Arguably the most anticipated hotel opening of 2014 is the brand new Park Hyatt New York, which occupies the lower 25 floors of the new One57 building. Even though it just opened, this is actually the flagship Park Hyatt property globally, taking over that title from the Park Hyatt Chicago.
The hotel just had its grand opening this past Tuesday, and I had the opportunity to stay that night after flying in from Frankfurt on Singapore Airlines. It’s worth noting that the hotel already had guests for about a week prior, though Tuesday, August 19, 2014, was technically their “grand opening” night.
This is a Category 7 Hyatt Gold Passport property, which makes a free night redemption 30,000 points for a standard room or 48,000 points per night for a suite (with a minimum of three nights). However, for the time being they don’t seem to be selling any standard rooms, so redeeming Gold Passport points for a standard room isn’t presently an option. I trust this will change when all of their rooms are for sale, as not all guest rooms are ready yet.
I wanted to write one of the first reviews, so ended up booking a AAA rate at the property, which was $660USD for one night. That’s way more than I’d ordinarily spend on a hotel, but I figured it was a decent investment to be able to review the property for you guys. Besides, at 30,000 Gold Passport points per night, the value differential between a paid stay and award stay isn’t huge.
The property is located on 57th Street between 6th & 7th Avenue, putting it just a block from Central Park. The hotel is in a stunning 75 story building (marketed as 90 stories), which really looks impressive even in the New York skyline.
Park Hyatt New York exterior
The exterior of the entrance has the signature Park Hyatt branding, and almost feels a bit like an entrance to a bank.
Park Hyatt New York entrance
Park Hyatt New York signage
The hotel has a welcome area on the first floor, where several associates were standing around with tablets to check guests in. The hotel’s lobby is actually on the third floor, so the idea is that you’ll be checked in upon arrival at the hotel and escorted to your room, completely bypassing the front desk. Then if you need anything during your stay, you can go to the front desk.
Park Hyatt New York entrance
Park Hyatt New York ground floor lobby
The ground floor of the hotel is beautiful and minimalistic, and very much fits in with the typical Park Hyatt decor. One thing I have to note upfront is that the attention to detail in this hotel was spectacular. That’s true not just in terms of the service, but also in terms of the attention to detail of design. Pictures will never do this hotel justice, because there are so many small touches in terms of the design that really impressed me.
Park Hyatt New York ground floor lobby
While I’ll cover more of the public areas later on, below is a picture of the front desk, along with the seating area by the reception desk, which feels very residential.
Park Hyatt New York third floor lobby
Park Hyatt New York third floor lobby
Park Hyatt New York third floor lobby
Park Hyatt New York third floor elevator
I was escorted up to my Park King room on the 14th floor. Again, the hallways feel residential. My room was located about halfway down the hallway on the right side.
Park Hyatt New York hallway
Park Hyatt New York room entrance
Park Hyatt New York floorplan
At ~500 square feet, the standard rooms in this hotel are rather large.
Park Hyatt New York Park King entrance
My room featured a long “L” shaped entryway
Park Hyatt New York Park King entryway
That’s where the safe and some storage were located, housed in a really cool “chest.”
Park Hyatt New York Park King safe
Next to that was a closet, which had a Park Hyatt New York garment bag (which I may or may not have permanently borrowed). 😉
Park Hyatt New York Park King closet
From the “L” shaped entrance, the bathroom was located to the left and bedroom to the right.
Park Hyatt New York Park King room
The bedroom featured a comfortable king size bed, desk, and chair by the window.
Park Hyatt New York Park King room
Park Hyatt New York Park King room
Park Hyatt New York Park King room
Next to the chair was a bottle of complimentary Evian water.
Park Hyatt New York Park King chair by window
The desk was located immediately below the flat screen TV.
Park Hyatt New York Park King desk
To the left of it was the phone, a tablet with all kinds of information about the hotel, and several types of outlets and adapters.
Park Hyatt New York Park King desk
Park Hyatt New York Park King desk
There was also a welcome gift consisting of a blueberry tart and some pears waiting on the desk.
