In all, the hotel offers 259 rooms with five categories of guest room and seven types of suite. They are all extremely spacious and very well appointed both in terms of furnishings and amenities. The standard rooms have a small entrance hall with a large bathroom to one side. With sumptuous peach marble and wood finishings, they boast separate bathtub and shower, separate toilets, make up mirror, scales and Etro toiletries. The room itself which looks onto an interior courtyard (one of the small disadvantages of the room compared to some of its rivals) has beautiful cabinetry in the form of the elegant bedside tables, writing desk and storage unit containing the minibar and snacks, drinks tray and flatscreen television and DVD player. The king bed is dressed in 400-thread count Porthault linens while at its foot is an armchair and occasional table and clothes stand. The closet conceals bathrobes, slippers, umbrella, safe and shoe kit. There are of course two telephones and a Bose sound system also to be found in the room. The other guestrooms vary only slightly in size and carry the same amenities. Some have a city view while the largest have vistas if Central Park. The Park view guest room features a telescope and ornithological book.
The suites, which are all one bedroom, start from 73m² and all boast view of the Park (event he City view suite which has oblique views). They all have at least one and a half bathrooms and look either onto the city or Central Park. Each boasts separate living rooms and extra amenities such as CD collections. The larger suites have even bigger flatscreen televisions, libraries, dining tables for between six and eight, televisions in the bathrooms and can be connected to another bedroom. As well as the extra space and incredible views of the speciality suites, extras including luxury bed linens, shaving kits, Frette candles and pantries are also present.
Walking into the hotel was a little intimidating due to the number of members of staff there to greet - while it's certainly a pleasant experience to have someone wish you good morning as you enter a hotel, this seemed more like an inspection committee than a welcome party. This though is quickly forgotten as you notice the beautiful lounge area that takes up most of the entrance hall, full of guests and locals catching up or completing business dealings upon exquisite armchairs and sofas against a backdrop of wood panelled walls and Halpert originals. Staff at both the reception and concierge desk is delightful and extremely polite and you'll find someone available at all times to address if need be. To the right hand side are the stunning lifts for which you need your key card to operate.
One of the hotel's unique features it its Club Lounge, a private area accessible to guests residing in the hotel's suites, or to those who have chosen to buy into this option (prices range from around $100-$200 depending on the time of year). This cosy, intimate space, perfect for private meetings or relaxation away from the relative hubbub of the main lobby, boasts impregnable views of Central Park and offers five food 'presentations' per day. The high level of service provided is accompanied by a business centre, private concierge and security.
La Prairie is the hotel's brilliantly in-house run spa and fitness centre and which is unlike any other facility we have seen in the sense that it is not immediately obvious that is it a wellness centre, even once inside. Very much in tune with the rest of the hotel's public spaces, it is only when installed in one of the six treatment rooms that its use becomes evident. The separate men's and women's locker rooms feature refreshments, marble bathrooms, books instead of magazines and a music menu from which guests can choose their preferred background sounds. Alternatively, you can bring your own iPod along with you to your treatment. A full range of massages, wraps, facials and aesthetic treatments are available, some using products containing gold, caviar or platinum which help with anti-ageing. Packages and in-room options are also available. A fully equipped fitness centre is adjacent to the spa and offers complimentary water, fruit, towels, magazines and headphones. Unfortunately there is no view from the room.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
