Where: Cafe Altro Paradiso, Soho
Watch: Rolex GMT Master II
When: 10:11 a.m.
This week, I’m lucky enough to be wearing this stunner of a watch from Rolex. A rose gold GMT master II in 40mm, with a black dial and a brown and black rotating 24-hour bezel, it’s a timepiece that helps you justify a happy-hour tipple no matter where you are. Why? Because with a twist of the dial you can change the time zone to somewhere more appropriate; as they say, it’s five o'clock somewhere.
This feature gave me the perfect excuse to head to Cafe Altro Paradiso, one of my favorite modern Italian restaurants in New York (it has a great Fiorentina steak and cacio e pepe). I love the big, bright space and well-appointed bar, where I trusted the bartender and took a leap of faith, trying a Negroni with Yola mezcal instead of gin. The drink, along with the space and my Rolex, helped me feel that Italian Riviera glamour even as yellow cabs rolled by a few feet away. I’m lucky to be in Italy enough these days that I sometimes start to feel homesick for it, and Cafe Altro is my one-stop shop for Italy vibes whenever I do.
'Time and Place' is Matt Hranek's regular dispatch on the latest watches from around the globe for Condé Nast Traveler. #watchwednesdays @wmbrownproject