Overnight New York -- the smartest hotel reviews in town

Hotel Gansevoort: Chilling by the Pool

Jun 11, 2013

A rooftop hotel pool is a splendid way to cool down on a hot New York day. The problem? At most hotels you need to be a guest before you can plunge in. But this year both Gansevoort hotels – the sleek Park Avenue South property and the original Meatpacking District outpost – once again offer the Renewal Day Package. Available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the deal includes a fusion class in the spa, a 30 minute massage, a 30 minute facial, a gift bag packed with sunscreen and lip balm, and unlimited use of the pool. From $300. To learn more about Gansevoort Meatpacking District

The Carlyle: Pop-up Pianos

May 29, 2013

The pianos are back! In an (almost) annual ritual, 88 pianos – a number that honors the keyboard -- will pop up throughout the city on June 1, ready to be played by passing pros and amateurs for two weeks. No two pianos are alike (each is decorated by an artist). Look for them in all five boroughs, on plazas, parks and street corners – from the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue to the plaza at Lincoln Center. Prefer to hear piano music indoors? Bemelman’s Bar at The Carlyle is one of the best piano bars in town, even if the piano isn't painted. For more on The Carlyle (pictured)

Yotel: Catch the Intrepid's Summer Movies

May 14, 2013

Yup, Fleet Week’s been cancelled (with luck it will be back in 2014). But the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Fleet Week’s home base, is still in business. And so is the annual Intrepid Summer Movie Series, returning with free under-the-stars screenings on select Fridays. What’s playing aboard the big aircraft carrier? Top Gun (May 24), National Treasure (June 21), JAWS (June 28), Star Trek (July 28), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (August 2) and The Karate Kid (August 28). Doors open at 7:30 pm., no admission after 8:30. Where to grab drinks or a bite after the show? The Yotel FOUR bar and restaurant stay open late – and the outdoor terrace is huge. For more on Yotel

Ink48: Happy Hour, Locally Sourced

Apr 26, 2013

Like its Kimpton sibs, Ink48 celebrates Happy Hour with complimentary wine every night in the lobby from 5 to 6 p.m. But on Wednesday nights during the month of May, Happy Hour goes local with reds and whites hailing from New York -- ideal for delivering a New York state of mind not to mention making a case for Empire State wineries. Red Trail (Hudson Valley, NY), Regina Maris Chardonnay (North Fork, NY) and Vidal Blanc (Finger Lakes, NY) are a few of the locavore pours guests can expect. For more on Ink48

Wythe Hotel: Kudos from Conde Nast Traveler

Apr 17, 2013

Actually, three New York City hotels made it into the magazine’s line up of the world’s best new hotels in 2013. We like all of them. The Conrad New York and the NoMad made the cut for Manhattan. And in a sign of the times, the Wythe (pictured) became the first Brooklyn property to be tapped in a Conde Nast best/new round-up. Smart choice: the Wythe’s 72 rooms are big and airy, and Reynards, the hotel’s hip locavore restaurant, serves a mean grass-fed burger with skinny fries for $14. For more on the Wythe

Marriott Marquis: 'Jeckyll & Hyde' Checks In

Apr 08, 2013

The 1,949-room Marriott Marquis, Times Square’s impossible-to-miss tower, is so spacious it houses the ultimate New York hotel accoutrement, its own Broadway theater. Now playing: a splashy, limited-engagement revival of Jeckyll & Hyde, the 1997 Tony nominated cult classic with Brooklyn’s Constantine Maroulis, star of the musical Rock of Ages and a one-time American Idol finalist, in the title role. The original show, written by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse, played on Broadway for four years, but this quick-hit version closes June 30. For more about the hotel

The Carlyle: Lit Wit Lunch

Mar 28, 2013

Ladies who lunch? So 20th century. But literary lunches? Very now, at least at The Carlyle. Beginning April 1, Conversations at the Carlyle, the hotel’s new literary lunch series, serves up a yummy-sounding pairing of good food and smart chat. With the Random House Publishing Group, the hotel is hosting three authors for a three-course lunch, discussion and book signing. The schedule: poet Maya Angelou, April 1; novelist Anna Quindlen, May 7; and author Curtis Sittenfeld, June 27. The $125 fee has lunch, a glass of wine and a book covered. Reservations: 212 570-7109. For more on the Carlyle

Conrad New York: In the LEED

Mar 18, 2013

A year ago the 463-room Conrad New York (pictured) opened its big glass doors in Battery Park City. And earlier this month the all-suite hotel received the birthday present it coveted – LEED Gold certification for new construction from the U.S. Green Buildings Council. In short, it’s one of the two greenest hotels in town (the Crosby Street Hotel is the city’s only other Gold certified hotel so far.) Among the amenities that helped Conrad grab the Gold were a green roof and roof garden that grows vegetables used by the hotel restaurant, bike racks for public use, water-saving plumbing fixtures and LED lights for more than 60% of all lighting at the hotel. To learn more about Conrad

The Fitzpatrick Manhattan: Shamrocks!

Mar 15, 2013

It’s the most Irish hotel in town (next to sister hotel the Fitzpatrick Grand Central). So why are we not surprised that once again the Fitzpatrick Manhattan in midtown is going for the green on March 17? St. Patrick’s Day unfurls with an all-day menu of Irish favorites including corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash, shepherds pit and a full Irish breakfast complete with black and white pudding (pictured). For added atmospherics, live Irish music plays from 3 pm in Fitz’s bar and lounge. To learn more about the Fitzpatrick Manhattan

The Lowell: Feel the Heat

Feb 24, 2013

Nothing warms up a hotel room better than a fireplace, even if we’re just talking visual warmth. Fireplaces lit by gas jets blaze away in lobbies at the Royalton, Maritime and London NYC, restaurants at the Chatwal and the Dylan and bars at the James, Sheraton New York Times Square and the Library, to name a few. But in-room fireplaces? Harder to find, not to mention light up. The Waldorf serves up non-working fireplaces in many one-bedroom suites and Astor Suites as well as numerous Towers suites (expect candles or flowers in the opening). Ditto rooms at the Inn at Irving Place. But The Lowell (pictured) goes one better, with wood-burning fireplaces in most suites. For more on the Lowell,

Beacon Hotel: Winter Ballet

Jan 29, 2013

Cold weather makes us want to duck into a warm theater and watch ballet. As always at this time of year, New York City Ballet stands on pointe and at the ready at Lincoln Center. Though the season finishes with a flourish of Tschaikovsky – and performances of Sleeping Beauty February 13 to 24 – mixed bills by a panoply of choreographers, including George Balanchine, Alexei Ratmansky, Jerome Robbins and newcomer Justin Peck, who also dances in the corp, present a smartly curated mix of old and new, tutus and leotards that command the stage till then. Where to stay if you want big rooms near the theater that don’t cost an arm and a (toe-shoe-clad) leg? Consider the Beacon on Broadway and

Royalton New York: Broadway Week 2013

Jan 23, 2013

For anyone who has secretly wanted to ogle Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens in The Heiress or lipsync along to “Hard Knock Life” in Annie, you're in luck. Broadway Week – January 22 to February 1 – is here, with two-for-one tickets to 19 hit shows. Choose from plays like Picnic, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and The Other Place and musicals like Jersey Boys, Lion King, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Once, Phantom, Mary Popppins, Rock of Ages, Cinderella, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Spider-Man and Wicked. And for a stylish pre- or post-theater drink – or place to spend the night – consider the Royalton, steps from the theater district. For more

Library Hotel: NYC Hotel Week Returns

Jan 02, 2013

Just in time for 2013 – and New York’s traditional slow season – New York Hotel Week returns with bargain rates at a slew of hotels, available January 4 through 20. A dozen hotels, including Pod 51, Pod 39 and the new Out NYC cost just $100 a night. Coming in at $200 a night are seven properties including Sanctuary and the Library (pictured). And $250 a night gets you a room at both Gansevoorts (Meatpacking District and Park Avenue), Hyatt 48Lex and The James. In other words, if you’re thinking of an impromptu trip to New York, pounce. For more on the Library Hotel

Gansevoort Meatpacking District: Holiday Cool

Dec 18, 2012

Too cool for holly? Small hotels, the chic and the hip, often sidestep holiday decorations. But this year Manhattan’s downtown boutiques are a-sparkle with wreaths and trees. The Standard High Line, Dream Downtown, The Maritime (the exterior, at least) and Hotel Gansevoort Meatpacking District are a few that went all out this year (we love the gigantic polar bear, a taxidermy masterpiece, standing tall at Dream). We also love the pale purple ribbons and balls on the tree, wreath and garlands at the Gansevoort (pictured), festive but cool. For more on the Gansevoort

Conrad New York: Concierge App

Dec 12, 2012

For anyone who’s ever thought seriously – and longingly – about ordering a room service meal, booking a spa treatment or selecting the bath products for the room before you check in, this app's for you. Available at all Conrad hotels, including the New York branch in Battery Park, the app starts working before you check in and remains on alert for your entire stay. So you can schedule a wake-up call while you’re out at dinner or arrange for extra towels to be left in the room while you’re taking a run (provided you bring your phone). Cool. To learn more about Conrad New York

Wythe Hotel: Holiday Fleas

Dec 05, 2012

Since it began in 2008, Brooklyn Flea has grown into one of New York’s go-to markets for food, crafts and vintage anything and everything. After Thanksgiving the flea moves indoors to its landmark winter home, the gorgeous, skylighted Williamsburg Savings Bank at 1 Hanson Place. On weekends between now and Christmas, the market features Gifted, a special holiday gifts flea within a flea attracting more than 100 vendors. Where to stay – or stop by if you want a post-shopping locavore meal? The Wythe Hotel is four miles away but completely in the spirit of Brooklyn Flea. To learn more about the Wythe

The Standard: Nice Ice

Nov 29, 2012

You know winter’s coming when parks and plazas start sprouting ice rinks. In early November Bryant Park’s free ice rink opened, followed shortly by the splashy, if pricey, Rockefeller Center rink. This week the Standard joins New York’s flourishing ice capades with the return of the ice rink in front of the hotel. If a late-night skate in the shadow of the High Line does it for you, this is your place. While the ice is nice, the optional refreshers are even better, from hot chocolate (dark and white) and spiked apple cider to tomato soup, waffles and crepes. The rink is open daily, 12 pm to 12 am weekdays, 9 am to 1 am weekends. For more

Waldorf-Astoria: Lighting Up the Tree

Nov 29, 2012

Thanksgiving? (Done that). Black Friday? (History). What’s next on the holiday checklist? The Rockefeller Center tree-lighting ceremony on Wednesday, November 28, a two-hour undertaking occurring between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (hey, there’s 30,000 lights). The 80-foot spruce harvested from a Flanders, New Jersey back yard holds a double distinction: it’s the tallest tree in recent years and it survived Hurricane Sandy. Sweet. Where to stay if you want to be steps away from the tree -- or just want a hotel to duck into for a hot drink or a holiday bite? The New York Palace looms tall a block away. And just beyond there's the equally stately Waldorf-Astoria (pictured). To learn more

Bryant Park Hotel: On Ice

Nov 13, 2012

Hurricane Sandy blew out the planned opening day, but no matter. Citi Pond, Bryant Park’s lively outdoor ice skating rink behind the New York Public Library, is officially up and running seven days a week through March 3. Best of all, there’s no charge for skating. Also open for business: the park’s popular holiday shops brimming with artisanal foods, jewelry, clothing items, gifts for kids and more. Where to grab a drink or a bite? Celsius, the park’s seasonal café, offers hot drinks and snacks. Or to really warm up, visit the Bryant Park Hotel’s sexy subterranean bar across the street for a serious drink. For more on the Bryant Park Hotel (pictured)

The Kimberly Hotel: The Power of 12

Nov 07, 2012

December 12, 2012 translates into 12/12/12 – a big triple date that comes along once a millennium. We think that’s cool, and so apparently does the Kimberly. Guests checking in that day can participate in a drawing – pick the right key, and you can score 12 percent off the room bill, 12 percent off the tab at Upstairs, the hotel’s roof lounge, or 12 percent off the bill at Noir, the new lounge next door that replaced Nikki Beach last summer. That adds up nicely. To learn more about the Kimberly

The London NYC: Hurricanes Make Us Want to SCREAM

Nov 01, 2012

Talk about prescient. Just days before Hurricane Sandy blew into town, Edvard Munch’s angst-ridden image The Scream went on view at the Museum of Modern Art. The 1895 pastel-on-board is the only rendering of the iconic artwork still in private hands (the other three are in museums in Norway). New York’s museums offer a safe haven for visitors and locals alike following this week’s storm. At The London NYC, a short walk from the Modern, a special MOMA package includes one adult ticket with immediate entry to the museum (lines can be killer) and late check-out. For more on London NYC

The Algonquin: Haunted?

