The Coolest New Destinations In LA and NYC
Whether you want to experience the West Coast cool of LA’s bar scene or the old-world luxuries of Manhattan, there’s a swathe of new things to see, do, eat and drink in the US. Here’s a quick look at the must-see spots to add to your list.
Order a cocktail in LAs coolest neighbourhood
Bar Moruno, a vivid Spanish dream on Sunset Boulevard, is making its mark on LA’s uber-cool Silver Lake neighbourhood. The woodfired oven turns out Iberian dishes made for eating with gusto: think salt spring mussels with hearty butter beans and chorizo cantimpalo. The drinks list is light, Latin in influence and very LA, with an Espresso Martini kicked up a notch with overproof tequila.
Spend a day with Oscar winners
Forrest Gump, Titanic, Die Hard – so much of Los Angeles’ culture is tied to its history of hit moviemaking. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures – opened in 2021 – takes you on a deep dive into the filmmaking process and showcases exhibits on canonical movies and seminal actors, including Citizen Kane and Bruce Lee. For all the Oscar obsessives, there’s a line-up of golden statuettes and memorable speeches to see – and even the opportunity to present your own (don’t forget to thank the Academy).
It pays to plan ahead. Enjoy fee-free currency load options when converting AUD to USD with Qantas Travel Money.¹ Find out more at qantastravelmoney.com
Take a spin at Super Nintendo World
The fun and fast-paced Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach from the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise comes to Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2023. Visitors enter the bright Mario universe through a “Warp Pipe” and then it’s game mode activated. Take the interactive Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride. The kids will love wearing the augmented reality goggles on the roller-coaster as they battle against the famous villain Bowser across legendary Mario Kart courses to win the Golden Cup.
Manhattan accommodation with a modern twist
The 114-room ModernHaus SoHo, which opened in mid-2021 in downtown Manhattan, is filled with an extensive modern and contemporary art collection from names such as Alexander Calder, Hans Hartung, George Condo and Kaws. The rooms are big on Bauhaus, blending functional minimalism with reclaimed wooden floors, custom furnishings and geometric sculptures. “Visit the nearby AIRE Ancient Baths for a relaxing spa day, Sadelles for brunch and The Drawing Center and MoMA gift shop for some additional exploration,” says Rene Roman, the hotel’s general manager.
Dine at the Rockefeller Center’s refined French bistro
Le Rock’s fit-out within the Rockefeller Center is all upscale Manhattan, with green-leather banquettes, mahogany tables and patinated brass fittings under soaring ceilings. But the menu plays an elevated French tune, with razor clams, barbajuans (chard-filled and fried bite-size pastries) and Burgundy-style snails. For mains, there’s a riff on steak au poivre, made with bison fillet, alongside a steak haché – a bunless burger served with some of the city’s best fries.
Live large in LA and New York and earn 1.5 Qantas Points for every AU$1 equivalent spent in foreign currency2 . Lock your exchange rates, and carry travel money the safer way. Find out more at qantastravelmoney.com
SEE ALSO: 5 Ways To Experience England a Little Differently
You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer member to earn points. A joining fee may apply. Membership and points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer program. See terms and conditions. Qantas Travel Money is a prepaid Mastercard® payment facility available to Australian resident Qantas Frequent Flyer members aged 16+. Issuer: Heritage Bank Limited (AFSL 240984). Consider the PDS and TMD available at qantastravelmoney.com. Mastercard® is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Conditions apply. 1 Pay no foreign transaction fees on purchases when you load your Qantas Travel Money with one of 10 foreign currencies supported by the product and transact in that same currency. A foreign exchange rate will apply to foreign exchange transactions in accordance with clause 7 of Part B of the Qantas Travel Money PDS which can be found at qantasmoney.com/travel-money-card. A 0.5% fee applies to debit card loads. 2 Membership and the earning and redemption of Qantas Points are subject to the Qantas Frequent Flyer Terms and Conditions. Eligible purchases do not include money orders, traveller’s cheques, gambling chips or purchasing foreign currencies in cash. See qantasmoney.com/travel-money-card or contact Mastercard Qantas Travel Money Global Support for full details. Qantas Points are earned as follows: 1.5 Qantas Points per AU$1 equivalent spent in foreign currency and 1 Qantas Point per AU$4 spent in Australian dollars. Qantas Points are calculated using the Qantas Travel Money Daily Rate as defined in the PDS, and may vary daily. 3 Terms and conditions apply. Visit mastercard.com.au for details.
Image credit: Iwan Baan (The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures)
