This article was originally written for a Whistles contract magazine.
Soho, an acronym for the location: South of Houston Street, is a neighbourhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City and is the home of our very first Whistles Store in the USA! Known for its shopping, innovative galleries and many restaurants, there’s an array of things to do in this buzzing downtown neighbourhood. To mark the grand opening, Team Silhouette have hand-picked our favourite mix of classy and unmissable Soho hotspots for the perfect travel itinerary.
Stay
Soho Grand Hotel, 310 West Broadway
Tucked in between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, the Soho Grand Hotel couldn’t be in a more prime location. Staying here will place you directly in the thick of Soho and just a stone’s throw away from some of the area’s most popular hotspots. Concrete floors, a mix of luxurious leather and plush fabrics, cast-iron detailing and an array of exquisite art and wall paintings are just a handful of the beautifully unique characteristics that have awarded this hotel the name of Manhattan’s first luxury boutique hotel. The rooms have a warm, honey-like colour palette with statement mahogany furniture and copper details. While the rooms aren’t as big or elaborate as the public areas of the building, their modest size makes them welcome and cosy like a home away from home. The Soho Grand Hotel is an absolute haven for trendsetters and culture lovers alike.
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| Credit: Soho Grand |
What to do
Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street
What to do
Opened in 1970 with just 50 seats and a $19,000 annual budget, Film Forum is the only independent, non-profit cinema left in New York City and one of the very few left. It now has 489 seats and offers an array of rare and hard to find movies fresh from Cannes and Venice film festivals as well as mainstream blockbusters. Complete with Instagrammable features like neon signs and the retro movie theatre marquee, Film Forum is the perfect place for film buffs that want a taste of American tradition.
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| Credit: Film Forum |
Eden Fine Art Gallery, 470 Broome Street
Soho is bursting with art galleries that made the neighbourhood a contemporary art hotspot in NYC. The Leslie-Loham Museum, The Earth Room and one of the most famous, the Eden Fine Art Gallery. It’s a gallery bursting with colour, pop art and wacky personality. A trip here will awaken your senses with unique contemporary art all sharing the same theme: happiness. You can expect lively paintings of the cartoons Mr. Monopoly and Donald Duck and celebrities tattooed head to toe in the Louis Vuitton monogram.
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| Credit: Eden Gallery |
City Winery, 155 Varick Street
New York’s only fully functioning winery, City Winery is a definite Soho hotspot. Not only is It a winery but it is also a 350-seat concert space that showcases amazing upcoming musical talent as well as some well-known names in the industry including Sinead O’Connor, Lady Antebellum and Wyclef Jean. It’s the ultimate two-in-one evening. You can learn to make wine and taste an impressive selection too, discover new artists and dance the night away to live music.
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| Credit: City Winery |
Eat
Balthazar, 80 Spring Street
Two decades after this iconic French brasserie was first opened by Restaurateur Keith Mcnally, Balthazar is still praised as the best bistro in Downtown Manhattan. Snails, onion soup, steak tartare and moules frites are just a few of the French classics on the elaborate menu served at all hours. The kitchen is known for never putting a foot wrong and is loved by locals, tourists and celebrities. Tarnished mirrors, dark woods, white table cloths and red leather booths give the interior a real French retro feel along with a buzzing atmosphere, you’d think you really were in Paris. Not just a Bistro but a bakery too, the Balthazar bakery is also recognised as one of the best in Soho, serving delicious pastries, patisseries, cakes and bread it’s a perfect destination for breakfast or a quick bite.
Unwind
Y7 Studio, 430 Broome Street
New York City is known as the city that never sleeps, so it’s important to take some time out of your trip for some downtime. What better way to unwind than a spot of yoga in a classy Soho studio loft complete with panoramic views of the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood below. The studios are heated to around 28 degrees Celsius using special infrared technology, which encourages blood circulation. Instructors lead classes in semi-dark, candlelit rooms, with three key steps to the workout: warm-up, core vinyasa flows, and relaxing cool down. After a visit to Y7, you’ll be fully recharged and ready to resume your exploring.
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| Credit: Y7 Studio |