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In 1984, hotelier Ian Schrager opened the first boutique hotel — the Morgan — in New York City. He set the standard on intimately sized, non-corporate stylish digs and, soon enough, boutique hotels mushroomed throughout Manhattan. Unarguably, some of the most well-known boutique hotels in the world (Crosby Street Hotel, The Mercer, NoMad Hotel, The Chatwal, The Carlton) are located in NYC. Now, a new crop of unforgettable boutiques have opened doors, looking to lure staycationers and jetsetters alike. Check out seven new properties — all opened or opening this fall — that are destined to become a fixture in New York City’s boutique hotel scene.
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NYLO New York
Opened the first week of October, NYLO New York is paying tribute to the Roaring ‘20s with its Jazz Age-themed decor. The boutique hotel — on 77th and Broadway — is steps from Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History.
Michael Mueller, president and CEO of NYLO Hotels LLC, told The Hollywood Reporter: “We’re very excited to launch the first NYLO Hotel in New York in the much coveted Upper West Side neighborhood. The design of the hotel draws upon elements from New York’s jazz era to celebrate this period of historical relevance in the city.”
Stonehill + Taylor is responsible for the design of the rooms and the lobby, which includes wood panels and brick walls, Chesterfield-style sofas and a red lacquered reception desk. There are three restaurants within the hotel — Serafina, RedFarm and LOCL Bar. Top floor rooms — 14 and higher — offer impressive views of Central park, the Hudson River and Upper West Side. Mueller hopes the LOCL Bar will provide for locals and tourists alike to enjoy classic Gotham cocktails, work, meet or just hang out.
Rates from: $259
Perk: Several rooms offer balconies.
The QUIN
Opened late October, The Quin is located on the corner of 57th and 6th Ave in Midtown. It’s positioning itself to be ultra luxurious for a boutique hotel with “Attaches,” the evolution of concierge posing as lifestyle managers that curate exclusive itineraries. 208 guest rooms and suites have contemporary design with bath products by Fresh. While its hotel amenities are quite progressive, the building has deep history with past guests that include the likes of Georgia O’Keefe and Marc Chagall when it was formerly the Buckingham Hotel. General manager Holly Breuche says, “We have everything from a curated art program to a completely revamped concierge service. The Quin aims to provide the sophisticated traveler a refined sanctuary.”
Book the penthouse suite, which offers a 1,200-square-foot private terrace, a full-service kitchen and Central Park views.
The Wayfarer restaurant serves as a two-story dining experience with American seafood cuisine by executive chef Jason Hall. The 3,700-square-foot main dining is fitted with a grand parlor and private dining rooms.
Rates from: $495
Perk: DUX Beds by Duxiana in every room
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The Refinery
A former hat factory in a 1912 Neo-Gothic building, The Refinery in the Fashion District soft opened in May but it wasn’t until this fall that the swank hotel cranked out a fully operational Parker & Quinn restaurant and a rooftop bar for buttoned-up night revelers.
“Everything about Refinery is unique, including its history,” says Randy Taormina, general manager of the hotel. “The industrial feel will bring something different to New York’s hospitality landscape.”
Fashion reality TV fanatics may recognize the stylish digs (interiors by Stonehill + Taylor) considering Project Runway contestants stay here. And it totally makes sense: in-room desks are designed to look like 1900s sewing machines, staff uniforms are fashionable with chambray shirt and suspenders and, well… it is in the Fashion District. There are 197 custom-furnished rooms, a prohibition-style tea lounge and local, original artwork.
Rates from: $399
Perk: Exclusive Le Labo bath products
The Marlton
The Marlton, a restored 107-room hotel, has a storied history. Built in 1900 as the Marlton House, it was a favorite of the Beat Generation. Jack Kerouac wrote two novellas at the hotel and Lenny Bruce lived here while standing trial for obscenity. Opened this fall by hotelier Sean MacPherson (co-owner of The Bowery Hotel), the Marlton is just off Washington Square Park in the West Village. 107 rooms spanning nine floors are stylish, some with terrific views. French influences are evident with brass fixtures, crown moldings and herringbone wood floors.McPherson drew inspiration from F. Scott Fitzgerald‘s Paris in Tender is the Night. He told THR: “I always loved the idea in Tender is the Night that Rosemary and her mother stayed at a ‘small hotel’ in Paris — which was a gently way to communicate that they were broke and couldn’t keep up with their friends who were staying The Ritz.”