Park Hyatt New York Park King welcome gift
Between the bedroom and bathroom was the minibar, which was in a massive armoire of sorts. It featured a Nespresso machine, along with a rather impressive minibar.
Park Hyatt New York Park King minibar
Park Hyatt New York Park King minibar
Not only was it extensive, but it was fancy as well. Like I-G-G-Y level fancy, given that it had half a bottle of Krug.
Park Hyatt New York Park King minibar
For a minibar, the price for the Krug actually wasn’t horrible. It was $180, which is lower than I would expect for a minibar at five star hotel (not that I’m a buyer at that price, given that you can buy a full bottle for as little as $125, but I suppose this is worth noting for the price conscious hundred millionaires among us). 😉
Park Hyatt New York Park King minibar prices
In terms of square footage, the bathroom probably took up as much space as the bedroom. There were sliding doors between the bedroom and bathroom, and it was pretty cool that when you slid one side closed, the other closed at the same time.
Inside the bathroom there were two double sinks to the left and a soaking tub to the right.
Park Hyatt New York Park King bathroom
Park Hyatt New York Park King bathroom
Park Hyatt New York Park King bathtub
Then to the left was a separate bathroom with a toilet.
Park Hyatt New York Park King toilet
And to the right was an absolutely gorgeous shower. Park Hyatts universally do a damn good job with showers, which is an area where a lot of other hotel chains fail, in my experience. There were two shower heads (a “rainforest” shower one as well as a handheld one), and both the water pressure and temperature control were excellent.
Park Hyatt New York Park King shower
Not only does the Park Hyatt have Le Labo toiletries (which are probably my favorite), but they actually have their own signature scent, available exclusively at the hotels. As you’ll see, the bottles specifically say “PARK HYATT NYC” on them. And if you’ve never read the back side of a Le Labo toiletry bottle, you really should… you’re in for a good laugh.
Park Hyatt New York Park King toiletries
The room was just gorgeous in every way. It was well designed, a great size for a standard room, and there was so much attention to detail in the finishes which pictures could never do justice to. Internet is also complimentary for all guests, and worked perfectly.
I’d say the one downside (or perhaps just not upside) is that views are lacking from the hotel. The hotel is in a tall building, and most of the residences feature amazing views of Central Park. The disadvantage of being on the first 25 floors is that the views are lacking. This was especially true on the 14th floor, though I think starting around the 20th floor or so, there should be at least some views.
Park Hyatt New York Park King view
During my stay I also had the opportunity to tour a Park Suite.
The suite was gorgeous as well, with a large living room, featuring a couch, several chairs, and a desk. There was also a half bathroom by the living room.
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King living room
Then there was a separate bedroom — there are two doors to the living room, and you can choose whether to keep them open or closed.
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King bedroom
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King bedroom
The bathroom was actually quite similar to the one in my room, which is a testament to how nice all the guest room bathrooms are (given that I thought the bathroom was even nice for a suite).
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King bathroom
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King shower
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King bathtub
The only difference was that the suites at this hotel have bidet-style toilets, while the non-suites don’t.
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King toilet
Park Hyatt New York Park Suite King sink
In terms of the hotel’s other facilities, The Living Room is located on the third floor, just across from the reception. This is the name for the lounge/bar/communal area that is used at all Park Hyatt properties, though this is an especially stunning one.
Park Hyatt New York Living Room
Park Hyatt New York Living Room
The lounge area is on a slightly higher level, while the there are stairs that lead down to the bar.
Park Hyatt New York Living Room
Park Hyatt New York Living Room
The lounge is actually a champagne bar as well, so there are several varieties on display (though no Krug!).
Park Hyatt New York Living Room
I met my brother for drinks in the evening, and I have to say the prices were quite reasonably by New York City standards. For example, his wine was $15 per glass, while my G&T was also $15. That’s obviously much more than you’d pay in Florida or at TGI Friday’s, but for a five star hotel in NYC that’s extremely reasonable. I know I’ve paid $20+ for a G&T at some other hotels in the city.