Oct 25, 2012

With Halloween in the offing our thoughts turn to haunted hotels. Though we think the Hotel Chelsea, currently closed for renovations, looks haunted – or at the very least, spooky – the Algonquin (pictured) leads the list. The internet is filled with guest testimonials claiming ghost sightings in the halls and bar and reports of ghostly music from the 1920s wafting through the building. Though the hotel dates from 1902, its most famous guests, the fabled Round Table including Dorothy Parker, Richard Benchley, et al, hung out in the 20s. Hmm. Wishful thinking on the part of lit-loving guests? And did the hotel’s recent renovation, which closed the it for five months, banish -- or energize -- said spirits? Your call. For more on the Algonquin

Crosby Street Hotel: Sunday Night Movies

Oct 16, 2012

We’re big fans of the Crosby Street Hotel’s basement screening room with its chic orange leather seats. Each week the hotel (pictured) shows a newish movie fresh from theaters accompanied by a three-course dinner ($55) or a drink and nibbles ($35). Occasionally the hotel screens movies before they hit theaters. Two are coming up (and tickets sell out fast). 28 Hotel Rooms, a relationship flick about a corporate accountant (Marin Ireland) and a popular novelist (Chris Messina) who meet while traveling, screens November 4. And the latest take on Anna Karenina with Keira Knightley rolls out November 11. For more on the Crosby

SoHo Grand: Holiday Flash Sale

Oct 11, 2012

Sometimes it pays to plan ahead -- literally. Consider the holiday flash sale currently under way at the SoHo Grand, (pictured) SoHo’s first -- and still one of its best –- boutique hotels. Book anytime until October 25 and save 20 percent on stays from November 18 to 26, December 21 to 26 and all of January, 2013, which is always a bargain, but never mind. It’s a smart opportunity if you long for the most urban Thanksgiving or Christmas imaginable. The sale is for Grand Rewards members, but it’s easy to join up on the hotel website. To learn more about SoHo Grand

Hyatt 48Lex: Breaking Amish

Oct 01, 2012

Lots of questions surround the cast of Breaking Amish, reality TV’s surprising new hit. When did they really leave the farm? Was their arrival in New York really the first time they encountered light switches and electric lights? Are two of the characters secretly married – with children? About all we know for sure is that Rebecca, the sweet-faced woman with dental plates, had every tooth in her mouth extracted by an Amish “dentist” when she was 19. And the group’s New York City home is the Hyatt 48Lex, (pictured) the stylish, year-old midtown hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows and heart-stop views of the Chrysler Building. It’s a very long way from the farm. For more on Hyatt 48Lex

Conrad New York: Sweet September

Sep 24, 2012

September is glorious in New York. Too bad hotel prices spike up just as temperatures start to drop. But deals are out there. One that sounds sweet to us is “The Luxury of Being Yourself” (well, who else?) offered this month by Conrad Hotels, including the new Conrad New York (pictured). Book in September and score a bonus gratus – breakfast for two or an upgrade, your choice. You also earn 5,000 HHonors points. Fine print: ask for plan code PBBEY1. To learn more about Conrad New York

The Standard: Curtains, Anyone?

Sep 17, 2012

Talk about rooms with a view. Drop-dead city vistas can be seen through the floor-to-ceiling bathroom windows of the Boom Boom Room club on the 18th floor of The Standard hotel. But as The Daily News reported last week, if the people inside can see out, seems the people down on the ground outside can see in. And the bathroom windows expose a lot more than a row of sinks. Hmm. Apparently someone at the hotel reads the paper. This weekend the hotel’s bathroom windows sprouted sleek black sheers resulting in one-way views, ie out not in. As for the spontaneous displays famously on view through guest room windows, curtains have always been an option. For more on the Standard

The Carlyle: Is There a Diva in the House?

Sep 10, 2012

New York heats up in September, and you never know what can happen. Consider: guests listening to light jazz at the Carlyle on a recent evening were startled when a fellow guest leapt up and joined the band, crooning “Summertime” and “Lullaby of Birdland.” No, the singer was not escorted out. She was Mariah Carey, fresh from an appearance at an NFL kickoff event, as reported in the New York Post. Carey (and her five-octave voice) stopped by the hotel with husband Nick Cannon, Randy Jackson and Jermaine Dupri. (Is a gig at Cafe Carlyle next?) We can’t guarantee impromptu diva performances every night, but for more on the Carlyle

The Pod Hotel: Fashion's Night Out

Aug 30, 2012

New York Fashion Week unfolds in the big white tents in Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park September 6 to 13. But things get underway September 6 with Fashion’s Night Out, the city-wide shop-a-thon sponsored by Vogue and a slew of stores around the city. New this year is a free trolley that loops around Midtown East with stops at deal-friendly shops like Folli Follie, Marni, Links of London, Laila Rowe, H & M, Bloomingdales and more. Where to stay if you’re coming to shop? We suggest the budget-friendly Pod 51 (pictured) or the new Pod 39. Small rooms? Yes -- you’ll have money to burn at the stores. To learn more about the Pod

The Mansfield: Broadway Week

Aug 21, 2012

It’s hard not to love Broadway Week, especially because they use the term “week” loosely. From September 4 to 16, two-for-the-price-of-one tickets are available for a slew of hit shows, musicals and plays alike, from Bring It On, Once, Newsies and The Lion King to Peter and the Starcatcher, An Enemy of the People and War Horse. In fact, nearly everything B’way is on offer except Wicked (it's already sold out). So don’t delay. Order tickets on the NYCGO website. Where to stay and walk to a show? West 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues serves up six smart hotels, including the moderately priced Mansfield (pictured). To learn more

The Surrey: NYC Prix Fixe, aka Restaurant Deals

Aug 14, 2012

And you thought New York’s Restaurant Week ended on August 10. (We did too.) But a subset of the original participants, including a sampling at hotels, has extended their deals. Behold: NYC Prix Fixe with three-course lunches ($24.07) and dinners ($35) through September 3. Some even offer new menu choices. Among notable hotel participants we like are Abboccato at The Blakely, Nice Matin at The Lucerne, DB Bistro Moderne at City Club, Ed’s Chowder House, at the Empire, Kittichai at 60 Thompson, Shula’s Steak House, at the Westin Times Square and Café Boulud at The Surrey. To learn more about the Surrey (and Café Boulud),

Aloft Harlem: Harlem Week 2012

Jul 29, 2012

It’s called Harlem Week, but it’s more like a month, with food, music, performances and festivals extending river to river from 110th to 155th streets July 29 through August 25. This year marks the “week’s” 38th anniversary. Highlights include basketball and tennis exhibitions, an outdoor film festival on the St. Nicholas Park great lawn, a special amateur night at the Apollo Theater and, the grand finale, a 5K health walk and run followed by a Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. Visit the Harlem Week website for more details. And check out Aloft Harlem if you want a hotel – or cocktails – in the thick of things. For more on Aloft Harlem

City Club: Summer Restaurant Week 2012!

Jul 16, 2012

It’s time once gain to raise a fork. Summer Restaurant Week is back with a big anniversary to celebrate (20 years). More than 300 restaurants are on board, including more than 20 in hotels, offering three course prix fixe $24.07 lunches and $35 dinners, July 16 through August 10. Midtown hotel participants include The National at The Benjamin, Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien, Shula’s Steak House at the Westin Times Square, Abboccato at The Blakely and, one of our favorites, DB Bistro Moderne at City Club (pictured), home of the fabled, if forbidding, truffle burger. For more on City Club

Sofitel New York: Bastille Day!

Jul 13, 2012

In the lead-up to Bastille Day (think blue, white and red instead of red, white and blue), French Restaurant Week is upon us. Nearly 50 restaurants including a handful at hotels are toasting the day with celebratory dishes including $17.89 specials. Among the hotels pulling out all the Francophile stops from now until Sunday, July 15, are the Intercontinental New York Barclay (chef Serve Devesa hails from France), Ca Va Brasserie at the Intercontinental New York Times Square and Gaby Restaurant at the Sofitel. Stop by, raise a wine glass and be French for a day. To learn more about the Sofitel (pictured),

The Franklin Hotel: Schiaparelli/Prada at the Met

Jul 07, 2012

It’s not as big -- or splashy -- as last year’s Alexander McQueen show. But Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, this year’s fashion exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (through August 19), is a must for design aficionados. On view are iconic surrealist Schiaparelli designs like the shoe hat. Muicca Prada’s creations are equally fearless (and witty); we'd love to walk out of the museum wearing her leather platform shoes appliqued with tiny white flowers. Hotel connection? The Franklin, a chic little boutique a short walk from the museum, offers A Day at the Met package: two tickets to the museum, breakfast for two and free WiFi. For more on the Franklin

Ink48: Fireworks!

