Park Hyatt New York Rises Above Modern Luxury Hotels

In a city studded by luxury hotels, one property quite literally rises above its competition. 

The Park Hyatt New York tower rises 90 stories above 57th Street in Midtown West. Casting its shadows over Carnegie Hall and The Russian Tea Room on one side and Central Park on the other, the hotel takes up the building’s first 25 floors — with the tied-in, multi-million dollar One57 Condominiums claiming the remaining space. The entire complex cost $390 million, opening in August of last year and quickly emerging as one of the most sophisticated destinations in Manhattan.

During a recent stay, this year-old property unveiled its own world — set apart from the hustle and mob of the cab-choked streets below.

Related: Athenaeum London Celebrates World of Whiskey

The tower includes 210 guest rooms, including 92 suites. At the top, the full service Spa Nalai waits — next to an extensive 24 hour fitness center and a two lane wave pool. A pool halfway up a New York high rise if rare enough, but the Park Hyatt had to up the ante. Special underwater speakers pipe in an aquatic symphony into the pool with bespoke music composed just for the hotel.

Since the hotel operates in a close relationship with the Manhattan cultural scene — serving as an after theater destination for Carnegie Hall and sponsoring art exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art – its own halls serve as an art museum for more than 350 original pieces curated directly by the hotel.

The decor is modern, clean, warm and understated. Imported gray zebra marble lines the hallways and common spaces, with the lighting subdued and the ambiance calm. Class doesn’t make a lot of noise. In keeping, the hotel staff is polished, smart and accommodating.

Park Hyatt offers 24 room service, but the socially minded diner will want to lounge in The Living Room, the hotel’s third floor cocktail bar. It’s a hot spot for locals and guests alike, but I enjoyed the space during the more subdued afternoon hours. The leather chairs and well-dressed staffed reminded me of a classic proper Gentleman’s Club of a bygone era. I’m not talking about G-strings and DJs. I long for peace, quiet, newspapers, good drinks and a cigar. The Living Room provided everything except the smoke as New York long ago knuckled under the bloodless and unsophisticated national smoking ban.

As for the hotel’s restaurant, The Back Room at One57, I’ll offer up a full review of the dining experience in the days to come. For now, suffice to say, it’s emerging as one of Midtown West’s most promising spot.

All of this luxury, style and service comes with a price worthy of its Big Apple home. Average room rates start north of $900, moving up from there for larger suites and additional amenities. But, the visitor can’t be too shocked at the price tag. In New York, you’re not going to find a luxury hotel more on its game than the Park Hyatt.

The gallery below offers more of an inside look at this very big time destination.

All photos by John Scott Lewinski