New York in September: Fashion’s First Act and the City’s Cinematic Pulse
Fashion month opens in September with New York Fashion Week, and travel to the Big Apple marks the beginning of the global style circuit. NYFW is a vibrant blend of avant-garde visionaries like Collina Strada and Area, juxtaposed with Park Avenue glamour. Michael Kors is set to open the week on September 11, bringing his signature polish to the runway. The city itself becomes a stage, not just for fashion, but for film, culture, and reinvention. If you stroll through Manhattan this month, you might just stumble onto the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2, where Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep reprise their iconic roles. And no, Anna Wintour won’t be making a cameo she’s stepped down as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue but remains the formidable force behind Condé Nast despite "Rumours are swirling that Anna Wintour may soon be replaced by Lauren Sánchez Bezos."
Behind the scene “The Devil Wears Prada 2”
But even if you’re not front row at Spring Studios or Soho House, New York in September offers a kaleidoscope of experiences that rival any runway show.
The city is at its most magnetic in early autumn. The heat of summer softens into golden afternoons, and the energy is palpable—an intoxicating mix of ambition, creativity, and cinematic charm. Central Park becomes a living canvas of early fall hues, ideal for long walks, impromptu picnics, or simply watching the city breathe. The High Line, with its elevated views and curated gardens, offers a quieter moment of reflection amid the buzz.
For the culturally attuned traveller, September is a feast. Museums unveil their fall exhibitions, often timed to coincide with Fashion Week’s influx of global tastemakers. The Met’s Costume Institute may offer a retrospective that echoes the season’s sartorial mood, while the Whitney and MoMA present bold new perspectives in contemporary art. This year, immersive experiences like Bubble Planet and Horizon of Khufu invite visitors into surreal dreamscapes and ancient worlds—perfect for those seeking something beyond the expected.
Even if you don’t catch a live shoot, the city’s film culture is thriving. The Soho International Film Festival kicks off late September, showcasing indie gems and international premieres. It’s a chance to see the next wave of cinematic talent before they hit the mainstream.
For those seeking elevated dining, September is the perfect time to book a table at Le Coucou, Eleven Madison Park, or the newly reopened Pastis in the Meatpacking District.
As the curtain rises on fall, Broadway returns in full force. Aladdin, Hamilton, and Stranger Things: The First Shadow headline the season, while off-Broadway gems offer intimate performances that capture the city’s creative pulse.
Whether you’re here for the fashion, the film, or the flavour, New York in September is a masterclass in reinvention. It’s a city where every block tells a story, every outfit makes a statement, and every traveller becomes part of the narrative.
Discover 5 Best Luxury Hotels in New York City handpicked by Luxury Endless
Waldorf Astoria New York: Reopens with Art Deco Grandeur and Modern Elegance
After an eight-year hiatus, one of Manhattan’s most storied addresses reclaims its place at the pinnacle of luxury hospitality. On September 1st, the Waldorf Astoria New York reopens its doors, unveiling a masterfully reimagined property that pays homage to its illustrious past while embracing the sensibilities of today’s discerning traveller.
Closed since 2017 for a comprehensive renovation, the hotel’s revival is nothing short of spectacular. Guests returning to the landmark will be greeted by the restored grandeur of the iconic Grand Ballroom and the timeless elegance of the lobby, where the famed Waldorf Astoria clock once again stands as a symbol of New York sophistication. These heritage elements have been meticulously preserved, offering a sense of continuity and reverence, while the interiors now reflect a bold new vision where Art Deco architecture meets contemporary refinement.
In a move that signals a shift toward exclusivity and spaciousness, the hotel’s room count has been dramatically reduced from 1,400 to just 375. This deliberate transformation allows for some of the largest accommodations in the city, with rooms starting at an impressive 570 square feet. Each space is a sanctuary of quiet luxury, outfitted with bespoke furnishings, advanced technology, and high-touch finishes that speak to a new era of hospitality.
