From Gabriel Stulman, the restaurateur behind a handful of spots in New York’s West Village, Simon & The Whale – a name inspired by the whale-patterned gifts given to his toddler Simon – is a corner street-facing neighbourhood restaurant on the ground floor of the city’s new Freehand hotel.
As with the rest of the property, design firm Roman and Williams has highlighted the original details of the building – the former George Washington Hotel – while revealing its signature aesthetic with a warm palette of Iroko millwork, rich mint-hued marble, green ceramic tiles and burnished brass accents throughout.
A laidback and cosy setting then, to indulge in chef Matt Griffin’s modern American menu which includes dishes such as the black bass crudo served with shiso, puffed rice and coconut milk; tasty cauliflower dressed with veal tongue pastrami; and the deliciously crips pork collar Milanese topped with aioli, apricot mostarda and arugula.
Upstairs, Stulman also oversees Studio, the light-filled all-day café and the George Washington Bar, an intimate den, set in the former library, where cocktails such as Nothing Gold Can Stay – a concoction made with dry vermouth, umeshu, benedictine and sakura – are served alongside a menu of small bites.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
23 Lexington Avenue
-
It’s a good time for the restrained design of this steel Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 watchArriving on time to celebrate the brand’s 270th anniversary, the brushed steel Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 is one of the few reissues that stays remarkably true to its origins
-
Ski in, ski out at Courchevel’s hot new piste-side dinerLoulou, the new Courchevel restaurant inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s muse, is playfully elevated by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac’s pop art branding
-
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: custom cars and one-off creations from the Japanese home marketWhat began as a celebration of Japan's custom car culture is a now a major event for many of the country's biggest automakers. We round up the news from Tokyo Auto Salon 2025
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this yearFrom the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
-
The design-led restaurants to know in 2025This year’s most read-about restaurant openings to inspire your 2025 cravings, from a playful diner in New York to an art-and-dining hub in Marrakech
-
The most whimsical hotel Christmas trees around the worldWe round up the best hotel Christmas tree collaborations of the year, from an abstract take in Madrid to a heritage-rooted installation in Amsterdam
-
Six brilliant bars for your 2025 celebrations, hot off the Wallpaper* travel deskWallpaper’s most-read bar reviews of the year can't be wrong: here’s inspiration for your festive and new year plans, from a swanky Las Vegas lounge to a minimalist London drinking den
-
Wallpaper* checks in at the refreshed W Hollywood: ‘more polish and less party’The W Hollywood introduces a top-to-bottom reimagining by the Rockwell Group, capturing the genuine warmth and spirit of Southern California
-
Arlo NoMad hotel makes the American diner officially cool againThe NoMad Diner NYC’s interiors and menu offer an elevated take on an American classic
-
Los Angeles’ best fine-dining restaurantsLA boasts a creative food scene driven by some of the world’s most innovative chefs. Browse the Wallpaper* guide to the city’s best fine-dining restaurants
-
Bold maximalism engulfs The Lafayette Hotel and Club in San DiegoThe Lafayette Hotel and Club, designed by Post Company, brings together a rich tapestry of patterns, themes and colours
