Shop & Dine
The latest edition of our biannual tribute to inspired stores and elegant eateries
LOS ANGELES
Sartorialoft1820 Industrial St., #103Los Angeles(213) 291-3242Though surfer dudes abound in sunny Southern California, proprietor David Choi is catering to a moodier, edgier group at Sartorialoft, his new dark-meets-minimalist menswear boutique in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District. Since opening in April, the 1,600-square-foot store has built a reputation as a purveyor of directional and tightly edited menswear and accessories for uuml;ber-chic men who shun the sun as well as bright colors.
Choi, whose arts education and real estate background coalesced into unlikely fodder for the upscale boutique, says Sartorialoft focuses on showcasing the work of “artisan designers” and embodying their aesthetic. “There is much to experience from the designers we carry—from experimental textiles and fabric developments to innovative patterns and creative construction techniques. The store itself features a kind of deconstructed minimalism that allows the clothing to be the emphasis,” he said. For Fall, Choi stocked a layered jacket from m.a+, slim black pants and half pants with built-in leggings from Individual Sentiments, and an ankle-length black leather coat and a leather bag that resembles a hugely oversized Birkin bag from Michel Berandi. The store also carries the Avantindietro, Odyn Vovk, Label Under Construction, Damir Doma, Layer 0, Carpe Diem and Collateral labels.
Deciding which is moodier, the space or the wares within it, is akin to deciding which came first, the chicken or the egg. Industrial concrete floors, battered wood and leather furniture, and bare brick walls pair nicely with the inky-hued menswear, which hangs from meat hooks and racks made of pipes. Silver jewelry is displayed next to the bleached and mounted skeleton of a fanged snake, and the skeleton of a pigeon oversees it all.
For all the edge, Choi’s buys and his space never lose their luxe, glamorous quality. “It’s meant to be an experience,” he said.Rivera1050 S. Flower St.Los Angeles(213) 749-1460New Yorkers complain about the complete lack of tasty Mexican food in their fair city. In Los Angeles, Mexican food is as ubiquitous as traffic and sunshine. We’ve even elevated the once-lowly taco truck to pop-culture icon status with the proliferation of specialty taco trucks selling everything from Korean-tinged tacos to sushi. What Los Angeles doesn’t have is an abundance of fine Mexican restaurants that deliver authentic flavor in a setting that is more cool than kitschy.
Thankfully, Rivera hit the scene earlier this year and is providing just that. Located in Downtown Los Angeles near the Staples Center, Nokia Theatre and L.A. Live, the restaurant is headed by Chef John Rivera Sedlar and serves up traditional Mexican fare as well as dishes from Central and South America, the Caribbean, the American Southwest, Spain, and Portugal.
“Latin food is deeply earthy. It’s soulful, rustic, robust. We’ll offer platos pequentilde;os—our small plates—bursting with big, bold, hearty flavors, as well as platos fuertes—our main dishes, such as prime gaucho steak and crab cartagena,” Sedlar said. Also on the menu: grilled quail with black beans, ahi tuna ceviche, tortillas embedded with flowers and halibut with a Peruvian purple potato salad.
The more adventurous might want to take a seat in one of the restaurant’s custom-designed tequila chairs. They’re specially designed so that the profile of the chairs is in the shape of Rivera’s trademark “R” logo, and they’re equipped with a full list of Rivera’s extensive tequila roster. Another interesting option is the “tequila de mujer” selection, which features a rotating selection of tequilas infused with pineapple-vanilla, rose blossom, honey, passionfruit and hibiscus blossoms.
MIAMI
Cesare PaciottiBal Harbour Shops9700 Collins Ave.Bal Harbour, Fla.(305) 861-8656It’s a sultry town, Miami. The food is spicy, the architecture is arresting, the nightlife is fueled by neon lights and mini-skirts, and the beach culture redefines “skimpy.” So it’s only fitting that Italian shoe designer Cesare Paciotti, maker of mile-high stilettos and heartbreaker heels, opened his first Florida boutique there this summer.
