Kensington Park Hotel

Kensington Park Hotel Review

Built in the1920s in a Moorish and Gothic style, this intimate boutique hotel, originally designed to house the city's Elks Club, has retained its distinctive period feel and features. The lobby is classically refined, with rich marble and dark-wood accents, crystal chandeliers, vaulted ceilings, and antique furnishings. Although the hotel completed a major renovation of its guest rooms in 2008, the upgrade didn't include the bathrooms, which are sparkling, but on the small side. All rooms have flat-screen TVs, lacquer desks, and art deco touches. Complimentary morning coffee and evening tea and sherry are served daily in the lobby. The upper floors, whose rooms are equipped with telescopes to take in the city views, are the quietest, as are accommodations facing away from the busy downtown street. What the hotel lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in convenience and service. Some guests have commented that staying here is more like visiting a friend than being at a hotel. Plus, the location can't be beat: Union Square is right outside the door.