Jul 01, 2012

Ka-boom! Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks light up the sky this Wednesday from a fleet of barges in the Hudson River. Sure you can pull up a lawn chair in Riverside Park, but you can also get an air conditioned room overlooking the display at hotels like the Marriott Marquis, W Times Square or Crown Plaza in midtown or The Standard downtown. Prefer a roof bar? Hotel Americano offers a three-course $75 prix sit-down dinner on the roof. Or pay $35 to stand on the roof and watch the display (they throw in one drink). And once again Ink48 opens its sprawling roof perched one block from the Hudson; $325 buys you an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet and dessert bar, from 6 pm to 10 pm. For more in Ink48

6 Columbus: Midsummer Night Swing

Jun 27, 2012

Who needs Dancing with the Stars when you can dance under the stars? For three weeks – from June 26 to July 14 – Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park hosts New York’s biggest outdoor dance party. This year’s Midsummer Night Swing offers 15 nights of dancing to live bands – ballroom, Latin, swing, Western, disco. A group dance class before the first set is included in the $17 fee, so there’s no excuse to sit out the Quick Step or Merengue. For drinks after dancing, check out the moody wood bar at Blue Ribbon Sushi (pictured) just off the lobby at 6 Columbus, a short walk away. Or score a seat at Above 6, the hotel's snug-but-stylish roof bar set to open for the season in July. For more on 6 Columbus

Bryant Park Hotel: Free Summer Movies in the Park

Jun 18, 2012

Roll ‘em, Cecil. Starting Monday June 18, Bryant Park once again becomes Manhattan’s favorite outdoor movie theater, hosting the HBO Bryant Park Summer Movie Festival on its gigantic lawn -- admission free. This season’s line-up, a perfect 10, starts with Psycho, and ends August 20 with Raiders of the Lost Arc. For the eight Mondays in between look for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (6/25), The Wizard of Oz (7/2), On the Waterfront (7/9), Roman Holiday (7/16), The Maltese Falcon (7/23), Rebel Without a Cause (7/30), The Adventures of Robin Hood (8/6) and All About Eve (8/13). Finish the evening with a nightcap at the nearby Bryant Park Hotel (pictured). For more on the hotel

Kimberly Hotel: Roof Bar, Rain or Shine

Jun 12, 2012

The temperature – and month – say it’s roof bar season. But the reality? Late spring/early summer weather is unsettled. And no one wants sit on a roof top and lick the salt off a margarita in a torrential downpour. That makes a covered roof bar – with air conditioning – especially welcome. Upstairs, the aptly named roof bar with the retractable roof at the Kimberly, offers the bonus of jaw-drop views of the Chyrsler Building rain or shine. And the crisp black-and-white setting? Classic, like the cocktails. To learn more about the Kimberly

Hotel Americano: Cool Pool

May 28, 2012

Summer’s almost here, and you know what lies ahead – the hunt for a pool to get cool. The rooftop pool at Hotel Americano (pictured) isn’t very deep (four feet) or wide (it looks like a chic blue belt). But it’s undeniably cool and wet. Daybeds and cabanas line it (reservations are advised). Drinks are available. And La Piscine’s Mediterranean grill fires up all summer long for alfresco dining. Bonus: the roof affords views of the High Line. Double bonus: you can cool down at the pipe shower if the pool gets crowded. The hitch: the pool is reserved for hotel guests. But the roof bar and restaurant are open to all. For more

TRYP New York Times Square South: Deals!

May 21, 2012

We love impromptu hotel deals, those last-minute offers that tempt you to pack an overnight bag and check in for an unexpected va- or staycation. A smart way to learn about deals is to follow your favorite hotel on Facebook or Twitter. The Nolitan, for example, tweets same-day deals that are often $uper $weet. Or check the hotel website. Every Wednesday at 2 pm the stylish new TRYP New York Times Square South (pictured) announces special deals for the upcoming weekend on its website. Thinking of coming to New York this Memorial Day weekend? You know what to do. For more on TRYP

Affinia Dumont: Pedal Power

May 15, 2012

Did you know May is National Bike Month? (It was news to us, too.) But biking is good (exercise, fresh air, reduced carbon footprint). And getting around New York on two wheels has never been easier. We’ll soon be updating – and expanding – last year’s blog post on the Five Best Hotels for Bike Riders. In the meantime, add the Affiania Hotel group’s two Murray Hill properties – the Shelburne and the Dumont – to the list of hotels rolling out bikes for guests (first come, first served, of course). Offered free of charge, Affinia’s sky blue Republic bikes sport yellow tires and orange seats and come with a helmet, lock, basket and bike route map. For more on Affinia Dumont

Empire Hotel: On Their Toes

May 06, 2012

Spring is ballet season at Lincoln Center (and yes, Overnight New York is a fan). New York City Ballet's season is in full swing through June 10. Highlights include new ballets by Benjamin Millepied and Peter Martins and fresh costumes sprinkled with Swarovski crystals for Symphony in C, George Balanchine’s effervescent 1947 masterpiece. Across the plaza, American Ballet Theater opens its season May 14 with a gala of star turns before moving into a season of classics like Giselle, Onegin and Alexei Ratmansky’s comic bonbon The Bright Stream, through July 17. For a drink before or after the show, we suggest the lobby bar -- or super-lively roof bar -- at the Empire Hotel (pictured) across the street. For more on the Empire

Warwick Hotel: Derby Day

Apr 30, 2012

The race may be over in a flash (fast horses are the point, after all). But for Kentucky Derby aficionados, the best celebrations stretch for hours. At Randolph’s Bar at the Warwick Hotel (pictured), derby day 138 leaps out of the gates at 11 a.m. this Saturday. Heading the line-up of Kentucky-tinged food and drinks are Burgoo, the spicy meat stew served at the race ($5.54 for an appetizer portion), Banfi Rosa Regale ($5.54), an Italian red with a rose petal bouquet in honor of the 554 roses on the winner’s collar, and Mint Juleps ($10). And bourbon. To learn more about the Warwick

Maritime Hotel: Celebrating Fleet Week

Apr 24, 2012

We love Fleet Week, which unfolds May 23 to 30 this year. A tradition since 1984, thousands of crisply uniformed sailors, marines and Coast Guards hit town to meet the locals and see the sights. Civilians can tour many of their ships, conveniently parked along the Hudson. Two hotels are celebrating big with special deals for military guests. The Serving with Pride package at the new Out NY, the self-described first straight-friendly hotel in town, features a 30 percent room discount, free WiFi, free breakfast and a T-shirt. At the apply named Maritime (pictured), active duty sailors pay $99 a night. And at La Bottega, the Maritime bistro, anyone can imbibe the Fleet Week drinks -- The Anchor, The Albatross and Please Ask, Do Tell. For more on the Maritime

Waldorf=Astoria: Rooftop Buzz

Apr 17, 2012

Is the bee the new A-list New York City hotel guest? Last June the Intercontinental New York Barclay outfitted its roof with four wooden hives housing 70,000 to 80,000 bees. And last week the Waldorf (pictured) welcomed 20,000 bees – and a new hive – on its 20th floor roof. The goal, of course, is great-tasting food. Roof gardens where clever hotel chefs grow the freshest fruits, vegetables and herbs are proliferating, and one way to promote healthy blooms is bees. Honey is a sweet byproduct, welcome in countless dishes. As befits a 1,238-room hotel, the Waldorf thinks big: the long-range plan calls for 300,000 bees – and 500 pounds of honey a year. To learn more about the Waldorf

Hilton New York/Fashion District: On the Roof

Apr 09, 2012

It’s almost – but not quite -- roof bar season. Which makes a sheltered hotel roof bar with a retractable roof a welcome sight on an early spring night. The roof at the Hilton New York/Garment District, nee Fashion 26, is just the ticket. You can stand outside when you want to -- and duck inside when things get chilly – and see eye-to-eye with the Empire State Building (and a lot of more prosaic structures) for a heart-stop only-in-New-York moment. Strings of lights give the roof a casual, carnival air that calls to mind summer nights, small towns, crickets – it’s easy to forget you’re in the heart of the Garment District. To learn more about the hotel

The Warwick: Easter Brunch

Apr 02, 2012

Hotel restaurants pull out all the stops at Easter. Three caught our eye. Lavender French Toast and Caramelized Leek Strata lead the prix fixe brunch offerings at Grand Central, the freshly renovated Grand Hyatt’s airy restaurant. There's a three-course dinner, too. Prefer to eat outdoors? Try the Easter brunch picnic for two at Cassa New York. Cassa's Easter basket comes stocked with Amy’s Bread selections and a blanket. Back indoors, the Murals on 54 at the Warwick Hotel (pictured) provide a historic backdrop for the prix fixe brunch; look for spiral ham, leg of lamb and Chatham cod along with dessert and a comp glass of Champagne, Bloody Mary or Mimosa. For more about the Warwick

Crosby Street Hotel: Spring Awakening

Mar 27, 2012

We’re zeroing in on one of our favorite seasons – terrace season when hotels throw open their roof decks, back yards and any ceiling-free surface for open air dining, drinking and hanging out. The Crosby Bar terrace, one of our favorites, opens this Sunday April 1. Brick-lined and shaded by market umbrellas this pocket patio is a hideaway, a secret garden of sorts (greenery bursts from planters and pots) where you can escape SoHo’s throngs, settle in with a Negroni or lunch or both, and toast spring. For more about the hotel

Andaz Wall Street: Hey Mr. Tax Man

Mar 18, 2012

Mention taxes to most New York City hotel guests, and they think of the dreaded 14.75 percent plus a daily $2 per room fee. But as this year's Tax Day looms on April 17, the Financial District’s savvy Andaz Wall Street (pictured) offers a different take on taxes. From April 8 to 15, Marc Albaum, a certified public accountant, will reside in a suite at the hotel and file tax returns on behalf of guests free of charge. (Guests must e-mail the hotel 72 hours in advance for an appointment.) Albaum, a 20-year veteran, represents individuals and small businesses and specializes in bringing late filers up to date. His take? “Only two things in life are certain, and I can help you with the other one.” For more on Andaz Wall Street

Fitzpatrick Manhattan: Celebrating March 17

Mar 12, 2012

New York doesn’t dye the rivers green like Chicago. But that doesn’t mean the city ignores St. Patrick’s Day. Consider the parade, a tradition since 1762 attracting 150,000 to 250,000 marchers – bands, bagpipes and politicians galore but no floats. From 44th Street, participants march up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral to 86th Street. Where can you stay or stop by for a taste of Ireland? The Fitzpatrick Manhattan is Irish owned – a portrait of Ireland President Michael D. Higgins hangs in the lobby -- and serves up bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, Irish lamb and a full Irish breakfast (pictured) all day. Plenty of Guinness, too. To learn more

The Waldorf=Astoria: The $16.80 Honeymoon Room

Mar 06, 2012

Talk about a sweet deal. The Waldorf=Astoria charges the original room rate for guests returning to observe a milestone. Last weekend, Isidore and Joan Schwartz of East Lyme, Connecticut checked in to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. The cost of their room for the night? $16.80. (Their original bill, which Joan kept, was $17.10 -- the couple made a .30 phone call.) Waldorf rooms normally start at $319. Most years two or three couples take advantage of the deal, according to the hotel. But only one other couple has returned to celebrate a 60. For more on the Waldorf

70 Park Avenue: Renew You

Feb 29, 2012

As winter winds down, who doesn’t want to shed that tired skin and start fresh for spring? 70 Park Avenue did precisely that -- sluffed off its old look upstairs and down and showed how Park Avenue 2012 can rock. Smart new furnishings and colors dress the rooms (we love the pops of purple), and stylish club chairs and sofas populate the lobby (pictured). To celebrate, the hotel offers a New York Park Avenue package – welcome cocktails in the bar, breakfast for two days for two, 20 percent off in-room spa treatments and a color consultation so you can refresh your wardrobe for spring. From $199 a night. To learn more about 70 Park Avenue

The Roosevelt Hotel: Going Presidential

Feb 21, 2012

Every day is Presidents Day at the Roosevelt, named for Theodore Roosevelt, POTUS 26, who died five years before the hotel opened in 1924. The Roosevelt brims with TR references, from family portraits to bronzes of his Rough Rider days. Like Roosevelt’s presidential stock, his namesake has endured its ups and downs. But this month marks an up: with the completion of a massive renovation all 1,015 rooms sport new wallpaper, carpeting and bedding (pictured). And punctuated by fresh flowers, the Roaring 20s lobby remains a great place to catch your breath or grab a drink.

