The 10 Best Places To Go In New York City Between Christmas and New Years

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Rob

Kim and I are off again. This time it’s New York City. I’ve spent the last few weeks asking my “in the know” New York friends where the hottest spots are for eating, drinking and hanging out. I wasn’t interested in the some old tourist crap. I wanted the cool stuff. What follows is our upcoming New York City itinerary. I’m open to suggestions if anyone thinks we missed the mark. Happy Holidays everyone!

BEST N.Y.C. Dinner Spots:

Babo
Lavo
The Darby
Beauty & Essex

Best N.Y.C. After Dinner Lounges:

LAVO Lounge
Gold Bar
Above Allen
Lobby Lounge Mandarin Oriental
Upstairs at Kimberly
Pegu Club

Best N.Y.C. Fun Things To Do

Eataly
Cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery
Spin Ping Pong
Russian Turkish Bath

Best N.Y.C. After Clubbing Burger Joint:
POP Burger

Best N.Y.C. Breakfast Spots:
Norma’s
Pastis
Kitchenette Downtown

Best N.Y.C. Club To Party:

1 OAK

The Best “In The Know” Spots In San Diego For Jet Setters

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Rob

As most of you know Kim and I super obsessive about finding “in the know” spots around the world. We just got back from an amazing trip to San Diego and I want to share our list of a few of our favs….

BREAKFAST
Americana Restaurant
Crepes and Corks
Pacifica Breeze Cafe

LUNCH- OVERLOOKING OCEAN
George’s On The Cove
Jakes Del Mar
Pacifica Del Mar
The Cottage

LUNCH
Prep Kitchen
Marine Room
Whisk’nladle

DINNER- TO WATCH SUNSET
Flavor Del Mar
Poseidon Restaurant On The Beach
Burlap
Il Fornaio

COCKTAILS- TO WATCH SUNSET
Enoteca del Forneo Italian Wine Bar & Cafe
Waterfall Terrace at Bleu Bar at L’Auberge Hotel

DESSERTS
Babycakes
Cups
Sprinkles

DOWN TOWN (Gas Lamp)
Vin de Syrah
Searsucker
Extraordinary Desserts

Bravo Lifestyle Concierge: A List of The Absolute Coolest Things To Do in Florence

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Rob

I do most of the pre-trip recon before Kim and I take a trip. I vet the hotels, restaurants and night life like an obsessive mad scientist. The hard part for me has been to find cool and unique things to do during the day. One of the tools I’m starting to use more and more is the services of a boutique lifestyle concierge. They just have knowledge and access to things that you would have never thought to do.

Last month Kim and I sat done with Jacopo of Bravo! lifestyle concierge in Florence. We asked him to give us his best ideas of what we can do in Florence. We wanted something other than the standard tourist fare. We met him at his “office”, which was located in a castle (literally). He is a totally warm, loving and all around cool cat. We asked him to give us his secrets of interesting and unique things to do in Florence. Kim and I are WAY picky when it comes to these things. The truth is, I have to admit, he totally delivered. So, I decided to share his secrets with you.

Bravo! Dream Car

The first thing you’ll need is a “Dream Car” to discover the hidden beauties of Italy. Jacopo recommended the Ferrari F430 Spider or the Lamorghinini Gallardo. For those a bit more budget conscious, he could even hook up a mini cooper, as a very cool alternative.

Bravo! Uffizi Secret Passage Way

Everybody who goes to Florence visits the Uffizi museum. No big deal. But, almost nobody has access to the the secret passage way which connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti. Jacopo explained to us, that this unique passage way was commissioned to Giorgio Vasari, the architect of the Uffizi, by Cosimo I in 1565 to celebrate the marriage of his son. It enabled the Medici family to freely move between their private residence and the seat of the government without the need for an escort. I would have never even known that this was there, or had any type of access, without Jacopo.