Rates from: $295
Perk: The rate. We’ll take anything less than $300 in the West Village.
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Viceroy New York
It’s all about location, location, location, and the new Viceroy New York (the 12th property for the brand) couldn’t be more ideally situated: it’s two blocks from Central Park, three blocks from Columbus Circle and a block from 5th Avenue. Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group, says: “Viceroy New York offers the unexpected—personalized luxury that is sleekly urban, yet warm and inviting. The hotel features a sub-level plunge pool, ideal for guests looking to enjoy an oasis and unwind form the hustle and bustle of the city streets.” A rooftop lounge resembling a “chic, nautical cabin” will launch in December with cocktails slung by the Gerber Group.
Despite the brand’s leisure reputation, the stylish 29-story, 240-room Viceroy New York is expecting high traffic from business travelers, fully catering to executive needs with business amenities. The Kingside restaurant and a rooftop lounge and bar will likely see velvet ropes.
The hotel was designed by Roman and Williams, known for their work with Ace Hotel New York and The Standard NYC. Stephen Alesch, one of the designers, says of the design: “Viceroy NYC does not belong to any one time and it is meant to represent the transition from traditional to modern and back to traditional. I love this collision and do not believe it needs to be resolved or that we have to pick a side.”
Rates from: $559
Perk: An indoor plunge pool and complimentary WiFi.
The Highline Hotel
Highline admirers rejoiced when the elevated park was blessed with The Highline Hotel that soft opened in May. While there are scant services (no restaurant or spa), the hotel in Chelsea serves as an urban sanctuary, an antidote for travelers that want to be somewhat removed from the city’s bustle.
Developer and owner of The High Line Hotel Tyler Morse says: “Developing The High Line Hotel has been a wonderful experience. While the building retains many of its old charms — Neo-Gothic architecture, stained glass windows, views of the lush interior garden and in-room fireplaces — we are very much a contemporary hotel.”
There are 60 rooms with locally sourced furnishings, windows that face the High Line, and a 500-square-foot High Line Suite. The fashion community has been attracted to the property (Cynthia Rowley had her fashion show here), and hipsters have been popping into the lobby for the Intelligentsia Coffeebar, the first for the East Coast. The adjacent event and meeting space Hoffman Hall is a landmark building from 1899. Inside, the wood-paneled Rectory with six-foot-tall fireplaces has become a hot event space.
Rates from: $400
Perk: Complimentary phone calls to anywhere in the world.
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WestHouse New York
Officially opening late November in Midtown — near Carnegie Hall and Central Park — WestHouse New York will pay homage to its historic location dating back to the 1920s. Expect Jeffrey Beers International’s design to be influenced by Art Deco.
Guests staying at the 172-room property will be referred to as “hotel residents,” with the idea to have them feel at home away from home. A mandatory $30 Resident Fee offers “residents” access to breakfast, afternoon tea, hors d’ouevres and evening canapes, premium alcoholic beverages and Barista coffees, all complimentary (two cocktails in this neighborhood alone is upward of the price).
General manager Karla Keskin says, “Guests will feel as if they’ve entered the pied-a-terre of a world traveler. WestHouse is an entirely new hospitality concept that provides guests with all of the thoughtful touches, personalized amenities and tailored services and in an intimate environment that evokes a residential ambiance versus a traditional hotel.”
Almost everything here is custom-made, including the WestHouse scent created by 12.29.
Rates from: $499
Perk: Three Terrace Suites are outfitted by specialty sleep innovators Sleep Studio with advanced bedding systems.
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