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Fodor's Expert Review Mandarin Oriental

Name: Mandarin Oriental
Address: 80 Columbus Circle, at 60th St., New York, New York, 10023, USA
Telephone: 212-805–8800
Price range: $$$$

80 Columbus Circle, at 60th St., New York, New York 10023, USA See on Map Fodor's Choice

Jessica Colley Clarke

Classic, over-the-top luxury defines every inch of this five-star hotel. Guests enter the ground-floor elevators and step out onto the 35^th floor of the Time Warner Center to reach the lobby, a big, bright space with gorgeous skyline and Central Park views from the lounge, bar, and restaurant. Service is top-notch and the spa (with one of New York City’s best pools) is worthy of a splurge.

YOU SHOULD KNOW As you might expect at a hotel of this caliber, absolutely everything—down to the coffee—comes at a premium price that can feel a bit steep (because it is).

Photo: @lyn_rosmarin

room

The polished rooms have silk throws on plush beds, comfy robes, and window-side chaise lounges for admiring skyline views through floor-to-ceiling glass.

Rooms facing Central Park offer spectacular views of the sunrise.

Photo: @lyn_rosmarin

Photo: Mandarin Oriental

bathroom

Generously sized marble and granite bathrooms have TVs, a big soaking tub, and separate walk-in shower. Some bathrooms even offer skyline views from the soaking tub.

Photo: Mandarin Oriental

lobby

A dazzling space on the 35^th floor of the Time Warner Center, the lobby is open and bright with dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Columbus Circle and Central Park below.

Photo: Mandarin Oriental

pool

With panoramic Hudson River views, the swimming pool here is one of the city’s best. The on-site spa, with a menu of treatments based on traditional Chinese medicine, is a destination for hotel guests and New Yorkers alike.

Photo: Mandarin Oriental

dining

Asiate, the upscale restaurant located off the lobby, is a glamorous spot for brunch or dinner, and offers a menu full of contemporary cuisine and elevated comfort food. It's expensive, but the excellent views (as well as the actual food) are totally worth the price tag. The Lobby Lounge acts as the hotel's in-house bar area and is a luxuriously cozy place to, well, lounge. They serve cocktails, beer, wine, tea and light fare.

Photo: Mandarin Oriental

LOCATION

Getting Around

Located on the southwest corner of Central Park, high above Columbus Circle, this luxury hotel offers a convenient location for getting around the city. Many landmarks (plus the theater district in Midtown) are within walking distance, and a major subway station with access to several lines (A, C, B, D, and 1 trains) is located beneath Columbus Circle. Some guests may find the location a bit hectic and the noise from traffic and taxis rather bothersome.

Restaurants

In a city of Italian-influenced restaurants, one of the most famous plates of pasta—fusilli with red wine braised octopus and bone marrow—can be found at Marea (5-minute walk), an elegant restaurant on Central Park South from Chef Michael White. Yakitori Totto (9-minute walk), a buzzy upstairs restaurant specializing in grilled skewers, offers a taste of Tokyo. For picnic supplies before heading into Central Park, stop into Maison Kayser (5-minute walk) to pick up sandwiches on fresh baguettes and pastries.

Bars

Stop into Redcork Wine Bar (4-minute walk) for a glass of wine and small plates—the cheese boards are excellent. Pints of Guinness and ice-cold martinis are ordered in equal measure at P. J. Clarke’s (6-minute walk), a classic pub near Lincoln Center.

WHY WE LIKE IT

This five-star property sets the stage for splashing out, and every detail throughout feels decadent (because, let's face it, it is). We love the oversized bathrooms with big soaking tubs, city skyline views (especially at sunrise), and the plush beds. Asiate is one of the city’s most scenic dining rooms for a special meal overlooking the skyline by day or by night. A stay is only complete if you make time to kick back in the pool, sauna, and spa.