Bravo! Tuscan Food Workshop

It’s no secret that the food in Italy is beyond amazing. In fact, it’s completely indescribable. What if you could learn their secrets and bring it back to your own kitchen? How cool would that be? Jacopo put together an amazing workshop. You start by walking through the open air markets of San Lorenzo, in the company of a world class Italian chef. You walk through the central produce market learning exactly how to buy produce. You move to the upper floor houses, to pick out the meats, cheeses, bread and even flowers for your meal. You walk back, to their state of the art Tuscan cooking facilities and have a fun, exciting class on how to put it all together followed by an hour wine class. Your chance to bring La Docle Vita back to your home.

Bravo! Hot Air Balooning Over Tuscany

If you’re like Kim and I and the windy roads of Tuscany make you a bit motion sick, then we have a totally cool option for you. Hot air ballooning over Tuscany. It’s a 3 hour adventure that begins with your participation in inflating the balloon before you begin your flight through beautiful Tuscan landscape. After landing, Jacopo puts together an amazing spread of beautiful Tuscan appetizers accompanied by Champagne. A complete unique way of getting a different perspective (and vantage point) of Tuscany.

Bravo! Secret Boutique Shops Tour

Finding places to shop in Florence on the surface may not seem very difficult. However, finding the unique and different shops that nobody knows about, is an entirely different story. Jacopo knows where the hidden treasures are. A professional shopper takes you through the unmarked hidden alley was of Florence to find tailor made clothing, handmade shoes, unique pieces of jewelry and hand made embroidery and paintings. If you’re in to shopping and don’t want to waste time feeling like you missed something, this is for you.

Bottom Line

I could go on for days sharing with you what Jacopo has up his sleeve. Bottom line: If you’re going to Florence hook up with Bravo Concierge! and make your trip unforgettable.

To Find All Rob and Kim’s Secret Hidden Jet Set Spots –

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If you want to see what Kim and I did with Bravo! concierge in Tuscany check out Kim’s blog here.

South Beach Miami: The Pre-Trip List

Posted on February 4, 2009 by Rob

We’re headed to South Beach next week for the Valentine’s Day/President’s Day weekend parties. Here’s our “Hit List” to take with you, next time you go, of the hottest restaurants, clubs and lounges. Enjoy!

Restaurants

1. Meat Market- A sexier, more glamorous take on the traditional steakhouse.

2. Casa Tua- There are no words to say about this one except go. Really. Go. Now.

3. Wish- An outdoor garden illuminated both by candles and by the glowing ice cubes in the house’s signature cocktails.

4. Maison d’azur- Located at the new Angler’s Boutique Hotel. A glamorous seafood restaurant that mixes traditional Parisian brasserie with the sexy ambiance of the Cote d’Azur.

5. China Grill- Near perfect Pan-Asian cuisine well worth a stop. Keep in mind that China Grill is a family-style restaurant and that dishes are meant to be shared.

6. Nobu - Come on. It’s Nobu AND Miami all rolled up into one. Go.

7. Prime 112- A sleek steakhouse ambience and rocking bar. Arguably the best steakhouse in the entire city.

8. Barton G- Looks like a trendy restaurant, but eats like a show. Here, presentation is paramount. Lobster pop-tarts come out in an actual toaster. Crazy. Good and fun.

9. Blue Door- Used to be Madonna’s restaurant. Food is great and the eye candy is sick!

10. Asia de Cuba- New hotspot at the new Mondrain hotel. If you like the one in Los Angeles you’ll love its east coast sister.

Lounges and Clubs

1. Set- On Lincoln Rd. between Washington and Collins – best nights are Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

2. Mokai- 23th and Collins Ave – nice on Tuesday night and best night on Friday or Saturday night.

3. Mynt- Collins between 19th and 20th – best nights are Thursday and Friday.

4. Glass at the Forge- 41st street a few blocks down from Collins – best night is Wednesdays.

5. Tantra- Drexel and 14th – best night is Mondays.

6. Sky Bar- at the Shoreclub Hotel on Collins and 19th. Fantastic.

7. Florida Room- on Collins & 18th at the Delano Hotel – best night is Tuesday, stay and have cocktails at the pool.

8. Gemma Lounge-Lincoln Road, – pre-clubbing Fridays and Saturdays, empty by 2 am.

9. Mansion- Washington Ave and 12th street – best night are Wednesday night, Friday and Saturday night.

10. Nikki Beach- First Street and Ocean Drive – best on Sunday Afternoon.

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Rio de Janeiro: The Pre-Trip List