Dining at the Waldorf Astoria New York is once again a destination in itself. The property now hosts three distinct culinary experiences, including the return of Peacock Alley Lounge an enduring hallmark of the brand, where champagne toasts and power breakfasts unfold beneath gilded ceilings. The centrepiece, however, is the new signature restaurant helmed by acclaimed Chef Michael Anthony. This two-story American Brasserie-style concept features a vibrant bar on the ground floor and refined dining spaces above, including private salons designed for intimate gatherings and discreet celebrations.
The hotel’s transformation extends beyond architecture and cuisine it’s woven into every detail, including the wardrobe of its team. In collaboration with British couture designer Nicholas Oakwell and his label NO Uniform, Waldorf Astoria New York has introduced a fashion-forward collection of staff attire that merges functionality with flair. Inspired by the building’s Art Deco heritage and the city’s ever-evolving fashion scene, the new uniforms reflect a tailored elegance that complements the property’s aesthetic narrative.
This reopening is more than a return it’s a renaissance. The Waldorf Astoria New York has redefined its legacy, offering a rare blend of historical gravitas and modern luxury. For those seeking an experience that is both timeless and timely, the hotel stands ready to welcome a new generation of global tastemakers, cultural connoisseurs, and style devotees.
Ritz-Carlton NoMad: A Bold New Chapter in Manhattan Luxury
When the Ritz-Carlton unveiled its Manhattan flagship at West 28th Street and Broadway, it wasn’t just opening a hotel it was making a statement. This sleek, 50-story tower in NoMad marks a daring departure from the brand’s more traditional uptown persona. Gone is the prim-and-polished Central Park classicism; in its place stands a moody, modernist vision of luxury that embraces downtown’s dynamism and skyline drama.
From the moment you step inside, the aesthetic shift is palpable. The lobby is a study in grayscale glamour, anchored by concierge desks carved from zebra-striped granite bold, tactile, and unapologetically chic. Light floods the interiors through floor-to-ceiling glass, casting shadows across textured surfaces and drawing the eye upward to the city’s ever-changing canvas.
Just off the lobby, a leafy, book-lined bar sets the tone for the property’s layered hospitality experience. It leads to The Bazaar by José Andrés, a Spanish-Japanese fusion restaurant that feels as theatrical as it is refined. Plush upholstery in coffee and plum tones, sculptural lighting, and a dramatic jamón Ibérico centrepiece create a space that’s equal parts culinary and cinematic. Andrés’s team also curates the club level’s complimentary menu a thoughtful touch that elevates the guest experience with signature flair.
Upstairs, the rooftop bar Nubeluz is a jewel-toned dreamscape suspended above the city. The elevator vestibule is wrapped in pleated emerald fabric, while each booth is hugged by feathered Schumacher wallpaper a tactile nod to the brand’s commitment to detail. It’s a space designed not just for cocktails, but for conversation, celebration, and panoramic indulgence.
The suites, meanwhile, are a masterclass in understated opulence. On the 36th floor, mine was wrapped in blond wood from floor to ceiling, anchored by a deep sofa in chocolate crushed velvet that invited lingering. The views are cinematic—stretching from Midtown’s spires to the tip of Lower Manhattan, with the World Trade Center shimmering in the distance. It’s the kind of perspective that reminds you why New York remains the ultimate luxury destination.
But style alone doesn’t define the Ritz-Carlton experience. What truly sets this property apart is its service—intuitive, personal, and quietly impeccable. Despite near-constant full occupancy, the staff move with grace and precision, offering a sense of exclusivity that never feels performative. From check-in to checkout, there’s an unspoken assurance that your comfort is their craft.
In a city that thrives on reinvention, the Ritz-Carlton NoMad is a confident evolution of a legacy brand. It’s a place where heritage meets high design, where culinary artistry and architectural ambition converge, and where luxury is redefined not by excess, but by experience.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel: NoMad’s Most Theatrical Escape
In a city that thrives on reinvention, The Fifth Avenue Hotel doesn’t just join the chorus of NoMad’s luxury newcomers it steals the spotlight. Housed in a restored 1907 mansion once belonging to socialite Charlotte Goodridge, and adjoined to a sleek 24-story tower, the hotel is a maximalist dreamscape where Gilded Age grandeur meets modern fantasy. Since its opening in late 2023, it has quickly become Manhattan’s most talked-about address.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the interiors are a masterclass in sensory storytelling. The vaulted lobby is dressed in ornate panels and layered textures, while corridors burst with oversized flora and fauna wallpaper that feels lifted from a surrealist garden. Each of the 153 rooms is a curated tableau painted screens, pagoda-style lamps, and antique curiosities nod to the global travels of hotel owner Alex Ohebshalom, whose vision was to evoke wonder at every turn.
