Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld lists the Russian Tea Room among his favorite restaurants in New York City: "I love the Russian atmosphere, it reminds me of my grandfather." Of course his grandfather was Russian film producer Jacques Roitfeld, responsible for works such as Count of Monte Cristo. Also of note to film buffs—everything from Tootsie to Gossip Girl has filmed on location at this landmark. Located at 150 West 57th Street adjacent to Carnegie Hall, the Russian Tea Room opened in 1927 as the venture of a troupe of former Russian ballet dancers. They hoped to make it warm and welcoming for their expat comrades, instead the Tea Room grew famous as the hot spot for stars from all backgrounds.
Some of the celebrated that have congregated here over the years include Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Leonard Bernstein, Rudolph Nureyev, Woody Allen, Richard Burton, Helen Gurley Brown, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Fun fact: Madonna worked here as a coat check girl back in 1982. If you'd like to read more about the fabled history of this Manhattan gem, former owner Faith Stewart-Gordon gives us the inside scoop in her book The Russian Tea Room: A Love Story
Russian Tea Room photograph © 2006 New York Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Russian Tea Room photograph courtesy of bizbash.com