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I’ve stayed at most of New York City’s top hotels. With an upcoming move to Los Angeles on the horizon, it was time to finally check into one that had been on my list for quite some time. As it turns out, I saved the best for last.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel sits inside a Neoclassical mansion where Charlotte Goodridge once threw lavish parties (and that, after a transformation by architectural firm McKim, Mead, & White, served as the Second National Bank), alongside a newer 24-story glass tower on 28th Street, between Broadway and Fifth Avenue.
Yes, the design is gorgeous — you should spend a few minutes wandering the corridors in search of art and cinematic accents. But good looks only get you so far, especially in a hotel scene as crowded with luxury as the Big Apple. I would submit that a big part of the reason so many discerning guests return to The Fifth Avenue Hotel with such regularity is for the service — from the friendly front desk team and dedicated butlers to the anticipating servers at the bar.
There was not a moment of my stay when I didn’t feel exceedingly well looked after. My dedicated butler, Angel (an actual angel), greeted me at the door to my suite, presented me with a cool towel and a cinnamon-infused grapefruit welcome drink concocted by bar director Darryl Chan, and gave me a full rundown before presenting me with a card to get in touch if I needed — nay, wanted — anything. The following morning, he texted to make sure I was having a nice day and to ask if he could be of assistance. Because linen tends to wrinkle in the humidity of a New York City summer, I requested to have my top and pants pressed (three pieces are complimentary per stay). That evening, I walked in to find face masks, eucalyptus shower bombs, and a note encouraging me to enjoy a spa-like evening.
Across the board, one of the things that struck me most about The Fifth Avenue Hotel was its impeccable eye for detail, from the decadent design and doting hospitality to the expertly crafted cocktails and chef-prepared fare.
The Property
Interior maestro Martin Brudnizki (the creative force behind Fouquet’s New York and Le Grand Mazarin) reimagined the Gilded Age landmark as a maximalist hideaway where elegance meets theatrical whimsy, with every detail thoughtfully considered and designed to make an impression — without ever feeling like too much. Channeling the elegant, swank sophistication of a bygone era, yet feeling incredibly current, the property unfolds across the double-height lobby, featuring faceted antique wall mirrors and a large-scale hand-woven tapestry by Pae White, 149 rooms and suites, a bar, restaurant, and event spaces. The impressive art collection includes 700 works, including photographs by William Klein, Gordon Parks, and Melvin Sokolsky.
The Accommodations
Upon stepping off the elevator, I was struck by the hallway’s hand-pleated rose silk walls. Opening the door to 515 revealed a jewel-box Mansion Suite with a wallpapered entry painted a garden green, complete with hand-molded stucco embellishments and white molding. The bed, with its navy tufted headboard, sat sandwiched between mother-of-pearl nightstands and ornamental lamps. Large photographs were framed in gold or brown wood. The arched wall separating the sleeping and living quarters was painted the same shade of green, with open glass allowing the spaces to feel separate yet cohesive as light streamed throughout. Saturated colors wrapped the sofa and decorative pillows, as well as the trio of lamps, echoed by the lacquered armoire (concealing a minibar stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks) and crowned from above by a custom Murano glass chandelier that, upon further inspection, revealed itself to be made of small glass fruits.
On the small round table sat a bottle of bubbly on ice and a three-tiered tray with nuts, cookies, and fresh fruit. Angel walked me through the technology, all cleverly connected to the iPads, which seamlessly controlled everything from the television to the temperature. After he left, I took a bath in the soaking tub and slipped into a cozy robe embroidered with The Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The Restaurant & Bar
Helmed by James Beard-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, Café Carmellini isn’t just another hotel restaurant — that type of place that serves guests who don’t feel like venturing outside for breakfast — it’s a culinary powerhouse, the recipient of countless awards. The elegant dining room, crowned by velvet booths, gilded accents, and cylindrical chandeliers, is among the best places in the city for haute Italian-French fare and people-watching between bites of fried zucchini blossoms and lobster cannelloni. On the weekends, the Champagne brunch pops off in an appropriately posh way with smoked salmon Benedicts, caviar, and bubbles.
During the day, The Portrait Bar acts as a quiet workspace exclusively for hotel guests. When 5 p.m. rolls around, anyone can book a table inside the wood-clad room to sip martinis surrounded by old books and revel in the refined yet lively atmosphere. If hunger hits after a few globally inspired cocktails, snack on marcona-stuffed olives and deviled eggs.
The Neighborhood
The thing about New York City is that even when staying at the best hotels (and The Fifth Avenue Hotel is one of them, without question), you can’t separate a stay from its surroundings. There’s something to be said for seeing the buzz below, even when tucked into a plush robe and having no intention of doing anything but putting on a face mask and a movie. Stepping outside the gleaming doors, guests have instant access to popular NoMad restaurants, including Borgo for sungold tomato lasagna and branzino, splashy London transplant Ambassadors Clubhouse, and KazuNori, where patrons queue up for toro hand rolls. It’s also a few blocks from Madison Square Park, with easy access to Flatiron, Chelsea, and Union Square.
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