OCTOBER 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 75
THE CENTER OF IT ALL
really need an excuse at all.
Better yet, find a few like-minded
gamers and book a slot at Escape
of a Lifetime (473 Old Country Rd.,
516-780-4420, theescapeofalifetime.
com), where you can choose from
three different themed escape rooms,
with varying levels of difficulty.
Break into Da Vinci’s Study to steal
his manuscripts, or pretend you’re
a bank robber and flee The Vault
before the cops arrive. Or, if you’re
really up for a challenge, escape from
The Asylum, before you become a
permanent resident.
THE LOUNGE OF LIFE
When the hustle and bustle of the
Westbury area make you crave a little
downtime, luckily there’s a long list of
local watering holes and night spots
where you can kick back and unwind
in style. One neighborhood favorite is
His & Hers Bar & Lounge (259 Post
Ave., 516-385-3335), where the bartenders
are friendly and you can order
specialty martinis in flavors like
mango, guava, tamarind, peach, and
pineapple. Another popular hangout
is Friar’s Tavern (231 Post Ave., 516-
333-3893), located across from The
Space, so it’s a slam-dunk choice for
pre- or post-gaming a concert. You’ll
also love the great drink prices and
all-around good vibes.
For a vibe of an entirely different color,
try The Polo Lounge (1100 Jericho
Tpke., 516-333-7117, westburymanor.
com/polo-lounge), a swanky, oldschool
restaurant and lounge with
1940s flair, located inside the Westbury
Manor catering hall. There are
no tables — just booths — perfect for
relaxing and enjoying the top-flight
food and expertly crafted cocktails.
Similarly unique is the Mystique
Hookah Lounge (973 Old Country
Rd., 516-385-2320, mystiquehookahlounge.
com), the area’s preferred
location for sharing some shisha with
friends. It’s open until 3 a.m. on Fridays
and Saturdays, which is perfect
for late-night smokers.
GOING GATSBY
Westbury’s fertile terrain wasn’t
just prized in the past as farmland;
in the 19th century it also attracted
the New York elite, who came to hunt,
ride, and play polo on the Hempstead
Plains. This burgeoning new community
of ultrawealthy landowners
became the incorporated Village of
Old Westbury in 1924, and today it’s
still the home of one of the richest
concentrations of Americans in the
U.S. You may not be able to afford an
Old Westbury address, but it sure is
a nice place to visit.
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS
There’s really no better (or cheaper)
way to live like Old Westbury gentry
than to spend a leisurely afternoon
at Old Westbury Gardens (71 Old
Westbury Rd., 516-333-0048, oldwestburygardens.
org), the former estate
of steel magnate John Shaffer Phipps.
Converted to a museum in 1959, it is
now open to the public for tours from
late April through October. The centerpiece
is Westbury House, built in
1906 by designer George A. Crawley,
channeling 17th and 18th century English
architecture. It is surrounded
WHERE TO STAY
Courtyard by Marriott Westbury
Long Island
1800 Privado Rd., 516-542-1001,
marriott.com
Hilton Garden Inn Westbury
1575 Privado Rd., 516-683-8200,
hilton.com
Holiday Inn Westbury - Long
Island
369 Old Country Rd., 516-997-5000,
holidayinn.com
Red Roof PLUS+ Long Island - Garden
City
699 Dibblee Dr., 516-794-2555,
redroof.com/property/ny/
westbury/RRI266
Viana Hotel & Spa
3998 Brush Hollow Rd., 516-338-
7777, vianahotelandspa.com
by 216 acres of landscaped formal
and informal gardens, plus fields and
woodlands. There’s no better reminder
of why the area’s first settlers — up
through its residents of today — are
happy to call Westbury home.
WHERE TO DINE
Black Label Burgers
683 Old Country Rd., 516-333-6059,
blacklabelburgersny.com
Café Baci
1636 Old Country Rd., 516-832-8888,
cafebacirestaurant.com
Pollos El Paisa
989 Old Country Rd., 516-338-5858,
polloselpaisali.com
Steve’s Piccola Bussola
649 Old Country Rd., 516-333-1335,
stevespiccolabussola.com
Tesoro’s Ristorante
967 Old Country Rd., 516-334-0022,
tesorosrestaurant.com
The annual Westbury street fair draws a crowd on Post Avenue.
The gates to Old Westbury Gardens are like a passage back in time.
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