The Golden Swan, tucked away inside a historic West Village townhouse, is a magnet for celebrities seeking an intimate and glamorous dining experience in New York City. Owner Matthew Abramcyk and general manager Marquis James have meticulously crafted a space that blends old-school New York charm with a touch of timeless sophistication, making it a favorite haunt for stars like Helena Christensen, Henrik Lundqvist, and countless others. Abramcyk, the visionary behind several well-known restaurants, describes the Golden Swan as evoking a “Woody Allen kind of New York,” where the rarefied atmosphere is complemented by its architecture, menu, and attentive staff. The Golden Swan has a rich history, dating back to the early 19th century when it was a gathering spot for artists and even some shady characters like Thomas Wallace of the Hudson Dusters gang. After being demolished to make way for the West 4th Street subway station, Abramcyk revived the Golden Swan in 2023, reopening it in the former home of the shuttered Spotted Pig.
The restaurant’s design and ambiance are as much a draw as its star-studded clientele. The lower-level bistro-style space, named after Thomas Wallace, is where Helena Christensen has hosted cocktail-filled nights with supermodels like Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, and Kaia Gerber. The bar, with its jet-black wood and green brick wall backdrop, radiates a Gatsby-era glamour, while the bartenders are known for their show-stopping rosemary-smoked old fashioned cocktail. Crawford and her friends have sipped on Golden Swan martinis here, and Lorde has indulged in extra-dirty martinis. The space is also adorned with a portrait of boxer Gene Tunney painted by Interpol’s Paul Banks, a friend of Abramcyk. Behind the main bar lies the Rear Wallace Room, a curtained-off area reserved for VIP guests like Sam Smith, Bradley Cooper, and Jude Law, who enjoy their meals in private.
One of the Golden Swan’s most intriguing features is its secret back door, marked with a “No Guest Access” sign, which celebrities like Bradley Cooper and Jake Gyllenhaal use to avoid paparazzi. This unassuming entrance leads to a grungy hallway with stairs to the main dining room and a side street escape route. The main dining room itself is a picture of elegance, with mirror-lined walls and large windows that flood the space with natural light during the day and offer stunning downtown views at night. Abramcyk describes it as a “snow globe kind of feel,” where the golden light from the Hudson River at sunset creates one of the most magical dining experiences in the world. The room’s intimate 40-seat setting was famously used by Shaun White to propose to Nina Dobrev in October 2024, complete with rose-lined floors, candlelight, and a flower arch.
Table 76, the most sought-after spot in the dining room, is reserved exclusively for VIPs and has hosted A-listers like Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, and Kurt Russell, who dined on the restaurant’s beloved Dover sole. Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen have also enjoyed laughter-filled evenings at this coveted table, while Naomi Watts, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Lawrence are among the many stars who’ve indulged in executive chef Doug Brixton’s signature dishes, such as his eponymous burger and sticky toffee pudding. Off the main dining room lies a semi-private alcove frequented by Naomi Campbell and Blake Lively, offering a mix of privacy and proximity to the action. This space has also hosted notable figures like Jill Biden, who dined there with her granddaughter Finnegan, surrounded by Secret Service agents ensuring her security.
The Golden Swan’s pièce de résistance is the Swan Room, a private hideaway concealed behind a black curtain. This sexy red velvet banquette-lined space, adorned with gold-textured walls, has been the site of intimate gatherings, including Suki Waterhouse’s birthday party for Robert Pattinson and Jane Fonda’s dinner with Sally Field. Even David and Victoria Beckham used the Swan Room as a refuge during a holiday party, with James personally driving them home to evade paparazzi. The room’s unique decor was crafted using a $200 roll of swan wallpaper from Amazon, painted over by Abramcyk’s friend Kevin McCormick to create a space brimming with patina and texture.
For celebrities, the Golden Swan is more than just a restaurant—it’s a sanctuary. With its blend of history, design, and discretion, it offers a rarefied yet warm environment where stars can dine, socialize, and even escape the chaos of fame. From secret entrances to private rooms, every detail is designed to cater to the elite while maintaining an atmosphere that feels quintessentially New York. As Abramcyk puts it, “Escape strategies are not too much for the Golden Swan to handle,” making it a true haven for the world’s most recognizable faces.