The Mansion suites, housed in the original landmark building designed by McKim, Mead & White, offer a particularly immersive experience. Guests are greeted by personal butlers who present welcome drinks and walk them through the suite’s tech-powered features from lighting to blinds all controlled via sleek iPad interfaces. It’s the kind of place where luxury is not just offered, but anticipated.
And then there’s the scent. A signature blend of olive, cedarwood, and black cassis is diffused throughout the property even onto the street creating an olfactory identity that’s as memorable as the design itself. “We are a sensory brand,” says Ohebshalom, “and we want guests to feel nostalgia the moment they arrive”.
Dining at The Fifth Avenue Hotel is equally theatrical. Café Carmellini, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, delivers French-Italian elegance with dishes like duck tortellini and squab en croûte. The restaurant’s interiors—plush, layered, and moodily lit mirror the complexity of the cuisine. Meanwhile, The Portrait Bar, now listed among North America’s 50 Best Bars, offers cocktails named after far-flung destinations in a wood-panelled lounge that feels like a secret society’s salon.
Service here is not just attentive it’s intuitive. Compliment the scent in the lobby, and a candle bearing that exact fragrance may appear in your room. Crave a cocktail at midnight? A Martini cart might roll up to your door, tailored to your taste. It’s hospitality that feels personal, theatrical, and quietly extravagant.
The hotel’s success has sparked a larger vision: Ohebshalom is now expanding the concept into a global collection of boutique properties under the Flâneur Collection banner. Each will carry the DNA of The Fifth Avenue Hotel a commitment to sensory immersion, curated design, and storytelling that transcends geography.
In a city saturated with luxury, The Fifth Avenue Hotel offers something rare: a stay that feels like stepping into a living narrative. It’s a place where imagination roams freely, where every detail is deliberate, and where every guest becomes part of the story. For those seeking a New York experience that’s as rich in emotion as it is in elegance, this jewel box escape is the one to bookmark—and return to.
Casa Cipriani: Italian Elegance with a Manhattan View
In a city defined by its skyline and speed, Casa Cipriani New York offers something rare: a pause, a breath, and a view that feels cinematic. Located at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan, this waterfront sanctuary is more than a hotel it’s a Cipriani property, which means luxury is not just expected, it’s instinctive. But unlike the ostentatious displays found elsewhere, Casa Cipriani delivers its opulence with that unmistakable Italian ease: tailored, tactile, and timeless.
Housed within the historic Battery Maritime Building a Beaux-Arts landmark dating back to 1909 the hotel blends heritage architecture with contemporary refinement. The restoration, led by Thierry Despont, preserves the building’s original copper detailing and grand arched windows, while inside, the mood shifts to a modern Milanese fantasy. Presidential suites feature cashmere-covered walls by Loro Piana Interiors, and every room is dressed in the kind of quiet luxury that whispers rather than shouts.
Guests are invited to choose their linens before arrival Italian cotton or Italian linen from Rivolta Carmignani, the 150-year-old textile house based in Macherio. It’s a detail that speaks volumes about the hotel’s philosophy: personalization, craftsmanship, and reverence for tradition. Art Deco light fixtures cast a warm glow over lacquered furniture and polished brass accents, while curated artwork and soft jazz playing in the background create a mood that’s both intimate and transportive.
But the true showstopper? The terraces. Spacious, private, and river-facing, they offer views that rival any penthouse in the city. From your perch, you’ll watch the Staten Island Ferry glide in and out of Whitehall Terminal, gaze across to Governor’s Island, and trace the Brooklyn skyline beyond. To the right, the Statue of Liberty stands sentinel a reminder of the city’s enduring allure. It’s a panorama that feels almost surreal, especially at sunset, when the light dances across the water and the city softens into silhouette.
