SOPHIE GRÜTZNER

"I grew up in Hamburg and spent countless nights on the infamous Reeperbahn in the red light district St. Pauli. Once I got older (and my taste a little more refined...), I traded the Reeperbahn for one of its side roads: On Davidstraße, you will find the legendary Italian restaurant Cuneo. It's stayed in the Cuneo family since its opening in 1905, witnessed murders and has been serving anyone from prostitutes, politicians, Hollywood stars to dock workers, editors, artists and boxing champions over the years."

"My sister and her family live in Paris, so I consider the City of Light my home away from home. Years ago, she and her French husband introduced me to Colin Field who is the head bartender at the legendary Hemingway Bar (named after its famous former regular) inside the Ritz Hotel. It's safe to say that Colin is the greatest bartender in the world (he worked his magic at his friend Kate Moss' wedding) and his "Serendipity" cocktail is heavenly!"

"This place takes you right back to the golden days of Shanghai at the dawn of the 20th Century: Have a pre-dinner drink in the magical garden, surrounded by paper lantern-lit trees and little ponds filled with colorful kois before sitting down for dinner either inside the Spanish style villa from the 1930's or on its dreamy porch."

"I love the Old World charm of the Waldhaus that opened in 1908. My parents have been coming here since the 1970's. The hotel sits nestled between tall pine trees atop the magical little town Sils Maria (you might remember it from the Kristen Stewart movie "Clouds of Sils Maria"). There is nothing glitzy or posh about this place but it has its very own sense of luxury that attracts a special crowd that loves to sit in the dated plush armchairs in the majestic lounge with floor to ceiling windows, listening to a string trio while sipping hot chocolate or an Old Fashioned."

"Once you enter through the narrow green door underneath the stoops of an old West Village townhouse, you step into a different era: This upscale gastro pub with a Paris-in-the-20's vibe is my all-time favorite place in New York (and luckily only a stone throw away from my house)! You can choose to sit in the garden room with its high glass ceiling, the main room with its beautifully painted walls or at the bar next to the fire place where Dex will serve up the signature Waverly Lemonade (careful, it's strong!). But it's also the staff that makes the Waverly Inn extra special: take Sonya, who will greet you by the door and who is without a doubt one of the coolest, loveliest and best dressed girls in the city."