WORDS Danielle Weakley PHOTOS Supplied
Channel your inner travel optimist – because these recent hotel additions to the New York scene demand a stay-over.
Arlo Midtown
Midtown might not be your first choice of Manhattan neighbourhood to stay but Arlo is tucked between the much-buzzed development of Hudson Yards and the theatre district, so its position is enviable. Arlo describes itself as a sleek urban oasis, and if the greenery is anything to go by, an oasis it is. “It’s really all about the layers – the seamless mixture of wood, marble, glass, unlacquered brass, plus the abundance of greenery – throughout the space,” says interior designer Gray Davis. Look out for the eight-storey wooden art installation, which runs the length of a concrete wall in a tribute to the nearby garment district.
ModernHaus Soho
Yes, staying here is about being based in this iconic creative district, but at the Bauhaus- inspired ModernHaus Soho, it is also very much about its museum-worthy art collection. Find paintings and sculptures by such legendary names as Alexander Calder, Hans Hartung, George Condo, Harland Miller and Jean Dubuffet throughout the hotel and in every room – an homage to this art-led neighbourhood. Plus, there’s a rooftop pool bar at which to soak up the sun or the skyline views over Manhattan Bridge, spanning the East River. And the greenhouse that is the Veranda restaurant is run by Michelin-starred chef George Mendes.
Ace Hotel Brooklyn
Ace Hotels are notoriously hip, and this new addition in achingly cool Brooklyn is no exception. Floor-to-ceiling windows (with views of Manhattan’s skyline on the upper storeys) offset rooms that feature a minimalist, mid-century vibe, and a muted colour palette of green, white and wood. True to the hotel’s hipster roots, every room also has an acoustic guitar, a turntable and a curated selection of vinyl. One of the Ace’s goals is to highlight the work of artists from the Brooklyn borough, so the rooms are decked out in original textile works, while the gallery in the lobby is home to a rotating exhibition.
Park Lane New York
Okay, so it’s not strictly new – but it’s had such a great revamp that it may as well be. Equally ritzy in location (within walking distance of the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and 5th Avenue, and boasting sweeping vistas of Central Park), Park Lane was first developed as a hotel on so-called Billionaire’s Row in the 1960s by – you guessed it – a billionaire. The revamp sees a thoughtful interior renovation of this historic, post-war building. Holding on to original chandeliers, sconces and other fixtures, but offsetting them with modern design elements, has made for a striking new look. Go for a Bloody Mary on the rooftop – 47 storeys above street level – to enjoy uninterrupted views over the park.
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