“Miami is sexy and visual, possessing such good energy, and Bal Harbour is one of the most premier shopping destinations in the country, making it a perfect fit for our brand,” said the designer. “Our clients have been anxiously awaiting this new location, making the brand they have come to love more easily accessible, and we are honored to now be able to bring them this new home.”
The store’s 600 square feet are packed with Paciotti’s super-sexy, high-fashion shoes and accessories. The store will stock Cesare Paciotti Man and Woman collections, including shoes, handbags, small leather accessories, eyewear and jewelry. Like a jewel box, the boutique is shiny and clean—the better to offset the baubles within. Translucent white marble floors, a mirrored ceiling, baroque touches and the brand’s signature gold daggers bring the Cesare Paciotti aesthetic to life.Caviar Kaspia1220 Collins Ave.Miami Beach, Fla.(305) 674-7899
Fancy Miami foodies, rejoice! Fashion lovers, you’ll like this too. Like a little bit of Paris on South Beach, Caviar Kaspia has opened at the exclusive Webster boutique offering upscale European cuisine in a chic environment.
Caviar Kaspia has a storied past, having been established in Paris in 1927, where it has been serving up the delicacy to a who’s who of diners ever since. Somewhere along the way, Kaspia also picked up a fervent and loyal fashion fan base. The new Miami outpost follows suit, serving up a selection of rare and fine caviar as well as tasty brunch, lunch and dinner dishes in an environment—inside a retailer—that is like catnip to the fashion set.
Picture it: You’re at Webster perusing the latest from Givenchy, Prada and Lanvin. Suddenly, hunger strikes. Doesn’t a little Scrambled Eggs Norwegian, Scallops Balthazar or even Wild Danish Smoked Salmon with Bilinis sound good? Of course it does.
Kaspia’s caviar menu is equally exotic, with Oscietre, Sevruga and Imperial Baeri caviars all starting at 0.5 oz. and increasing in 0.5 oz. increments. Those not so keen on feasting exclusively on caviar can have the delicacy incorporated into signature dishes. Baked potato with caviar is a favorite option at Kaspia’s Paris eatery, where it is prepared by mixing cream and chives in a twice-baked potato and topped with the caviar of the diner’s choice.
Kaspia also provides a feast for the eyes, mixing its Parisian roots with its Miami Beach location. Located in Webster’s Art Deco lobby and its adjoining terrace, Kaspia boasts a stone fireplace, an original 1930s travertine bar, gold paneling and an original terrazzo floor.NEW YORK
Odin 199 Lafayette St.New York(212) 966-0026Odin New York has been on a tear of late. The menswear retailer, which built a loyal following among fashion-forward city slickers with its selection of indie designers and hand-picked accessories, is adding to its empire. Big time.
Last month, Eddy Chai and Paul Birandi, the pair behind Odin, opened a new store in New York’s West Village. Before that, Odin launched a shoe collaboration with Grenson, the super-clean men’s shoe line, that resulted in two chic shoes. This month, Odin debuts Edward, the menswear line it created in collaboration with Duckie Brown. A lower price point than Duckie Brown’s high-end fashion, Edward embodies the masculine, modern aesthetic Odin creates in its stores. The line, which for now will sell at Odin’s own stores, includes basics given the retailer’s own twist, including button-up shirts with micro collars, skinny suits in black and gray, waxed cotton outerwear, and peacoats cut from moleskin.
Shoppers at Odin’s new West Village location will find the same mix of domestic and international designers that made the retailer a tastemaker. Expect to see cool pieces from brands such as KZO, Richard Chai, Duckie Brown, Rag and Bone, Trovata, Engineered Garments, Shipley & Halmos, Our Legacy and Band of Outsiders. The stores also stock yummy grooming products, jewelry and accessories for men.
