish, the Ansonia is a Parisian vision on the streets of New York Location: 2109 Broadway, between West 73rd and West 74th Streets Architect: Paul E. Duboy Built: 1904 Much like people, buildings have faces. The Ansonia is like a beautiful French lady whose Parisian looks and New York proportions make her singularly…

The San Remo

The Aristocrat of Central Park West Location: 145 Central Park West Architect: Emery Roth Built: 1930 The iconic silhouette of San Remo is defined by two soaring towers, creating the most distinct and recognizable view along Central Park West. San Remo, a luxury apartment building designed by Emery Roth, was billed in advertisements as “the Aristocrat…

William Barnacle Tavern

William Barnacle Tavern 80 St Marks Pl A divey, unpretentious pub specializing in absinthe – a high-proof grain alcohol made with anise, fennel, and wormwood with a strong black licorice essence. The tavern dates as far back as the 1830s. During the Prohibition, it was owned by Frank Hoffman, a Bavarian-born well-connected bootlegger whose friends…

The Ship

THE SHIP 158 Lafayette St A tasteful and civilized place for a perfect cocktail, quiet conversation, and a friendly attitude. The Ship is a semi-hidden bar designed, in keeping with its name, as a ship. The bar is located behind a nondescript door on a plain block on the border of Soho and Little Italy….

The Raines Law Room at The William

THE RAINES LAW ROOM AT THE WILLIAM 24 East 39th St A dark, cozy space with the feel of a Victorian house; it’s adorned with a fireplace, antique furniture, and a book-lined library. The bar is designed to feel like a traditional Victorian house, with a cozy bar room and a traditional English library room…

The Palm Court

The Palm Court 768 5th Ave at 58th St, inside The Plaza Hotel This spectacular room, with its soaring stained-glass roof, transports you to the times of old-world elegance. It was once said, “Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza.” When The Plaza opened its doors in 1907, it was advertised as the Greatest Hotel…

The Garret

The Garret 296 Bleecker St Skylighted secret bar atop a burger joint. With couches, books, artwork and a fireplace, the Garret feels like a sunny living room. If you come when it’s not busy, you can bring your burgers up and wash ’em down with one of 14 tap beers or with a cocktail prepared…