Posted on December 9, 2008 by Rob

We’re off again! This time it’s to the beaches of Rio for the New Year’s Eve parties. One of the questions we get asked a lot here at Jet Set Life is how do you find all those cool places that you put into your videos and guidebooks. The short answer is – through trusted people that “get” how the Jet Set like to roll. There’s really no magic formula, website or magazine. It’s really about vetting the source. For example, if I ask someone to tell me a cool restaurant in Rio, my answers can range from the common tourist trap to 5 star hotel concierge recommendations (which we’re usually not into unless it’s the right concierge). So what’s a brother to do? Find cool people and ask them! However, it doesn’t end there. We then have to vet every single place (and in many cases endure the crap – so you don’t have to) and boil it all down to the best of the best spots.

It usually takes a few months of pre-trip planning to uncover the right spots. I thought it would be interesting to give you a copy of my “raw” pre-planning list before we headed to Rio.

A few notes about the Rio “pre trip list”. It is a rough list. You’ll see that it’s sectioned off into categories. The categories represent the flow that I think the day to night will likely go in. The URL’s represent any websites, flicker photo links or anything else that may help me get a feel for what the vibe might be like at that particular venue.

If anyone reading this list thinks I may have gotten something wrong somewhere – bite me. No, just kidding. Tell me! I WANT to know! But, I’m a picky mutha – so tell me WHY you think it’s the wrong spot.

So, without further ado, I present to you my Rio “pre-trip” rough list (did I mention it’s a rough list)…

Restaurants

1. Zuka (Leblon)- http://snipurl.com/4p8ut
Rua dias Ferreira, 233 District: Leblon Telephone: +55 21 3205 7154
Modern ambience with style and contemporary food, great vibe, good looking people, a place to see and be seen. Don’t miss it.

2. Sushi Leblon (Leblon)- http://snipurl.com/4p8rx
Rua Dias Ferreira, 256 District: Leblon Telephone: +55 21 2274 1342
This is the best sushi restaurant with a sophisticated ambience. Definitely worth the wait, the food is amazing, the service good and the crowd enhances the ambiance. If in Rio you have to visit Sushi Leblon.

3. Satyricion (Ipanema)- http://snipurl.com/4p8r1
Rua Barão da Torre 192, District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2521 0627
Dramatic entrance with a lobster tank and other scallops, oysters, tropical clams, mussels and so on. This is a unique and pioneering restaurant and is considered one of the best among sea food restaurants. Mick Jagger, as you know, have been coming to Brazil quite often now to see his kid, Lucas. He leaves his hotel only to visit the Satyricon- a restaurant that he classifies amongst the very best in the world. It use to be a fisherman’s joint! Amazing how it was transformed!

4. Gero (Ipanema)- http://snipurl.com/4p8wr
District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2239 8158
Great Italian restaurant where we often see different celebrities, it offers an amazing wine list and are famous for their desserts (great lemon petit gateau). Great place, very good food and service, beautiful people. It is difficult to get a table, remember to make a reservation.

5. Mr. Lam-
Rua Maria Angélica, 21 Telephone: +55 21 2286 6661
Very stylish Chinese restaurant 3rd floor of a house, modern cuisine. Very trendy, large restaurant with Asian decor. Great location overlooking the lagoa. Food is good. Overall, a good trendy experience.

6. Aprazivel- http://snipurl.com/4p95q
Rua Aprazível 62 Telephone: +55 21 2508 9174
This is a Casual trendy place with a view and Brazilian contemporary food with a very pleasant surprise. Ambiance is great, the neighborhood, though dodgy, is old and quaint. Great views! Northeastern Brazilian food is the staple here, tasty and inventive. Great atmosphere in Santa Teresa and very good Brazilian food. Book the tree tables with 3 to 2 days in advance. This is much better for lunch since I don’t recommend going up Santa Teresa at night for safety reasons.

7. Roberta Sudbrack- http://snipurl.com/4p98h
Rua Lineu de Paula Machado 916, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Telephone: +55 213874-0139
Very exclusive and detailed oriented, this is an elegant bistro full of surprises, stunning and delicious dishes, besides good music and ambiance.

