FROM LEFT: Valery Joseph; the Spa at Mandarin Oriental
*BEST BREAKFAST SPOT
BALTHAZAR: “We are there way too often!” 80 Spring Street, 212-965-1414 —SAMANTHA YANKS
*BEST FAUX-MEAT COMFORT FOOD
CURLY’S VEGETARIAN LUNCH: “It has all the diner regulars—chicken Parmesan heroes, gravy fries, blue-plate specials, breakfast all day—just minus the meat. I’m obsessed!” 328 East 14th Street, 212-598-9998—SUSAN WAITS
*BEST DINING SPOT FOR GOSSIP GIRLS AND GROWN FOLKS ALIKE
ROUGE TOMATE: “If it’s good enough for Blair and Serena, it’s good enough for me. ” 10 East 60th Street, 646-237-8977—ANNE-MARIE GUARNIERI
*BEST TAKE-AWAY COMBO
PYRAMIDA: “A Greek salad, warm pita and perfectly tart-sweet lemonade—all out of a joint the size of a large closet.” 401 East 78th Street, 212-472-5855—INGRID SKJONG
*BEST DUMPLINGS
VANESSA’S DUMPLINGS: “I almost feel guilty trading one crumpled dollar for four of Vanessa’s juicy dumplings—which I’ve petnamed pork poppers.” 118 Eldridge Street, 212-625-8008—APRIL WALLOGA
*BEST AUSTRIAN FOOD
SEÄSONAL: “The wiener schnitzel is the best I’ve ever had.” 132 West 58th Street, 212-957-5550—CRISTINA GREEVEN CUOMO
*BEST EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
ILILI: “The only one of its kind in NYC, and you can order exotics like bone marrow as an entrée!” 235 Fifth Avenue, 212-683-2929—CRISTINA GREEVEN CUOMO
*BEST NEWLY DISCOVERED BAR
WARREN 77: Co-owned by New York Ranger Sean Avery and Matt Abramcyck, owner of the Beatrice Inn, this place gives a nod to old-school sports bars. 77 Warren Street, 212-227-8994
*BEST STRESS-RELIEVING SPA EXPERIENCE
THE AYURVEDIC RITUAL EXPERIENCE AT THE SPA AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL: After they slather you in mud, clay or algae (your pick), and massage your head, technicians pour warm oil over your forehead and scalp, after which you promptly forget any and all cares. 80 Columbus Circle, 212-805-8880
*BEST HAIR SALON FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO MAKE A BIG CHANGE
VALERY JOSEPH: “The best hairstylist to trust is Valery himself, and Elad is great too.” 1044 Madison Avenue, 212-517-2333; 820 Madison Avenue, 212-517-7377—CRISTINA GREEVEN CUOMO
*BEST PREPPY CLOTHING
J.MCLAUGHLIN: “It has wonderful (and sometimes ironic) garden-party wear—crisp, beautiful button-downs in exuberant stripes and checks, perfect polo shirts and playful belts (martini glasses, whales).... Just the thing for the point-to-point races.” 1008 Lexington Avenue, 212-879-9565; 1311 Madison Avenue, 212-369-4830—JOHN KNECHT
*BEST SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
EDIT: An Uptown dream, this ever-so comforting townhouse is beautifully arrayed with the latest designer trends and is almost too homey to leave. 1368 Lexington Avenue, 212-876-1368
*BEST CANDLES
LAFCO NEW YORK: We fell in love with this store because of its exclusive collection from Santa Maria Novella; we stayed in love because of its House & Home candle line with its long-burning (90 hours) soy-based formula. 285 Lafayette Street, 212-925-0001
*BEST GIFT SHOP, MUSEUM OR OTHERWISE
COOPER-HEWITT NATIONAL DESIGN MUSEUM, SMITHSONIAN: “The well-edited selection of goods here— from high to low—is filled with unique finds and a good dose of quirk.” 2 East 91st Street, 212-849-8355—INGRID SKJONG
