By: Kairos Von der Ahe

Columbia University Fashion Society will likely not be the thousandth publication raving on about how trendy the New York dining scene is. However, we will be the publication that directs you and your friends to the most fabulous eateries in the city. Restaurants in New York City have historically doubled as hotspots for exchanging style ideas and putting on a show between Fashion Week shows.  That legacy still continues in the city’s underground hidden gems. If you are looking to surround yourself with other fabulous outfits while eating an even more fabulous meal, here is CUFS’ guide to finding a chic restaurant, tailored to your specific fashion vibe. 

Growing up back and forth from Los Angeles to New York City, I would always make Indochine a mandatory visit whenever I’d visit the city. Indochine is by far the most chic restaurant I’ve been to in NYC, and part of the reason why Indochine holds this illustrious atmosphere is because of its generational legacy and loyal clientele. You see the same familiar faces whenever you go, but you never see the same outfits; everyone is styled in their own aesthetic, which adds such an individualized charm to the Vietnamese eatery in NoHo. If you are a fan of Gucci and Cavalli, Indochine is a must-stop for you (and be sure to take a gorgeous photo in the back with their iconic wallpaper). 

Manjul in SoHo has a polar opposite vibe from Indochine, but is equally as fashionable. Manjul is a business in the front and party in the back, with a cafe and minimalist boutique in the same location. When entering Manjul, you feel as if you are entering the runway to a Rick Owens show (ironically, the Rick Owens store is across the street). The brutalist, modern concrete paired with the mirrors around the walls, conceives a post-apocalyptic vibe that somehow feels orderly. The people here are most likely taking a shopping break, grabbing a quick coffee before they head back to work.  

Giving off the classiness of Dior with the modernity of Acne Studios, Seol Sweets is one of my favorite cafes to people-watch and get my LitHum reading completed. Located in the heart of Koreatown, Seol Sweets provides a haven to lounge while escaping the busy streets of Midtown. This is one of the most “Instagrammable” cafes in the city, considering their aesthetic pastries and drinks. One of my favorite facets of Seol Sweets is that I can browse the nearby street vendors for new jewelry pieces, nails and beauty products for discounted prices. If you find yourself wanting to lock in while doing a little retail therapy, check out Seol Sweets on your next cafe outing. 

Concluding with my most sophisticated and reserved recommendation, Il Mulino Prime screams Loewe and Tom Ford. The Italian eatery typically hosts bankers and corporate workers from Tribeca and lower Manhattan after a long day of work, wearing suits and blouses that are reminiscent of Balenciaga’s first sophisticated, cosmopolitan flair. There lies a charm in Il Mulino’s extremely small interior. The workers make the space feel extraordinarily hospitable and familiar to all customers. Come here if you seek a spontaneous conversation with a stranger who is wearing just as much of fabulous an outfit as you. 

The restaurant business in New York is just as fast-paced and ever-evolving as its fashion industry. However, these recommendations deliver long-lasting impressions and promises in hosting New York’s contemporary innovators and creatives.