Lounges

1. Londro (Ipanema) www.fasano.com.br/site_hoteis_br.php
Avenida Viera Souto, 80 – Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 3202-4000
Beautiful bar is located in the lobby level of the Fasano Hotel towards the end of the bright runway. It opens every day of the week after 7pm. Most famous DJ’s duos, trios and bands play here to an extremely exclusive crowd. There are few good places to go in Rio, this is the only one I can go to. Thanks Rogerio Fasano for building Fasano in Rio.

2. 00 Zero Zero (Leblon)- www.00site.com.br
Rua Padre Leonel Franca 240 District: Gávea inside planetary Telephone: +55 21 2540-8042
Clean décor, full of pillows and candles, outside there is always a sushi man preparing fresh sushi. Inside hot dishes are served. Saturday nights are fantastic, great music and beautiful people. Lounge outside and there is house music inside. You will thank me. It definitively becomes more interesting later on. Thursday, just the place to be. Half of the place is outdoors which gives it a nice atmosphere.

3. Boox (Ipanema)- www.boox.com.br
Rua Barao da Torre, 368 District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2522 3730
Thursday or Friday: A contemporary Italian restaurant, which is a great lounge that almost becomes a nightclub, with great music and ambience. This is a classy, sophisticated, fun, great restaurant on ground level and a lounge upstairs that becomes a club after midnight. Saturday is always good. There is an amazing DJ, great mix of people, many Euros. It is small and selective. Beautiful people, great music. Boox: is the best lounge in Ipanema. Make reservations on this one. I’ll probably have the best table there on Friday the 26. So join me if you are interested.

4. Rio Scenarium (Lapa) – http://www.rioscenarium.com.br
Rua do Lavradio District: Lapa Telephone: +55 21 3852 5516
Go Saturdays: A must if you are in Rio. See Rio in its 1920s. Its a bar, a restaurant, a nightclub all in one. Very moderate prices (compared to Europe), live music (great Samba stuff, lots of people dancing) very good caipirinha and lots of people. Try to get there on Wednesday or weekend and book a table next to the dance floor. This is a 2,700 sq foot space which a few years back was an obscure antique store. Today, every weekend sees a clientele of 3,000. People dance all night long and everyday there’s a party. If you go to one club in Rio make it this one. It’s my favorite samba club in Rio with live Brazilian music located in Lapa. Hot on Fridays and Saturdays. Arrive before 10:30. The line can be brutal.

5. Estrela da Lapa (Lapa)- http://www.estreladalapa.com.br
Rua Mem de Sá 69, Rio de Janeiro Telephone: +55 21 2507-6686
Good architecture, good performances, and charm in the Rio de Janeiro night. It is a place full of excitement, where even the waiters dance. Visually attractive, three floors are combined into one, a feeling of capaciousness. Great appetizers and drinks are served with a lot of enthusiasm. Proof that Lapa’s appeal extends beyond the young and bohemian. This elegant new star in the neighborhood caters to the moneyed 35-and-older Zona Sul crowd. Music varies from jazz to salsa, samba, swing, and even instrumental. The venue — a restored Lapa mansion — is lovely, and though the stage is small, three levels of seating make for enough room even on busy nights.

6. Nuth (Barra)- http://www.nuth.com.br
Av. Armando Lombardi, 999 District: Barra da Tijuca Telephone: +55 21 3153 8595
Lounge and club with a wonderful atmosphere where music is often great. Younger crowd (after hours) gets hot at 4am. 20 min cab ride. A bit far away, near Barra, but a great club with outdoors space. Music is good and lots of good looking men/women. Some say it’s not worth the drive anymore.

Shopping

1. Reserva (Ipanema)- http://www.usereserva.com
Rua Maria Quiteria, 77 District: Ipanema Telephone: +55-21-2247-5980
The new cool thing in Ipanema: Reserva is definitely the best newbie in Carioca clothing… I still love Osklen, but here’s another option…sometimes even better! PS: I really like the bird in the brand…great polos, BTW… PPS: really funky website…there you can check out some looks…

2. Osklen (Ipanema)- www.osklen.com
Rua Maria Quiteria 85 District: Ipanema Telephone: +55 21 2227 2911
Osklen is by far the most authentic and sophisticated option for clothing with stores all over the country and also in Milan, Rome, New York, Geneva. The designer, Oskar Metsavaht, is internatially acclaimed for his “Brazilian Soul” inspired lifestyle brand, which is also very active in environmental causes. It’s a must when in Rio.