Trump SoHo: Morocco on the Hudson

Feb 14, 2012

When Staten Island Chuck, New York’s official groundhog, was pulled from his burrow earlier this month, the little guy didn’t see his shadow. The prognosis? An early spring. It’s still pretty cold, which sent us looking for a deal offering warmth, luxury and a way to indulge without leaving the hotel. Voila --- the Hammam Package at the Trump SoHo (pictured). The Hammam, the spa's soaring feast of tile and water that evokes the real deal in Morocco, offers the bathing and relaxation rituals of a classic Middle Eastern bath. The package, starting at $674, includes a room for the night, an hour in the Hammam and an oil relaxation massage. To learn more

Four Seasons NY: Love & Kisses

Feb 06, 2012

We like the Four Seasons’ smart new online magazine bursting with news, photos and offers. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the magazine is posting 14 days of love, a one-a-day guide to romantic accoutrements like meals and chocolates in an array of cities. In addition, the chain is giving away a $2,500 Four Seasons gift card, redeemable at any member hotel including the towering beauty on West 57th Street (pictured). “Like” the Four Seasons Facebook page, and enter away. (You may want to “Like” the Overnight New York page while you’re at it; we’re posting curated hotel news and reader comments in addition to items from our blog.) To learn more about the Four Seasons New York

The Nolitan: Warming Up Ellabess

Jan 31, 2012

We liked the food at ellabess, the Nolitan’s contemporary American comfort food restaurant, when it and the hotel opened last summer. But the restaurant with the ee cummings-style name, all wood, metal and angles, felt chilly, especially as the temperature dropped. Ah, but what a dash of burnt-orange leather can do. With banquettes hugging the walls and a hefty communal table in natural plank, the restaurant looks warmer but remains true to its minimal-downtown-loft DNA. Chef Troy Unruh’s menus have pivoted, too, and will change with the seasons – everything, that is, except the burger. To learn more about the Nolitan

Affinia Manhattan: Going, Going, Gone!

Jan 23, 2012

How’s this for an unexpected winter deal? From now until February 2, you can bid to have a New York pied a terre to call your own every Sunday for a year. Huh? We’ll rephrase. The 618-room Affinia Manhattan (pictured) is auctioning off a year’s use of a newly renovated one-bedroom suite on Sundays, a $20,000 value. The deal includes free WiFi and free storage of one bag so the winner won’t need to bring a toothbrush and such each week. To bid, visit the hotel’s Web site, look for Special Offers and follow the prompts. To learn more about Affinia Manhattan

The Benjamin: New York Restaurant Week Returns

Jan 16, 2012

Just when the winter blues set in along comes Restaurant Week (Jan. 16 to Feb.10), with agreeably priced three-course lunches ($24.07) and dinners ($35) at 300 New York restaurants, more than 30 in hotels. They range from classic hotel fare (the Carlyle Restaurant) to stylish Thai (Kittichai at 60 Thompson Street), updated Spanish (Bar Basque at Eventi), a Roman-style trattoria (Maialino at the Gramercy Park Hotel), a fish house (Blue Fin at W Times Square) and a contemporary American bistro (The National at the Benjamin). The food at the National is comfortable and appealing, much like the low-key black-and-white surroundings (pictured). To learn more about the National, and the Benjamin

The Iroquois: Winter Deals

Jan 09, 2012

It’s official – January and February are the s-l-o-w season at New York hotels, a time when a $500 room at the Holiday Inn is mere memory. This is a great time to try out that hip – or grand -- hotel that proved too pricey in September. Or choose a hotel by its look or location. They’re really small, but the teeniest rooms at the Paramount start at just $109, a steal if you want the Theater District. Weekend rates at the chipper Wall Street Inn start at $129, a bargain if you don’t mind bunking at Manhattan’s southern tip. And the Iroquois (pictured), a classic small hotel not far from Times Square, offers a prepay deal that lops 15 percent off the room price. To learn more about the Iroquois

The Pod: The First-Ever New York Hotel Week

Jan 01, 2012

We’ve written about Restaurant Week and its twice-yearly prix fixe deals, including many at hotels. Now comes Hotel Week, with sweet deals January 6 through 15, albeit a notoriously slow time. Hotel Week embraces just eight properties, but they’re good, and so are the deals. $100 gets you a room at the Z Hotel in Queens, the Hotel@Times Square, the New York Manhattan and the Pod (pictured). For $200, score some style at the Andaz Wall Street or Hyatt 48Lex. And $250 puts you in Kardashian country at a Gansevoort, Meatpacking District or Park Avenue. Just say, or type, the magic words when you book: hotel week. For more about the Pod

The Carlyle: Happy New Year!

Dec 26, 2011

Where do you want to be when the ball drops at midnight Saturday night? In the thick of things: Marriott Marquis, steps away from the Big Event, unfurls a masquerade ball with dinner, dancing and all the trimmings. With the hipsters: the Ace lobby hosts DJs like Huggy Bear (a Paper magazine DJ of the year nominee), while the hotel’s John Dory and Breslin restaurants serve special dinners. With the swells: Café Carlyle at the Carlyle hotel (pictured) presents a black tie gala with a four-course dinner, dancing, music by jazz singer Steve Tyrell and champagne at midnight. Ring it in!

Hotel Roger Williams: Holiday Trees

Dec 21, 2011

We like this poinsettia holiday tree because it’s so clever and fits with the contemporary décor at the Roger Williams on Madison Avenue. It’s just one of the many memorable trees on view at hotels around town this season. (Our annual O Christmas Tree! blog features photos of some favorites – we love the white chocolate tree at the Jumeirah Essex House.) The holidays are a great time to stop by a hotel, toast the season with a drink or nibble in the bar or lobby and enjoy the light-filled branches. So cheers! And happy holidays from Overnight New York!

Ace Hotel: Holiday Cool

Dec 12, 2011

It’s one of your pet peeves. While traditional hotels go all out decorating for the holidays, hip boutique hotels are too cool for school and tend to do . . . nothing. C’mon, is it too much to ask for a few seasonal blooms or lights? So we perked up when we saw not only a tree but a big silver wreath at the midtown Dream hotel. And kudos to the Standard for the lighted wreaths behind the check-in desk and green garlands decking the halls. We’ll be bringing you pictures of holiday decorations throughout the month on our blog. In the meantime, here’s a big bouquet of holly and ivy courtesy of the Ace to get you into a holiday mood. To learn more about the Ace

The Surrey Hotel: Holiday Shopping

Dec 05, 2011

Coming to town for holiday shopping? Hotels stand at the ready (surprise, surprise) with splashy packages including midtown’s mostly suite Kimberly Hotel (tickets to the Rockettes, roof bar drinks) and downtown’s SoHo Grand (early check-in, reduced rates). But our prize for the most sumptuous, if priciest, goes uptown to the Surrey (pictured). The Luxury on Madison package serves up a guide to Madison Avenue shopping, personalized introductions at selected stores, Lauduree macaroons (oh la la), drinks in the hotel bar and complimentary car service within 20 blocks of the hotel. To learn more about the Surrey,

Crosby Street Hotel: Sunday Night at the Movies

Nov 21, 2011

Hotel screening rooms are usually off limits, reserved for premieres or private events. But not the Crosby Street Hotel’s 99-seat basement movie theater – the one with the orange leather seats (pictured). Each week the Crosby’s Sunday Night Film Club – a club in name only – screens just-past-their-sell-by-date features, like Tabloid (Nov. 27) and Contagion (Dec. 11). But on December 4, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, the much awaited John LeCarre espionage yarn with Gary Oldman and Colin Firth, screens before it hits the multi-plexes. Choose from dinner-an-a-movie (three courses in the Crosby Bar for $50) or drinks and nibbles ($25). To learn more

The Excelsior: A Spruced-Up New-York Historical Society

Nov 16, 2011

How's this for a teaser? New York's oldest museum is also its newest. Last week the New-York Historical Society, the famously hyphenated institution founded in 1804, reopened after a $65 million renovation. The retooled museum in the historic building brings New York City and State's political, cultural and social past alive. High-tech multi-media installations touching subjects from the Dutch settlers to the 9/11 tragedy rub shoulders with deliciously low-tech artifacts, like the armchair used at the inaugurations of presidents Washington, Garfield and Grant. Where to grab dinner or spend the night nearby? The Excelsior hotel (pictured) is also newly spruced up and is one block away. For more

6 Columbus: Dance, Dance, Dance

Nov 07, 2011

For dance lovers, spring is high season, but this year, fall offers serious competition. On November 7, Sensedance, choreographer Henning Rubsam’s smart contemporary company, celebrates its 20th year with a performance at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center on West 60th Street. Rubsam, a German-born modern dancer who performed with Jose Limon and Alwin Nicolais/Murray Louis, creates witty, vibrant pieces designed to engage the senses. Also this week American Ballet Theater kicks off its brief Fall Season at the smartly refurbished City Center, November 8 to 13. And the Alvin Ailey Dance Company moves into City Center November 30 to January 1. Where to go for a pre- or post-performance meal or drink? Dance yourself over to 6 Columbus (pictured), home to Blue Ribbon Sushi's stylish restaurant and bar. For more on 6 Columbus

Bryant Park Hotel: Ice Skating in the Park

Oct 31, 2011

New York, a city not famed for freebies, ushers in a big one this week – free skating at Citi Pond, the outdoor rink in Bryant Park. Channel your inner Michele Kwan – or Johnny Weir – and skate from 8 am to 10 pm Sundays through Thursdays, until midnight Fridays and Saturdays, through February 26, 2012. Byo or rent skates for $14. Prefer to shop? Check out Bryant Park’s Holiday Shops, an annual array of clothing, decorations and gifts, open through January 8. For ice fiends who must see the rink first thing in the morning – or crave dinner or a drink at a hotel après-skate -- consider the stylish Bryant Park Hotel (pictured) directly across from the park. To learn more about the Bryant Park

London NYC: Meet the New City Center

Oct 24, 2011

What can $57 million do? Find out this week when City Center, the Moorish-inflected midtown performance space, reopens after its biggest renovation in years. Built in 1923 as a meeting hall for the Shriners, it became a performance space in 1943. These days City Center specializes in dance companies, including American Ballet Theater (November 8-13) and Alvin Ailey (Nov. 30-Jan. 1), and houses Manhattan Theater Club and the Pearl Theater Company. Renovations include new blue-green velour seats with improved sight lines, 21st-century lighting and sound, and restoration of those Moorish details. Where to stay or have dinner or a drink nearby? The stylish London NYC (pictured) is steps away. To learn more

Ace Hotel: Radio KEXP in the Lobby

Oct 18, 2011

Aren’t radio stations east of the Mississippi supposed to start with W? Well, yes, but from October 19 through 21, KEXP, the proud voice of Seattle independent radio, will broadcast from its East Coast spiritual home, the lobby of the Ace Hotel (pictured). For three days, live music acts including We Are Augustines, Givers, The Lonely Forest and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will perform from 10:30 am to 5 pm for lobbyists and anyone tuned to or streaming KEXP. (You can also download a podcast.) DJs take over from 6 pm until late. Tacoma poster artist Art Chantry provides visuals, including a screenprint poster created specially for the KEXP tri-night. To learn more about Ace

