The Four Seasons brand is synonymous with stylish, sophisticated hotels providing the ultimate in comfort and five-star amenities, which is particularly true of its property in Midtown Manhattan.
Towering over 57th Street, between Park and Madison, The Four Seasons is one of New York’s finest hotels, which is quite the accolade in a city bustling with world class hotels. The most striking feature is its commanding, yet austere, lobby with its marble floors, giant pillars and cathedral height ceilings, which give the space a surreal feeling of peace and tranquillity in a clear juxtaposition to the hustle and bustle of the city outside.
Starting from the lobby and filtering all the way through the public spaces and guest rooms, the hotel has a timeless art deco elegance updated to reflect modern times.
With 368 rooms, including 63 suites, with the smallest room being a capacious 600 square feet, the hotel is a giant in all respects, but thankfully manages to retain a sense of intimacy and exclusivity.
The rooms are nicely appointed with light woods and cream furnishings, the epitome of understated luxury, with just the right amount of contemporary gadgetry. The large windows offer sublime views of the Manhattan skyline, some looking directly over Central Park and beyond. Rooms come with a separate dressing area and large marble bathrooms with deep-socking baths that fill in 60 seconds.
The hotel’s proximity to Central Park creates an ideal pairing between one of the city’s most iconic features and one of its most luxurious hotels. This was particularly true on our visit, which featured a wedding in the Loeb Boathouse in Central Park. The wedding party was staying at the Four Seasons and all had views from their rooms of Central Park to constantly remind them of the event.
The hotel staff went out of their way to ensure that the preparation for the wedding was as memorable as the event itself: floral arrangements arrived in the bride’s room on the morning of the wedding, a bottle of champagne was on ice for the couple on their return from the ceremony, and the hotel’s house car, a Maybach, was offered to transport the bridal party to various events throughout the weekend.
The hotel is also ideally positioned for the city’s most luxurious shopping experience with Fifth Avenue, Barney’s and Bloomingdale’s all a mere credit card’s throw away, as well as being convenient for the midtown business district and expertly equipped for the business traveler, despite having to pay for WiFi in the rooms.
As one might expect, The Four Seasons New York excels with its dining options, the showpiece being L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon from legendary Chef Joël Robuchon, which recently achieved the prestigious accolade of 2 Michelin stars in the 2012 Michelin guide. Breakfast is served in the magical setting of The Garden restaurant with its enchanted forest feel.
The crowning glory of the hotel must surely be its service levels — from the attentive doormen to the 30 minutes’ pressing service, someone is always on hand, making sure that every whim and desire is taken care of. The combination of its location, glorious views, service excellence and comfort levels make The Four Seasons New York a true giant in the hotel world, and deservedly so.
