It’s barely a week old and NoMad — the new hotel sprucing up Broadway at 28th Street — is already buzzing with power players from the worlds of food and finance.
Why all the fuss?
There’s the deliciously luxe, if far more accessible, food and drink from the team behind beloved four-star restaurant Eleven Madison Park — namely chef-partner Daniel Humm and managing partner Will Guidara. There’s the grand hotel setting — with loads of mahogany, vintage Persian rugs and sumptuous seating, plus a maze of nooks and perches, including a soon-to-open rooftop. And, as you’d expect from the developers of next door’s Ace Hotel, it’s a distinctly New York playground that’s worth checking in — or out. Here’s your tour.
The Library
By day, the golden-hued Library offers a curated selection of books (sections include: Paris, New York, What Women Love), games (chess, backgammon, poker) and coffee and tea service complete with dessert and viennoiserie trolleys. At night, the Library transforms into a cocktail lounge — with parties of no more than six, no standing and a maitre d’ at the door.
The Fireplace Room
A stunning marble fireplace brought here from a French chateau is the centerpiece of this room, meant for larger parties partaking in the family-style tasting menu ($125; $200 with drink pairings). Meals can also be had in the all-day Atrium and the luxurious dinner-only Parlour. “The idea is to rebuild the grand New York hotel, but for our generation,” explains Guidara.
Suckling Pig
The dish that put chef Daniel Humm on the map at his four-star flagship is suckling pig neatly rendered with succulent geometric precision ($34). “This is not Eleven Madison Park lite,” says Humm. “It’s another expression of our food.” Think similar quality, flavor and creativity but with a more relaxed touch.
The Bar
In the mid-19th century, there were 54 saloons in the vicinity of the hotel, and NoMad’s extensive cocktail list — including the $15 scotch-based Old Alhambra (left)— pays homage to that debauched era, as does the ornately carved mahogany bar. Very 21st century is the year-round rosé on tap ($10). “Who says you can’t have rosé in winter?” says Guidara.
$78 Chicken For Two
A cult favorite at Eleven Madison Park before it disappeared from the menu, this gorgeously lacquered bird for two has a layer of brioche, foie gras and truffles under its superbly crisp skin, which helps account for its $78 price tag. It’s so special, a beer, Le Poulet, was specially crafted to pair with it.