W Hotel New York - Men In Black...Woman Too.
Written: Oct 17 '05 (Updated May 09 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Exquisite decor.
Cons: Watch out for the "Men in Black".
The Bottom Line: This is a third choice neighborhood after Times Square and Downtown, but first class in decor and style.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: W New York - Union Square |
Sometimes business sets me up at a hotel. Such was the case very recently. The place was the W Hotel-Union Square, Manhattan, NYC.
Excellent Location
This Union Square location on 17th street is a convenient one for those who do not need to be smack in the middle of Times Square or downtown Manhattan. This is a different part of town. Lots of clubs, fine restaurants, a few off Broadway theatres, and some pretty good off-beat NYC shopping, music, theatre, and cinema. This is also a residential area. For those into the music scene Irving Plaza always features the up and coming along with nights of nostalgia. It's a NY place to be.
Union Square Park, an open green area, just across the street from the hotel has a section that sets up into the Greenmarket Farmers Market by day on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Though I have been here many times I didn't know that over 70 farmers participate selling their own fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants. It's a VERY popular place and you will be fighting the crowds especially on Saturdays. Just a couple of blocks south is 14th Street with plenty of traditional stores too.
Many convenient chains like Starbucks dot the area as well as fine restaurants like the Gotham Bar and Grill I've been to, and the Heartland Brewery I recently visited. Just one block north is City crab and Seafood Company. I have had a few beers and enjoyed Sushi and the raw bar there. I didn't mention that at night the 17th street part of the park becomes a skate board and bicycle stunt play ground for many local residents. It's fun to watch these amateur boarders exhibit their skills.
Union Square Station is also a popular transportation hub for many of the students and professional people who study and work in this neighborhood with many fine schools and hospitals.
Union Square was also the gathering point for so many who were hoping and praying that their loved ones would be found during the immediate week following 9/11. I did write an account of the area when we visited it one week after the disaster. The link is below. You will need a good amount of time to read it. Never forget.
The Building
This old but magnificent looking building, constructed in 1911, was considered one of Manhattans first true sky scrapers. This landmark, the Guardian Life building boasts a finely detailed Beaux-Arts style in granite and limestone. Because it is on a corner and viewed from open spaces below in the park, it's a structure that can be easily admired. Atop the building is the W. Their web site noted that this hotel made the 2003 Conde Nast Traveler's "Top 500 Hotels in the World" list.
The hotel does offer parking for a fee. I parked in an open lot just up 17th street.
Stepping Inside, the Lobby, Grand Stairs, Living Room, Underbar and WHATEVER
The entrance area is an impressive mix of the old and new that I can define, all at one time, as refined, luxurious and whimsical. The sentinels at the doors are of the young and pretty set, wearing blacks with a small W on there shirts distinguishing their attachment to the hotel. Though this is in an old building it is far from stuffy, in fact I see it as a draw for the trendy.
The reception desk is a small area that states its function well. Fresh fruit and coffee are on the desk 24/7.
I liked the simple desk with its grassy plantings that help draw the outside park into the interior areas softening the bold but cold look of the marble floors.
Staircase
The stair case that rises above the reception desk is among the most beautiful and magnificent in NYC. It makes its way up to the pompous banquet hall of the second floor. That room just reminds me too much of one of those huge banks that were built on street corners of large cities and small towns of the US with massive marble columns, soaring ceilings and echoing expanses. Actually this building once did house a bank. Thankfully this is the only room I didn't care for. All the other public rooms were first class.
The Living Room
Just off the front door lobby with another entrance off the side street is the "Living Room", a hip place where people watching is at its best. You'll see young and middle aged trend setters on Friday and Saturday night as they put a slight dent into their weeks earnings living it up with a sophisticated, metropolitan air. The Living room has a striking back-lighted bar and more of those folks in black were serving the masses sitting on comfy couches, soft sofas, oddly placed ottomans, and large sink-into-and-never-get-out-of overstuffed armchairs. This is one busy place. Mojita's seemed to be the drink of so many there that night. It seems that after only being an "island" and Florida drink, the Mojita finally made it to NY as a trendy change from all the Martini drinks that have made their rounds for the last five years. After seeing the Mojita I changed my draft order of Brooklyn Ale to one of those, a big mistake. Though I enjoy Mojitas it did nothing for me here for three reasons. First it's not an expansive clean white sandy beach where I have expected that taste with warm sun on my body and accompanying cool ocean breezes. Second, they didn't put in much rum, it was all mint flavour and lime (I did have it "adjusted") and third was the price, yikes, $14.00 before a tip. A bit too rich for my liking. Now if I were with my wife and we were enjoying a romantic evening together, that's another thing.
To add insult to injury I had to wait almost ten minutes before getting the attention of my waitress and reminding her of our drinks. She said she told the other waitress to bring them to us but failed to do it. Now the way I see it, the staff member who hustled our group for the drink order should come back with the drinks. I wonder if I should have told her I would be giving the other waitress the tip after the first one came back with the final tab?