Crosby Street Hotel: Super Sundays

Oct 10, 2011

Once upon a time the steal of a deal at New York City hotels was the weekend rate, which lopped off as much as $100 from the weekday room price. Weekends are still a sweet deal at hotels with a business clientele like the Financial District’s Wall Street Inn and Gild Hall. But more and more, Sunday night is the new weekend if you’re looking for a bargain, from the budget-minded Pod Hotel (from $159 when available) to the posh Crosby Street Hotel (from $395 when available). Crosby bonus: Sunday is movie night; the hotel shows an almost-first-run film each week in its stylish basement theater. To learn more about the Crosby (pictured)

Hotel Wales: Yummy Breakfasts

Oct 03, 2011

Mother’s advice about eating a good breakfast still holds, especially when you’ve got a jam-packed day exploring New York ahead of you. An obvious convenience for guests, hotel breakfasts are also a great way to sample a property without spending the night. I love the Peeky Toe Crab Benedict at the Surrey, courtesy of Daniel Boulud, and Geoffrey Zakarian’s Eggs Benedict at the Chatwal. And I’m a huge fan of the pumpkin waffle sprinkled with raisins and sunflower seeds at Sarabeth’s, the comfort food restaurant adjoining the Hotel Wales (pictured). If pumpkin waffles – and cheese blintzes and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs – do it for you, too, check out the Wales’ fall breakfast package, which includes complimentary daily breakfast for two at Sarabeth’s. To learn more about the Wales

Shoreham: de Kooning Comes to MOMA

Sep 26, 2011

What better way to celebrate autumn in New York? From now through January 9, 2012, the Museum of Modern Art’s sixth floor bursts with all the color, sensuality, anger, pain, energy, love and life Dutch-born artist Willem de Kooning, a long-time New Yorker, unleashed for almost seven decades in his paintings, drawings and sculpture. This beautifully curated, mind-whirling exhibition, nearly 200 works strong, documents the artist’s restless, and relentless, back-and-forth between abstraction and representation. Where to stay that's close to MOMA? The Shoreman (pictured) is steps away and offers a MOMA package including continental breakfast for two, champagne check in, late check out and two tickets to the museum. To learn more

The Empire Hotel: Autumn's Dances

Sep 26, 2011

I love New York City Ballet’s new schedule embracing early autumn performances, through October 9, in addition to the usual constellation of Nutcracker, winter and spring presentations. The eagerly awaited Ocean’s Kingdom premieres this Thursday with a new score by Paul McCartney, his first for a ballet, and costumes by Stella McCartney, a ballet first for her, too. Sara Mearns, Robert Fairchild and Daniel Ulbricht lead the Company in Peter Martins’ new choreography. Where to go for dinner or drinks before or after the ballet? The Empire Hotel stands directly across the street from NYCB’s long-time Lincoln Center home, serving dinner at Ed’s Chowder House and drinks in the lobby. For more on the Empire

The Muse Hotel: Broadway Twofers

Sep 13, 2011

What’s better than a ticket to a Broadway show you can’t wait to see? Two tickets for the price of one. Sixteen marquee shows, including Billy Elliot, The Lion King and Wicked are offering two-for-one tickets for Broadway Week, September 18 to 30. To book, go to NYCGo.com. Prefer Off Broadway? No problem. Off-Broadway Week runs September 26 to October 9 with 28 shows including Avenue Q, Love, Loss & What I Wore and Off-Broadway's longevity leader, The Fantasticks. Looking for a stylish hotel for pre- or post-theater dinner and drinks? Consider the Muse (pictured), part restaurant, part wine bar and steps from the theaters. To learn more about the Muse

Hudson: Fashion Week Struts its Stuff

Sep 07, 2011

Autumn hasn’t officially arrived. Which means, given the fast-forward logic of the fashion world, it’s time for New York’s top clothing designers to unveil their Spring 2012 collections. Four fashionable hotels are within strutting distance Lincoln Center, epicenter of Fashion Week, unspooling September 8 through 15. For hipsters, 6 Columbus oozes cool with a smart Japanese restaurant and bar. Well-heeled style mavens craving jaw-dropping views, cushy digs and pedicab service to the tents can sample the Mandarin Oriental’s window-lined restaurant, bar and lounge on the 35th floor. Besides convenience, the Empire Hotel, directly opposite Lincoln Center, serves up a lively rooftop bar, moody lounge and fun fish restaurant. But the largest bars – and smallest rooms – belong to Hudson (pictured). Though no longer new, it still cooks. To learn more about Hudson

The Benjamin: Tennis, Anyone?

Aug 29, 2011

Talk about timing. The day after Hurricane Irene blew out of town, the US Open bounced in for a two-week stay, August 29 through September 11. It’s no surprise that New York hotels want to play. Among those serving up packages are the Westin Times Square (gift bag with US Open swag, two Metrocards and special rates) and both Gansevoorts, Park Avenue and Downtown (two Gansevoort caps, two seat cushions, two Lacoste polo shirts, champagne and sliders at the rooftop bar and a one-week Metrocard). Want to be near the No. 7 train at Grand Central Station, which ferries fans to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center? The Benjamin offers special room rates and a newly renovated lobby in full tennis regalia (pictured). To learn about the Benjamin

Bryant Park Hotel: Jazz Piano in the Park

Aug 22, 2011

You probably know that Bryant Park – the leafy midtown pocket green with ‘Witchcraft sandwich shops and even a petite merry-go-round – turns into the city’s liveliest outdoor movie theater on summer Mondays, screening free movies at sundown. But did you know jazz pianists perform on weekday afternoons? Pianists like Kuni Mikami, Frank Owens and Daryl Sherman play music by Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Jelly Roll Morton, the Gershwins and more at the park’s Upper Terrace near the rear of the New York Public Library, Mon-Wed, Fri 12:30 to 2:30 pm, Thur. 2 to 4pm, through October 14. The nearest hotel, the Bryant Park (pictured), stands directly across the street. To learn more about it

Ritz Carlton New York, Battery Park: Visiting Governors Island

Aug 18, 2011

There’s still time to visit Governors Island, the leafy National Park and playground off Manhattan’s southern tip. The 2011 season ends September 25, with ferries running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Manhattan's Battery Maritime Building. Named Pagganuck Island (Nut Island) by Native Americans for its hickory, oak and chestnut trees, it was acquired with Manhattan by the Dutch, who dubbed it Nutten Island. A military property for over 200 years, it housed American troops during the War of 1812 and captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. After decades as a Coast Guard station, ownership was split between New York City and the National Park service in 2003. The Ritz Carlton Battery Park (pictured) is nearby. To learn more about the Ritz

Aloft Harlem: Harlem Week

Aug 09, 2011

It began in 1974 as Harlem Day, a celebration of the neighborhood’s rich political, cultural and community history. Since then, the title expanded to Harlem Week. But a better moniker would be Harlem Summer: this year’s 122 events, already in full swing, culminate August 27th, with the NY Family Health Walk-a-Thon and five-mile run to help the children of Haiti. Other highlights include a special Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater (August 10th), the Upper Manhattan Auto Show (August 21st) and Uptown Fridays, with free admission, tours and dancing at the Studio Museum of Harlem. Where to stay? The new Aloft Harlem hotel (pictured) is in the heart of the community and offers easy access to the festivities. For more about Aloft Harlem

6 Columbus: Cool Views for Hot Days

Aug 04, 2011

Need an easy way to cool down on a hot day? Sip a cold drink or eat a light meal and gaze out onto a park. Central Park’s more than 800 acres of serene green are all-but-guaranteed to calm and cool the hot and harried. The Helmsley Park Lane dining room offers glorious park views as does the lounge at the Mandarin Oriental. Prefer something alfresco? Try the new roof deck at 6 Columbus, a compact but congenial open-air lounge with teak benches, aqua pillows and vintage specialty drinks like Old Fashions. If it rains, dash downstairs to Blue Ribbon Sushi (pictured). No park views but the polished wood floors and furnishings will cocoon you and an order of sushi will keep you cool. To learn more about 6 Columbus

Indigo Chelsea: New Restaurant, New Look

Jul 26, 2011

Talk about fast work. It’s less than two years old, but already the Indigo Chelsea has a new restaurant, new roof bar and new look for the lobby. What happened? The previous restaurant Blu never caught on (a meh review in the New York Times didn’t help). And did they really think ice-blue velvet sofas were a practical choice in the lobby? The new restaurant Café B, a cousin to midtown’s stylish Northern Italian Bice, sports a chic Euro-urban menu and look that’s echoed in Studio B, the refurbished roof bar (pictured), and the compact lobby. In other words, black replaces blue, leather trumps velvet, and the spruced up Indigo Chelsea is looking good. For more

Andaz Wall Street: NYC Restaurant Week Continues

Jul 18, 2011

What’s better than one week of specially priced multi-course lunches and dinners at top New York City restaurants? Two weeks. NYC Restaurant Week continues through July 24 at more than 300 restaurants, more than 30 of them in hotels, with $24.07 lunches and $35 dinners. Visit our archive (The Lucerne: Feed Me!) for our list of participants posted last week. Others include 2 West at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park, the Barclay Hotel Bar & Grill, Ca Va Brasserie at the Intercontinental Times Square, Ed’s Chowder House at the Empire and the stylish Wall & Water at the Andaz Wall Street (pictured), where prix fix entrée choices include mac & cheese, skirt steak and young chicken. To learn more about Andaz Wall Street

The Lucerne: Feed Me!

Jul 11, 2011

Summer in New York just got better. Did the temperature drop? Nope, but prices have at more than 300 restaurants offering three-course lunches for $24.07 and dinners for $35 during NYC Summer Restaurant Week, July 11 to 24. More than 30 of these restaurants are in hotels. Midtown participants include Asia de Cuba at Morgans, Fives at The Peninsula, Maze by Gordon Ramsay at the London and Shula’s Steak House at the Westin Times Square. Heading Downtown? Try Mercer Kitchen at the Mercer, Kittichai at 60 Thompson and Tanuki Tavern at the Gansevoort. On the East Side, stop by the Carlyle Restaurant. And on the West Side, brasserie Nice Matin (pictured above) at the Lucerne offers seared salmon, grilled pork loin and braised rabbit entrees on its prix fixe. To learn more about the Lucerne

W Union Square: I do, I do!

Jul 05, 2011

On June 24, New York state passed legislation allowing same-sex marriage. Could New York hotels with wedding packages be far behind? Among the first – and fanciest – is Right to Unite, offered at New York’s four W Hotels. The package, available July 25 through December 31, 2011, includes car service to City Hall, use of a flip camera to document the event, champagne and a custom wedding cake, suit press/shoe shine or dress steaming and a suite. Which W to choose? W Financial District is the newest (and hippest), and W Times Square and W New York sport freshly renovated rooms. But W Union Square offers the ultimate perk -- a winding staircase for couples wishing to make an entrance (left). For more on W Union Square

Ink48: Fireworks!

