Mark Zeff may have been born in South Africa, but he is a bonafide New Yorker. His experience designing some of the city’s hottest hotels, restaurants and stores (not to mention an apartment for Hilary Swank) has made him acutely aware of the city’s vast and subtle nuances. But like any New Yorker, the designer also cherishes his time away from the city too.
“I split my time between Northwest Harbor in East Hampton and Gramercy Park in Manhattan,” says the founder of New York City-based full-service design consulting firm, MARKZEFF. “Both feel like home to me. I love Northwest Harbor for its gorgeous, sandy bay beach and Gramercy Park for its intimate, neighborhood feel.”
In fact, he has been so enamored with the Hamptons that he recently decided to write a 256-page book, BLACKBARN, to celebrate the dream home he built for his family near his favorite beach in the Northwest Harbor. Here, he shares some of his favorite spaces and places in his two favorite stomping grounds.
Silver’s Restaurant – 15 Main Street, Southampton, NY
“I’ve been going to Silver’s since the mid-1980s, when it still had a newsstand in the front. The food is incredible and the owner, Garrett, makes us feel like a part of the family. My wife, Kristen, and I love it so much that we had our wedding lunch here.”
Bostwick’s Chowder House – 277 Pantigo Road, East Hampton, NY
“Everyone in the family loves Bostwick’s. We have a tradition of kicking off the summer with a Lobster Roll and a glass of Sancerre on Memorial Day weekend.”
Collette Annex – 25 Hampton Road, Southampton, NY
“This is one of my favorite places to buy home décor items in the Hamptons. I’ve bought everything from furniture to art to lighting here. My favorite find was an oil painting of a Yorkshire Terrier dressed as a knight in shining armor that now hangs in our library – hilarious!”
Marders – 120 Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton, NY
“The landscaping stock at Marder’s is unbelievably gorgeous. They also have a fabulous home goods store – my wife always picks up her favorite Cire Trudon candle in Abd el Kader (Moroccan Mint Tea). And, of course, I must recommend picking up a copy of my book, BLACKBARN, from their extensive book section.”
Moore Brother’s Wine Company – 33 E. 20th Street, New York, NY
“These guys KNOW wine. All of their wine is shipped and stored at 56 ° to ensure freshness. They also work with small, artisan wineries that are committed to sustainable production. The best part is that many of their bottles are accessibly priced.”
Casa Mono – 52 Irving Place, New York, NY
“Mario Batali’s Spanish joint on Irving Place is right around the corner from my apartment. I love sitting at the bar, watching the chefs whip up the beautifully-executed dishes. The jamón ibérico is to die for.”
Irving Farm Coffee Roasters – 71 Irving Place, New York, NY
“As evidenced by their mass of loyal followers, Irving Farm arguably has the best coffee in NYC. My favorite breakfast here is an iced coffee and a slice of avocado toast.”
