The Peninsula New York: a Fifth Avenue stalwart that looks like a million dollars
New York's fabled Fifth Avenue has more than its fair share of swanky hotels, but few can compete with the Peninsula New York in the impeccability stakes. Anyone familiar with the Peninsula brand — and its flagship in Hong Kong in particular — will know that this is a place famous for an unapologetic approach to luxury. What sets the New York property apart is its location in the epicentre of the razzle dazzle of Manhattan's Midtown — steps away from Central Park, the Bergdorf Goodman department store, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). And while the Peninsula may have been around since 1988, the property has just undergone a full revamp and, oh boy, is she looking good. Service is Fifth Avenue-appropriate, meaning that staff will go out of their way to be of assistance — with just the right level of snootiness thrown in.
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Score 9/10The Peninsula's rooms have never looked better after a ten-month refurbishment by Bill Rooney Studio. The new look has a soft grey, taupe and gold colour palette with handy tech, including wireless chargers and bedside panels for temperature and light control. Every surface is new — from the wallpaper to the carpets, the ultra-plush mattresses and the silky smooth sheets — bar the original marble in the bathrooms. These are huge, with fun built-in TVs and sound systems, walk-in showers, deep soaking tubs and fluffy robes. Lower-floor rooms have some traffic noise, but the higher up you get the better the sleep quality — and the views. The basic Superior Rooms are spacious enough at 34 sq m — and feel even more so if you can score one on a light-filled high floor. The Deluxe Suites are the way to go if your budget allows. On floors 16 to 20 and measuring 98 sq m, they feel like elegant Manhattan apartments, with luxuriously furnished sitting rooms, decorative fireplaces, oversized walk-in wardrobes, lavish bathrooms, guest powder room — and views for days.
Score 8/10 The Peninsula has four food and drink outlets. Breakfast, lunch and brunch are served at the mezzanine-level Clement Restaurant, which feels very Manhattan with its giant arched windows and white tablecloths.It has a contemporary American menu ranging from healthy egg-white frittata with kale, tomato, asparagus and avocado to the decadent buttermilk pancakes topped with banana pecan. Brunch is an indulgent feast of pastries, waffles, eggs and sweet and savoury treats — even more so if you choose the boozy option (with a choice of bottomless cocktails — or champagne if you want to splash out). Dinner time is when things get a little trickier. The hotel's three bars — the Gotham Lounge, the 1920s-inspired Bar at Clement and the fabulous Pen Top indoor-outdoor rooftop, a destination in itself complete with Manhattan views to die for — all serve delicious and plentiful bar bites, but if you're looking for a full-on dinner, you're better off asking the concierge desk to book you into one of the many nearby restaurants.
Score 8/10Opened in 1905 as the Gotham, the building that now houses the Peninsula was one of New York's original upscale hotels. Its revamp of the rooms and common spaces have maintained that joyful decadence. Peninsula hotels are renowned for their spas and the Peninsula New York is no exception. Treatments include relaxing massages, detoxifying body exfoliation, biolift facials to rejuvenate and lift the skin and mineral-rich body wraps. You can also sign up for yoga, meditation or fitness classes. Afterwards, you'll be ready for a drink at the Pen Top rooftop bar, which has become a place to see and be seen in Midtown with its million-dollar views, signature cocktails and bar bites. A retractable roof allows it to stay open year-round. The Peninsula's range of off-site activities includes tours of Midtown Manhattan's festive lights, private yacht cruises up the Hudson River, and private tours of the next-door MoMA before it opens to the public. The concierge desk knows how to score seats at the most sought-after restaurants, Broadway shows and sporting events, from Mets games to the US Open final.
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Score 9/10Midtown may not be everyone's cup of tea, but first-time visitors or budding socialites will find no better location. Choose from an array of ritzy nearby food options, including the celebrity favourite the Polo Bar or Benoit — a Manhattan spin on the classic French bistro by the chef Alain Ducasse. Staying right on Fifth Avenue, across the road from Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana, and within strolling distance of the MoMA, St Patrick's Cathedral, Bergdorf Goodman department store, Central Park and the Rockefeller Center, you won't need to venture far for your shopping and sightseeing needs. The subway is two blocks away, for trips Downtown or to Brooklyn. The CityPASS from nyctourism.com offers easy access to the Top of the Rock observation platform at the Rockefeller Center and other sights.
Price room-only doubles from £759Restaurant mains from £30Family-friendly YAccessible Y
Isabelle Kliger was a guest of the Peninsula New York (peninsula.com)
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