Tag Archives: America

Crosby Street Hotel, The Crosby Bar, New York

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Crosby Street Hotel is becoming famous and feels famous inside. It is one of NYC’s leading hotels and seems to make every ‘best of’ list. With the inimitable casual but stylish design, the cool vibe and the delicious foodie destination restaurant, it has it all.

Perhaps I felt so at home because owners Tim and Kit Kemp (of Firmdale Hotels) are known for their London successes and they bring their British charm to Crosby Street Hotel, their first American venture. With 86 individually designed rooms perfectly exuding elegance and excellence and a unique sense of character throughout the hotel it is cosy but quirky hotel which I found instantly appealing.

Food is served on the ground floor in the all-day dining room. Brightly coloured with eclectic artwork surrounding you, it is a fun place to hang out. Here they offer breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as coffee, cocktails and afternoon tea, it is a location for any occasion. We enjoyed a relaxed few hours here, eating good food, drinking nice wine and catching up with old friends. The menu covers a variety of cuisines and even after much deliberation we found it tricky to select just a few dishes.

Our chatty waitress recommended a few, and we followed these suggestions, too tired from sightseeing to make our own choices! Squash soup with coconut cream and pumpkin seed oil was divine. With a complete lack of dairy, gluten and carbohydrates, this starter is the dieter’s dream! Yet despite the healthy ingredients this soup was creamy, silky smooth and full of fragrant flavour. Smoked eggplant (Aubergine for us English), artichokes, arugula and Parmigiano was a hit too, perfectly paired components that ensured every mouthful was delicious.

Lump crab meat, squid ink spaghetti with saffron bomba was an attractive and comforting main course, whilst Lamb chops with cumin-mint scented satsumas and soft herbs was an oriental inspired alternative for keen meat-eaters. The lamb was absolutely perfectly cooked to ensure it was juicy but with a crispy caramelised edge, spicy Satsuma provided an unusual kick.

We all knew immediately what we wanted for dessert… Mexican chocolate crème brulee churros with espresso foam and citrus was impossible to resist. In reality though I found the dish a little confused, with strong flavours that conflicted… my friends loved it though!

Crosby Street serves up a great meal for guests and newcomers to the hotel. Next time I’d love to wake up in a Crosby room too!

Many thanks to NYC GO for their help with this trip, and Virgin Atlantic for assistance with my flights.

The Roger, New York

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The brand new Roger Hotel is a delight. Entering this recently renovated property on Madison Avenue, I felt like I was delving inside a giant gift-wrapped present. Everything here feels shiny and special. The entrance is grand but homely, an adjoining living room is decorated with lavish deep blue sofas and carpet, with nostalgic black and white photos on the walls. A small cocktail bar serves guests with their favourite tipple.

Ideally located in midtown Manhattan, the Roger’s luxurious tailoring will appeal to business guests whilst the leisure travellers will love the personalised touches and innovative design. The fresh and pretty décor is the work of designer Anna Busta. Entering the hotel you would never believe that 194 guest rooms are concealed behind the lift door – the interior feels and looks like an intimate boutique hotel.

Our Deluxe room was located on the 9th floor, with awe-inspiring views of the streets below. Surprisingly spacious and sophisticated, the room had understated charm which I believe would cater to any guest’s tastes. It is a real luxury to have enough space in the room to unpack. Above the bed was an atmospheric picture adding a retro touch to the otherwise modern and minimalist theme. Furniture was simple and functional and amenities plentiful – the mini-bar assortment was impressive! I found lighting too dim for my needs, I struggled to write as soon as the sun set, and even struggled with make-up application in the morning. The staff kindly assisted us with an extra lamp but the room was still shrouded in shadows.

The bathroom was bland but clean and in perfect working order. Thick, divinely soft bathrobes were a particularly lovely addition and I was interested to discover their brand of toiletries, CO Bigalow bath and hair products. A delectable gourmet buffet breakfast is served in the friendly Parlour where you are encouraged to share the big wooden tables with fellow guests. Hot and cold options are available, I chose a cappuccino and croissant each morning to wake the senses before a long day exploring the city.

For bloggers and those wishing to work at high-speed, efficient free Wifi service at the Roger was a great addition to the package.

Moments away from the iconic tourist sights (Empire State Building and Grand Central Terminal), this hotel ticks most boxes. The welcoming staff ensure you find a new home away from home at the Roger.

More information and book here: www.therogernewyork.com

Many thanks to NYC GO for their help with this trip, and Virgin Atlantic for flights.

60 Thompson, New York

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Arriving tired and grumpy at Newark Airport, we contemplated which would be the quickest and cheapest route to our home for the night, 60 Thompson. It is never ideal to hotel hop but it does make a trip more adventurous. Part of the popular Thompson brand, 60 Thompson is located in SoHo and is a hip, chic boutique hotel catering to the sophisticated and style-conscious traveller. SoHo is a lively area with numerous art galleries, cafés, restaurants and tempting shops.

Those wishing to stay inside the hotel will be entertained by the numerous facilities. On the ground floor Kittichai is an excellent Thai restaurant that now has a reputation as a foodie destination in itself. The Thom Bar provides a relaxed and luxurious lounge for guests to enjoy an expertly mixed cocktail or listen to the nightly DJ. The wow factor is found in the rooftop bar, A60 which offers unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline and is only available to hotel guests, members or private parties.

The 97 room hotel is patiently waiting for its grand renovation, due to start later this year. I was thrilled to be experiencing the model room, renovated as an example of the transformation to come. The room was petite but not stiflingly so, with enough floor space to manoeuvre your luggage. There is a hint of Scandi-cool design, the colours are stark and simple, and the furniture is quirky and characterful, with a modern slickness. A display of American magazines provides information on city happenings and events; cheese and biscuits were out for us to nibble on and a huge tv was secured to the wall. I particularly loved the glass topped cupboard which stylishly displayed a selection of spirits and cocktail glasses ready for guests who fancy a bit of mixology practise.

The bathroom was small and functional with smart black marble-like walls and a sparkling mosaic floor. The bath-shower was powerful and refreshing. Delicious smelling REN toiletries were on offer. When bedtime arrived I fell straight to sleep in the big fluffy bed. Despite the time changes, I slept soundly until the morning. A cream cheese and crispy bacon bagel was the perfect start to the next day. Breakfast is served in the Kittchai dining room and therefore has a calm Asian ambience. My only slight discomfort was the lack of daylight in this restaurant.

Fad followers will be pleased to hear the Dominique Ansel Bakery is just a three minute walk away, so those craving a sugary Cronut can jump out of bed at 6am and straight into the drowsy queue.  Or bribe your partner to save the space in line while you catch up on a few more hours of sleep.

60 Thompson presents big city style in downtown Soho, it provides everything a visitor needs and wants for a holiday in this non-stop city.

More information and book here: www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/nyc

Many thanks to NYC GO for their help with this trip, and Virgin Atlantic for flights.