2 East 55th Street, at Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022New York, United States of America -See the map
Amy AdejokunSection editor
You may be coming to the United States to see New York, but the St. Regis is a destination in itself. The most sumptuous hotel we have visited to date in the city, its beautiful Beaux-Arts interiors are a sight to behold. It's (rightly) famed for its unrivalled service and King Cole Bar (more in 'Food and Drink') as well as its beautiful, spacious and well appointed rooms, however it does lack some of the high tier amenities of its rivals, such as a swimming pool, and the views are not quite as good. That said it can boast an Alain Ducasse restaurant and original antique décor. It's true to say that some may find the hotel's opulence a little overbearing, but let's not lose sight of the fact that this is nonetheless a true masterpiece. Even if you don't have the means to stay here, come and take a look around as the property has some unique features. Couples, friends or business travellers will all find their calling at the St. Regis.
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7.99/10
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9.70/10
Overview
9.90/10
Food and drink
9.70/10
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You couldn't ask for a much better location than this. Situated on West 55th Street at Fifth Avenue, you have the best of New York on your doorstep. Within just a few blocks you have Central Park, MoMA, the Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square, Grand Central and great shopping and dining opportunities on Fifth and Madison Avenues, right into the Upper East Side. Getting around town is simple with several subway stations in close proximity to the hotel whose lines will take you downtown, uptown and to Brooklyn. JFK is 16 miles away, La Guardia 7 miles and Newark 16.
Of the 229 rooms at the St. Regis, 164 are guestrooms while the rest are divided up into over ten different types of suite. The Edwardian-style standard rooms are a whopping 40m² placing them amongst the very biggest in the city. The king size bed, crowned with drapes, is dressed with luxury Pratesi linens and at its end is a fabric covered unit from whose interior rises the flatscreen television and DVD player upon electronic command. Either side of the bed is a bedside table, the front of which is covered with cloth and on top of which is a touch screen telephone. To one side of the room is the leather-topped writing desk with extra telephone while opposite is a drawer unit hiding the minibar. At the back of the room is a beautiful chesterfield couch and coffee table (the small bowl of chocolates is a nice touch) as well as two commodes with complimentary fruit. Other luxury features of the room include the crystal chandelier, silk covered walls and of course the unpacking/packing service. In the closet you'll find the safe, bathrobes, shoe kit and iron and ironing board. The spacious Italian marble bathrooms boast a double vanity bathtub with small monsoon shower head, scales, hairdryer, make-up mirror, Remède toiletries, telephone and small television. The other two categories of guestroom feature larger seating areas and extra office amenities such as fax and printer.
Of the suites types, which all include the legendary St. Regis butler service, there are six 'regular' types plus seven speciality suites. The first few categories of suites differ from the guest rooms in that they offer a separate living space as well as a powder room. Then there are others which as well as being even larger in size, have additional décor touches such as ornamental fireplaces. The largest of the 'regular' suites are great for longer stays in the city as they boast kitchenettes. The speciality suites include the Oriental, Christian Dior and Tiffany all of which are decorated uniquely and as the name would suggest. The three-bedroom Imperial suite boasts oval windows and views of Central Park, while the two-bedroom Royal Suite offers similar amenities only in a more traditional décor. The Presidential suite, which was specially designed by interior designer Richard Mishaan, features a wood panelled library, luxury cream, black and gold fabrics and a television embedded in the dining room mirror. For hotel's signature suite, St. Regis collaborated with Bottega Veneta to create a unique accommodation featuring a marble-floored foyer, fabrics such as Asahi book cloth and mohair velvet and hand-carved Venetian glassware as well as an art collection chosen by Tomas Maier from the Staley Wise Gallery.
