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Sanjana Sanghi’s New York Diary: Where to Eat, Unwind and Find Yourself
When visiting New York City, actor Sanjana Sanghi swaps hustle for jazz and stir-fry.
“There’s something about New York City that forces you to be your most authentic self,” says actor Sanjana Sanghi over a call from the place she keeps returning to for the clarity it brings into her life. “You walk for 20 minutes, and no two people look alike. That freedom to dress how you want, feel what you feel, is very hard to come by.”
She’s just wrapped another trip to the city she calls her “third home” (after New Delhi and Mumbai), and unlike many who associate New York City with restless ambition, Sanghi returns to it repeatedly for a different reason: to reset. To pause. To take long walks by the piers. And to eat really, really well.
While this visit was anchored by work — including keynote duties at the United Nations General Assembly as part of her continuing role with the United Nations Development Programme — Sanghi’s itinerary was far from corporate. “The UN headquarters are here, and I’m also spearheading a couple of global campaigns. But even outside of that, there’s something about being here that feeds me as an artist. A jazz set, a play in a language I don’t understand, a last-minute comedy gig. I come back feeling lit up.”
Restaurant Recommendations
1. Dim Sum Chelsea (Chelsea): Get the stir-fried chicken with bok choy.
2. Chinese Tuxedo (Chinatown): Elevated dim sum, moody interiors, unforgettable evenings.
3. Mignon (Chelsea Market): The best Israeli-style pita sandwiches with grilled meats and veggies.
4. Kebab aur Sharab (Upper West Side): Mughlai comfort food with a side of nostalgia.
5. Ume (Williamsburg, Brooklyn): Intimate Japanese omakase with minimalist decor and beautifully plated sushi.
Room for Serendipity
When asked to map out a dream day in NYC, Sanghi starts not at The Metropolitan Museum of Art or The Museum of Modern Art, but in a dimly lit jazz club. “The Django at the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca was magical. We went on a Tuesday with no expectations. Turned out, six jazz Hall-of-Famers were performing that night. I walked out buzzing.”
From there, her recommendations spill out effortlessly, each with its own sensory texture. A lazy afternoon picnic at Sheep Meadow in Central Park. A vintage shop crawl through the East Village’s student-run thrift stores. A casual evening at the iconic Comedy Cellar, where she once stumbled into a surprise Hasan Minhaj set. “You never know who’ll show up — that’s the real fun part.”
Another staple for Sanghi is Asian food, especially a late-night Chinatown food trail that starts with dumplings and ends at the sleek speakeasy-style Chinese Tuxedo. “It’s like three different countries in one neighbourhood.”
Where Food Leads, She Follows
Sanghi describes herself as the kind of traveller whose itinerary is determined by where she’s eating. “Food comes first. That’s how I plan where I stay, how I move through a city.”
On this trip, new culinary discoveries included Mignon, an Israeli-style pita sandwich stall tucked away inside Chelsea Market, and her current favourite Indian haunt, Kebab Aur Sharab on the Upper West Side. “It tastes like home. Like Delhi, actually. And after a week of sushi and jazz, sometimes that’s exactly what I need.”
On the sushi front, she prefers omakase. Nine courses of the chef’s choice. “It’s not just a meal; it’s a communal experience. You’re shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers from all over the world, eating the same thing at the same time. That’s New York for you.”
The Ritual
At the heart of her New York City experience is her brother, who lives in Chelsea. Their ritual — “no matter how jet-lagged I am” — involves a visit to their neighbourhood hole-in-the-wall, Dim Sum Chelsea. “I always get the stir-fried chicken with bok choy. You’d miss the place if you walked past it. But it’s our thing.”
Her emotional connection to the city runs deep. It is a blend of nostalgia, family, and personal renewal. “The cultural contrasts — from Brooklyn to Manhattan to Harlem — feel like different planets. But it all still feels like one giant celebration of selfhood. And every time I leave, I already know I’ll be back,” says she.
Sanjana’s Tips for Overpackers
From someone who admits to regularly sitting on her suitcase to zip it shut.
1. Outfit Planning > Overpacking: “Don’t carry three outfits for one day. Make one look work from day to night.” Accessories and smart footwear swaps go a long way.
2. Think in Combinations, Not Pieces: “Enough denims, enough shirts that all pair well together — that’s my rule. You can create endless combinations.” It’s her secret to surviving spontaneous trip extensions.
3. Occasionally Accept the Overweight Luggage Fee: “I justify it irrationally: you’re an actor, a little vanity is okay.”
And when you are in doubt (and short on time), pay the extra fee.
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