New York, like a particularly resilient ex, always comes back. And it feels so good! Despite challenges from the pandemic, the city felt reinvigorated, welcoming, and perhaps even a little… chiller on Esquire’s recent visit this autumn. There is always plenty of art to see, from a pleasingly witty Ed Ruscha retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art to the Frick’s newly-imagined space for its old classics. Restaurants and bars were full of locals enjoying autumnal (sorry, fall) evenings al fresco. And the shopping, if increasingly indistinct from its European counterparts (especially London), remains a worthwhile way to spend an afternoon.
With all those things to do during the day and well into the night, where does one snooze? New York hotels can be hard to fathom – just like that ex! – and if you’re unfamiliar with neighbourhoods, you could be staying in an area entirely unsuited to your vibe. It’s understandable. It’s a big place, and as many movies you’ve watched about the big apple, it still, happily, has surprises. Don’t fear: we’ve rounded up the best of the best to meet every New York state of mind.
For a Parisian in America: Hotel Barrière Fouquet’s New York
Restaurant and hotel Le Fouquet’s has long been a byword for Parisian glamour, and now you can savour that sumptuous vibe stateside. Located in Tribeca, whose cobblestone streets and views over the Hudson River feel très European, this hotel goes down like a chilled coupe of Champagne: French elegance, with a New York buzz.
The rooms – designed by Martin Brudnizki – are decked out in dusty pinks, marble, and Art Deco-style finishings. Rooms are flooded with light and, even more shocking for New York, you can sleep with the window open. The hotel has everything you’d want: a brasserie (with a menu from Pierre Gagnaire), a rooftop bar, and romantic speakeasy. In the morning, the café serves fresh pastries. If you really must exercise, there’s a gym and hydrotherapy pool. More fun to head outside, if you ask us: walk north and, in minutes, you’re in the West Village. Head east and you’re surrounded by the sights of Soho. But in those first seconds after you wake up, you might think you’re in Paris, so Hotel Barrière really counts as two holidays in one.
456 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013
For a Classic Central New York Experience: The Chatwal
If you’re to really launch yourself into the middle of New York – the crowded, busy, energy-dots-in-your-eyeballs Times Square sort of New York – The Chatwal is a luxurious jumping off point. Better yet, it’s a nod towards the New York of yore: the “see your name in lights, kid” kind, when stars were signed to studios and blondes had a strange habit of standing on air grates in impractical dresses.
The hotel itself, an amalgamation of art deco tinged with raj-era India, boasts upmarket, spacious rooms with a focus on traditional, old school luxury. Additional suites can upgrade the experience too, and even offer expansive outdoor terraces in a district literally built on top of itself. Book a Broadway show, go shopping on Park Avenue, and punctuate the entire sojourn with a cocktail in The Chatwal’s Lambs Club: a 90-seat restaurant under the tutelage of chef Geoffrey Zakarian. It’s all very New York.
130 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
For Classic Upper East Side (With a Starry Twist): The Mark Hotel
From the outside, The Mark might look like just another luxury Upper East Side hotel. But as soon as you step in and spot those black-and-white geometric tiles, you know this place has a sense of humour. Indeed, there is a menu for dogs (just ask for the “Spoiled Dog’s Menu” at Jean-Georges). It’s also pretty good for spoiling humans: the rooms are classic, comfortable and guarantee a good night’s sleep. Everyone, and we mean everyone, will know your name by the afternoon. And the hotel’s latest offering, restaurant Caviar Kaspia, is an unrivalled place to sink a martini.
It all means that despite its status as a getaway for the stars – this is where the A-List get ready for the Met Gala – you always feel at home. A well-designed home, anyway, as this hotel is full of “if you know you know” details. That signature scent? A Frédéric Malle fragrance (it’s Jurassic Flower, if you’re curious). The corridors are lined with artwork from Ron Arad and Mattia Bonetti. Interior designer Jacques Grange’s touch is a little French, a little American, and a lot lavish. For art enthusiasts, you’re steps away from New York’s White Cube outpost as well as the Gagosian’s Madison Avenue brand. Central Park is on your doorstep.
25 E 77th St, New York, NY 10075
For When You Pretend to Be A Proper New Yorker: The New York Edition
In a skyscraper, overlooking Madison Square Park, teeming with the sort of people who look very professional and UES. Yes, the New York Edition is quintessential East Coast cosmopolitanism.
It’s not difficult to understand why. With over 273 guest rooms based in the former clocktower HQ of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the Edition is a cool, well-designed oasis above the hustle of Midtown, offering one restaurant by Jason Atherton, and a Lobby Bar that’s more on par with a Chelsea members’ club than it is a hotel drinking hole. Pair all that with clean, boutique design from Ian Schrager, and the Edition feels very much like a local’s best kept secret.
5 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010
For West Village Living: Moxy NYC Chelsea
Despite the opulence, hotels rarely feel like your own apartment. That’s sort of the point. But head to Moxy NYC Chelsea, and you’re treated to an upgrade of your no doubt busy life elsewhere, with 349 bright, cool bedrooms designed by Yabu Pushelberg. The Flower District setting means there’s lots of backdrops for boyfriends of Instagram to capture. Joy!
Quaint solitude this is not, though. The Moxy has managed to pump a sense of modernity into a relatively upmarket neighbourhood, and finishes 35 floors with a rooftop bar offering panoramic views of Manhattan. And, while it’s easy to be tempted by the sights of greater New York, chances are the Moxy will keep you in Chelsea for the majority. Prices for a guest room start at $615 per night.
105 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001
For Those Who Want Another Borough: Wythe Hotel
Brooklyn is no longer “up and coming”. In fact, the borough is already very much there, with a brimming social scene that rivals Manhattan. The Wythe Hotel, then, is the best place to sample that side of the river.
First opened in 2012, the Williamsburg establishment is set within a factory building that’s over 100 years old. So far, so Brooklyn. What sets the Wythe Hotel apart, however, are 70 rooms that offer excellent views of the ’Burg, and the sights of the waterfront. Plus, a fully stocked calendar has propelled the hotel beyond the realm of a mere resting place, as visitors can enjoy everything from arthouse film screenings to tropical house club nights to live music events year round.
80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Visit NYC: The Official Guide at nycgo.com for more information.