When you have the grandest of hotels, only the grandest of entrances will do and that is exactly what you are faced with when you pull up outside the St. Regis. You can't help but get caught up in the romance of it all as you ascend the red carpet and pass through the substantial bronze doors and into the opulent lobby. The marble floors, columns and columns shine almost as brightly as the crystal chandeliers, while the stunning reception desk with gold detail is matched in its extravagance only by the professionalism of the staff behind it. For us though, the most remarkable feature of the space is the painted ceiling depicting angels playing with pink flowers. During the last renovation as many of the original features as possible were kept, such as the clock opposite the welcome desk and the intricate, eagle-topped, US Mail box. Down one of the corridors leading off the lobby is Thornwillow, a bespoke stationer and bookbinder where everything on show is for sale and where you sit at one of the tables and relax with a coffee or get on with some work away from the noisier parts of the hotel. Although there are several lifts in the lobby, beautifully embossed on the outside, for the first few floors at least, think about taking the 'million dollar staircase', which was built using $1 million dollars' worth of marble.
The hotel has a small Remède spa on the lower lobby level with a handful of rooms in which customised treatments are given. The menu of services includes massages, facials and waxing and there is also a hair salon as part of the facility. Also part of the spa is a fitness centre with top quality machines allowing for a full workout. Although there is no pool, guests at the St. Regis have free access to the pool at the Sheraton Manhattan on 52nd Street and 7th Avenue, a five minute walk away. Concierge can arrange a visit on your behalf. Other services at the hotel include a business centre, complimentary wifi and several high end boutiques.
In the same way as the grandeur of the entrance had to match that of the hotel, well, a great hotel restaurant calls for a great chef and at the St. Regis it is Alain Ducasse who fills that role. His restaurant, Adour, named after the river of the same name near where he grew up in Castel-Sarrazin in southwest France, serves a French cuisine in a sublime setting created by the Rockwell Group. Materials such as Makore wood, leather and silver leaf have been used in the rooms conception and features include the gold and lavender toned-mural recalling a river by Nancy Lorenz, bronze framed glass wine display and private dining room with hand blown glass spheres suspended from above. At the wine bar, a unique touch screen bar surface has been created with which diners can learn more about, and choose, their wines. Ducasse has appointed Didier Elena, who was with him at Essex House, as executive chef, and Sandro Micheli as pastry chef who together create dishes specifically with wine in mind. The current seasonal menu starts with delights such as Alaskan king crab with celery root remoulade, citrus and basil and diver scallops in the shell with cauliflower, brown butter, capers, lemon and croutons. Fish mains include baked Atlantic halibut with baby leeks, watercress, cockles and champagne sabayon while on the meat side there is milk fed veal chop with creamy parmigiano, organic polenta and sautéed scallions. Finish off with one of the mouth-watering desserts like honey-pear cosmopolitan or chestnut soufflé. There are two tasting menus available, one of which, impressively, is vegetarian. Dinner only.
Astor Court is the more traditional dining room of the hotel and serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and a Sunday brunch. The tables are laid with Porthault linens, Limoges china and Waterford crystal and an international/American menu is consumed upon them including such dishes as sheepsmilk ricotta ravioli with fava beans or buffalo steak tartare with quail eggs. On Wednesdays to Sundays there is a harpist playing in the afternoon while from Wednesday to Friday a guests can relax to the sound of the ivories in the evening.
Last but not least is the hotel's mythical bar, the King Cole, where, back in 1934, barman Fernand Petiot perfected the recipe for the Bloody Mary and renamed it the Red Snapper. Also of note is the bar's mural, painted by Maxfield Parrish in 1906 for Astor's hotel the Knickerbocker for the fee of $5,000. One of the most popular cocktails bars in the city, King Cole is open daily and a bar menu is also available.
Wanting to emulate the grandeur of the hotels he'd seen in Europe, in 1904 Colonel John Jacob Astor built the St. Regis with the goal of creating the finest hotel in the world. He got the name from a 17th century French monk, François Regis, who was renowned for his hospitality to travellers. Much of the rich décor of the original property still remains and over the years some of the most famous names in politics and the arts have made the St. Regis, which is a landmark building, their home away from home. All guests at the hotel have access to the famous butler service whose team will go to extraordinary lengths to meet their needs.
Let's not mince our words; The Peninsula is quite simply one of the finest hotels in New York, even more so now it is the other side of a renovation. From the very first moment you enter the hotel you'll have no doubt about the quality of experience that awaits you. There is very little to pick holes at here where excellence comes as standard: the large rooms are finely furnished, the restaurants of the highest caliber, the spa one of the most beautiful and complete in the city and the service faultless. Like all top class hotels this all comes at a certain price, however if there was ever one hotel which could justify the cost it would be this one.
