WHAT: The home of the “power breakfast” and a long-time hotel icon reopened earlier this year after a meticulous head-to-tail make-over.
WHERE: Smack in the heart of the UES’s new social swirl on Park Avenue @ 61st Street close to stylish shops, tasty restaurants and Central Park. Best of all: the hotel will get you in there gratis in a FIAT 500L.
WHEN: Consider a mid-Fall visit, when the weather has cooled enough for a Central Park stroll just as its leaves turn from emerald to gold.
WHY: More than $100 million was spent overhauling the 50 year-old/379-room property and the Art Deco-inspired results confirms it was money well spent.
WORKING WELL: The re-imagined Regency Bar & Grill. Helmed by Standard Grill-alum Dan Silverman, the restaurant has manage to revitalize its traditional “power breakfast” without compromising lunch or dinner. Think seasonal, locally-sourced comfort classics with an emphasis on simply grilled meat and fish.
NEEDS WORK: The smallish bathrooms, outdated internet charges ($19 for premium service!) and occasional snooty service crimp the property’s overall appeal.
MUST-TRY: The Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa. Along with an extensive array for hair/face/body treatments for women, Farel’s new flagship includes a mens-only floor that’s one of Manhattan’s largest male-focused wellness facilities.
DON’T MISS: Breakfast at Sant Ambroeus Coffee Bar. The hotel’s modest-size branch of the Italian restaurant chain offers perfect morning coffee and pastries.
COMPETITIVE EDGE: For travelers seeking classic over cool and location over louche lounge scenes, the Loews Regency remains Manhattan’s top-of-the-crop.
DETAILS: From $419