Park Hyatt New York Living Room drinks
There’s also a menu with bar snacks, and I ended up ordering a caesar salad with sirloin, which was excellent.
Park Hyatt New York Living Room snack
Just past The Living Room is The Back Room at One57, which is the hotel’s restaurant. Again, it’s absolutely gorgeous. I especially loved the chairs, which sort of felt like “board room” chairs.
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant
This is also where I had my complimentary Gold Passport Diamond breakfast. The breakfast menu read as follows:
Now, I didn’t actually know what the breakfast benefit was (they don’t seem to have a stated limit), though I’m guessing it doesn’t include “The Backroom Breakfast For Two.” 😉
Instead I had the poached vanilla apricot with granola to start, which was spectacular.
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant breakfast
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant breakfast
Then for the main course I had “The 57th Street Breakfast,” which included a pastry basket, toast, eggs cooked to order, and coffee, tea, or juice.
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant breakfast
I had a veggie egg white scramble, which was excellent as well.
Park Hyatt New York Back Room at One57 Restaurant breakfast
In terms of the hotel’s other facilities, there’s a gorgeous lap pool and hot tub on the 25th floor. I don’t think there are many hotels in New York with pools of this caliber.
Park Hyatt New York pool
Park Hyatt New York pool
Park Hyatt New York pool
There were also several lounge chairs, and there’s a lifeguard on duty for all hours the pool is open.
Park Hyatt New York pool
The locker room across from the pool is also beautiful, and even has Vaughn hair products. Back when I used to live in Bellevue, the place where I gotst my hairs did had Vaughn products, and I’m pretty sure they’re more expensive per ounce than gold.
Park Hyatt New York pool locker room
The gym was located one level up from the pool.
Park Hyatt New York walkway to gym
The gym was nice, and I liked how it wasn’t just a square room, so even if it were full, it would feel pretty private.
Park Hyatt New York gym
Park Hyatt New York gym
Park Hyatt New York gym
Park Hyatt New York gym
The views from the gym were great, and really reminded you of the proximity of the hotel to Central Park.
Park Hyatt New York gym view
The Park Hyatt also has the Naila Spa, located across from the pool. I had the chance to tour it. I don’t think I’ve ever walked through a spa where I let out as many “wows” as this place. The reception area featured super-high ceilings and had gorgeous views of the skyline.
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai view
But the treatment rooms were the real highlight. Each featured a shower and steam room, and most even had outdoor balconies — that’s not something you see very often in New York.
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai treatment room
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai treatment room
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai treatment room
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai treatment room balcony
Park Hyatt New York Spa Nalai treatment room balcony view
Beyond the “hard product” of the hotel, the service was fantastic across the board. Now, I have high expectations of Park Hyatt properties, and especially of new hotels, so I was sort of expecting the level of enthusiasm and service I received. But the service was just absolutely perfect across the board, and then some.
I can provide a million examples of the level of “polished” service you’d expect, though what struck me the most was the doorman, Christopher. He was just the friendliest, awesomest, most excited person I’ve come across in a long time. And perhaps what impressed me most was when I was leaving the hotel in the evening, he stopped me and asked if he could fix my collar. As I explained in my post a few days back about how hospitality happens at the margins, that stayed with me more than anything else. Because there’s no training manual or course in the world that tells you to stop someone and fix their collar. That’s something that happens because of a true passion for being hospitable and going above and beyond (and in case anyone happens to stay here and wants to say hi to Christopher, he’s all the way on the right in this picture, so tell him I said hi and that’s he’s awesome).
Park Hyatt New York bottom line
Park Hyatt is one of my favorite hotel brands in the world, and rarely do I have anything but praise for them. The same is true for the new Park Hyatt New York. It’s a beautiful property with great service. While I can’t afford to stay here regularly, I do think the hotel is actually a good value within the market it’s competing. There are tons of “mediocre” five star hotels that go for $800+ per night in New York, and I think this hotel can compete with the best of them.
Here’s to hoping they start selling more standard rooms, so that we can redeem points for them!
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