My Harlem: Marcus Samuelsson

Abyssinian Baptist Church. (
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Settepani bakery (Michael Sofronski)

: Birth of Cool at the Studio Museum of Harlem. (
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House of Hoops (
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BBQ Restaurant (Freelancer)

The Schomburg Center (Katie Orlinsky)

449 LA Scat (
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From the soccer fields of the Lower East Side, where he plays in a league, to the flea markets in Chelsea, where he feeds his “vintage fab” décor aesthetic, Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised chef Marcus Samuelsson has been bopping about the city for 15 years. “I like to see how [it] grows, how the character of the city changes,” says the 39-year-old winner of this year’s “Top Chef Masters.”

And what better nabe than Harlem to really soak it all in? The Marc Jacobs-loving Samuelsson lives there with his wife, model Gate Haile. In fact, he’s preparing to open his next restaurant, Red Rooster, in the ever-changing neighborhood next month. This is his Harlem.

1 Maysles Cinema, 343 Lenox Ave., between 127th and 128th streets

“This is a great place to catch indie flicks and documentaries. I recently saw ‘Babylon,’ a London reggae film from the ‘80s. [The theater] was founded by renowned documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, who made ‘Grey Gardens.’ “

2 Central Park Conservatory Garden, Fifth Avenue, at 105th Street

“The entire park is a marvel, but the rose garden here is the most beautiful. I use the park a lot: I run there, I think there. It’s so special to me because when I came to New York without a dime I could go up to the park and have an amazing afternoon. But my favorite part is the roses.”

3 Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 Odell Clark Place, at West 138th Street

“This is by far the most famous and visited church in Harlem. I really enjoy the gospel music.”

4 Settepani, 196 Lenox Ave., at 120th Street

“My favorite place for a cappuccino and a house-made biscotti.”

5 The Studio Museum in Harlem, 144 W. 125th St., between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Malcolm X boulevards

“If you want to see young African-American artists that are really ‘now,’ Thelma [Golden, the museum’s executive director] displays them here — and before anyone else. I’ve bought art by Kehinde Wiley and Julie Mehretu — who now have pieces at MoMA — after seeing them at the Studio Museum.”

6 Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., between 135th and 136th streets

“It’s a hub of African-American history, the place to go to when researching black culture. They have stacks of books, as well as archived newspapers and magazines on microfilm.”

7 House of Hoops, 268 W. 125th St., between Seventh Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard

“I love sneaks. I have too many; a man should not have so many shoes. When I dress, I think about the sneakers first. I like old-school sneakers, and I find them here.”

8 Dinosaur Bar B Que, 700 W. 125th St., at 12th Avenue

“The vibe is super casual and fun. I enjoy going with a bunch of friends and family. The barbecue ribs are great. They’re made traditionally, cooked overnight in a pit.”

9 449 LA, Malcolm X Blvd., between 132nd and 133rd streets

“At this hole-in-the-wall spot, old cats play incredible jazz. I go on Sundays when the people from church who have just sung in the choir come. Right next door [to 449 LA] there’s a cool outdoor Jamaican barbecue joint. You can’t even call it a restaurant; it’s only open sometimes, and it doesn’t have a name, but they serve jerk pork, jerk chicken and sandwiches.”

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