For some time, automobile magazines have come up with the near luxury class. Cars that have a lot of nice features, some distinctiveness, and yet not quite the high price tag of the Mercedes and Lexuses of the world. (Maybe Rolls, Ferrari and the like are in a beyond luxury class, such are the vagaries of our language). The same segmentation is probably true for hotels too.

The Giraffe fits my definition of near luxury. It is a distinctive property, with plenty of character, but the hotel staff are pleasant, not pretentious, the rooms are spacious and comfortable, but not extraordinary, the lobby is pleasing and smart, but not drop dead gorgeous. There is a grand piano in the lobby, and a very talented lady plays some civilized cocktail music there in the evenings. The crowd is youngish, but not loud, and fortunately, attitude is not in vogue.

One wouldn't expect to find a real luxury hotel on Park Avenue South in the mid-twenties, but it is certainly comfortable quarters for exploring a cluster of interesting neighborhoods. With a $299/night mid-week rack rate, it is not a bargain, but offers much of the ambiance and style of the W Union Square which is pushing $400/night. Some of our more enterprising members are likely to fine a better rate through internet arbitrage.

The Giraffe is part of the HK Hotels Group, a small private holding company that currently has four properties in New York. I have written reviews on two other properties: The Casablanca and the Library. The fourth, which is probably the most luxurious, is the Elysee. I would rate the Giraffe above the Casablanca and the Library in comfort and amenities, although each are a pleasant oasis in their respective neighborhoods.

LOCATION

Unlike the Casablanca, a few minutes from the Theater District, and the Library, a few blocks from Grand Central Station and the New York Public Library, the Giraffe is in a less handy location. Park Avenue South and 27th Street may not be an obvious locale for business or tourist travelers. Across the street from the rear of the the New York Life Insurance Building and along an alley way of anonymous office buildings running from 34th Street to Union Square, it's main virtue is convenient proximity to a cluster of neighborhoods that have their own character and charm: Murray Hill to the North, Turtle Bay and Gramercy Park to the East, Madison Park and the Flatiron Building to the near West, and a little further walk towards the Hudson: Chelsea.

All of these neighborhoods have the kind of shops and restaurants that cater to locals, not tourists. Around the corner is one of my favorite Italian restaurants, I Trulli on 28th. A couple of blocks North in the heart of Lexington Avenue's Curry Hill is Kalustyan, a gem of a spice market. In the direction of Union Square and Gramercy Park, there are plenty of serious destinations for the passionate foodie.

FACILITIES

It is unclear to me whether this was an apartment complex or office building, but I suspect this property was not first built as a hotel. The lobby is pleasingly open, with plenty of tan and gold tones and light colored woods. Comfortable seating and lighting mean that meeting someone here, or just reading the paper, is a pleasant experience. Access is on 27th Street, a few feet in from the main avenue.

The lobby area is used for the complimentary continental breakfast. As with the other HK Hotels I have stayed in, this is not their strong point. The pastries and rolls are adequate, but certainly not first rate. Fruit, juice and coffee are again, satisfactory, but not above average. Where a sit down breakfast in New York, and even a buffet at many hotels, can easily drift towards Thirty dollars or more, one can't complain. But there is little to distinguish this spread from the Hampton Inns and Courtyards of the world.

The hotel brochure pictures a rooftop garden, teak furniture, small tables and ample greenery against a brick background. This certainly looks like a delightful place for a light snack, but my short sojourn precluded me from inspecting it.

When you walk into the hotel, the reception desk is on the far right. The staff were efficient and courteous, and checked in our party of four in a couple of minutes. at least one of the three modern elevators always seemed to be at lobby level, and were summoned quickly when it was time to leave your room floor.

The room level corridors were a little dark and somber, but adequately lit to find your room.

A COMFORTABLE ROOM

Through a short ante-room, is a twenty five by twenty five foot bedroom area, with a handsome beige corduroy carpet, and slightly darker beige painted walls. French doors, framed with dramatic sheer chinese red curtains lead to a small balcony. One can stand outside and count the yellow taxis passing below, or peak at the somewhat somber urban landscape, or better still, stay inside, and pretend the view is different. At night, full length night shades come down at the flick of a button, and keep some, but not all of the city noise outside.

Comfortable chairs in reds and tans, stylish lamps, a long granite sliver of a desk space remind you that you are in a sophisticated urban environment, vaguely "European Moderne"/Art Deco in feel.

A large flat panel TV with 200 cable channels, DVD/CD player, High Speed Internet Access, WiFi, dual line speaker phone are among the room amenities.

A king size bed with comfortable pillows and quality bed linens is a given.

To the right, of the entrance to my room, a marvelous feature: a long closet with mirrored french doors that open out. For the first time, in a long time, a fully useable closet, one you don't have to wrestle with to open a garment bag. An Iron and Board, an an in room safe, and Mini Bar are typical additional features.

Straight ahead, a very generous well lit bathroom, with a granite counter-top and quality toiletries, large expanses of mirrored wall, an oversized bath-shower combination. The obscured glass mahogany door to the bathroom provides both privacy and some sense of openness.

Recommended: Yes