Candace Bushnell can’t help but wonder where garment bags have gone. “No one makes them for women today. I travel with my Louis Vuitton bag from the ’80s.” The author created a zeitgeist of female independence and fashion that inspired HBO’s Sex and the City. This month, audiences can see her perform her live show, True Tales of Sex, Success and Sex and the City, at Guild Hall in East Hampton. “It’s well-heeled women coming to laugh and have a good time.” The real-life Carrie Bradshaw is traveling to places the fictional Bradshaw likely wouldn’t, Slovenia, Scandinavia, but always manages to find a city’s scene. Here, her recent stays.
Oslo, Norway / Photo: Adobe Stock
Oslo, Norway
“I stayed at the Sommerro, which was very nice. I’m not a foodie, but the hotel has a great rooftop restaurant, Izakaya Bar & Terrace. Walkability is important to me—it’s a great way to see cities, and I get a lot of exercise. I walked pretty much everywhere, from the Sommerro to the Opera House and an amazing park. I must have walked seven miles that day.”
Prague / Photo: Courtesy of Adobe Stock
Prague
“People should absolutely go—it’s a wonderful city. I stayed at the NH Collection, which is a great hotel that’s been refurbished. I tend to like hotels that are older, and I like to stay where there’s a bit of a scene. A friend of mine knew this guy who showed me around. Trips are more fun when you have a local guide. I enjoyed the café society, people outside having drinks, food, and coffee. It’s a different pace—who has time to do this? I don’t see that as much in New York anymore.”
Zurich / Photo: Adobe Stock
Zurich
“People told me Switzerland was so boring, but I thought Zurich was cool. I went to the Old Fashion Bar—it’s an insider place and filled with young people. I enjoy old-world charm when I travel, and Zurich has that. I loved its Old Town neighborhood. There are many boutique hotels, which I would recommend researching ahead of time as they tend to be more self-service than service-oriented.”
The Carlyle hotel, home to Bemelmans Bar / Photo: Courtesy of Justin Bare
New York City
“My New York is the Upper East Side. I would stay at The Carlyle. There are always intimate and interesting shows at Café Carlyle, and there’s the legendary Bemelmans Bar. For coffee, I go to Ralph’s Coffee Shop in the Ralph Lauren store on 72nd and Madison. I also go for strolls and bike rides in Central Park. For dinner, I go to Caravaggio, Bar Italia, and Chez Fifi.”
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