5 reasons to check into the Park Hyatt New York

It may be hard to believe, but when it officially opens today, the Park Hyatt New York will be the first five-star hotel to debut in Gotham in over a decade. Indeed, ever since the opening of the nearby Mandarin-Oriental in 2003, New York has been awash in small-scale, chic-boutiques rather than pricey, full-service grand-dames. But as it opens today, the Park Hyatt intends to return the City’s hotel culture back to its high-glamour— and high-priced — roots. Here are five reasons why New York’s newest five-star was clearly worth the wait (from $795; parkhyattnewyork.com).

The real estate

Sitting smack-dab in the heart of Midtown on West 57th Street directly across from Carnegie Hall, the $400 million Park Hyatt is at the center of Manhattan’s newly-minted “billionaire’s row” just a block from Central Park. The 210-room hotel is tucked into the first 25 floors of the 90-story One57 condo tower, where penthouses have sold for over $90 million. Although hotel rooms are far lower-priced than those apartments, the Park Hyatt clearly basks in One57’s record-setting reflected glory.

The swimming pool

The hotel’s swimming pool is easily the longest of its kind
in town.
Courtesy of Extell Development Co.

Perched on the building’s 25th floor — and spanning a full 65 feet in length — the hotel’s swimming pool is easily the longest of its kind in town. Although likely to fill up quickly on busy days, the pool is not only anchored by a wall of windows firmly fronting Carnegie Hall, it also features classical music inspired by the iconic maestros played underwater.

The spa

Nalai means “serenity” in the language of the Lenape people — Manhattan’s original inhabitants. And the 13,000-square-foot space more than lives up to it name. Six treatment rooms ramble over the hotel’s top three floors — four with private outdoor terraces and all with panoramic city views. The treatments are pricey — a 60-minute massage clocks in at $225, while a 90-minute facial is nearly $100 more.

The eats

For a hotel as sizable as the Park Hyatt, its dining options are actually relatively modest: the formal Back Room restaurant and its stylishly-casual adjacent Living Room lounge. Overseeing them both is chef Sebastien Archambault, most recently of Obama-favorite Blue Duck Tavern at Park Hyatt Washington. Back Room dinner stand-outs include 120-Day Bone In Ribeye for Two and seasonal dishes like a Warm Lobster Salad, while come breakfast time, the egg-filled Shakshuka is a zesty ode to the current trend for Levantine cuisine. Cleverer still are the afternoon tea goodies, including a menu of savory eclairs, such as the smoked salmon and Wagyu Beef tartar — a hearty riff on the dessert classic.

The style

The hotel’s functional-yet-whimsical design palette boasts cool gray stone and hexagonal-shaped room dividers.Courtesy of Park Hyatt New York

A veritable who’s-who of design, fashion and architecture talents have come together to make the Park Hyatt happen. On the outside, French architect Christian de Portzamparc has clad the tower in shimmery aquamarine glass panels, while inside, Canadian interiors firm Yabu Pushelberg has devised a functional-yet-whimsical design palette defined by cool gray stone, hexagonal-shaped room dividers and a dramatic scupltural staircase at the ground-floor entryway. Staff uniforms, meanwhile, are by designer Narciso Rodriguez and Barneys New York, in-room amenities come from Nolita parfumerie Le Labo and key design pieces include the iconic “Spirit House Chair” by architect Daniel Libeskind. Best of all: There’s no formal check-in desk — guests are greeted by iPad-armed staffers ready to whisk them straight to their rooms.