Midtown Noir - Viceroy Central Park
The Viceroy New York is a beautifully elegant boutique hotel located in Midtown New York that is part owned by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala and LA's Viceroy Group and is their first foray into urban hospitality. With all the style of a 1940's crime drama this classic and distinguished property makes all the right moves.
From across the street, the all black exterior takes a minimalist approach that features a series of vertical steel struts that sandwich the horizontally placed black iron-spot bricks to give a classic and immediately powerful visual presence to its 57th Street location. You can't miss it.
As the outstanding doormen beckon you to enter the warm and narrow lobby you are greeted by a heavy mix of marble, wood and gold trim which is perfectly complimented by a stunning large scale Thomas Hart Benton-inspired mural skillfully composed by interior design firm Roman & Williams (who also did The Standard it turns out) in collaboration with Art Space NYC. There is also a cast-bronze map of the city that features Midtown, providing a not so subtle hint that this is an extremely well designed and crafted property. Further past the check in area, you will find the hotel's classically styled library, which offers a nice place to......read.
At check in, it is immediately obvious that the service staff are well accomplished and engaging and they go out of their way to ensure that everything is in order. Their service is par excellence.
The hotel is compact compared to many others at only 29 floors including the roof top bar, which offers unparalleled views of Central Park. There are several room options to choose from that include, Superior, Deluxe and Terrace through to the Suites which offer a step up in refinement and space.
The Park Suite is very well appointed and evokes the feeling of a retro aeroplane cabin, tapping into a strong sense of travel nostalgia. A heady mix of leather, African hardwood and brass provides an utterly exotic feel to the custom built furniture, further enhancing the golden age sensibility of the suites' design. Tambour paneling, perforated brass and hardware, are mixed effortlessly with the custom-designed lighting that provides a soft and warm glow across the space. It is very aspirational and you can easily imagine living here in this outstanding urban sanctuary of affability.
The suite features a separate living space that includes a leather and wood writing desk with an amazing custom designed lamp, art books and lovely stationary kit, a mini kitchenette (called a wet bar), which of course is stocked with everything you may need day or night including an Illy Espresso machine. The room receives complimentary wifi and your choice of newspapers, has a Beats by Dr. Dre™ sound system along with an inbuilt 40" smart TV which can viewed from the plush leather sofa. This is a 100% non smoking hotel which means any thoughts of kicking back with a Cuban cigar in the one of the leather armchairs is out.
The bedroom offers a King Size bed with yet another TV as well as some nice wall paintings, feather down comforter and pillows that are deliciously soft, some more bespoke lamps and a complimentary tablet that controls the AC, can order Room Service and will let you do a little Social Media too.
Both the living area and bedroom offer breathtaking views of Central Park across the way from 57th Street, which in Autumn and framed by the windows is iconically romantic.
Something amazing to wake up to.
The highlight of any 5 Star Hotel is the bathroom and this one is possibly our favorite. Its stunning visual appeal can not be understated. It is spacious and filled with layers of marble and mosaic tiles and brass fittings and comes with a double vanity and walk in rainfall shower that features a porthole window as well as toiletries from Roil and Natura Bisse. It's a very masculine surrounding that harks back to the old school days of shave shops, shoe shines and stock brokers and is a perfect fit for the location. It's just so New York.
Downstairs is where you will have breakfast in a local haunt called the Kingside, which is again a retro styled - upscale diner. Breakfast offers all of the staples, from grains & fruit, eggs how you like to pressed juices, pastries and coffee. The service is nice but not at the same the level as the actual hotel. Moving beyond AM food and the Kingside also offers a seasonal menu with a focus on small plates that emphasize sharing and the space also has a beautiful bar that is till open late.
After your last sip of coffee it will be time to explore the city and this is where the Viceroy's excellent location really comes into play. You are quite literally only steps away from Carnegie Hall, The Rockefeller Center and Radio City, Times Square, the Fifth Avenue department stores and there a whole bunch of NYC Subway stops close by too. The doormen are also cab hailing experts if you need a ride further afield. It probably goes without saying that Central Park with everything it has to offer is just across the way. While for Seinfeld fans the Soup Nazi is also just around the corner. After a long day pounding the pavement, you can be guaranteed that it is hearty and warm welcome that you'll receive as you return to the hotel for the evening.
Bottom Line:
In all, this hotel's unique character is immensely appealing, its service absolutely impeccable and the suites eminently inviting. For this reason it receives a definite Must Go from us!
