Welcome to New York: how to holiday like Taylor Swift in the Big Apple, from Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar and Robert de Niro’s Greenwich Hotel, to brunch at Sarabeth’s and sweet treats at Milk Bar

Jan 31, 2023

Taylor Swift is a fan of The Polo Bar and Sarabeth’s in New York City. Photos: @thepolobar, @sarabethsnyc/Instagram; @EmpireStateBldg/Twitter

The ‘Bad Blood’ singer is a long-time lover of the city that never sleeps, renting a famous Cornelia Street flat and gaining her honorary doctorate degree from NYU

Swift stayed at Greenwich Hotel with former flame Harry Styles, dines at Zuma with current BF Joe Alwyn and used to hang out at The Polo Bar with Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss and Martha Hunt

Taylor Swift may be a country girl at heart, but she certainly has a soft spot for the big city too.

From dropping references to NYC in her song lyrics (including a dedicated ballad, “Welcome to New York”), to renting that US$45,000-a-month house on Cornelia Street she then made famous on her Lover album, it’s clear the singer has an ongoing love affair with the city that never sleeps.

Singer Taylor Swift attends a premiere for the short film All Too Well at AMC Lincoln Square in November 2021, in New York City, US. Photo: AP

But her connection to the city extends well beyond musical inspiration. Swift returns to the city often to attend events, talk shows and collect awards. She received her honorary doctorate degree from New York University in 2022, and was also the city’s tourism ambassador back in 2014.

But while a celebrity’s experience of the Big Apple – with its limos, A-list invites and ever-present paparazzi – might not compare to ours, when it comes to restaurants, most are open to all.

Taylor Swift delivers the commencement address to New York University graduates in May 2022, in New York. Photo: AFP

Yep, the vibrant foodie capital of the US is famous for its world-class eateries and Michelin-starred chefs, so here’s how to eat your way around NYC like Taylor Swift.

1. Stay at Robert de Niro’s Greenwich Hotel

The Greenwich Hotel is partially owned by veteran actor Robert De Niro. Photo: Greenwich Hotel/Facebook

Before she got her West Village flat on Cornelia Street, Swift would often stay at hotels like the ultra-lavish Greenwich Hotel, co-owned by Hollywood big-shot Robert De Niro. In 2012, she was spotted on numerous occasions leaving the Tribeca property with former love Harry Styles, per British media. Suites can go up to US$3,000 a night, and we expect only the best for America’s sweetheart.