New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [255]
Fodor’s Choice | The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park.
$$$$ | It’s all about the park views here. Service aside, the competition among properties near the park’s south side is fierce, and although the Ritz isn’t the foremost of the bunch, it does offer some nice perks. Chief among them is the above-and-beyond service, accommodating to a fault, that makes it popular with celebs and other demanding guests. Rooms have typical high-end perks (Etro bath products, exclusively made 400-thread-count French sateen linens) and one that’s not so standard: a telescope for viewing park wildlife. The gym is small, however, as is the La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Laurent Tourondel operates the seasonal BLT Market restaurant on the ground floor. Pros: great concierge; personalized service; stellar location; views. Cons: pricey; limited common areas. TripAdvisor: “supremely comfortable bed,” “very large room,” “exceptional service.” | 50 Central Park S, at 6th Ave., Midtown West | 10019 | 212/308–9100 or 866/671–6008 | www.ritzcarlton.com/centralpark | 259 rooms, 47 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, DVD, Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, spa, laundry service, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: F, M to 57th St.
Room Mate Grace.
$ | A favorite of European visitors and business travelers in fashion and entertainment, Grace delivers high-design lodgings on a budget. The decor is modern and playful—Jonathan Adler reflective wallpaper, bright geometric patterns, and a check-in desk that doubles as a newsstand. Guests and locals gravitate to the lobby bar and swimming-pool lounge (a real glassed-in pool, with sauna and steam room) for cocktails and eye candy. Rooms are smallish, around 230 square feet to 300 square feet, but smartly designed (comfortable beds are elevated on platforms, so luggage can be stored underneath) and well insulated from street noise. Room capacity varies from two to four people (in a quad bunk-bed layout—each bed with its own TV and headset), convenient for traveling with teenagers or kids. Pros: free, ample continental breakfast; friendly, helpful staff. Cons: tiny rooms; little in-room privacy (no door separating shower from main room). TripAdvisor: “excellent value for money,” “great location,” “excessive street noise.” | 125 W. 45th St., Midtown West | 10036 | 212/354–2323 | www.room-matehotels.com | 139 rooms | In-room: a/c, safe, refrigerator, DVD, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: bar, pool, gym, laundry service, parking (paid) | AE, D, DC, MC, V | CP | Subway: B, D, F, M to 42nd St.
The Royalton.
$$$–$$$$ | During the 1990s the Royalton’s dramatic lobby started the craze of local A-listers meeting and greeting in hotel bars; the space, after being completely redesigned by Roman and Williams, now attracts a new generation of movers and shakers to congregate around its sumptuous sofas and the warm glow of its massive cast-bronze fireplace. The restaurant Forty-four is also an excellent locale for a quick bite, with an updated menu of global small plates and a highfalutin concept-driven cocktail selection. Before you can get to your room, you’ll have to run the gantlet of this bustling lounge, but the efficient check-in and helpful staff ensure that things go smoothly. Updated guest rooms, designed by Charlotte Macaux, are all comfortably sleek and elegantly outfitted with atmospheric lighting, fresh flowers, and candles changed daily. Some rooms have working fireplaces, and all have plasma-screen TVs and—as of late 2010—Apple iPads in every room. Bathrooms have been sumptuously renovated with huge circular Roman soaking tubs and rainfall showers. Pros: hip lobby scene; luxe beds and bathrooms;