We had high expectations before staying at Chambers and those were translated into fond memories by the time we left. Aside from the fact that it doesn't have on-site fitness or wellness facilities, this is the perfect city hotel. The rooms are spacious and uber-stylish, its Midtown location is difficult to beat and it boasts two food outlets from celebrity chef David Chang. It also has an impressive art collection which is displayed both in the property's public spaces and in the guestrooms and which comprises over 500 pieces. All the above married with some unique touches, friendly service and an inspired décor make Chambers one of our favourite Midtown bolt holes for both couples and families on leisure.
The intention of the Four Season's Chinese-born American architect, Ieoh Ming Pei, was to create a hotel "in the grand tradition of a former time when going to a hotel was an occasion." Thanks to his ingenuity and vision those days live on in our time. A Four Seasons, wherever it may be in the world, is synonymous with quality and timeless sophistication and this spectacular New York example is no exception. It is a hotel of superlatives: the tallest New York hotel, the largest standard rooms in the city, the most expensive hotel suite in the world. Whether you are travelling as a family, couple or friends, on business or pleasure, and want to be guaranteed a flawless stay, you need look no further.
The Omni Berkshire Place is very smart 1930s-style hotel with some very sleek contemporary touches right in the heart of Manhattan. It would be misleading to say that it has one particular feature that sets it aside from its competitors, but it does what it does extremely well, maintaining a high level of service and comfort throughout. It boasts well-appointed, spacious guestrooms and suites with good amenities, a very pleasant rooftop terrace with views of St. Patrick's Cathedral and a full service restaurant which serves decent fare if you do not want to head out for a meal. Able to meet the expectations of both the business and leisure traveller, one could do a lot worse in this part of town.
Step back in time to the golden age of Hollywood at the Warwick and experience what some of the biggest names in show business did back in the 30s, 40s and 50s. As well as a rich history, the hotel has beautifully appointed rooms, a renowned bar and a dream location at the heart of all the main attractions. This is a place where service takes priority (as in all of Warwick's properties) and comfort is assured. Don't expect modern design and a trendy, artsy staff-that's not what the Warwick does. If you are a couple or a small family looking for old fashioned hospitality and calm then we'd recommend the Warwick without hesitation. One of the most distinguished hotels in New York.
Pretty much a carbon copy of its sister hotel the World Center Hotel (WCH) in Downtown Manhattan, The Jewel has perhaps a better location for those visiting New York for the very first time or for those whose interests lie closer to the centre of the city. Like the WCH, it is very business-orientated, although it is also suitable for leisure travellers, including families. The rooms are a decent size for this part of town and are well appointed while the staff is excellent and the views from the hotel's Terrace Club are pretty impressive. While it would be unfair to describe the décor as ugly, this is definitely a hotel where function comes before design. If you're looking for location and service, The Jewel is a good option.
Classicism, luxury, and refinement characterise the Plaza - one of the must of the American megapolis. No doubt that even the most demanding clients find the environment, the amenities, and the equipment to be all they dream of - everything in a sumptuous decor in "French Renaissance" style.
Unless you are specifically looking for the hottest, trendiest hotel in town, there is very little to reproach The Sherry Netherland, a throwback to the Golden Age of travel. It boasts enormous rooms and suites for this part of Manhattan which are extremely well appointed and decorated, a superb and professional staff and of course a high class dining experience in the form of Harry Cipriani. Everything at this luxury property is done with the utmost care and attention and whether you are in the city as a tourist or on business, The Sherry Netherland will meet and exceed needs and expectations. A unique hotel with the perfect location - you'd be a fool not to consider it!
Q. What do you get when you take $150 million and put them into the hands of one of the world's greatest architect/designers? A. The Mark. Be under no illusions, what Jacques Grange and co have conceived in the leafy surroundings of the Upper Eastside is now the yardstick against which all other hotels will now have to measure themselves. After over two years under renovation with some of the most sought after names in the creative fields working on the project, The Mark has transformed itself from a decent hotel to a hotel of superlatives. Everything is top draw from the design to the staff, from the food to the wellness centre. This all, of course, comes with the price tag that its quality demands, however rest assured that no other hotel can come close to what The Mark has to offer.
