They say being in the worst house in the best neighborhood pays for real estate. When it comes to Manhattan towers, it's better to be the tallest building in a small neighborhood because that's what gives you the best views. At least that's how we felt when we woke up the other morning at The Ritz-Carlton New York Nomad, our latest choice for Room Key.
The property is located at Broadway and West 28th Street, at the base of the Midtown Manhattan towers. The 50-story building was designed by Raphael Vinoly, who died earlier this month and was best known for building 432 Park Avenue in London and the walkie-talkie. As one of the tallest buildings in NoMad, it offers a beautiful view of Lower Manhattan on one side and the beginning of the steep rise of the island's central towers on the other.
The silence is the first thing that strikes you as you walk through the ornate entrance hall and into the lobby. The check-in area is low and decorated with dark wood panelling, with a view to the bar behind the lounge on one side and the Zaytinya restaurant on the other, the hotel is not as dark as it seems.
All luxury hotel groups have grown rapidly in recent years and are generally going in one of two directions. The first is the low-key, luxury rehab aesthetic: Lots of faded wood and the only element of excitement is a textured wall or patterned fabric in the room. At the other extreme, there is a kind of subjugation of the audience, constructed in the style of Baz Luhrmann. The folks here at The Ritz-Carlton wanted this property to be different from the average Ritz-Carlton, to represent the next generation of luxury travelers. As a result, they decided to win on both counts. Rooms and suites, starting at just $250 a night and starting at $895, have a distinct style: They're simple and uncluttered, with views of the New York skyline doing most of the heavy lifting. A bathroom with terrazzo carpets on the floor and walls adds style here.
There is another world above the hotel.
Superchef José Andrés, whose geopolitical work has made him as popular as his ever-growing list of restaurants, is the man behind the hotel's culinary offerings. He did the Club Lounge (a more intimate experience than most Ritz Club levels) and the soon-to-open Bazaar, which will be a mix of a Spanish and Japanese experience. On the first floor of the hotel, he also opened a second outpost of Zaytinya, serving Eastern Mediterranean cuisine in a beautiful space designed by Rockwell Group that represents the region. But above we find Nubeluz, a jewel in the sky designed to perfection by Martin Brodnitsky. Today, 270 Degrees, a highly recommended post-sunset bar, is bathed in emerald green with an onyx-lit central bar and peacock feather-lit booths.
Last but not least is the hotel spa. It's far from an afterthought, as it usually is, but it's an important part of the experience. A fine facet of Cipollino Ondulato marble greets you as you enter, and all guests have access to the steam and sauna facilities. We dived into the facelift method and hit the town armed with a fresh face.
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