Written by Alexandria Hilton

According to Alex Hanan

I am signed up for all types of travel-related newsletters. On any given day, I have travelled from the Mara River to Papua New Guinea to Greenland to the wide open sky of the American West all before 10am.

There are few newsletters that grab my attention but, not a shock to those who have ever shared a dinner table with me, the “best restaurants of ______” and “best places to drink in _____” ones really have a way of reeling me in!

Domestic travel has our ears perked and spines at attention here in the ATI office.

My love for dining write-ups and the stateside travel trends created a perfect storm for CNTs 33 best bars in New York City list to hit my desk and make me want to buy a plane ticket that very day.

I did not buy a ticket. I phoned a friend.

Alex Hanan is one of New York City’s most promising up-and-coming high fashion models. She and I also happened to attend school together for seven of our arguably most formative years. Although… moving to New York City solo to pursue her modeling career after finishing nursing school at one of the most rigorous universities in America has likely proven to be significantly altering… that’s a conversation for another time.

The purpose of this call: a cold, hard cross-reference.

I present to you all, treasured ATInsiders, with (working title)

Best Watering Holes of NYC, According to Its Most Famous Floridian Model

 

The “been there, done that, can attest to its legitimacy” list

  • schmuck.
  • Tigre
  • Dante

The “never been but want to go” list

  • Superbueno
  • Bemelmen’s note: her friend’s favorite martini
  • Sip n guzzle
  • Death and co
  • The Rapid Response Round:
Now, time for a Q&A:

Q: Best spot for a solo sit at the bar kind of evening?

AH: Book Club bar if I want to be quiet and read. American bar if I want a great martini and a good people-watch.

Q: Walking or hailing a cab?

AH: Subway if it’s not walkable, obviously! And um… off the record, you should probably do your research before you start these sorts of things!

Q: Best spot if you’re feeling peck-ish?

AH: that’s a tough one! Maybe Fiddlesticks pub?! The have great nachos and, oddly enough, a fabulous chicken ceasar salad?! Random, I know, but ask anyone… it’s unreasonably good.

Q: Best spot if you’re craving a dance?

AH: I struggle with this because I’ve yet to find the vibe I like here in the city — I’m not a house/EDM girl. If I had to choose, I’d say Lovers of Today; it’s small but it’s a great time and (fun fact) it’ the “dive bar on the east side” that Taylor Swift mentions in that one song…

Me: Okay, Maybe I’m hallucinating but I see a “day in the life of a NYC model” excursion in ATI’s future…