Hotel reviews: The Warwick

• Location
• TO KNOW
• Overview
• Accommodation
• Food and drink
• Beach
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The building, which is part of the Historic Hotels of America, was constructed in 1926 at the request of William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper magnate. He wanted somewhere for his Hollywood friends to stay while they were in town, including his mistress Marion Davies, an actress whose career turned out to be very much secondary to her active social high life. Guests have included The Beatles, Elvis and Cary Grant, who was a regular and has a suite named after him. The hotel's last renovation was in September 2009.

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

The entrance to the Warwick is quite grand with a pediment crowning the front door which stands inside the setback between the two prominent parts of the tower. Inside, the Renaissance revival lobby is impeccably laid out with a short corridor leading to the seating area and reception. To the left, a sort of living room within the lobby with an oriental rug surrounded by replica antique furniture and a bookcase flanked by dark green marble columns. Stucco mouldings line the top of the walls and the chandelier that hangs from the centre of the room was purchased by the hotel after one staff member spotted it in the 2006 Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette. To the right is the reception desk, attended to by a charming, multilingual staff. The hotel has a modest gym with cardio and weights machines and free weights, but unfortunately doesn't have a spa (although the concierge would be happy to arrange treatments for you upon request). Everywhere you turn there are reminders of the hotel's past in the form of photographs of the many stars that have stayed at the Warwick over the years. The staircase leading from the seminar space in the basement to the lobby is lined with portraits of the likes of Jane Russell, James Dean, Audrey Hepburn and of course Cary Grant. The corridors too tell a story with images of Marion Davies amongst others, as well as classic dial telephones posed on marble-topped sideboards. As you'd expect from a hotel of this standing, the place is spotless and in top notch condition while the staff, as well as being highly professional and efficient, are good humoured and amicable.

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

Rooms at the Warwick are divided into three broad categories: Classic and Deluxe, Premier and Signature. These are then subdivided into the different rooms and suites. Some rooms have an interior view, meaning maximum peace and quiet, while others give onto 54th Street or the Avenue of Americas. There is actually little difference between the rooms in the first category, perhaps only the view and the size, although there cannot be much in it. They are appointed in a classic European style with beautifully crafted furniture including a desk, a king size bed with luxury linens and have amenities such as a flatscreen television, minibar and wifi. The marble bathrooms, which are a little on the small side, have a bathtub and boast Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. The suite versions of the rooms are an extra 150-200ft² larger to accommodate the living space with couches and armchairs, an extra television and in some cases a dining table for up to four. In our opinion you'd be better off going for the Premier rooms and suites, despite the extra cost, simply because they have been renovated and offer more amenities such as iPod docking station, bathrobes and slippers, Bulgari toiletries and a kitchenette. They also offer walk-in closets, newer furniture with more luxurious fabrics and are more orientated toward the Hollywood theme with images of stars gone by. The suites include a Sony Wii and of course more living space-enough to accommodate a small family, while the bathroom has both a bathtub and shower. The real Warwick though is all about the suites. There are nine signature suites, including the Hollywood Suite, and what is known as the Cary Grant Suite. The former is a one-bedroom affair with one and a half bathrooms and a sizeable salon. The bedroom itself features a grand bed with drapes at the head of it and it decorated in tones of red with a chaise longue and Art Deco furniture. The small photos hanging on the wall from ribbon is a cute touch. The living space is extremely cosy and spacious with a gorgeous seating area as well as a small dining table for four and an electric fireplace. Everything has been carefully chosen not only to bring to life the old days of Hollywood but also to create a timeless space which appeals to all tastes. The bathroom is bigger than those in other rooms and has a double vanity and scales while the whole suite is surrounded on two sides by a balcony looking onto the river and Central Park. The Cary Grant Suite, the jewel in the crown of the Warwick's room offering, is more European in style and although has been renovated is more old fashioned than the other suites. It has all the same amenities as the signature suites plus an extra twin bedroom which has a Chinese theme plus a sauna in the master bedroom's bathroom.

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

The restaurant Murals on 54 pays homage to the wall paintings by American illustrator Dean Cornwell, famous for his war posters and advertising campaigns for big brands in the 30s and 40s. The mural in the Warwick's restaurant tells the story of Sir Walter Raleigh, but contains seven obscenities added in by Cornwell after a dispute over payment between himself and Hearst. Attempting to find these vulgarities during your meal can prove quite entertaining (we managed to uncover five). The breakfast menu is predominantly a continental one with a selection of eggs and pancakes and waffles. You can choose from the à la carte menu or opt for the breakfast buffet at $24 (which does include some hot options like bacon and sausages). From Monday to Friday there is a prix fixe menu at lunch time offering two courses for $20.10 or three for $24.07. Appetizers include bruschettas and salads with mains such as artichoke ravioli and pan-roasted Cornish hen. Finish off with blueberry bread pudding or fruit. The restaurant is currently closed for dinner but guests can eat between the hours of 11.30am and 12am at Randolph's Bar (named after the hotel's founder), which has been voted amongst the top 10 New York hotel bars. It is an intimate and comfortable spot, great for people watching through the windows at street level, whose barmen and women are highly experienced. The fare ranges from typical American starters to share like calamari, shrimps and chicken wings to burgers and pastrami sandwiches. Pizzas and salads are also present on the menu as are more refined dishes such as grilled breast of chicken with couscous and Australian lamb chops served with fingerling potatoes.