Jun 27, 2011

We love fireworks – we could watch To Catch a Thief endlessly – and eagerly await Macy’s annual July 4 pyrotechnic display. This year, Macy’s sextet of fireworks-loaded barges will be parked in the Hudson River between 11th and 59th Streets, making a bench in Riverside Park the hottest freebie in town. Or get a room. You can order up a river view at the Standard, the W Times Square and the Mandarin Oriental, to name a few. But no one celebrates quite like Ink48, whose enormous roof deck offers splendid views of the display. The $300 charge buys you an open bar, hor d’oeuvres and all the fireworks you can see from 6 to 10 pm. Dine downstairs at Print restaurant before the show, and the fee shrinks to $225. Or add a room, from $589. To learn more

Hotel Gansevoort: In the Swim

Jun 20, 2011

As temperatures soar, we can’t think of a quicker cool down than to beeline to the nearest hotel pool and jump in. Where to go? The compact, kid-friendly pool at the new Aloft Brooklyn boasts a sunroof. The enclosed roof pool at the Peninsula spa is pure luxury. At Room Mate Grace, where the pool fills the moody/dark lobby, you can back stroke to the bar. But for an alfresco plunge, we suggest the 45-foot-long roof pool at the Gansevoort, overlooking the Hudson in the Meatpacking District. For easiest access, check in for the night. Or book the Renewal Package – poolside cocktail, 30 minute massage, 30 minute facial, manicure/pedicure and all-day use of the pool. Not cheap at $299, but sweet. To learn more

Kimberly Hotel: Up on the Roof

Jun 12, 2011

This hasn’t been the most glorious spring on record, but that hasn’t stopped revelers from piling into elevators and filling that great seasonal New York hotel amenity, the roof bar. Roof bars crown hotels all over town. But given New York’s iffy spring weather, we’re cheering bars with retractable glass roofs this week, where you can sip a cocktail, chilled white or flute of champagne without getting drenched – or scalded. The stylish, newish roof bar at the Kimberly will keep you cool and dry and offers a bonus: an in-your-face view of the Chrysler Building. To learn more about the Kimberly

The Standard Hotel: Extending the High Line

Jun 05, 2011

It’s been called Manhattan’s greatest gift of green space since the opening of Central Park. A slight exaggeration, perhaps, but it’s hard not to like the High Line, the glorious explosion of flowers and greenery that replaced the rust on an abandoned elevated railroad trestle near the Hudson. More than 2 million people strolled the High Line during the year following its 2009 debut. And on Wednesday June 8, Phase 2 opens, extending the park from Gansevoort Street to West 30th Street for a total of nearly one and a half miles. One of the best places to enter the park is the staircase hugging the Standard Hotel. To learn more about the Standard

Ink48: Fleet Week!

May 30, 2011

If the arrival of Memorial Day -- and the accompanying blast of warm weather – aren’t enough to announce that summer is near, New York has Fleet Week, the annual seven-day salute to the U.S. Navy and Marines that runs from May 25 to June 1 this year. The ships, many open for tours, dock in the Hudson on Manhattan’s West Side, not far from the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum, which celebrates big with tours, festivities and exhibitions. Fleet Week means dramatic flyovers, great-looking vessels cruising the Hudson and scores of uniformed military taking in the island, an updated take on “On the Town.” For great views of the ships and festivities, we can’t think of a better perch than the rooftop bar at Ink48.

Library Hotel: The Lions are 100

May 24, 2011

On May 23, 1911, the New York Public Library threw open the doors to its be-columned Fifth Avenue building, guarded by two marble lions, later named Patience and Fortitude. With 1 million books and 75 miles of shelves, the library was dubbed “the people’s palace.” It’s still quite a palace. We love the Main Reading Room with its mile-high ceiling and classic library tables. But nearly everything here is memorable, including the current exhibition “Celebrating 100 Years." You can’t spend the night, but bibliophiles can check into the Library Hotel a block away, a clever boutique hotel that’s book-filled and serves drinks, nibbles and a comp continental breakfast.

Affinia 50: Play Ball!

May 16, 2011

Okay, the Yankees are in a bit of a slump. And the Mets are still below .500. But we can’t think of a better way to while away an afternoon or evening than at a New York City baseball game in Yankee or Citi stadium (if it isn’t raining). For like-minded visitors – hey, you may have a winning team one of ours is playing – check out Affinia Hotels' “For the Love of the Game” package. Besides late check-out, you get Crackerjack, a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine, a gift card from Modell's Sporting Goods and a Metrocard to subway you to the game. It’s available at all five Affinia New York hotels, including the East Side's sporty Affinia 50, until December 31, 2011 in case you prefer basketball, tennis or hockey. To learn more about Affinia 50,

Empire Hotel: Spring into Dance

May 09, 2011

For ballet lovers, New York doesn’t get much better than the months of May and June, spring season for New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater. This week NYCB, on stage through June 12, debuts a new production of “The Seven Deadly Sins,” sung by Patti LuPone and danced by Wendy Whelan. Alexei Ratmansky’s “The Bright Stream,” performed June 9 to 15, is a highlight of ABT’s season, from May 16 through July 9. Where to go for a drink after the show? The Empire Hotel stands directly across from Lincoln Center and serves up high-glam cocktails in its atmospheric lobby bar. To learn more

Hotel Wales: Royal Fashion at the Met

May 02, 2011

Talk about serendipity. Less than a week before the much anticipated, May 4 opening of “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the new Duchess of Cambridge modeled an exquisite creation by Sarah Burton, the designer’s successor, on the world’s showiest runway. Don’t expect to see wedding dresses – or anything demure – at the Met. The edgy, exaggerated and unexpected were more McQueen's style – bumster trousers, tartan ballgowns. Close to 100 creations are on view through July 31. Need a hotel near the Met and the rest of Museum Row? Try the Wales (pictured above). To learn more

Fashion 26: In Fashion

Apr 30, 2011

We love the Museum at FIT, aka the Fashion Institute of Technology. And not just because it’s admission free. Their beautifully curated special exhibitions explore connections between fashion and culture. Japan Fashion Now, a terrific look at Japan’s dynamic contemporary fashion scene, supplemented with a fascinating selection of trailblazing design from the 1980s, runs through January 8. (Hurry!) His & Hers, a superb study of how different eras perceive gender differences through fashion – and what that tells us – runs through May 10. (Love the Elsa Sciaparelli suit.) And yes, there’s a hotel angle. Fashion 26, Manhattan’s only fashion-themed hotel, is two blocks away. To learn more about Fashion 26,

The Lowell: Light My Fire

Apr 30, 2011

It’s one of the snowiest, coldest winters in memory. And what warms up a hotel room better than a fireplace? Fireplaces lit by gas jets blaze away in lobbies at the Royalton, Maritime and London NYC, restaurants at the Chatwal and the Dylan and bars at the James and the Library, to name a few. But in-room fireplaces? Harder to find, not to mention light up. The Waldorf serves up non-working fireplaces in many one-bedroom suites and Astor Suites as well as numerous Towers suites (expect candles or flowers in the opening). Ditto rooms at the Inn at Irving Place. But the Lowell goes one better, with wood-burning fireplaces in most suites. Feel the heat! For more on the Lowell,

Gild Hall: Hungry?

Apr 30, 2011

Just when winter seems bleakest, along comes Restaurant Week (Jan. 24 to Feb. 6), a chance to eat your way out of the doldrums without taking out a second mortgage. And what choice: more than 300 restaurants, over 30 of them in hotels, serve up prix fixe $24.07 lunches and $35 dinners Monday through Friday, Sundays optional. Among the participating hotel restaurants are the Breslin Bar at Ace, Ca Va Brasserie at the new InterContinental Times Square, db Bistro Moderne at City Club, Le Caprice at the Pierre, the Strand Restaurant at the Strand and Insieme at the Michelangelo. And on a dark day, we can’t think of a more welcome place than The Libertine, a chic pub at stylish Gild Hall in the Financial District. For more on Gild Hall,

60 Thompson: Still Hungry?

Apr 30, 2011

You’re in luck. This week Restaurant Week rolls into a second week – maybe they should go British and call it Restaurant Fortnight – and the great meals and money-saving deals continue with $24.07 lunches and $35 dinners. More than 30 hotel restaurants are in play. (Check our Archive for those mentioned here last week.) Here's more: Wall & Water at Andaz Financial District, Shula’s Steak House at the Weston Times Square, The National at the Benjamin, Tanuki Tavern at the Gansevoort, Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien, South Gate at the Jumeriah Essex House and Mercer Kitchen at the Mercer. And to warm up on a freezing day, we suggest something spicy, like Kittichai’s nouvelle Thai cuisine at 60 Thompson. To learn more,

The Paramount: Kiss, Kiss

Apr 30, 2011

As that big, heart-shaped holiday looms, hotels stand at the ready, with champagne, chocolates and packages. Among those serving up romantic backdrops – and fanciful deals -- are the Trump International (Central Park view, champagne, roses, breakfast) and the Surrey (couples massage, champagne and chocolate, rose scented Dyptique candle). Uncoupled this year? No worries. The Not So Valentines Menu at Paramount’s Library Bar is loaded with aromatic, messy foods best consumed solo – or with a BFF – like garlic ravioli, sticky BBQ spare ribs and decadent molten chocolate cake. Hedging its bets, the hotel’s Valentine’s Package tosses in champagne or chocolates and breakfast for two with a room. For more on Paramount,

Affinia Dumont: Give me 40!

Apr 30, 2011

It’s winter in New York, high season if you’re looking for a deal. We can’t begin to name all the hotels offering a third, fourth or fifth night free, a gift if you’re planning a long stay. But Affinia Dumont, a health-minded Midtown East hotel, offers something different. At check-in guests can drop to the floor and do push ups to push down the price of the room. They’ll take $1 off one night’s bill for each push up completed in 30 seconds. Fine print: rooms must be booked by March 31, and the maximum discount is $40. Just how much of a jock hotel is the Dumont? There’s a terrific window-lined gym. Visiting teams playing at Madison Square Garden often bunk here. And one lucky room has its own private fitness room. For more about Affinia Dumont,

Waldorf Astoria: Hail to the Chief

Apr 30, 2011

In a salute to Presidents Day week, we look at hotels with White House connections. True, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln never spent a night at these places, but plenty of chief executives did. Every U.S. President from Harry Truman to Bill Clinton stayed at the Carlyle (John F. Kennedy kept an apartment for 10 years). The Roosevelt, built in 1924, is a Roaring 20s Rough Rider theme park with statues and photos of namesake Theodore sprinkled throughout the lobby. But the most presidential of the pack is the Waldorf=Astoria (pictured), home of the high-style, high-security Waldorf Towers, where every president has stayed since Herbert Hoover opened the place with a radio broadcast in 1931. To learn more about the Waldorf,

Mansfield Hotel: Strolling West 44th Street

Apr 30, 2011

Call it the hospitality uber-block. West 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues is evocative and fun – a WeeGee-like snapshot of a classic Manhattan that’s home to clubs, restaurants and six of our favorite hotels. Crave history? Past tweaks present at the theatrical Algonquin and classic Iroquois, both housed in Edwardian brick buildings. Want to party? The stylish Royalton lobby doubles as a lively bar scene. Prefer quieter luxury? City Club lives up to its urbane name. How about a skyscraper? Sofitel New York is modern – and French! And the Mansfield (pictured), once home to the eccentric millionaire said to have inspired the “The Great Gatsby,” serves up history at a moderate price. For more on the Mansfield,

