New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [256]
The Shoreham.
$$ | The Shoreham hopes to attract glamorous types, but the result is that all the guests feel like they’re stars. First, there’s a glass of champagne for you at check-in. In the lobby, you’ll see lime-green couches, a small café off to the side, and plenty of people admiring themselves in the mirrored columns. Spring for one of the rooms with massage chairs, which are an inexpensive upgrade. Tech is big here; you can request an Xbox 360 or PS2, and rooms are also equipped with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions. Pros: stylish decor; tech-friendly. Cons: not designed for families. TripAdvisor: “very nice staff,” “simple clean rooms,” “near great restaurants.” | 33 W. 55th St., between 5th and 6th Aves., Midtown West | 10019 | 212/247–6700 or 877/847–4444 | www.shorehamhotel.com | 174 rooms, 37 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, DVD, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, laundry service, Internet terminal, Wi-Fi hotspot, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | CP | Subway: E, M to 5th Ave.
6 Columbus.
$$ | A boutique-style hotel nestled in the shadow of the towering Time Warner center, 6 Columbus—part of the ever-proliferating Thompson Hotel Group—offers the vibe and amenities of downtown lodging with the convenience of a more centralized Midtown location. The small, well-kept lobby has sleek, ’60s-mod leather furniture and a view into the uptown branch of Blue Ribbon sushi, the hotel’s in-house eatery and a favorite lunch spot of nearby Time Warner and Hearst publishing employees. Rooms are stylish but comfortable—think cowhide rugs, art books, and flat-screen TVs—and surprisingly quiet, considering the location facing out onto busy 58th Street. All have Dean & Deluca minibars and blue-tile bathrooms (some with tubs) with Kiehl’s amenities. Some of the larger rooms feature pullout couches, making them good options for families. For a splurge, the duplex Penthouse Suite has floor-to-ceiling windows, two terraces, and killer views of Central Park. Pros: convenient location; fun in-hotel restaurant; reasonably priced for neighborhood; family-friendly. Cons: rooms on lower floors facing 58th Street can be noisy. TripAdvisor: “pleasant and helpful staff,” “good hotel in a great location,” “rooms are small.” | Columbus Circle, Midtown West | 10019 | 212/204–3002 | www.thompsonhotels.com | 72 rooms, 16 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, kitchen (some), refrigerator (some), Internet, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, Wi-Fi hotspot, parking (paid), some pets allowed | AE, D, DC, MC, V | Subway: 1, A, B, C, D to 59th St./Columbus Circle.
Sofitel New York.
$$ | This property brings Gallic flair to the neighborhood. In addition to bilingual signage throughout the hotel, there’s plenty of velvet in the lobby, along with leather couches and vases of flowers. Guest rooms go the European modern route, with blond-wood headboards, silver wall sconces, and a big work desk. The bathrooms, with tubs and showers in every room, are a nice bonus. Some rooms overlook the Chrysler Building. The hotel’s French restaurant, Gaby, is named after a Parisian model from the 1920s, and the food dates from about the same era—it’s rich, heavy, and filling. Pros: central location; great beds. Cons: pricey; room views vary. TripAdvisor: “blissfully quiet rooms,” “luxurious linens and towels,” “ideal location.” | 45 W. 44th St., between 5th and 6th Aves., Midtown West | 10036 | 212/354–8844 | www.sofitel.com | 348 rooms, 52 suites | In-room: a/c, safe, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, room service, bar, gym, laundry