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According to our contributor Christina Izzo, the Financial District's The Wall Street Hotel "glamorously honors the New York neighborhood around it while feeling like a transportive respite," with staterooms awash in soft blues and seafoam greens, plus fireplaces and soaking tubs. The modern French brasserie on the ground floor completes the escape. Helmed by John Fraser, the all-day restaurant is as stunning as it is delicious, with an excellent raw bar and king crab pastas that draw everyone from the buttoned-up after-work crowd to date-night diners.
The vibe: Soho House's former global design lead, Vicky Charles, set the mood at La Marchande, and her touch is evident throughout. Turquoise window wells and golden palm frond sconces frame the bar, while oysters, mussels and clams are displayed behind a striking mother-of-pearl raw bar. The dining room is wrapped in rattan wallpaper depicting a lush landscape of birds and trees, creating an atmosphere that's both glamorous and inviting.
The food: Modern takes on French cuisine begin at the raw bar, where oysters are dressed in tomato-verjus mignonette and clams are topped with a fiery mix of Scotch bonnet, culantro and lime. French onion soup is reimagined as delicate dumplings filled with Comté cheese, floating in an impossibly rich mushroom consommé you'll want to savor to the last drop. It is French food, after all, so butter is a generous companion, folded into silky Jonah crab tagliatelle with breadcrumbs and enriching the sauce poured over skate, served simply with potatoes and greens.
The drinks: JF Restaurants' beverage director, Amy Racine, curated a list of 200+ wines, many of them from France, earning the restaurant an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. But if you'd rather have a cocktail, there are five different types of martinis to choose from.
Time out tip: Martini time. The earlier you arrive, the less you'll pay: martinis are just $8 at 4pm, climbing to $15 by 7pm, which is still a solid deal for FiDi.
