Most romantic/luxurious NYC hotel
 

I am planning a romantic Christmas getaway with my husband in Dec. I need suggestions for hotels offering romantic and luxurious rooms/suites. Thanks.

St. Regis.

If price is not an issue, the St. Regis certainly can't be beat.

I'd go with the Pierre or The Palace or the Library. If money is no object the Pierre, which has a great location on 5th and 58th and an amazing view of the park.

Have a great time.

The Four Seasons tops every discriminating list. The suites are beautiful, location is great and the service unsurpassed.
But the decor is a bit more contemporary than most Four Seasons if that matters.

My husband and I had a romantic weekend at the Pierre this past summer. It was totally wonderful! The hotel is cozy and traditional in style. We loved being able to go straight across the street to Central Park for our morning run. On the first two nights we ate out, and then decided to cocoon with room service on the last night. My husband had mentioned to the front desk that I was interested in seeing a particular movie that was not on the in-house channel. The DVD was waiting in our room when we got back that afternoon!
(BTW, the Pierre is also managed by the Four Seasons, so it's the same great service as the newer hotel, but in a more traditional setting.)

You might want to consider the newly opened (11/15) Mandarin Oriental on Columbus Circle. Awesome views! The restaurant, Asiate, is getting good reviews too. Some would caution against staying in a newly opened hotel, but I've had nothing but great experiences with Mandarin Oriental.

Where ever you stay, please post back. I'd like to plan a romantic weekend for our anniversary.

Add the Plaza Athenee to this great list.

katiekate--

You can also look at the LOWELL-- it has fireplaces and overlooks Central Park...quite costly but in the same ballpark as the others that people are listing...

You all are great...thanks for the fantastic info. As far as location, we are interested in Christmas shopping and looking at all the beautiful window displays. Although we are planning on seeing shows, we don't necessarily have to be in walking distance to the theatre district because we'll take a taxi. Any input on best location would be appreciated.

To:JeanG
The Mandarin sounds wonderful and I know their other properties are usually highly rated, but what about the location? Also, what type room did you have?
NY is amazing with all the choices. I will let you know what I decide.

Mandarin Oriental is at Columbus Circle (60th St.) Lowell is on 63rd St. on East side (Madison). For proximity to 5th Avenue stores, window displays, location of St. Regis is great (55th and 5th Ave). Pierre also not bad (5th Ave and 60th St.) Saks 5th Ave, for example is on 5th Ave and 50th/49, and other stores are in that area as well (Lord & Taylor a bit further down at 39th st and 5th Ave).
Mandarin Oriental is a couple of long blocks further West, but still walkable, and Lowell is also close to 5th but a few blocks further up on 63rd St.

As a follow up to my prior post, Rockefeller Center (which is a great area) is between 5th and 6th Aves at 49/50 St. (across from Saks, St. Patrick's Cathedral), so I like the area of the St. Regis, and next would be Pierre and the Plaza (right near each other).

I've just noticed no one's mentioned the Peninsula. From a location standpoint it certainly rivals the St. Regis. I don't know that many of us have seen the rooms in all these hotels. I think it now starts to get down to price, availability & what else matters-ie pool, spa, views, style (traditional vs modern). You should have a look on tripadvisor.com for reviews, check the websites & then post back with questions.

Having replied very early on in this thread suggesting the St. Regis, the Peninsula is also a good choice, and location is amazing. I've stayed in Peninsula in Chicago, and it is one of my favorite hotels anywhere. Certainly is luxurious, I just don't consider it "romantic." But certainly can't go wrong there.

katiekate, I haven't stayed there. They literally opened 5 days ago. They have pictures of rooms on their website. The location is 8th Avenue & 59th Street, so it's not as ideal as some of the others mentioned for 5th Avenue shopping. If you were coming in spring or fall, I'd say the location is fine, but if it's cold it might be nice to be closer to 5th. Full Disclosure: I was married in a Mandarin Oriental and they did an outstanding job, no detail was overlooked, and everything I could have wanted was taken care of before I even asked. So I have a soft spot in my heart for them, and if there is a Mandarin Oriental where I'm traveling that's where I stay.

ttt

I stayed at the Peninsula this weekend.
Overall, somewhat disappointed.
The Peninsulas in Chicago and Beverly Hills are two of my favorite hotels in the world, but the NYC property is a cut below those two.
It was last refurbished in 1998, but who in the world did the interiors? The carpets don't go with the drapes don't go with the furniture and the same problem carries over to all the public areas, lounge and restaurants.
My wife couldn't stop asking how someone could so thoroughly botch the not so trivial task of decorating. The bedspread in our suite was copper colored, the drapes calssic ivory with lace, the carpet an ugly (and worn and stained) tan with yellow patterning and borders, the furniture had everything from green and pink candy stripes to black. Would not be pleasant in the AM with a hangover, and even sober was actually almost comical to look at.
The fitness center was a letdown, though large.
Bathroom was large with good marble shower, tub with TV, very nice thick towels, Molton Brown toiletries.
Fives, the restaurant, was decent but not great. Service was the best feature.

We love the Four Seasons NYC and won't return to the Peninsula, though we're surely pickier than most.



The new 2004 AAA ratings (and standing Mobil ratings) list only 3 NYC hotels with the highest rating by each:
==Four Seasons
==St. Regis
==Ritz Carlton Central Park

My room at the Peninsula was superb and the decor quite exotic and eclectic. They really don't have a lobby, just an ante room for waiting for cabs and limos. The photo-artwork in the Library Bar was wonderful. They gave me the name of the gallery so I could order a series for a bookish client.

I actually liked the decor as it was a departure from cookie cutter Ritzes and was very French Art Deco in design with Oriental touches. It was definitely not a hotel designed for American tastes but it is also a hotel favored by European and Asian guests.

I'm an interior designer however and like these things. If my room was as bad as you have described, I'd have asked to be moved. At least you had that little linen mat by your bed so your bare feet would not need to touch the carpet.

I think the Peninsula stinks as far as food goes. The food looked wonderful: nice composition on the plate, etc. but it was strangely devoid of all flavour. How can they make bacon (breakfast) have no smoked flavour? Tea in the lounge again was the same thing: little lobster thingies on cucumber had no taste, bland pastries, etc. It was the most curious thing. Coffee was hot and good which is my primary concern at a hotel and they delivered on time.

We have decided on Hotel Athenee primarily because American Express had a upgrade offer. Of course, during the month of December the rates are unusually ridiculous, but won't it be fun! Would love to talk to anyone who has actually stayed thereso you could tell me any suggestions for a particuliar room. (We have the grand luxe reserved hoping for an upgrade.)

I've never stayed there since I live in NYC, but I did go there for Sunday brunch for my anniversary there, and it was great. So, if you're looking for a very elegant brunch, try it.