Grab your oversized dark shades before heading to the Bowery Hotel’s Gemma, where you’ll be hard-pressed not to be star-struck by the bevvy of celebrities coasting through the chic Italian restaurant’s gilded doors. Dodge the paparazzi as you enter the rustic brasserie and grab a spot at the copper bar or at one of the farm-style wooden tables, where you’re free to covertly conduct a Google search for the presumed celebrity seated to your left, pounding back Bloody Mary’s like his next role depended on it. Peppered with dripping vintage candelabras, hanging copper pots and distressed-wood accents, the baroque décor, the opulent surrounds invite you to join in the air of pretension. For a fiery kick during the cooler months, sample the eatery’s signature Spicy Negroni or Regalo Verde – a mix of Tanteo jalepeño tequila, Chartreuse, St. Germain basil and lime. Brought to you by the same folks behind the Waverly Inn, Gemma’s discrete insider status makes it the perfect spot to map-out the plot of your next best-selling novel while people-watching for inspiration. Robert Pattinson, Zayn Malik and Gigi Hadid are among the trove of celebrities who’ve dubbed the Bowery a ‘second home’, so don a black hoodie and make like a Victoria’s Secret Angel in an attempt to get snapped by the tabloids as you exit.
