Hotel reviews: The Kimberly

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Upstairs is currently only open for hotel guests but will be open to the public in April 2010, when it is sure to be one of the hottest spots in the city for drinks and partying as locals join guests to create ab electric atmosphere.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The entrance to The Kimberly is one that makes you feel a little special as you stride down the red carpet, past the personalised classic Ford and spin through the gold coloured revolving doors flanked by Greek goddesses on pedestals holding up chandeliers, into the small, yet lavish lobby. Marble is everywhere-on the floor, on the walls and covering the reception desk. The centre of the hall is covered with a rug while to the left are antique armchairs and table, tall candelabras and a small grandfather clock. In the corner next to the reception is the concierge desk and to the back of the lobby are the lifts. Floral displays are a nice touch. The hotel does not have either a fitness centre or wellness centre on site, however it does offer all of its guests complimentary access to all of the New York Health and Racquet Club's (NYRHC) locations-an extra not to be sniffed at. As well as top quality cardio and weights apparatus, the centres offer swimming pools, squash and racquetball courts, a range of classes including karate kickboxing and yoga, saunas, steam rooms and massages. If you want to experience something that no other hotel can provide, then take advantage, during the summer months, of the NYRHC's yacht, which takes visitors on a three hour cruise of the Hudson and East Rivers as well as New York Harbour between the months of May and September. Boarding charges are taken care of by the hotel, however there is a $20 buffet charge applied to all guests. The hotel is kept meticulously from top to bottom and you'd be hard pressed to find a flaw. The same goes for the staff that is courteous and pleasant and rightly renowned for the quality of the service it provides.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

The Kimberly is essentially a suite hotel, although 26 of its almost 200 rooms are regular guestrooms. The standards, which have been recently renovated (although remain slightly dated in their décor), are simply, but comfortably appointed with a couch at the foot of the bed (bliss to sleep in) facing the flatscreen television, table and chairs and Art Deco lamps at the bedside. Amenities include iPod docking station, radio alarm clock and, rather quaintly, a shoe polisher. The minibar, compared to some other hotels, is a little bare, although the room does have a microwave for preparing your own snacks. In the closet you'll find iron and ironing board, safe, umbrella and bathrobes. The bathroom, which is well stocked with fluffy towels, boasts Neutrogena toiletries, hairdryer, scales and has a bathtub. The luxury version of this room is slightly larger, allowing for the presence of two double beds, a desk, a beautifully finished marble-topped wooden chest of draws, and coffee table in front of the couch. Its bathroom is tiled in dark green marble and has both a shower and bathtub. The one bedroom suites are fantastically spacious and again, while dated, are extremely comfortable and want for nothing. The bedroom itself can have two double beds if required and has a chest of draws, flatscreen television with webmail, radio alarm clock and naval prints on the walls. The floral curtains and matching wallpaper border around the top of the room should really be replaced. The bathroom too could do with updating but does have a bathtub and magnified makeup mirror. The salon is enormous by New York proportions and has a seating area, a desk and dining table and chairs. Next to this is a fully equipped kitchenette as well as bags of storage and hanging space. At the end of the lounge is a balcony looking out over Manhattan. Very pleasant indeed. The two bedroom suites, of which there are six, have a bathroom for each room, a salon and a great corner alcove for breakfast as well as a kitchenette. The hotel also has two duplexes which it does not advertise, however, if you have the cash, splash! The three bedroom apartment boasts beautifully crafted furniture, two bathrooms, one of whose vanity's lights resemble those of a theatre dressing rooms, a terrace and a cute trolley in the hallway with tea and coffee facilities. There are another five suites at the hotel, each offering unrivaled amounts of space and stunning views of the city.

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
• Photos

Things are being shaken up at The Kimberly food-wise. During our visit The Alfred, the hotel's main restaurant was under renovation and Upstairs, a roof top lounge, was being conceived from scratch while Nikki Beach, the chain of clubs which have locations in some of the most luxury resorts around the world, was playing host to breakfast. Now however, Upstairs has opened its doors and serves breakfast and dinner while Nikki has reverted back to doing exclusively what it does best, being one of the hottest night spots in town. The Alfred (or whichever name is eventually decided upon, as now the management is hesitating) is another six months away from its opening. Thankfully, during this time, the hotel has kept hold of its French chef, Gwenaël Le Pape, who has trained with some of the best in her native country as well as in Miami before setting up camp in New York. Upstairs has retractable glass ceilings and a 360° view of Manhattan including the Chrysler Building. The magnificent space features living walls, heated floors and a mix of theatrical lighting and strings of incandescent bulbs that criss-cross overhead. The menu is a mix of seafood and meat dishes including yellowfin tuna tartar and foie gras crostini for appetizers and curry-coconut chicken pot pie and Kobe burger slider for mains with a few desserts to finish. As well as all your favourite cocktails, you can opt for one of the house specials such as The Morning After or the Pomme D'Or, Upstairs' version of the Classic Sidecar. A private room is available for hire. For partying further into the night, Nikki is the place to be. The front room features columns with African-style carvings and a solid wooden bar also hand carved. A large bay of seating is topped off with bamboo shoots and is upholstered with white cushioning while the floor has an untreated, raw hardwood finish. The main room is glitzy with its coloured lights and immaculate cushion positioning and reminders of the origins of the club such as the mini sails on the walls and the parasols bring a touch of seaside glamour to the city. Down both sides of the room are slightly raised areas of seating with a long, low communal table running along the middle of the room with, as seating, African-style carved stools. At the end of the room against a backdrop of white curtains, is a curved bench with space for around 20 guests and in front are three Middle Eastern-style tables with a bowl in the centre, used for bottle service. The room has an electric atmosphere at both dinner time and later on and welcomes the beautiful people from around the city. One down side: there is no real place to dance and not enough seating meaning many guests are left standing for much of the evening.