New Yorkers take eating and drinking very seriously indeed, so visits to the city‘s current favourites are a must. Two of the hottest hotspots can be found in Mandarin Oriental, New York; one is the Lobby Bar with its unparalleled views of Central Park; the other is the more intimate MObar with its stunning, ultra-contemporary décor. To pick up on media gossip, stop off at Michael‘s, in midtown, where magazine editors, agents, publishers and television executives lunch, mingle and deal. A more bohemian bar scene can be found in the red-hot Meatpacking District, where bistros like Pastis, Meet and 5 Ninth serve as hangouts for artists, models and actors. One of the newest places-to-be-seen in town is The Modern, the restaurant at the renovated Museum of Modern Art. Overlooking the museum‘s famous sculpture garden through a glass wall, the restaurant has a view like no other. Speaking of views, Asiate at Mandarin Oriental, New York offers spectacular vistas of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, along with unique French and Japanese cuisine. If it‘s cheese you like, French brasserie Artisanal has an unmatched selection. The Union Square Café remains as great as it ever was, and, of course, New York has the best steak houses north of Argentina. At the top of the list are Sparks, Smith & Wollensky, The Post House, Ben Benson‘s and Ruth‘s Chris.