W Hotel New York Union Square
Overlooking Union Square from a landmark tower is located in one of Manhattan’s trendiest areas and just a short distance from many restaurants and night life. What started out as the place to stay for thirtysomethings has evolved into a hotel-cum-restaurant-cum-bar that even jaded New Yorkers like. W Hotel New York Union Square hotel is not only across the street from famed Union Square (New York’s only outdoor produce and flower market in the summer) but also a short walk to New York University and Gramercy Park. Lower Manhattan is a short taxi or subway stop away.
Arrivals are greeted professionally at the front steps by a slew of valets, doormen and well-dressed bellhops—part of the W Hotel New York Union Square's Welcome Door policy. The dramatic lobby with its cantilevered marble staircase and registration desk fringed with tufts of brilliantly green grass (don't pick at it—it's real grass) is a design triumph. The ground floor is designed to maximize the hotel's social prominence, with the restaurant, bar and lounge all clearly visible from across the street—a real social fishbowl.
Boston-based celebrity chef Todd English continues to lure savvy diners with his Mediterranean-influenced goodies at Olives at W Hotel New York Union Square. The bold decor and generous use of natural wood are as winning as the food.
The adjacent bar is a mad scene but great fun from 5 pm on any day of the week, and the adjoining lounge—staff refer to it as the Living Room—houses what has become W Hotels' trademark game area, with checkers, chess, backgammon and even a few books. The scene is especially lively on weekends. The bar at W Hotel New York Union Square in the basement is just the opposite, a dim candlelit den with lots of niches with privacy curtains and a rope to yank for service.
A small windowless gym called Sweat hides in the basement, and one-time complimentary passes to a local health club are available.
Polished marble spruces up the speedy elevators that keep delays to a minimum. Rooms are divided into three categories, based largely on size. Entry-level Wonderful rooms are on the cozy side, measuring 220 sq ft (but still large enough to accommodate a comfy velvet-upholstered armchair. Spectacular rooms are 263 sq ft, while Mega rooms are the largest, from 350 to 400 sq ft.
Dark woods, chrome accents and white fabrics give rooms a crisp and clean look. Although the dimensions are compact, designers have made efficient use of space, with 27-inch flat-screen TVs with DVD players perched on long tables that double as desks. iPod docks allow for custom in-room entertainment. Six-ft-high mirrors leaning against the walls also help to visually expand the rooms.
Beds are Heavenly models, with imported linens, pillow-top mattresses, feather pillows and goose-down duvets.Additional comfort comes from thermostats, dual-line phones with voice mail and high-speed Internet access (US$15), side chairs, and closets with safes, irons and ironing boards. All rooms have minibars, or in W's verbiage, "Munchie Boxes."
Some of the baths are shower-only models, but they furnish extras such as magnifying mirrors, dual massaging showerheads and Bliss toiletries.
Room service is offered round-the-clock. Turndown, newspapers and complimentary shoeshine are included. This is a pet-friendly hotel.
The W New York Union Square staff is blessed with a high level of professionalism that is missing at many of the independent design hotels in this city.
W Hotel New York Union Square is a member of exclusive Virtuoso travel network. Book online or contact our Virtuoso Travel Advisor Heather@classictravel.com for more details.
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