Swimwear

1. Lenny- Swim wear

2. Andrea Saletto- Womens fashion store

3. Bum Bum- Swimwear

4. Salinas- Swimwear

5. Osklen- Trendy Brazillian store unisex

Things to do

1. Beach Pepe- Ipanema beach and areas between post 9 and Coqueirao.

2. Paragliding – http://snipurl.com/4p9qk

3. Hang gliding - http://snipurl.com/4p9sb

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I’m hot off the heels of Buenos Aires, so next up, I’m going to give you the highlights. Yes. Tim Ferriss is right you can totally live like a rock star in BsAs. More to come!

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Buenos Aires: The Pre-Trip List

Posted on November 20, 2008 by Rob

One of the questions we get asked a lot here at Jet Set Life is how do you find all those cool places that you put into your videos and guidebooks. The short answer is – through trusted people that “get” how the Jet Set like to roll. There’s really no magic formula, website or magazine. It’s really about vetting the source. For example, if I ask someone to tell me a cool restaurant in Buenos Aires, my answers can range from the common tourist trap to 5 star hotel concierge recommendations (which we’re usually not into unless it’s the right concierge). So what’s a brother to do? Find cool people and ask them! However, it doesn’t end there. We then have to vet every single place (and in many cases endure the crap-so you don’t have to) and boil it all to down to the best of the best spots.

It usually takes a few months of pre-trip planning to uncover the right spots. I thought it would be interesting to give you a copy of my “raw” pre-planning list before we headed to Buenos Aires (this weekend). Every location we travel to has different nuances that are unique to that location. For instance, South Americans are late night party animals, but binge drinking is unheard of. The scene is split up into a few categories: the sophisticated restaurant bar you go to before heading out to dinner “pre-dinner”, the bar you hit before heading out to a nightclub “pre-dancing”, and finally the underground bar culture where a knock on the door, the press of a buzzer, or password are necessary to gain entry to the “after hours club”. The Jet Set scene in BsAs is sculpted for style, sex and meeting people rather than simply alcoholic indulgence.

A few notes about the Buenos Aires “pre trip list”. It is a rough list. You’ll see that it’s sectioned off into categories. The categories represent the flow that I think the day to night will likely go in. The URL’s represent any websites, flicker photo links or anything else that may help me get a feel for what the vibe might be like at that particular venue.

So, without further ado, I present to you my Buenos Aires “pre-trip” rough list (did I mention it’s a rough list)…

Hotels

1. Home Hotel

2. Legado Mitico

3. Noa Noa Lofts

4. Vitrum

5. Miravida Soho

6. Tailor Made Hotels

7. Faena

8. Mine Hotel

9. BoBo

10. Malaiba House

Lunch

1. Olsen

2. Bar 6 Cafe

3. Juana M

4. Morena Beach

5. Guido’s

6. Krishna

7. Oui-Oui

8. Social Paraiso

9. Sushi club

10. Home Hotel Garden

11. Croque Madame

Pre-Dinner Drinks 11:00 P.M.

1. Casa Cruz

Trendiest place in BA, see and be seen in Palermo Viejo. Towering brass doors open to a dimly lit, high ceiling lounge and restaurant with red walls, plush velvet couches and iris filled vases. Very NYC style and drinks are very very good.

2. El Gran Bar Danzon

A fashionable centrally located wine bar. More low key than other venues, with a smaller and often crowded space. It offers jazz on Wednesdays and Fridays in a candlelit setting. Very crowded, but good.

3. Sucre

Owned by the same people as Gran Bar Danzon. Among BsAs trendiest spots, cavernous space in Belgrano, happening Brazillin place, trendy, great bar especially on Fridays. Go to Rumi after dinner, wouldn’t have dinner here they serve “boutique” dishes. Bar is simply amazing.

