Live like a Local: Sandra Nunnerley's New York Favourites

Maison Gerard, New York. Photo / Supplied

Visiting New York and not sure where to begin? New Zealand interior designer Sandra Nunnerley shares her favourite haunts.

Bel Ami Cafe, 30 East 68th St
This is the perfect place to stop for a cup of gourmet coffee or a delicious pastry while shopping on Madison Ave or after a stroll through Central Park.

Blue Hill Farm, 75 Washington Place, Greenwich Village

Located in a landmark "speakeasy" in downtown Manhattan, the ingredients are locally sourced with produce grown on the Rockefeller Estate just 40km outside the city. The food is always fresh and the menu is often inspired by the week's harvest.

Antica Pesa, Brooklyn, New York. Photo / Supplied

Antica Pesa, 115 Berry St

Located in Brooklyn, this is the newest outpost of the famous Italian restaurant linking Rome and New York through traditional recipes using local products and a modern approach.

Jeffrey, 449 West 14th St
A New York favourite long before the Meatpacking District became famous. This trendy boutique with personal shopping services carries carefully edited collections and has one of the best shoe selections in town.

Maison Gerard, 43 East 10th St

A key source for top New York designers specialising in fine French antiques and mid-century furnishings.

Neue Galerie, New York. Photo / Supplied

Neue Galerie, 1048 5th Ave

My favourite small museum featuring early 20th-century German and Austrian art and design. A must when visiting museums along Fifth Ave. It features two cafes carefully appointed with objects and furnishings from renowned 20th-century designers.

Rizzoli Bookshop, 31 West 57th St
The antithesis of the average bookstore featuring elegantly displayed, photography-based books

Proenza Schouler, 822 Madison Ave
Designed by well-known London architect David Adjaye, this Madison Ave boutique is defined by its fusion of craftsmanship and attention to detail. I love the youthful, tailored look of their clothes and the well-developed use of fabrics.

- VIVA