Jacee_Denton
September 30, 2024
We stayed here based on our travel advisor's high praise and booked with points, so we were not rewarded with the usual upgrade stuff. The bell staff greeting was friendly and the check-in was efficient. Our room was not ready at 4PM and we were offered a drink at the lobby bar, which is hosted by a bartender right out of a Noel Coward play, who entertained us while we waited. The place is packed with folks who appear to be on an expense account and their entourage checking in for dinner. The restaurant is beautiful, and the menu is well thought out. Aesthetic of the public rooms and the guest room is tightly planned, but deco chic, with caramel colored overstuffed mohair seating and gleaming nickel lighting in the reception area. The hotel room had a gorgeous marble bathroom, with deco cabinetry and nickel finishes, and the room was designed to convey whimsy and high style. The one complaint about the check-in was the unmonitored wait - we went back to the front desk after an hour plus at the bar to see if the room was ready. The front desk should have retrieved us when the room was ready instead of leaving us in the bar to fend for ourselves. That said, when we were finally taken to our room, we were moved almost immediately when I showed concern of potential noise from Madison Ave. The room faced an interior courtyard, and was small, but it was serene, which fit the bill. Technology was well planned in the room as was the mini bar and closets. I would guess the hotel gets a great many business guests and would recommend it to my traveling professional friends. Dinner through room service dinner from the kitchen was handed over to the Morton's Salt rep, because the soup was darned near inedible, and I'm a gal that likes my salt. However, brunch in the restaurant for us and friends the following day, albeit expensive, was very tasty (try the avocado toast), so the salt police were in control. I've eaten dinner at the restaurant with friends before, and it's a place to "see and be seen", but great.. Breakfast through room service delivered perfectly poached eggs, and the exercise room is adequately equipped. The coffee cups weren't the usual tiny breakfast tea, but real coffee mugs, which I liked. Housekeeping is well managed because the room was spotless, as was the exercise area and public spaces. Management gets the joke here, and there's a "ricksaw" to Bergdorf's as well as a hotdog cart outside for the welcome pooches. I'd go back to this hotel, given it's competition in the neighborhood, but would opt into an upgraded room with Fine Hotels & Resorts or Virtuoso, and get the perks.