Img 2282 400x400 AKIVA ELSTEIN

AKIVA ELSTEIN

Occupation Restaurateur

Hometown

Current Residence Tribeca, NYC

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If you’re a fan of tasty food, soft lighting, and detail-oriented design then New York-based restaurateur Akiva Elstein is a name you should know. He’s the man behind some of our favorite downtown spots—Smith & Mills, Yves, Macao Trading Co., which if you haven’t already visited, we recommend you do so asap. A man of impeccable taste, Elstein lets us in on some of his preferred downtown spots to dine, unwind, and get his culture fix.

WHAT CAN’T YOU TRAVEL WITHOUT AND WHY?
A good book.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION AND WHY?
Paris to eat, and for the vintage finds. Northern Vietnam is up there. Soon I think it will be Tibet.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN NYC?
Play tennis; love a lazy Sunday, though.

WHO OR WHAT HAS INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY AND WHY?
Finnish designer/architect Alvar Aalto; hard to explain why.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE NYC RESTAURANTS.
Raoul’s, Café Sabarsky, and a new spot in Tribeca called A Summer Day Cafe.

WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO SPOT IN NYC FOR DRINKS?
Primo’s.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOTS?
Not a brunch guy.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ART FIX IN NYC? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ARTIST?
MoMA, Neue Gallery. Franz Kline is a real favorite, but I think my favorite painting is Willem de Kooning’s Excavation.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE LATE-NIGHT HANGOUTS IN NYC AND WHY?
Probably the place I’d never heard of and just ended up there with friends and was surprised.

WHAT MUSIC ARE YOU LISTENING TO THESE DAYS? WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MUSICIANS?
Been feeling a bit nostalgic lately, so I’ve been listening to old Fugazi records.

WHAT ALBUM OR SONG WOULD YOU CONSIDER YOUR PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK TO NYC?
The Modern Lovers.

Local Favorites

MOMA

MOMA

Favorite Gallery
11 West 53rd St, New York, NY
A New York fixture housing an amazing array of sculptures, paintings, and photography by celebrated modern artists.
Raouls Bistro dining room

Raoul's

Favorite Restaurant
180 Prince St, New York
Raoul’s is a New York bistro for the books, and only getting better with time.
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