Month: November 2025

NYC Diaries; An Afternoon Wandering The West Village

November 30, 2025

Our afternoon exploring the West Village started long before we ever set foot in its leafy streets.

On the way downtown, we made a quick stop at the iconic Grand Central Station to grab some shots.

That celestial ceiling and the constant ballet of travellers moving beneath it makes this place feel magical.

As another location where many films are shot, it almost felt like we were on set starring in our own movie.

From there, we hopped on the subway and made our way to the West Village in search of the Friends apartment building on Bedford Street.

As a longtime Friends show fan seeing it in person was surreal, like stepping straight into the TV screen I grew up watching on repeat.

It’s funny how a simple building can hold so much nostalgia.

Every corner of this neighbourhood looks like it has been pulled from a movie set; brownstones with perfectly worn stoops, tree-lined streets, tiny cafés with outdoor tables, and endless photo-worthy pockets of charm.

We didn’t manage to find Carrie Bradshaw’s actual apartment from Sex and the City, but we did stumble across a stoop that looked almost identical.

Naturally, I couldn’t resist getting a few fun outfit snaps.

I was even wearing a Carrie Bradshaw inspired fit: a chic shift dress, my favourite sand coloured long boot heels, my new Polène handbag, and classic YSL black sunnies to complete the look.

As the afternoon went on, we kept discovering more of the West Village’s character. Quiet pockets of calm, stylish locals walking their dogs, bookstores tucked into corners, and that unmistakable creative buzz that only New York seems to have.

There’s so much more to see and I can’t wait to wander those streets again on our next trip, latte in hand, camera at the ready, soaking in every inch of that West Village charm ❤

NYC Diaries; Roosevelt Island Sunset Magic

November 23, 2025

I didn’t expect Roosevelt Island to become one of my favorite New York memories, but that’s exactly what happened the evening we headed up to Panorama Room for sundown drinks.

Perched on the rooftop of the Graduate Hotel, it felt like the entire city was laid out just for us.

As the sun dipped lower, the skyline slowly shifted into that dreamy, golden haze that New York does so wonderfully.

From the balcony we could see from Billionaires’ Row stretching sleek and tall, the Empire State glowing a vivid purple at sundown, and all the way downtown to the Financial District where the World Trade Center rose confidently in the distance.

I ordered a margarita which was deliciously bright and zesty, the perfect match for a warm fall evening in NYC.

We paired our drinks with fries expecting a small snack… but in true American fashion, the portion was absolutely massive!

Once the sun finally slipped below the horizon and Manhattan began to sparkle, we wrapped up our rooftop moment and made our way to one of the most underrated experiences in the city; the Roosevelt Island Tramway.

For just $2.90, we floated high above the Hudson River towards the bright lights of Manhattan at dusk.

The city looked magical from up there and it was awesome to see so far down the blocks lit up at night as the tram lowered through the streets of Manhattan.

If you’re ever in New York, I can’t recommend this little adventure enough. A breathtaking sunset on Roosevelt Island, a cocktail in hand, and a picturesque tram ride back under the night sky.

It felt like we had discovered a hidden gem just out of the city complete with unforgettable views of Manhattan from a whole new angle ❤

NYC Diaries; Boat Ride Down The Hudson

November 16, 2025

A trip to New York isn’t complete without seeing the Statue of Liberty, so we decided the best way to see her for the first time was from the water on a boat.

We booked online for a ferry tour which departed from Hudson River Park and lasted about an hour and a half.

Leaving the dock we went down the West side of Manhattan and past the Financial District.

The tour went up past Manhattan with DUMBO and Brooklyn on our right side.

We went under the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge and it was amazing to see these magnificent structures from a different angle

The boat then turned so Manhattan was on our right hand side and we got a great view of midtown including the Empire State building.

The tour took us back past downtown where we saw the famous Staten Island Ferry.

We then made our way towards the Statue of Liberty which was the highlight of the tour.

In all honesty, it is a lot smaller than I expected in comparison to all the the skyscrapers in the city, but it is a stunning structure which is so iconic to New York.

The boat finally made its way back up the West side of Manhattan and to the pier at Hudson Yards.

This was a fantastic way to see the city from the water and a brilliant bucket list moment to see the Statue of Liberty in all of her glory ❤

NYC Diaries; Times Square, The Highline & Chelsea Market

November 9, 2025

When visiting a new city we always like to book the hop-on hop-off Big Bus Tours as they’re a cheap and easy way to get around to see all of the major tourist attractions. On the third day of our trip we booked the tickets which last 24 hours so we could split the tour across two days, so here is what we saw on the second half of the bus tour.

