The welcome
A level of refinement from an almost bygone era greets you at The New York Edition, one of two American outposts of the Marriott’s “grown-up” brand. Overcoat-clad doormen exude a reassuringly stern sense of security, while the reception staff are so polite that you almost have to check which city you’re in. It makes the inviting, warm lobby a doubly cosseting experience, removing you from NYC’s street hustle and bustle, as well as a wintry chill. In another nod to the past, it also features a grandfather clock. I’m swiftly checked in, then directed to my 30th-floor “Guest” room.
The neighbourhood
Towards the southern end of Midtown Manhattan, in the Flatiron District, this part of New York is full of iconic addresses and landmarks within a block or two of the hotel. It's in the 1909 Met Life building on Madison Avenue (of Mad Men fame), within easy walking distance of Broadway, the Flatiron Building and the Gramercy Theatre. Union Square is six blocks to the south. There are countless shops, eateries and nightlife spots in similar range, as well as several stations on some of New York's main subway arteries.
The room
As per most New York hotels, my room isn’t palatially proportioned, but the bedroom area is as cosy as it is compact. The bathroom has more space, perhaps facilitated by its lack of a bathtub. The inside is rendered rather less important by the views: my room has an almost unobstructed view of the Empire State Building on one side and a low-rise landscape across to the Hudson River on the other. For such an expensive hotel, the toiletries range isn’t wide – no shaving kit, for example – but what is supplied is excellent.
The service
Friendly, uber-polite and spotlessly reactive to any queries or interactions with guests.
The scene
The clientele in the lobby bar, restaurant and other public areas seems to be almost exclusively American, ranging from expensively besuited businessmen conducting informal meetings to well-heeled families on holiday in the heart of the big city.
The food
Jason Atherton, the British chef behind Dubai’s Marina Social, has his paw prints all over the Edition’s culinary offerings. We don’t sample dinner at the main restaurant, The Clocktower, but breakfast is served in the same room. There’s something irresistible about ordering a full English breakfast (US$19 [Dh70]) and the most New York-ish nibble – a smoked-salmon bagel ($17 [Dh62]) – in the heart of the United States’ largest city. The à la carte menu will rack up your bill, however: fruit juices start at $7 (Dh26). There’s a vibe of things happening, even at breakfast, with a chatty crowd of movers and shakers, surrounded by walls overflowing with pictures of New York culture through the years. Slightly incongruously, there’s a purple-baize pool table in the drawing-room-style space next door.
Loved
The views from my room, The Clocktower and the location.
Hated
The air conditioning is a trifle noisy at times, while a few of the room’s lamps protrude at face-endangering heights. I also get a static shock every time I press the elevators’ touchscreen controls, but there are no deal-breaking complaints.
The verdict
A top-quality Big Apple stay fit for Don Draper-level high-flyers.
The bottom line
Double rooms at The New York Edition (www.editionhotels.com/new-york) cost from $568 (Dh2,086) per night, including taxes and Wi-Fi, but excluding breakfast.
aworkman@thenational.ae
