New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [242]
Fodor’s Choice | Inn at Irving Place.
$$ | Fantasies of Old New York—Manhattan straight from the pages of Edith Wharton and Henry James, an era of genteel brick town houses and Tiffany lamps—spring to life at this discreet 20-room inn, the city’s most romantic. There is no sign outside the 1830 town house, a hint of the somehow small-town qualities of Irving Place, a lightly trafficked street on the south side of Gramercy Park. One of the city’s most famous tea salons, Lady Mendl’s, is run on the lobby level. Rooms have ornamental fireplaces, four-poster beds with embroidered linens, wood shutters, and glossy cherrywood floors. The room named after Madame Olenska (a lovelorn Wharton character) has a bay window with sitting nook—this is one of the most memorable spots in New York; reserve it for anniversaries. Still, the rooms can sometimes seems like a novel’s character who has aged too rapidly—and the street and restaurant noise occasionally spoil the fin-de-siècle fantasy. Pros: romantic; charming property; big rooms; excellent breakfast and tea service; Mario Batali’s Casa Mono is downstairs. Cons: twee; rooms aren’t flawless, with imperfections like older grouting; street noise. TripAdvisor: “lovely hotel,” “loved the locale,” “quiet oasis of calm in Manhattan.” | 56 Irving Pl., between E. 17th and E. 18th Sts., Gramercy Park | 10003 | 212/533–4600 or 800/685–1447 | www.innatirving.com | 5 rooms, 6 suites | In-room: a/c, refrigerator. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, laundry service, no kids under 8 | AE, D, DC, MC, V | CP | Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R to 14th St./Union Sq.
Marcel at Gramercy.
$ | A fall 2008 redesign has transformed the Marcel into a chic yet affordable stay that gives guests both style and substance in a prime location. The small lobby is outfitted in a dark palette of black, gray, and blue, making it feel like a swanky nightclub; rooms are modernized with flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations, Frette linens, and Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities. Rooms may still be a bit small for the price point, but the sleek redo added a much-needed zest to the decor. The 10th-floor lounge, where there’s complimentary computer and Wi-Fi access, free coffee, and a connecting outdoor patio, offers respite from the bustling city below. Inoteca, an offshoot of a popular Lower East Side small-plates Italian restaurant, is on the ground floor and provides room service. Pros: outdoor patio offers great space and spectacular views of the city; good value. Cons: elevators are slow; a/c struggles in summer; the wine-and-cheese reception is free but could run longer. TripAdvisor: “quirky hotel,” “fantastic value for money,” “beautiful roof terrace.” | 201 E. 24th St., Gramercy Park | 10003 | 212/696–3800 | www.themarcelatgramercy.com | 133 rooms, 2 suites | In-room: a/c, safe. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, laundry service, Internet terminal, Wi-Fi hotspot | AE, D, MC, V | Subway: 6 to 23rd St.
MURRAY HILL
Carlton Arms.
¢ | Europeans and students know about the chipper, winning attitude of this friendly, no-frills hotel. There are some caveats: the unisex bathrooms, two per floor, are shared. Rooms themselves are themed, from an English cottage to a math classroom, though all the themes exclude a television. Prices remain consistent throughout the year: $130 including tax for a private bath, $110 to share. Pros: rock-bottom prices; chipper attitude; quieter residential Murray Hill location. Cons: no elevator; few furnishings; many shared baths. TripAdvisor: “inexpensive, funky, artsy hotel,” “could have been a little cleaner,” “good location.” | 160 E. 25th St., at 3rd Ave., Murray Hill | 10010 | 212/684–8337, 212/679–0680 for reservations | www.carltonarms.com | 54 rooms, 20 with bath | In-room: a/c, no phone, no TV. In-hotel: Internet terminal, some pets allowed | MC, V | Subway: R to 28th St.
Carlton on Madison Avenue.
$$ | A