Inside, the hotel is a world unto itself. The Club restaurant serves refined Italian cuisine in a setting that evokes old-world glamour, while the Jazz Café offers nightly performances that channel the spirit of Manhattan’s golden age. The Pickering Room, Promenade Bar, and Living Room each offer their own distinct ambiance—whether you’re sipping a Negroni, reading a novel, or simply watching the city unfold below.
Service at Casa Cipriani is quietly impeccable. Staff move with grace and discretion, offering attentiveness without intrusion. Guests frequently remark on the sense of being truly seen—whether it’s a candle delivered to your room after you admire the lobby’s scent, or a late-night Martini cart summoned with a whisper. It’s hospitality that feels personal, intuitive, and deeply luxurious.
Beyond the hotel’s walls, you’re steps from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, One World Observatory, and the Brooklyn Bridge. But many guests never leave the premises and who could blame them? With spa facilities, a steam room, yoga classes, and a terrace that rivals any rooftop in the city, Casa Cipriani is designed for lingering.
In a city that never sleeps, Casa Cipriani invites you to dream. It’s a place where Italian elegance meets New York edge, where every detail is curated for comfort and beauty, and where the view always the view reminds you why you came.
Aman New York: The Quiet Apex of Manhattan Luxury
If New York is the beating heart of global culture, then Aman New York is its most discreet pulse point—an oasis of refinement nestled at the crossroads of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Housed within the historic Crown Building, a 1921 Beaux-Arts masterpiece once home to the original Museum of Modern Art, the property has undergone a monumental transformation. Now, it stands as Aman’s first urban outpost in the United States, and arguably its most ambitious.
Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy and developed by Vlad Doronin’s OKO Group, the building’s restoration is nothing short of reverent. The original copper detailing and grand arched windows remain, but inside, the aesthetic shifts to Aman’s signature language: zen-like restraint, cocooned opulence, and a soundscape best described as “billionaire’s hush”. The clientele—often Aman loyalists who frequent the brand’s sanctuaries from Greece to Bhutan arrive not for spectacle, but for serenity.
The hotel comprises 83 suites and 22 private residences, each among the largest in Manhattan. Suites feature functioning fireplaces, Japanese-inspired interiors, and deep soaking tubs that invite hours of quiet indulgence. The lighting is warm, the textures tactile, and the service so intuitive it borders on invisible. It’s no surprise that residences in the building have fetched record-breaking prices most notably a $135 million penthouse acquired by Doronin himself.
Beneath the hotel’s serene surface lies The Jazz Club, Aman’s sultry homage to New York’s musical soul. It’s a speakeasy reimagined velvet-draped, candlelit, and acoustically tuned to perfection. Nightly performances range from classic jazz to genre-bending sets that reflect the city’s cultural mosaic. DJs from across New York’s underground scene spin curated sets that blend nostalgia with celebration, creating a rhythm that pulses through the club’s intimate chambers.
Above the music and marble, Aman New York’s three-story spa is a temple to wellness. Spanning over 25,000 square feet, it includes a banya sauna, hammam steam room, cryotherapy chamber, and a 65-foot indoor pool surrounded by fire pits and daybeds. Treatments are curated with global influences from Ayurvedic rituals to Swiss cellular therapies and the spa’s private suites allow for full-day immersion. It’s a retreat within a retreat, designed for those who view wellbeing as a lifestyle, not a luxury.
On the 14th floor, Aman’s culinary heart beats quietly but confidently. Arva, a tribute to Italy’s rustic traditions, serves handmade pastas and seasonal dishes in a space that feels like a private villa. Nama, inspired by Japan’s washoku philosophy, offers omakase-style dining with precision and grace. Both restaurants are reserved for hotel guests and members, preserving the brand’s commitment to intimacy and exclusivity.
In a city that thrives on spectacle, Aman New York is a study in restraint. It’s not trying to be seen it’s trying to be felt. From the hushed corridors to the river-stone bathtubs, every detail is designed to soothe, seduce, and stay with you. For those who seek the rare, the refined, and the rhythm beneath the noise, Aman New York is not just a hotel. It’s a destination, a philosophy, and a quiet revolution in the heart of Manhattan.