Take A Trip To Upland

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Photo Credit: Kimberley Hartmann

Upland
345 Park Avenue South
New York, N.Y 10010
(212) 686-1006
www.uplandnyc.com

Taking a vacation is awesome, you know except for that whole packing, getting to the airport two hours early to stand in the security line before getting on a plane where a baby will inevitably scream at the top of his lungs the whole time part.

Sometimes that alone is enough to make you never want to leave New York again.

But what if we told you that you can take an awesome vacation to California without even leaving your beloved New York? We're sure you're wondering how that's possible. It's called a staycation that involves going to Chef Justin Smillie and restaurateur Stephen Starr's new restaurant, Upland.

More: E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. New York

This new Park Avenue pad will simultaneously transport you all the way to both the west coast and to Italy without ever downloading a boarding pass. With Californian and Italian inspired food in a New York setting, you'll feel right at home all while enjoying the food of another culture... sort of.

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If you're just in the mood for drinks, you can hang out at the huge copper trimmed bar and have one of the delicious signature cocktails, the many wines or one of the billions of beers offered (that may or may not be a slight exaggeration). If you're more in the mood to chow down, go ahead, get cozy in one of the giant leather booths and order one of the delicious pizzas, the Crispy Artichokes, or one of the absolutely amazing pastas like the Pappardelle or Spaghettini. Seriously, no matter what you order there's no going wrong here.

Just don't get any ideas about getting busy in the bathroom; it will not get you into the mile high club.

By Stephanie Hartmann

Stephanie Hartmann writes and edits E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. lifestyle content for CBS New York.