Travel

Love in NY

Twelve romantic hours in Manhattan.

by : Laura deCarufel- Jan 25th, 2010

8 a.m. Order a sinful breakfast in bed at the New York Palace Hotel (newyorkpalace.com). What could be more luxurious than tucking into eggs Tsar Nicholas — a gussied-up eggs Benny with smoked salmon, crème fraîche and black caviar — on 500-thread-count sheets?

10 a.m. Stroll along Fifth Avenue (stopping in for a lovely browse at Tiffany & Co.) and head to the Museum of Modern Art (moma.org), which is featuring a major retrospective on filmmaker Tim Burton.

12 p.m. Get cozy at the ever-busy City Bakery (thecitybakery.com), which has a fantastic salad bar with farmers’ market ingredients. Bonus? You’ve earned dessert — try their signature Pretzel Croissant with Creamy Hot Chocolate, which comes with a homemade marshmallow on top.

1 p.m. In the Flatiron area, wander through the Museum of Sex (mos.dreamhosters.com) for some edifying titillation, then explore the galleries and bookshops of nearby Greenwich Village. At the iconic Strand (strandbooks.com), browse through 29 kilometres of the written word, including the largest rare-books selection in the city.

4 p.m. Back at the Palace, book an in-room couples massage. Ask your masseuses to set up near the three-metre windows so that you can watch the snow fall over the gothic spires of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

7 p.m. Recharge with a signature cocktail at the hotel’s Gilt Bar (giltnewyork.com), which, like the eponymous restaurant, is housed in the original 1880s Villard Mansion. Toast the past (and the future!) with a Gilt Classic Smash, a heady mix of bourbon, lime, sugar and fresh mint created by manager Christopher Day.

8 p.m. Next door at Gilt Restaurant, splurge on a tasting menu that’s as carefully curated as an art show. The flavours are complex yet complementary in dishes like Black Cod with Toasted Coconut and Chocolate Panna Cotta with Toasted Hazelnuts. Back in your suite, pop a bottle of Veuve and watch as the twinkling lights illuminate art deco masterpieces. Should you join the night or stay in? Talk about win-win.