Overview: The debut of the Park Hyatt New York in August was widely regarded as one of the most important hotel openings in America in years. Although based in Chicago, the top tier of the Hyatt Hotels portfolio has been slow to establish a presence in the United States. While the 34-unit luxury brand is well-known and highly regarded throughout Asia and Europe – with spectacular hotels in Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Sydney, Istanbul, Milan, Paris and Vienna, among other destinations – Park Hyatt’s name recognition had been limited to only four hotels in the U.S.: in San Diego, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Beaver Creek, Colo. This new 210-room hotel in the 90-story One57 skyscraper is being trumpeted as the brand’s new American flagship.
The Location: Two blocks south of Central Park, across the street from Carnegie Hall, the hotel occupies the first 25 floors of the One57 tower, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Christian de Portzamparc.
Room: 1905, Standard King. At 475 square feet, this is one of the largest entry-level hotel rooms in Manhattan. The door opens into a large foyer with spacious closets on both sides, plus a butler’s pantry stocked with all kinds of candies, beverages and treats as well as an espresso machine. The bathroom alone is bigger than some hotel rooms in this city, with a deep soaking tub, walk-in shower and separate closet for the toilet. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the bedroom provide stunning views of 57th Street and a glimpse of Carnegie Hall on the corner. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, the room is minimalist and serene. The beauty is in the details and craftsmanship.
Food/drink: The lobby bar commands a long stretch of windows overlooking 57th Street from the third floor. Adjacent is the hotel’s only restaurant, the oddly named Back Room at One57, which is actually a glamorous, understated steakhouse helmed by chef Sebastien Archambault, formerly of Park Hyatt Washington and the Andaz West Hollywood. The prime steaks are sublime, and the wine list is surprisingly deep for a young restaurant.
WiFi: Lightning-fast and free.
Public spaces: The ground floor entrance is stark and discreet, an exquisite little foyer with an elevator that whisks guests to the third-floor lobby. An indoor lap pool is tucked into a three-story atrium on the 25th floor, next door to the 24-hour fitness center and luxurious spa.
Service: In a word, impeccable. Although the doormen are all men, the entire bell staff is made up of women. The front desk crew, the concierge staff, the pool attendants, restaurant servers … everyone exhibits the grace and synchronicity of a team that feels like they’ve been working together for years.
Cost: $795 per night, plus taxes.
Bottom line: This is an extraordinary hotel. Although it is very, very expensive, the price is competitive with Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons and St. Regis.
Contact the writer: bradajohnson@ocregister.com or on Twitter @bradajohnson