Just around the corner from our hotel was Times Square so we had to start by hopping off here to get some shots.

As expected, Times Square is a very busy and hectic tourist trap, so we got our photos and quickly got back on the bus.

Next we made a stop on Broadway as I wanted to visit the Polene store.

I’d had my eye on the Numero Neuf mini handbag for a while and so I finally made the purchase.

I opted for the colour Sable as a neutral tone to go with lots of outfits.

I even got the strap monogrammed with my initials as a complimentary service with purchase.

From Broadway we went a few more stops on the bus down to the Financial District where the new One World Trade Center stands.

I did find it quite upsetting to see the 911 memorial site where the twin towers used to stand, but it has to be done when in New York for the first time.

We hopped back on the bus and went up the west side of town where we got off at Hudson Yards to walk along The Highline.

The Highline is a 1.45 mile long elevated park and greenway created on a former New York Central Railroad.

Along the way we saw The Vessel, an impressive honeycomb like sculpture of interconnected staircases designed by British designer Thomas Heatherwick.

It’s a brilliant way to see the city as the path weaves between buildings to provide unique views and perspectives.

Towards the end of The Highline, we came off to go to Chelsea Market for some lunch.

A bit like Borough Market in London but inside a former factory building, Chelsea Market features many restaurants and food vendors from a wide variety of cuisines.

As soon as my boyfriend saw the Currywurst, that was decision made for his lunch.

You can take the boy out of Germany, but you can’t take the German out of the boy!

After lunch we then went for a stroll around the Chelsea neighbourhood as I wanted to get some aesthetic street style pics.

The exposed fire escapes and stoops on the houses in Chelsea are what characterises this part of Manhattan, making it the perfect spot to photograph street style.

With the weather still so mild and warm for October, I wore my smart white shorts paired with a brown tank from C’est Normal, a silk Le Scarf around my neck, Dior sliders, Marc Jacobs tote bag and YSL sunnies to complete this chic, daytime city look.

It was the perfect day to walk along The Highline and it’s something I definitely recommend doing if the weather permits during your trip to NYC.

As mentioned, Times Square is not my idea of fun but a great one to tick off the bucket list.

The Chelsea neighbourhood was so trendy and cool, so I would like to explore it more on another trip to the city as we only got to see the area around the market.

As always, the Big Bus Tours didn’t disappoint in providing a relatively cheap and convenient way to get around and see the sights of New York City ❤

NYC Diaries; Date Night At TAO Uptown

November 2, 2025

During our week in New York we were keen to try different cuisines and on the Monday night, I had a craving for some Asian food. So after a quick look to see what was in the area, we found a popular Asian-fusion restaurant called TAO, just a five minute walk from our hotel.

I wore this Topshop playsuit which was giving classy Asian inspired vibes paired with nude heels, my velvet green Sandro handbag, and a small silk scarf thrown around my neck to complete the look.

We made an 8pm reservation and arrived a little early to enjoy some pre-dinner cocktails at the bar.

I ordered the TAO martini which was super sweet in taste and looked very aesthetic with the three raspberries for garnish.

We were then shown to our table in the main restaurant where we were seated at a booth with a view of the iconic sixteen foot tall Buddha statue.

I was excited to have some sushi and so I opted for the special crispy tuna roll which was delightful.

My boyfriend ordered the orange chicken which was more like sweet and sour, the sticky pork ribs, a side of rice and we shared a side of wok fried greens too.

Everything was delicious but safe to say we over ordered as the portions were very large; we should’ve known being in America!

It was only when I was watching an old Sex & The City episode the following week at home, that I realised Carrie Bradshaw and her friends attended the opening of TAO Uptown in season 4 episode 3.

We also happened to watch the movie Hitch when we got back from NYC and we spotted the TAO restaurant again as the location they filmed the speed dating scene. It would seem you’re never far from a famous location or celeb when in New York City!

It was a fabulous evening at TAO Uptown and a fun spot for date night with its lavish interiors, ultra trendy vibe and scrumptious Asian inspired menu. I’d recommend trying TAO if you’re in the city, just be sure to make a reservation in advance as this popular spot books up quick – https://taogroup.com/venues/tao-uptown-new-york/