Heidi Klum on New York City, Crazy Pizza, and Her Best Travel Tips

Although Heidi Klum was raised in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, and still has that distinctive accent, everything about her is quintessentially New York.

Klum first came to the city in the early ’90s after she won a German modeling competition, beating out 25,000 competitors and cinching a contract with Metropolitan Models New York. From there, the rest is modeling history, with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers, Victoria’s Secret Angel runway walks, and appearances on shows such as Spin City and Sex and the City. Her most iconic gig, however, has been her time on Project Runway, where she has hosted, produced, and served as a judge on the Emmy-nominated series since 2004—it’s now entering its 21st season.

Klum’s love for New York City and its residents is almost palpable. It’s been her home for over 30 years, and it’s where she launched her career in the fashion industry. Some of her favorite memories, naturally, revolve around New York Fashion Week and Project Runway.

“I have so many great memories,” Klum says. “Each season, contestants get to show their designs at New York Fashion Week for the finale. I’d work with the designers all season and really get to know them, so watching them debut their final collections during Fashion Week and seeing how far they’d come since the first day of shooting was always a rewarding experience that made me so proud of them.”

Her connection to the city isn’t all business, though. She loves a classic New York party—especially if they involve costumes. Klum began throwing her legendary Halloween parties over 20 years ago at high-wattage venues, including Marquee, Cathédrale Restaurant, and most recently the Hard Rock Hotel in Times Square. She takes Halloween very seriously and is known for her zany costume choices. Remember when she dressed as an unsettlingly realistic worm in 2022? Her parties draw dozens of celebrities, including Martha Stewart, Jonathan Van Ness, and Kelsea Ballerini.

“I think all the venues that I’ve been able to have the party at have a personal meaning because they hold so many iconic memories,” she says.

But when she isn’t throwing the party of the year, Klum can usually be found relaxing at home with her husband​​, Tom Kaulitz. “Whenever I’m in New York, I love to just relax with my kids and husband at our home,” she says. “My oldest daughter, Leni, lives in New York, so getting to spend time with her is always the best way to unwind.”

When she does leave home, though, she prefers to be in SoHo. One of her favorite restaurants in the area is the Italian bistro Bar Pitti. “I think SoHo has the best food, and people there always have the coolest fashion sense,” Klum says. “Whenever I’m in town, you can probably find me on the streets of Soho, exploring all the great restaurants and shops.”

And though she’s best known for the work she’s done in the world of fashion, Klum is opening a new chapter of her life and venturing into the culinary world. This past fall, she opened Crazy Pizza, an upscale Soho pizza eatery with her ex, Flavio Briatore. The brand has 15 other locations, including in places like Milan and Saint-Tropez, France. Crazy Pizza is not your typical pizza joint—there’s a live DJ, spinning pizza dough shows, and a pizza-shaped disco ball hanging from the ceiling,

“It was something I wanted to be involved in because we make the best pizza, and I loved the concept so much. It’s such a spectacle,” she says. Klum also recommends the beef carpaccio, burrata salad, chicken parmigiana, and tiramisu. “The tiramisu is made fresh at the table, and you get to watch the process.” 

Whether it’s fashion, television, Halloween costume parties, or pizza, Klum is a master of making the work she does fun, both for herself and for the audience waiting for that next sashay—or slice of pie.