Underbar
I did not check out the Underbar, a popular club, that is in the basement and part of the hotel. This noted juice joint has an outside entrance used exclusively for the subterranean bar. More of those pretty people in black manned the door only these guys were much bigger. Also in the basement, but not accessible from the bar, is a fitness center and spa. Never saw it. No pool here.
Back inside the lobby is the bank of elevators, "lifts" as they are still marked. The elevators move well and are modern, the wait for them was interminable.
WhatEver
Being the rooms were booked for us and some of the party already checked in, I didn't have much contact with the reception desk. I did however pick the brain of the concierge, another pretty person in all blacks. You won't be seeing many ties and jackets here. That is both for the help and the clients they seem to draw. The almost hidden desk is simply marked WHATEVER. Now that word at first was a negative to me in that it was a standard response my teenage daughters would give me when they didn't want to listen to what I was saying. Here at the W Hotel, WHATEVER takes on a very different meaning. They have a "Whatever and Whenever" policy of trying to accommodate their clients. Again, I was not with my wife but after reading some of the possibilities and past requests they have made happen, I do want to make a date with my wife to get back here. I read about many different bathtub options. Goldfish anybody, or perhaps champagne, or better yet, for some, chocolate milk with cookies! They claim to do it all. Service is said to be a top priority in this hotel. My wife and I will have to think of how we would like to be pampered.
I did ask about a good place to go out and have a few beers, with a couple of guys, after the gig we were doing in the hotel. Without as much as cracking a greeting smile he coldly mentioned Heartland Brewery just across the park maybe a 150 yards away. The place fit my needs well. Another day another review. I was put off by the concierge though. Was this the guy, as a hotel representative, going to make my dreams come true "Whatever, Whenever?" It seemed I was receiving my daughters contrary "whatever" response.
Rooms
I got to check out a couple of the rooms because the people we worked for booked a few of them. After walking the impressive and detailed marble halls to the standard rooms it was pleasing to see they are nice in size, especially in NYC where most older hotels have small rooms. The rooms are far from looking aged in fact they are sophisticated with a modern touch. Cool, yet comfortable. I liked the overall feel of the spotless rooms.
Well most was comfortable. They stress they have the best of beds. They were firm but with all the other comfies, a bit to lumpy for my likes. I like a straight very firm mattress with a bit of egg crate or such on top. The linens were of high quality. The pillows would have been heaven for my wife. They were huge and feather filled. I'm happy a brick wrapped in terry cloth. I'm not impressed with "fluff" bedding. My wife definitely would be.
The layout of the rooms were just fine and, even though the rooms were directly above a busy NY street, there is very little noise that comes through. I was surprised at how quiet it was. The large TV had cable and a list of many, choices of "special" stations you could order separately besides the cable stations that are offered free.
The lighting in the room was OK. I don't like too many switches accessing different lights like they had. A CD player and VCR were also in the room. Internet service is available via ports. Here's a general gripe I have. If this place is charging over $500 + per night average and somebody is just going to use the internet all day, what's the problem? Why not let them use it gratis? I tell you, anyone who wants to use my internet at home all day at those prices will be pampered with a comfy chair being served peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or steaks all day, and I'll get someone to the house to give a foot massage and pedicure to boot. They can also stay as long as they like.
I should mention they have a business center in the hotel. A safe is in the room along with iron and board.
A hair dryer is in the bath that is done up in limestone. It's quite rich looking and the counter tops, amenities and sink areas were lavish. Good water pressure and hot water were available. Nice large, soft towels were also plentiful along with robes that were large enough to fit even this big guy.
Summing it UP
This hotel is in a different part of NYC that most tourists do not get to. It's a fine area to walk around and discover. It does have good public transportation to most of the rest of the city just a couple of short blocks from the front entrance. The W Hotel is a classy looking landmark, trendy with a good looking young staff, both guys and gals. In observing the staff that was serving the party and client we were working for, they were very business-like and hard-working however, it didn't seem that friendliness was part of their function. This was with the concierge too. The waitress in the Living Room fell short too. In a city that I feel has a reputation of not being friendly, which I believe most visitors would challenge I certainly do, why can't the staff of the W be a bit more congenial. Like the grass plantings in the lobby bring in a piece of the park to soften the cold stone interiors of the old building, the staff should offer a bit of cordial charm to warm a visitors spirit.
Now this is a pricey hotel at $450-$700 a night but the rooms and public areas are first rate in both decor and comfort and perhaps if I was using their amenities and over-tipping I might have had friendlier service...well maybe.
New York City
City Crab and Seafood Company
Heartland Brewery Just across the park from the W
Gotham Bar and Grill EXCELLENT!! A short few block walk to this fine eatery from the W.
Downtown
Fraunce's Tavern Lower Manhattan. GW ate here.
Cafe Napoli In Little Italy
Katz's Deli A NYC Landmark
Sequoia Seafood Restaurant At the South Street Seaport
A few other NYC Hotels
Millenium Hilton Hotel., directly across from ground zero. They have reopened! The perfect location to all that is downtown
New York Hilton
Grand Hyatt Hotel, NYC
Marriott Marquis New York
W Hotel Union Square
9/11 Union Square, a memorial, one week later. My thoughts and observations. Never Forget!
Recommended:
Yes
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