Sue Stemp, with a few of her fashionable friends in Paris
Oh to be Sue Stemp: To be known for your stellar wit, endearing charm, fancy friends, and even fancier dresses. (Check out her blog to confirm these superlatives for yourself.) To follow in the footsteps of the savvy designer and her international hot-spot-hopping ways–who, by the way, debuts her fall 2008 collection today–file these addresses away.
Sue Stemp’s Top 10 Places around the World for a Drink…and a Nibble:
1. Mathi’s. When I am in Paris I always visit Mathi’s red velvet bar just off the Champs-Elysées for a cocktail and to hear an old disco classic.
2. The Norwood. An Arts club in a gorgeous nineteenth century mansion on 14th Street in New York. You are bound to run into someone interesting over Plymouth and Hendricks and shrimp toast at the downstairs bar.
3. Mohonk Mountain House. Beautiful massive lodge on a lake in upstate New York. Really, if you want a good fishy nibble you will have to come here during the annual Burns Scottish Weekend for the smoked kippers.
4.Xochimilco. Floating garden and canals built by the Aztecs just south of Mexico City. You hire a boat and passing boats come by selling snacks and drinks and renting mariachis.
5. Villa Xanadu. a massive 1929 mansion built right on the beach in Veradero, Cuba. The beach is beautiful and the beach bars make excellent grilled lobster and mojitos.
6. The Anchor Pub. It’s on the seawall in my hometown of Burnham-on-Crouch. You can get a cup of fresh winkles from the fishmonger right around the corner.
7. Minetta Tavern. I used to live above this onetime speakeasy in Greenwich Village. It’s a great restaurant with an interior that has hardly changed since the 30’s.
8. Pike’s, Ibiza. Every time you motor up the gravel drive of this famous hotel it’s the overture to Wham’s “Tropicana”! You may see Mr. Pike eyeing the ladies as you have a cocktail at the poolside bar.
9. Malabar House, Fort Cochin, Kerala, India. An amazing hotel in a 18th century Dutch house with an great restaurant serving South Indian food.
10. Branford, Connecticut. I come here in the summer with my husband and his family to eat just-caught bass while watching the sun set over Long Island Sound.
