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Saga

New York

Sky-high dining in a new era

Picture this: You're sitting in a chic, minimalist dining room on the 63rd floor of an Art Deco skyscraper near Wall Street. Out the window? Unparalleled views over the glistening New York skyline and major landmarks from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Statue of Liberty.

Lasting legacy: Chef James Kent was a titan of North American gastronomy whose resume spanned a host of New York institutions including Eleven Madison Park and Jean-Georges. He opened Saga in 2022 as the shining star of the new Saga Hospitality Group that also included Crown Shy, located on the building's ground floor. In 2024, Kent suddenly and tragically passed away, leaving behind a flourishing gastronomic collective that has kept the flame alight and will honour the chef's legacy going forward, now re-christened as the Kent Hospitality Group.

At the helm: Detroit-born Charlie Mitchell made history at his Brooklyn eatery Clover Hill in 2022 as the first Black chef in New York City to earn a Michelin Star. Following the accolade, Chef Kent became a mentor to Mitchell. After Kent's passing, he proudly took on the role of executive chef of Saga in mid-2024.

On the menu: Mitchell's menus pull from his grandmother's southern cooking, Detroit upbringing and experiences in New York to create elegant, picturesque plates that forgo superfluous flourishes in favour of flavour. Think cornbread with caviar or dry-aged Japanese red sea bream with tsuyahime dirty rice and coconut.

Post-dinner drinks: If the views from the 63rd floor weren't quite up to scratch, a few more steps up to the 64th will land you at Overstory: a mainstay of The World's 50 Best Bars ranking and a destination in its own right. The compact bar area is sultry, with its seasoned team donning signature pink tuxedos, delivering second-to-none hospitality and stellar cocktails under the glimmering lights of a disco ball.

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