Wall Street Inn: When "Like" Saves Money

Apr 30, 2011

Ah, the ubiquitous Facebook Like button. Like us on Facebook at Overnight New York, and we’ll be grateful. But some pages offer more than gratitude. Consider the Wall Street Inn, a cozy bed and breakfast hotel near, but not quite on, Wall Street. (It’s in the Financial District, close enough.) If you Like the hotel’s Wall Street Inn NYC Facebook page, you can save 10 percent on a stay booked before March 31. You’ll need to follow the prompts when booking and print the fan page to collect. Bonus: the hotel’s rates drop on weekends. Very likable. To learn more about the Wall Street Inn,

The Carlton: Barefoot in the Park (Almost)

Apr 30, 2011

It’s spring – at last! And though New Yorkers aren’t shedding their coats or shoes quite yet, days feel warmer and an outdoor stroll no longer simulates the Arctic Challenge. Which makes us think of New York’s splendid parks. Central, Riverside, Prospect – yes, we love the biggies. But smaller parks charm, too. Madison Square Park where Fifth Avenue, Broadway and East 23rd Street meet is a nifty, 164-year-old green named for America’s fourth president. Though not as historic, the nearby Carlton Hotel (pictured) was built in 1904, renovated in 2005 and gained a terrific new restaurant, the French brasserie Millesime, last year. What better place to welcome spring? For more on the Carlton,

Hotel Roger Williams: Spring Special

Apr 30, 2011

In the spirit of seasonal alliteration, the stylish, outskirts-of-midtown Hotel Roger Williams, informally known as the Roger, decided to come up with a Spring Special. What kind of deal would guests prefer? The hotel polled its fans on – where else – Facebook and came up with the Roger Likes Spring and His Fans package – a price that includes an automatic upgrade (superior to deluxe, deluxe to executive, etc) and daily breakfast for two (from $345 depending on the date). Type the word SPRING on your online reservation, and it’s yours. To learn more about the Hotel Roger Williams,

Algonquin:That Retro Feeling

Apr 30, 2011

We wouldn’t call “Anything Goes” new. But with a lively new production led by Sutton Foster and Joel Grey, Cole Porter’s resilient Depression-era songfest, on Broadway once again, looks stylish, spirited and, best of all, fresh. That translates into armchair time travel at its sweetest – a care-free taste of the past without its problems. Where can you go for drinks after the show without dispelling the zesty, retro-Deco mood? We love the Chatwal’s Deco-inflected upstairs bar, lighted by whimsical chandeliers shaped like the Empire State Building. Or try a bar at the Waldorf=Astoria, home of the Cole Porter piano (and for years, the composer himself). Or stop by the Algonquin – we’d bet the show’s 1934 cast did precisely that. For more on the Algonquin

SoHo Grand: Tribeca's Film Festivities

Apr 30, 2011

Happy 10th birthday to the Tribeca Film Festival, playing from April 20th to May 1 at a theater near you (if you happen to be in Tribeca, the East Village or Chelsea). Created to help revitalize lower Manhattan post 9/11, the festival promotes “new voices and diverse filmmaking,” to quote founder Jane Rosenthal. Look for 91 films culled from – gasp – 5,624 submissions. Want a hotel nearby for dinner, a drink or a stay? Consider the Smyth Hotel, the Greenwich, the Duane Street Hotel or the Tribeca Grand. Or look to an area pioneer, like the Mercer or the SoHo Grand. To learn more about the SoHo Grand

Element NY: Staying Green

Apr 29, 2011

On the heels of Earth Day we’re thinking green. How are New York hotels doing in the double-barreled realms of conservation and sustainability? Comme si comme sa. Retrofitting old buildings to meet 21st century environmental needs is costly and tough, and a lot of New York hotels reside in old buildings. But bright spots abound. The Intercontinental Barclay and New York Palace hum on 100 percent renewable energy. Hypo-allergenic rooms are found at the Park Central, Doubletree Times Square and all the Hyatts. And in November, Element, Starwood’s green chain, arrived in New York. To learn more about Element New York Times Square West

Happy New Year!

Dec 27, 2010

And no more silent nights, at least not December 31st. Nearly every hotel with a restaurant and/or bar celebrates New Year’s Eve in a big way, so choose your style and locale. For hipsters, the Ace features Q-Tip & Friends ($50 cover) and DJs in the lobby. At the Kitano’s Garden Café, jazz legends Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Laub and Gene Bertoncini ring in the new ($85 cover + $25 food/bev minimum). Crave Times Square? Too bad. Renaissance New York Times Square, home to the best view of the ball drop in town, is sold out. But the black-tie dinner dance at the nearby Marriott Marquis can be yours from $750 to $2,800 a person. Yikes! But hey, it’s 2011. For more on the Marriott Marquis,

"God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Dec 20, 2010

Tiny Tim got it right. Christmas dinner should be a celebration. Though not every hotel restaurant serves a special Christmas meal, we found three whose glamorous menus would tempt even Scrooge. Besides Central Park views, the Helmsley Park Lane offers a stylish $75 three-course dinner Christmas Eve and a lavish $70 Christmas Day buffet. Stuffed veal chop headlines the Intercontinental New York Barclay's $75 Christmas Day three-course while pheasant over couscous leads the $65 Christmas Eve repast. And at the Algonquin, which has served Christmas Day dinner since 1902, choose from prime rib, rack of lamb, salmon or turkey ($80 for three courses). Traditional enough for ya? For more about the Algonquin,

Nuts!

Dec 13, 2010

We can’t think of a city with more options if you’re a Nutcracker buff. And if you’re coming in from out of town, there's a hotel near every production. New York Theater Ballet offers its chamber version of the ‘cracker December 18 and 19 at Florence Gould Hall, a short walk from the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel. The Brooklyn Academy of Music, a cab or subway away from Brooklyn's Hotel Le Bleu, hosts Mark Morris' witty The Hard Nut through December 19 and American Ballet Theater’s eagerly awaited Nutcracker choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky December 22 to January 2. And New York City Ballet’s gorgeous production of George Balanchine’s ultimate sugarplum runs through January 2, at Lincoln Center, not far from the Beacon Hotel. To learn more about the Beacon,

Peace!

Dec 07, 2010

We love holiday decorations, and New York is full of hotels that pile on lights, trees and gingerbread. The St. Regis, Peninsula, Plaza, Roosevelt, Four Seasons and Le Parker Meridien are among the biggies that go all out. And three cheers for the Grand Hyatt, which strung colored lights from the exterior scaffolding during renovation. What’s missing from that group? Boutique hotels. Most, it appears, are too cool for school when it comes to holiday decs and simply decline to deck their halls – or anything else. Which is why we love the wreath at the Maritime Hotel. It’s simple, eloquent and totally in the spirit of the season – and boutique hotels. To learn more about the Maritime,

Who Needs the Mall?

Nov 29, 2010

Hotels serve up holiday drinks and dinners, so why not shopping? We’re talking gifts, not mattresses and sheets. The smart shops at W New York and W Times Square offer scrumptious scarves, strappy evening sandals, scented candles and bangles galore. (Can’t stop by? Check out the Web site at www.whotelthestore.com.) The Ace houses cool outposts of Project 8A, a travel and design shop, and hip boutique Opening Ceremony. And we love the Standard Hotel’s archly curated shop stocked with chic sunglasses, high-end fragrance and a wall of trilbys, fedoras and bowlers in addition to the usual newspapers and candy bars. To learn more about the Standard,

And They'll Cook the Turkey

Nov 26, 2010

Still in the hunt for Thanksgiving dinner – or ideas for next year’s post-parade celebration? Hotel restaurants can help. Pick your theme. Ed’s Chowder House, the Empire Hotel's stylish fish restaurant, serves a 3-course $39 prix fixe. Thai-inspired turkey osso bucco highlights the menu at Kittichai, 60 Thompson's hip Thai restaurant. Feeling flush? Try the 6-course $150 spread at Gordon Ramsay at the London. Or check into one of New York’s newest dining rooms, The National at the Benjamin Hotel. Super-chef Geoffrey Zakarian oversees this chic black-and-white bistro that opened this month. The three-course T’giving spread is $65. Bon appétit. To learn more about the Benjamin,

Dream On

Nov 15, 2010

It’s the end of the day. You’re brain dead. What better time to watch trash TV? And yes, there’s a hotel connection. This week The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are in New York, where they’ve checked in en masse at Dream, an outskirts-of-Times Square boutique hotel. The ostensible reason for the trip, besides flaunting their technicolor BH wardrobes in the land of black, is the premiere of La Cage aux Folles, which actually opened last April when the housewife who organized the glittering cross-country jaunt was still married to La Cage star Kelsey Grammer. Ah, details! Dream is in better shape than that Beverly Hills marriage. Still, we’d hate to toddle over to the Longacre Theater in stilettos (Late Night with David Letterman, on the other hand, is across the street). To learn more about Dream,

Book It

Nov 10, 2010

With darker, shorter, colder days, the urge to hole up with a good book can be irresistible. Financier J. P. Morgan apparently felt that way. Or so it would seem from the look of the newly reopened rooms, fresh from a $4.5 million restoration, that form the inner sanctum of the Morgan Library & Museum. Designed in 1906 by architect Charles Follen McKim, the rooms are a feast of high-brow art and high-voltage decor fit for a robber baron. As for reading material, how about a letter from Queen Elizabeth I, age 15? Or Mary Shelly’s annotated copy of Frankenstein? Or a Gutenberg Bible? (Morgan owned three.) The lobby of 70 Park Avenue Hotel nearby boasts a curl-up-with-a-good-book vibe paired with a cozy-comfy setting. And of course, you can spend the night. To learn more about 70 Park Avenue,

Free Skate

Nov 01, 2010

Who says New York is a concrete jungle? Parks dot the city, often where you least expect them. Consider Bryant Park, a leafy rectangle behind the New York Public Library – and a shout away from the Bryant Park Hotel. The park is a gem year round, but from now through February 27, it’s home to Citi Pond ice rink and admission free skating. Bring your blades – or rent a pair for $13 – and Salchow onto the Midtown ice from 8 am to 10 pm (Sunday through Wednesday) or til midnight (Thursday to Saturday). And après-skate? Shop! From November 5 though January 2, more than 100 vendors fill temporary digs in the park, hawking clothing, jewelry, decorations and food. Or stop by the hotel for a stylish drink at the bar or a bite at restaurant Koi. To learn more about the Bryant Park Hotel,

The Big Picture

Oct 25, 2010

If ever an art movement screamed New York, postwar Abstract Expressionism, with its energetic, color-drenched canvases and sculptures, fits the bill. Sixty-plus years later, the Museum of Modern Art is celebrating. “Abstract Expressionist New York,” on view through April 25, blankets an entire floor, an unprecedented swath of MOMA real estate lavished on one show. Besides quality, there’s depth – 18 works by Jackson Pollock alone. Where to stay or grab a bite if you’re seeing the show? The Shoreham serves up a MOMA package along with a lively turquoise restaurant and bar. For more on the Shoreham,

And All that Jazz

Oct 25, 2010

As fans of hotel lounges, we’ve sadly noticed recorded music replacing the pianists, harpists and jazz trios once a staple of stylish Manhattan nightlife. Yes, cabarets still flourish at the Algonquin, Carlyle and Regency among others, but we’re talking about complimentary live music served with the martinis and mixed nuts. So it’s nice to see the Four Seasons resisting the trend in its Garden Wine Bar, at least every Tuesday from October 19 to November 9, between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. On those nights, Julliard’s top jazz students perform under the Garden’s soft lights, offering something different each week, from swing to blues to cool. We can’t think of a sweeter accompaniment to the bar’s nearly 160 wines by the glass. To learn more about the Four Seasons,

