A GC Intern From Paris Talks About Her Favorite Green Destinations in NYC

The first time I went to Gallow Green, it was to meet some of my friends for a birthday party. I had never heard about the place before and was very surprised when I discovered such a beautiful spot inside the famed McKittrick Hotel. I loved the fact that I was surrounded by flowers, and the ambiance was spot-on. This is a very nice place to relax, which is perfect for summer evenings. Since this day, it became my friends’ and my favorite point of rendez-vous.

When the weather was warm enough for it, I often walked on The High Line to Chelsea Market, which is one of my favorite places to visit in New York, because I love having so many food options. (Though most of the time, I got the Lobster Roll.) Chelsea Market was one of my favorite food discoveries in New York City– other than Levain Bakery, of course– and I loved its proximity to the High Line. A green getaway and a great lunch all in one!

I love walking in the city, but the best walk of all, in my opinion, is crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. I did it so many times in six months and I was never bored of it. I like to cross it from Manhattan to Brooklyn because I can do the Brooklyn Heights promenade after. I loved walking in this area because of the beautiful houses with hydrangeas out the front– those are my favorite flowers.

I had the chance to live in Gramercy for the past six months, and on my way to Union Square, I used to pass by this park full of beautiful flowers (even if I never had the chance to enter in it, I loved it). I also really liked passing by Irving place, with its small cafes (Friend of a Farmer and Irving Farm Coffee Roasters being two of my favorites) and the extensive terracing, which reminds me of Paris. 

As I was living close to Union Square, so I loved hanging out in Union Square Park. This huge intersection is always so full of life that I could just sit and watch people for hours. I usually did my grocery shopping at the nearby Trader Joe’s, but on Saturdays, I was happy to find fresh products to cook at the Union Square Farmers Market. Living in New York made me miss the local markets that we have everywhere (and almost everyday) in France. The Union Square Farmers Market was a welcome find.

These hidden gems in the middle of the Bronx were an unexpected discovery. I love the Metropolitan Museum’s Cloisters, as the gardens are full of beautiful flowers, but you can also find terraces and a pergola that makes your weekend walk absolutely stunning. And the view on the Hudson River was definitely worth the journey!