Odin isn’t done growing yet. Up next: a fragrance and a new home for Den, the pop-up shop that Chai and Birandi stock with a single designer’s goods at a time. The new location of the shop has yet to be nailed down, but Chai promises more surprises to come. Our money is on a line of Odin-branded hats. Or bikes. Or furniture.Hotel Griffou21 W. Ninth St.New York(212) 358-0228You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
Hotel Griffou, despite its name, isn’t a hotel. The hip new restaurant, which opened in July, occupies a former hotel, and the restaurant/bar and takes some cues from the building’s past life. Room service and turn-down service are not part of the building’s new life. According to a release from Hotel Griffou (pronounced “grif-oo”), 21 W. Ninth St. formerly housed a hotel that played host to notables such as Mae West, Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain. Don’t expect a shiny sign outside. Hotel Griffou lives on a residential street in Greenwich Village, and its only marker is the address on the building’s faccedil;ade. Secret + hard to find = cool.
Today’s Griffou guests find hints to that glamorous, old-timey past mixed in with lots of chic, modern New York updates. A series of intimate rooms—including a library room, a salon, a wine vault and a studio room—give diners a variety of ambiances. Barkeeps at Hotel Griffou whip up cocktails made with homemade bitters and hand-shaved ice at the building’s original wooden bar. Those feeling ponderous can sip their brandy or one of the Hotel Griffou’s signature drinks (“The Trophy Wife,” “Tarbell”) at one of the restaurant’s two fireplaces.
Owners Larry Poston, Johnny Swet, Jonathan Hettinger and Jesse Keyes, along with chef Jason Giordano, crafted a classic American menu peppered with French influences. Look for dishes as varied as the Griffou burger and lobster fondue.LAS VEGAS
Encore Esplanade3131 Las Vegas Blvd.Las VegasShopping has been elevated to near-Olympic levels in Las Vegas. Along with eating and gambling and dodging roving groups of bachelors and bachelorettes—what else is there to do in the desert?
Encore, Steve Wynn’s latest luxury hotel and casino, is home to Las Vegas’ newest shopping destination, Encore Esplanade. Filling more than 27,000 square feet of retail space, the 11-shop Esplanade boasts retailers such as Chanel, Hermes and Rock & Republic.
Designed by Barteluce Architects & Associates—the minds behind spaces for Kate Spade, Cartier, Burberry, Fendi and Bergdorf Goodman—the Esplanade isn’t the sort of place shoppers go for killer deals. There are plenty of other places in Vegas for that. Esplanade shoppers instead get an upscale shopping experience —and probably some fancy celebrity sightings, judging from the roster of retailers.
Pop into Homestore for luxe housewares and bath items or visit Shades for designer eyewear from brands such as Lanvin, Tom Ford and Givenchy. Expect to find everything from super-clean shades to diamond-encrusted frames that shine brighter than the desert sun. Rock & Republic opened its first retail store at the Encore Esplanade and offers its premium denim alongside casual and contemporary apparel and footwear for men and women. Other shops sell everything from swimwear to designer watches, high-end shoes and fine jewelry. If Vegas gets to be too much, shoppers can pop into The Spa for some seriously decadent body treatments.Garfield’s2620 Regatta Drive, Suite 116Las Vegas(702) 925-8333There is more to Las Vegas than The Strip. Sure, the lights are pretty, but those who venture beyond the glow will find plenty to keep them occupied. Case in point: Garfield’s.
Lead by Executive Chef Jean-David Groff-Daudet, Garfield’s is the antithesis of the “more is more” Strip aesthetic. The new nautically themed eatery fuses classic American fare with French cuisine and has a strong focus on “slow food”—dishes that are prepared using locally grown, organic and sustainable ingredients. Free-range poultry, organic meat and wild-caught fish are paired with produce that is purchased as close to the source as possible, direct from the farmer in some cases. Vegetarians are treated to house-made veggie burgers and seven dairy-free, vegetable broth–based soups, including roasted pumpkin, potato leek, lobster bisque and tomato bisque, which are served on a rotating schedule. Even the desserts are made using organic ingredients, which should count for something when you order the hot chocolate souffleacute; with vanilla sauce or the pistachio macaroon with raspberry sorbet.
With its out-of-the-way locale, casual setting and beachy decor, Garfield’s is quickly becoming a favorite of local foodies. Plus, Garfield’s boasts one thing no fancy Strip restaurant can: a lakeside patio. Didn’t know such a thing existed in Las Vegas? You should get out more.