Showing Off

Oct 12, 2010

A high point of the year for design aficionados is the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, arguably the smartest, spiffiest, showiest show house in the land. Just consider the line-up of designers participating in this year’s event, which opens on Thursday, October 14 and runs through November 11. They include Cullman & Kravis, the Jeffrey Design Group, Eve Robinson, Katie Ridder, Vicente Wolf and even Jean Paul Gaultier (fashion designers can do interiors, too). This year’s house at 106 East 71st Street is a hop, skip and a jump away from the Lowell Hotel, a glamorous abode known for suites decorated by Los Angeles designer Michael Smith and a smart place for lunch or afternoon tea before taking in the rooms. To learn more about the Lowell,

From Wall Street to Wall Street

Oct 05, 2010

Reviews for Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps have been mixed, but the movie has attracted no shortage of attention. And that, it seems, is good enough for Wall Street’s newest hotel to cook up a deal. Wouldn’t you know it’s called Power Stay? Available at the Andaz Wall Street through December on full-price rooms, the package offers Gekko-ites a room upgrade, a free drink at dinner and a free 15-minute spa treatment -- why waste an hour? – with a shoe shine. (Small print: two-night minimum.) Too busy to spend the night? The hotel’s Wall & Water restaurant serves up a Power Lunch through October 31. Besides a free drink with your entree, additional alcoholic drinks are called Gekkos on the bill, hiding the damage from the expense account police (sort of). To learn more about the Andaz Wall Street,

Not-so-new fall fashions

Sep 22, 2010

New Yorkers have a talent for living large in small spaces. That goes for museums, too. “Notorious & Notable: 20th Century Women of Style” manages to elegantly pack dresses and jewelry worn by 81 style-setting New Yorkers into one not-so-very-big room at the Museum of the City of New York, through January 3, 2011. A ruffled black velvet evening dress (Babe Paley), gold metal evening bag (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) and red sequined mermaid costume (Bette Midler) are just a few of the mostly A-list items on view. Where to stay if you want to be a short cab ride – or (very) vigorous walk – away? We suggest two pleasing East Side hotels – the Hotel Wales and the Franklin Hotel. To learn more about the Franklin,

On their toes as leaves swirl

Sep 14, 2010

For years New Yorkers knew what time of year it was simply by consulting the New York City Ballet performance schedule. The Company’s Winter Season meant cold, snowy days, from mid-January through February. Hay fever on the way? Spring Season, May to mid-June. And The Nutcracker signaled the arrival of Christmas. All that still holds true. But this year, something new is afoot, namely a Fall Season, September 14 through October 10. For dance enthusiasts -- and there never have been more given the popularity of shows like Dancing with the Stars -- City Ballet is a feast. Besides classics by Company founder George Balanchine and Broadway’s Jerome Robbins, offerings this Fall include three works that debuted last Spring with sets by the renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. And look for a stylish new ballet by dancer/choreographer Benjamin Millipied, who also created dances for the new film Black Swan. Where can you go for dinner before the curtain rises or a drink after the final pirouette? The Empire Hotel stands directly across the street from NYCB’s Lincoln Center home and houses Ed's Chowder House, a moody lobby lounge and a hopping rooftop bar. For more about the Empire,

Picnicking in Central Park

Aug 31, 2010

As Labor Day and the end of summer loom, our thoughts turn to Picnic, the classic-if-melodramatic Kim Novak/William Holden movie set on a long-ago September 4, and outdoor eating. The movie may take place in Kansas, but New Yorkers relish a good picnic, and New York hotels know how to help. Though Central Park offers no shortage of edibles, from the Boathouse Café to countless food carts, the Plaza Hotel’s new(ish) Plaza Food Hall by celebrity chef Todd English dishes up yummy if pricey take-away brick-oven pizza, sushi, dumplings, cheeses, bakery goods and more. Prefer to experience the park with no worries about bee stings, heat stroke or torrential downpours? A window seat in the second-floor dining room of the Helmsley Park Lane is the next best thing to a checkered tablecloth under a tree, particularly if old-style hotels with liveried porters and marble galore do it for you. The Park Lane’s spotless grand-scale windows deliver the park to your table. Among the apropos end-of-summer selections are burgers, wraps, chicken sandwiches and a superb chopped salad with pine nuts and dates. To learn more about the Helmsley Park Lane,

Tennis, anyone?

Aug 24, 2010

The US Open bounces into town with qualifying rounds starting August 24 and matches from August 30 to September 12. Not surprisingly, New York hotels want to play. The Westin Times Square and the Gansevoort each serve up US Open packages; the latter lands an ace with two Gansevoort caps, two seat cushions, two Lacoste polo shirts, champagne and sliders at the rooftop bar and a one-week Metrocard (you get a room, too). Over at the Grand Hyatt, temporary booths in the lobby sell T-shirts and tennis gear. And Market, the hotel’s new 24-hour, grab-and-go food hall, lobs pre-packed picnic lunches ($20 to $28) your way. Pick up a picnic of fruit, a hot or cold sandwich, salad, chips, veggies, cookies, candy and a beverage, then hop the No. 7 subway at Grand Central-42nd St. for Queens and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Prefer the stadium’s giant hot dogs? Pass on the picnic and get in the spirit with Market’s special cookies shaped like tennis rackets and balls. For more about the Grand Hyatt,

Eat, Pray, Love -- in New York?

Aug 22, 2010

New York doesn’t rate as one of the three marquee destinations in either the book or the new film version of Eat, Pray, Love opening on August 13. In fact, New York is the city the despairing writer Elizabeth Gilbert flees when she embarks on her year of travels to Italy (eat), India (pray) and Indonesia (love). But hey, why let a technicality get in the way? A slew of hotels in places unrelated to the book have created EPL packages, from spas in the Southwest to coastal Atlantic resorts. Which brings us to New York. From the stately Benjamin in midtown Manhattan comes Eat, Stay, Love, featuring a buffet breakfast for two on the 22nd floor (alfresco for that Italian touch), a bed for the night, two tickets to the movie and a copy of the book. Meeting the love of your life, we suppose, is optional. To learn more about The Benjamin,

The (almost) secret garden

Aug 16, 2010

Summer isn’t over yet, but besides the blistering heat, New York hotel buffs will probably remember 2010 as the summer of the hotel roof deck. Among the season’s airborne newcomers serving up extravagant drinks and scintillating views to heat-impervious throngs are the terraces topping the Strand, Ink48, Fashion 26, the Affinia Shelburne, the Kimberly and the Standard hotels. Most roof decks perch atop hotels in Midtown or Downtown, as if by gravitational pull. Where to go if you want views of Central Park, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and points north? We vote for the roof terrace of the Wales, a quiet hotel in a quiet neighborhood with – surprise, surprise – a (usually) quiet roof deck. Newly renovated, this generous, open-air expanse boasts a handsome wood fence, plentiful (and newly painted) wood tables, chairs and chaises, lushly filled flower planters and – ta da – those spectacular cityscapes (if you don’t mind editing out the odd rooftop water tank here and there). Though normally reserved for guests, the deck – and a bar – open to all on Thursdays from 5 to 9 pm. To learn more about the Wales,

When Chelsea got married

Aug 01, 2010

Rhinebeck, the sleepy but stylish Hudson Valley hamlet where Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky tied the knot on July 31, is just 115 miles north of New York City where the couple lives. So it's no surprise a pair of New York hotels boasts connections to the glittering event. The reception was catered by St. Regis Hotels and Resorts whose flagship property, the St. Regis Hotel on Fifth Avenue and 55th Street, was built in 1904 by John Jacob Astor IV. Astor, who was born in Rhinebeck, also owned Astor Courts, the lavish, 1904 Beaux Arts mansion and estate designed by architect Stanford White where Chelsea’s nuptials took place. The caterer for the rehearsal dinner, meanwhile, was Blue Ribbon Restaurants, a small, stylish chain known for fresh ingredients and a laid-back vibe. Among their outposts is Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, a delectable if pricey, wood-lined restaurant with a hopping bar in 6 Columbus. To learn more about 6 Columbus,

When Mad Men check in

Jul 26, 2010

Mad Men, the most stylish show on television, is back. As before, Midtown Manhattan in the early 1960s plays a leading role, and so, from time to time, do its hotels. Some no longer exist, like the Savoy Plaza, a stately 33-story McKim, Mead and White skyscraper from 1927, site of Don and Betty Draper’s off-kilter Season Two Valentine’s Day tryst. (Demolished in 1964, the hotel, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, was replaced by the GM building; an Apple store flourishes where the lobby stood.) The Roosevelt, where Don checked in after Betty threw him out of the house in Season Two, is still standing, though we suspect the rooms were a lot more plush in Don’s day. Still, the sprawling Roaring Twenties lobby, with its gilded ceiling and splash of history (the place was named for Teddy, not Franklin), probably looked much as it does today, if Don took the time to notice. To learn more about the Roosevelt,

When you need a rest

Jul 19, 2010

Among the more popular amenities hotels offer is one that’s rarely publicized – the rest room. But in addition to being a godsend, especially when it’s easy to find, a good hotel rest room can be visually appealing, even amusing. Consider the rest rooms at The Muse, a Theater District boutique hotel. This suite of unisex rooms, each self-contained with a sink, mirror and name in addition to the obvious essentials, is a riff on the Seven Deadly Sins. Green floor-to-ceiling tiles envelope you in Envy, while Passion encases you in red. A sconce affixed to an antler lights up – what else? -- Macho. And Glam, our favorite, surrounds you in gold. To learn more about The Muse – and its rest rooms,

Just a bite

Jul 12, 2010

No, we’re not discussing vampire movies. We’re talking about small plate dining and its cuisinary siblings, light-bite meals and take-away snacks, the latest additions to, and in some cases substitutions for, the traditional hotel restaurant. Besides agreeable prices, these hotel newcomers offer speed. (You’re not waiting for Alain Ducasse to dish up three courses.) As part of its much needed, in-progress-as-we-write renovation, the Grand Hyatt opened Market, an instant gratification grab-and-go eatery. And the restaurant at Hudson has morphed into Hudson Hall, an upscale cafeteria, where guests pile red plastic trays with small-plate nibbles, like sliders, couscous salads and frites, and chow down at refectory tables. Just don’t expect a Coke machine: servers dispense the drinks, including $5 shots and $12 cocktails. For more about Hudson,

O Pioneers!

Jul 10, 2010

If we were planning a new hotel in Manhattan a few years back, we’d have passed on Midtown’s southwestern reaches in the low 30s and high 20s – a gritty swathe that’s home to the Garment District, Flower Market, small office buildings and mom/pop businesses like discount perfume shops and delis. But what do we know? This unlikely area has become a hotbed of smart hotels. What’s the appeal? Stylish hotels at moderate prices, for starters. And the neighborhood offers easy access to Midtown or Downtown by subway, bus or taxi. The line-up of chic newcomers includes the Indigo Chelsea, Fashion 26 and Eventi, housed in sleek new high-rise buildings. But the newbie that’s the talk of the town resides in a relic, a century-old hotel, reconstituted and rechristened Ace. As befits an up-to-the-moment antique, the lobby boasts a vintage mosaic floor, decorative plaster ceiling, library tables, taxidermy animals -- and a boisterous bar. To learn more about Ace Hotel,