It's easy to be seduced by this luxurious hotel discretely positioned just beyond Central Park on the Upper East Side. They key is finding the right room—they come in different layouts and design schemes, and some have small patios. Service is stellar, with a personal sit-down check-in to the side of the lobby. The hotel may seem stuffy to younger visitors. To others, touches like the lobby tapestries depicting forest scenes will be a welcome old-school luxury. The Bar Seine is a dark and secretive hideaway, one of the best bars in the city, and surely the only one with a floor made of leather. Arabelle is a much-touted restaurant. Pros : discerning service; exotic bar. Cons : hoity-toity; some rooms more visually appealing than others.
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