We're going to stick our necks out here and say that of all the hotels we have stayed at in this city, the Setai probably takes top spot. Of course there are many different types of hotel in the city and not everyone is looking for what the Setai has to offer, but as on overall experience, it can't, in our opinion, be bettered. The rooms are not only some of the biggest in the city, but they are likely to be the best appointed in terms of amenities too. The stunning, contemporary spa is as luxurious as it is spacious and in its restaurant the hotel has one of most memorable dining experiences to be had. But what impressed us most, and where the hotel rises above it competitors, is the consistent attention to detail and impeccable service the likes of which we've never seen. Although new (November 2010 opening), this is right up there with the old masters and the best thing is that it can only get better!
Let's not mince our words; The Peninsula is quite simply one of the finest hotels in New York, even more so now it is the other side of a renovation. From the very first moment you enter the hotel you'll have no doubt about the quality of experience that awaits you. There is very little to pick holes at here where excellence comes as standard: the large rooms are finely furnished, the restaurants of the highest caliber, the spa one of the most beautiful and complete in the city and the service faultless. Like all top class hotels this all comes at a certain price, however if there was ever one hotel which could justify the cost it would be this one.
We were quite simply blown away by this hotel. Rare are the occasions where there is nothing to fault, but staying here was one of those - it just couldn't put a foot wrong. Generously proportioned, impressively appointed rooms are complemented by a relaxed yet top class Italian restaurant, while the spa is a sight to behold. You'll have a tough job finding a property where the service is paralleled and don't even get us started on the views! A magnificent, modern and memorable hotel, we recommend the Trump Soho to all kinds of traveller, newcomers or old hands, couples or families. A huge thumbs up.
This mythical New York hotel has seen its fair share of changes, both within in its walls and outside, however one thing remains constant: The Carlyle is one of the swankiest, smartest, seductive hotels in the city. The very few flaws of the hotel (for example the size of some bathrooms) can be excused by its age; otherwise there are very few hotels of this genre which can claim to offer a similar experience. Not only does it offer top notch service and facilities, but its location and commanding views are also something spectacular. Throw in a rich history, fine dining and exquisite décor and you get a hotel (literally) fit for kings. If you've got the cash, don't even ask yourself the question?
The Pierre has always been a landmark hotel in New York City?and we are glad to report that after its latest $100 million renovation following its takeover by Taj Hotels, it is still very much one of the hotels by which others must judge themselves. It is true to say that it may not have some of the facilities of some of the other top hotels (no spa, smaller rooms), but when it comes to service, style and sophistication, not to mention history, it is untouchable. With a location that would make most hotels weep with envy, fabulously appointed rooms with an Asian touch and a new, top quality restaurant, The Pierre is back on top of its game and ready to welcome once again all types of traveller, no matter their motive for visiting the city. All this comes, of course, at a price, but if you had to choose a place to spend your hard earned cash, this has got to be near the summit of your shortlist.
Although no longer associated with its Parisian namesake, the Plaza Athénée New York continues to offer one of the most refined hotel experiences in the city. Its style may not be as subtle as some of its competitors and thus some many find it a little overwhelming, but there is no getting away from the fact the hotel is a class act from top to bottom. It boasts capacious, well-appointed and recently renovated rooms (January 2010), a fine wellness centre, a celebrated restaurant and bar and an impeccable service from a smart, professional staff. If you're after that classic European opulence the other side of the Atlantic then the well-located Plaza Athénée is one to consider.
Take a step back in time (through a passage lined with suede and leather, of course) to the golden age of travel and the magnificent new Art Deco hotel The Chatwal. Opened recently in August of 2011, it has quickly become one of the places to stay in New York and to be honest, it isn't difficult to see why: a dream location in the heart of Manhattan, superbly appointed, world ?class accommodations, a luxury spa and a fine restaurant. Marrying both old world glamour and modern day luxury, this 'baby grand' hotel will appeal to those looking for good old fashioned service in a romantic setting with everything that makes this a great city within reach.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
