A virtual Zen relaxation garden of a hotel, this Japanese-owned property, a few blocks from Grand Central, is an oasis of tranquillity. The Asian-influenced airy marble lobby has an austere grandeur that flows through the rest of the property. Handsome cherry and mahogany furnishings, teamakers, and watercolor still-lifes decorate the large rooms; soundproof windows make them among Manhattan's quietest. Hakubai offers authentic sushi and Japanese food; the mezzanine-level lounge features live jazz Wednesday through Saturday. Vacationers can take advantage of discounted weekend rates on standard guest rooms and suites larger than those at trendier hotels.
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