New York City like a Local with Juli Grbac

To give you this lowdown, we spoke to New York City resident – Virgin Australia uniform designer – Juli Grbac to discuss her favourite local haunts. 

Discover New York City through the eyes of acclaimed fashion powerhouse, Juli Grbac… 

Coffee

Eatily! They brew proper Italian Illy coffee, and serve the most amazing hot chocolate. It's a great place to grab a bite to eat as well—it's a huge Italian food hall... Divine!

Breakfast 

Tipsy Parsons on Ninth Avenue in west Chelsea is a cute comfy little place, known for its "belly-filling goodness". I love going to Pastis in the Meatpacking District for brunch on the weekend. They plate up amazing gourmet French food, and it's a great spot for celebrity spotting.

Lunch 

Go uptown to Bergdorf Goodman on Fifth Avenue at 58th Street. Take the elevator Seventh Floor to the BG Restaurant and enjoy a light lunch overlooking Central Park. 

Dinner 

Beauty and Essex serves fabulous food, and has a great bar upstairs. From the street the establishment looks like a small second-hand shop, but once you walk through the back door you are met with a spiral staircase and a massive chandelier. 

Drink 

Raynes Law Room is an intimate little Flatiron District bar that serves the best cocktails. The place is a former speakeasy, so the entrance is hidden and you need to ring the bell to be let in. Once you are in it's the perfect setting for a cosy drink. For a livelier night out, I love to go to The Standard Beer Garden, located under the famous Standard Hotel. It always proves fun, and is a summertime hotspot.  

Shopping Street

Fifth Avenue of course! It has all my favourite stores – Bergdorf Goodman, Saks and Henri Bendel – and is jam-packed with designers. There is something for everyone on Fifth! 

Store

I cannot go past Henri Bendel…  It's just so New York! They have stores all over the US, but their flagship store can be found on Fifth Avenue. It is a two-storey dream for anyone that loves unique accessories. They stock their own jewellery and bag label, as well as many other amazing designers.

Label

I find Diane Von Furstenberg to be incredibly inspiring. She is an exceptional designer. To get the full DVF experience, visit her Meatpacking District store.  Before you step inside look up at the huge glass gem that juts out from the top of the building—it's her living room! Tibi is another one of my favourite local labels. They have a great store in Soho. Sign up to their email list and time your visit with one of their famous sample sales.

Discover Juli’s favourite local spots

• Flights to New York City: Together with partner airlines Virgin America and Delta Air Lines, Virgin Australia operates flights to New York City via Los Angeles, from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. 
• New York City holiday packages: Plan your holiday with ease and expert knowledge, our partner Virgin Australia Holidays offers exceptional New York City holiday packages.

About Juli 

Juli rose to fame as the inaugural winner of Project Runway Australia; prior to which she grew her skills working for luxury brand Easton and Pearson and for her own label "Grbac".

In 2010 Juli re-designed Virgin Australia’s crew uniforms, to represent the glamour of flying in the 1960s with a contemporary edge. The uniforms were unveiled in 2011, with a catwalk show featuring Elle Macpherson and 60 Virgin Australia crew members.

View Juli’s porfolio and work as Virgin Australia official uniform designer.