We just told you about New York’s most recent hotel opening. Today we’re bringing you even more news from the city that never sleeps. Here are the coolest new shops and hippest new restaurants in the Big Apple:

ARMANI 5TH AVE.
Call it Armani’s mega-flagship or concept store, this recently opened shop is spread over four floors connected by an extraordinary sculptural steel staircase. From the top floor to the basement you can find all of Armani’s products, the first space to offer everything with the Armani label under one roof. The first visitors have entered the glass façade mainly to see the stunning staircase, but were then also surprised to find some reasonably priced products. The space also offers a restaurant and a cocktail bar, but you should start in the basement and use the staircase to browse through this Armani world. Armani Jeans, sportswear, and underwear are found in the basement, while the floor above is for cosmetics and perfumes. After that you’ll see the Armani shoes and women’s and men’s fashions, while Armani/Casa is one floor up together with Armani/Dolci, a small area dedicated to a collection of delicacies available for the first time in the U.S. The restaurant is on the top floor and has a fabulous view down 5th Avenue.

Derek Iam Store
New York fashion designer Derek Iam decided to finally open his first boutique in his city and asked architect Kazuyo Sejima to come up with the perfect space. The result was unveiled last week in an old manufacturing building in SoHo, showing a clean, elegant look to match the designer’s styles. The only colors in the mostly-white space are those of the clothing and of the wood and aluminum furniture placed by the walls. This is a minimalist space where the fashions truly stand out.

Droog SoHo
Droog Design’s third international shop has recently opened in SoHo, a showroom for all of the company’s creations, including rare objects. Everything you see is for sale — and we do mean everything: If you like the steps or any of the structures holding any of the pieces, you can take them home too. At the center of the two-level space is the “House of Blue,” a foam structure showing various decorative and lighting concepts.

Locanda Verde Restaurant
Robert DeNiro’s Greenwhich Hotel won the Uward for Best New Boutique Hotel, and part of the reason was also its excellent Italian restaurant “Ago.” It has just changed its name and concept, and is now being called “Locanda Verde.” The menu was not the only one to get a makeover, as the entire space was also given a new look by Ken Friedman and Meyer Davis. The goal is to make it a little more laid back and casual, and give it the feeling of a neighborhood restaurant.

Minetta Tavern
It’s been around for decades, but after a renovation this feels like a new place — and indeed it is. What was a classic Village restaurant and one of the coolest hotspots in the neighborhood died out over the years so someone had the idea to bring it back to life. That someone was Keith McNally who created two of the city’s most popular eateries (Balthazar and Pastis) and has revived it by turning it into a classic-chic bistro. The wood-paneled walls are decorated with caricatures and black and white photographs, giving a charming, classic look to the space where traditional French cuisine is served.

Scuderia
Scuderia is a new restaurant in the heart of Greenwich Village created by the daughter of the man who’s brought the city the much-loved (and UCityGuides-recommended) Da Silvano. It’s an American-style trattoria serving traditional Italian cuisine in a casual and relaxed space, already much used for people-watching. The chef is from northern Italy so you’ll find several Venetian classics on the menu, while the wine list offers some of the best Italian wines, including some lesser known names.

Tom Binns Shop
Michelle Obama and Vogue editors have declared themselves fans of Tom Binns jewelry, and now there’s an official place to get it. Previously only available at concept stores, Tom Binns’ creations are now available at a new West Village shop. Fashionistas can now seek the fabulous necklaces and chokers at this elegant white shop, the first one of the jeweler.

-See the complete New York city guide.
________________________________________
Back to UCityGuides.com – The Ultimate City Guides
or check out UCityGuides.com Hotels – Design, Boutique, Luxury, Cheap Hotels