4. Milion

Affluent locals and Ex-Pats Anglos gather in Milion’s courtyard for cocktails, then climb this marble staircase of this former mansion to the upper floors for avocado salad. Try the basil daiquiri.

5. 647

Most impressive space to twiddle your olive stick and should be high on your list.

6. Bar Uriate

Great fusion cuisine, great drinks, classic trendy. Only drinks.

7. Dominga

Trendy, located in Palermo. Very good Tapas only.

8. Faena Library Lounge

Sit pool side if it’s a nice night.

Dinner 12:00 Midnight

1. Little Rose

Good sushi, small nice place.

2. Green bamboo

Vietnamese. The best drinks in town, good music, cool atmosphere.

3. Maat

Private club.

4. Cabana Las Lilas

Best steak in Buenos Aires.

5. Cluny

Make a reservation for the couch.

6. Campo Bravo

Trendy. Wait outside, no reservations, see and be seen.

Pre- Club Drinks 1:30 A.M.

1. El Carnal Bar

2. Mundo Bizarro

3. Congo

Clubs (Don’t go before 2 A.M.!)

1. Asia de Cuba

One of the best nightclubs in town, next to Faena Hotel.

2. Crobar

One of the best nightclubs in town.

3. Jet

The most fashionable nightclub at the moment. Might be too fashionable (with dress code, not everyone gets in).

4. Museo

You can go early, around midnight.

5. Opera Bay

An after hours club. Go first to Museo and then to Opera Bay or the other way round.

6. Club 69 Niceto Club

One of BA’s longest running and most famous night clubs. They have international and local bands playing all the time. Good music. Hip hop on Thursdays.

7. Carnal

Go to Carnal then go to Club 66, which is a club in front of the bar. Lots of fun!

8. Rumi

Very trendy, electronic.

9. Pacha

Another big club by the river, watch the sun come up on its terrace.

10. Mint/”Punta Classic”

Similar to Pacha, again, you can’t go home before watching the sunrise in its terrace. Go Saturday. Very very very young people (now the owners sold the place and it’s now called “Punta Classic”).

After Hours Clubs

1.Kim y Novak

Milongas

1. La Viruta Armenia

2. La Confiteria Ideal

3. Esquina Homero Manzi

4. Salon Canning

5. El Beso

6. Torcuato Tasso

Tango Shows

1. Rojo Tango at Faena

2. Piazzolla Tango

3. Club del Vino

Cafés Tea’s Cakes

1. Café Tortoni

2. Florencio

Lunch Tea.

3. Ateneo Book Store

The coffee shop is great! Be careful since Ateneo is a chain. Have tea at the stage, and go to coffee shop at the back that used to be a theatre and they kept the original building and turned it into a huge bookstore.

4. El ultimo beso

Based on the Italian movie (also in Palermo).

5. Confiteria la ideal

Classic place for coffee during the afternoon.

Ice cream

1. Munchi’s

2. Persicco

3. Volta

Shopping – Men

1. Bensimon

Not to be missed. This is a typical Argentine.

2. Etiqueta Negra

Extremely cool. Another excellent place.

3. Balthazar

In San Telmo

4. Ona Saez

5. Kosiuko

6. Bolivia

7. Mancini

8. La Martina

9. Felix

Hip Paul Smith type clothing. This funky men’s boutique – with Persian rugs flung over its hardwood floors. The Polyphonic Spree or The Jam blaring from the stereo, and mellow dudes manning the register – feels a little like rock-n-roll prep school.

10. Hermanos Estebecorena

Hip socks and underwear.

Shopping – Women

1. Trossman

A splattering of adornments such as feathers, beads, and photographic images over dainty halter tops and sleeveless dresses.

2. Maria Vazquez

3. Benito Fernandez

The most flirty, romantic, good quality, feminine dresses you have ever seen! With a touch of rock-n-roll.

4. Lupe

So cool it hurts.

5. Tramando

For a fashion statement Rodrigue Cool design, chosen by local artists, actresses, socialités. It’s colorful, and the representation of innovative design.

6. Maria Cher

Bohemian chic definitely one of the coolest.

7. Rapsodia

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