The Conrad:
The rooms are quite spacious by any standard but for NYC they are enormous…
The Conrad has most definitely secured itself a prime slice of Lower Manhattan real estate being positioned by the scenic Battery Park. It presents close access to NYC’s iconic landmarks on a silver platter for travellers to devour. The hotel's rooftop bar has become quite a landmark of its own, with flattering views smiling down upon the Hudson River and containing glimpses of the Statue of Liberty. Loopy Doopy will have you drooling over the view just as much as you will be drooling over their signature Loppy Doopy cocktail.
These delicious cocktails brought out our inner mixologists as we got to “pick the base” of our drinks. Once we did this the true fun began, the next part was an utterly aching task of having to choose just one of the many tantalising popsicles they had on offer. We recommend the “Blackberry Sour” which contains whiskey, blackberries, rhubarb and tarragon (to name just one we loved). If you’re impatient like us you’ll want to bite off sneaky chunks from your popsicle while waiting for the rest to melt into a glorious concoction with your base. Let us tell you these Loopy Doopy cocktails are not for the faint hearted, one glass was bigger than our head!
If you fancy more of a sit down Mediterranean inspired dinner then Conrad’s restaurant ATRIO will hit just the spot (we highly recommend it). With exciting and playful fusions of flavours we were left inspired and satisfied by our meals. The ambiance compliments the food quite pleasantly with kind, dim lighting accompanied by an elegant but modern feel. You are sure to ease into your leisurely meal as you listen to the soft playing jazz in the background. This was one of the most splendid meals we have had the pleasure of eating and it had a magnificent wine list to match. ATRIO is a jack of all trades as it also transforms itself into a very popular breakfast hotspot each morning. This is where we had the fluffiest pancakes of all time, not to mention the most succulent lobster infused eggs benedict
The rooms at the Conrad are just as inviting and incredible as everything else at the Conrad. Spacious and cosy, we basked in the subtle play on luxury and contemporary style. We were also lucky enough to have had an incredible view of the Hudson from our suite which brilliantly complimented the entire room. All in all, our room was exceedingly clean and exceptionally comfortable.
The Lotte Palace:
The Palace definitely lives up to its history and hype…
Recognised for its unique attribute of being a mansion that turned into a hotel, The Palace is the place where many influential people have chosen to stay over countless years. In recent times the Palace was enlivened back into the modern scene as it playing a fundamental role in the popular series Gossip Girl, the place where adored character Serena van der Woodsen and her family called home. (It is safe to say that we were very excited about staying where Serena van der Woodsen stayed).
The hotel has exquisite views which show off the mesmerising St. Patrick's Cathedral located just across the road from the Palace. Staying at the Palace we were immediately struck, first and foremost, by its mansion-like characteristics as classic open spaces surrounded us from all corners.
The suites are the very epitome of luxury with their high ceilings, classic furniture and grand drapery. This grandeur is topped off by the Tiffany stained windows stretching as far as the eye can see. Don’t let this classic façade fool you as The Palace has the most up-to-date technology from flat screen TVs to smart phone docks in all of the rooms.
Located in a very exciting part of Midtown, The Palace allowed us to be a mere walking distance from 5th Ave, the Rockefeller Center, Magnolia Bakery and Central Park. However, if you don’t feel like venturing out, the Palace also has some great fine-dining restaurants that tend to incorporate French influence in their cooking.
We only tried the breakfast at The Palace but were absolutely thrilled to find salted caramel beignets on the menu. We eagerly awaited for our beignets to arrive grabbing the chubby balls of powdered sugar heaven into our greedy little hands and drowning them in the generous pool of salted caramel sauce they arrived with. We were happily transported to New Orleans without ever having left NYC.
A stay at the Palace would not be complete without spending some time in the iconic and incredible Palace courtyard. Take a seat and relax as the courtyard’s very talented mixologist stirs up something absolutely fabulous for you to sip on while you take in the grandeur of this amazing space. Again, the incredible St Patrick’s Cathedral views will be right in front of you as you gaze out past the majestic and spellbinding Palace gates. Sitting in the courtyard you will be sure to feel as though you just entered into an old Hollywood film.
The Andaz:
This lower Manhattan hotel combines elements of contemporary décor with comfortable accents to create a beautifully sleek aesthetic…
Walking into our room we were immediately struck by the sleek interior. With high ceilings and contemporary white walls paired with black accents and black feature walled bathrooms you will feel as though you have acquired your very own Wolf of Wall Street apartment.
What we found quite interesting about this modern hotel is how the Rockwell Group design scheme remains sleek while avoiding a need to be showy or overly rigid in trend following. The hotel has achieved the perfect balance of tastefully furnished rooms containing accents of marble, wood and contemporary mirrored spaces. The rooms also all include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, extremely comfortable linen and quite large open spaces with generous natural lighting. The Andaz is in the very heart of the Financial District which makes it a nice addition if you are traveling for both business and pleasure.
One of the most notable features of The Andaz is the sincerely welcoming staff which separates them from many other hotels. We were warmly welcomed and immediately introduced to the “wine hour” which is hosted daily at the lobby free of charge to guests. We were also pleasantly surprised by our delicious cheese and jam board welcome gift which was delivered to our room and consumed by us immediately. These little touches are what we found so refreshing while staying at The Andaz, they even go so far as to have complimentary barista style coffee waiting for guests in the lobby every morning.
The Andaz also has many dining options such as the Dina Rata restaurant and a recently opened Beer Garden. Unfortunately this time around we did not get the chance to try any of the dining experiences at The Andaz but we look forward to visiting again very soon.