If you want to experience old New York, then the Lowell Hotel is just the ticket. Nestled on East 63rd street, it’s seconds from Central Park Zoo and Madison Avenue. Established as a luxury hotel in 1927, it’s a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
Outside the door, smartly dressed porters usher you into the grand front door, which sits between twin British and American flags. From the start, you feel like you’re on set: it’s in between two of the most famous locations where Audrey Hepburn filmed Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and just around the corner from where Carrie Bradshaw would go shopping in Sex and the City. Just down the road is the Plaza Hotel, which feature in films such as Home Alone 2, North By Northwest, and The Great Gatsby.
Where?
The location is fairly unbeatable. Central Park is so close, that it's almost like a back garden. Meandering through the park, twenty minutes north is the Met, while twenty minutes South is the Museum of Modern Art. A stroll down Madison Avenue, or a visit to nearby Bloomingdale’s offers inexhaustible high end retail options, while Trump Tower is a few blocks away too. Transport is easy too, with Metro lines 4, 5 and 6 are close by, and attentive staff available to call cars if needed.
Style
Filled with antiques and fresh roses, the Lowell’s 17 stories are styled like a tasteful Manhattan townhouse, with a touch of Parisian chic. Credit for the understated look goes to Michael Smith, also interior decorator for the Obama’s White House. Each of The Lowell’s rooms are fitted with neoclassical touches, soft colour schemes, and polished oak floors. While Mark Pinney (a London-based architect who is known for his work with the likes of Harrods and Burberry) helped work on a recent $25 million refurbishment a few years ago. One hotel porter, who’d worked there for decades, was particularly proud of the fireplaces that some lucky guests get to enjoy – they are virtually unheard of in the area, as the Lowell has a special license.
Facilities
The Lowell is all about understated service, but it has a range of amenities too. A gym on the first floor includes treadmills, Stairmasters, rowing machines, stationary bikes and free weights. On top of that, all rooms enjoy a 24-hour In-room Dining Menu (which even includes a Pet Menu: the hotel welcomes dogs for a one-time cleaning fee of $200). There’s great calm to be found in The Club Room – a cosy lounge with Parquet floors and a library of vintage books. It has a bar and small plates menu, and is a good place to rest after a busy day.
Food & drink
The hotel's restaurant, Majorelle, is a beautiful, refined space decorated with big flower arrangements and elaborate table settings. It serves French-Moroccan cuisine and is known for seasonal ingredients and wine pairings. The bar, Jacques, has mosaic marble floors and antique mirrored ceilings: both were inspired by the iconic Yves Saint Laurent gardens in Marrakech. Upstairs, the Pembroke room, a European style salon, is a relaxing space to enjoy an all-American breakfast, before heading out into the big city.
Which room?
There are 74 rooms in the Lowell. What’s rare in Manhattan is the space, as even the smallest are 400 square feet. That leaves more than enough room for the big, comfy king sized beds (with 300-thread-count Frette sheets) and, in the larger rooms and suites, plush sofas. Guests can also enjoy a soak in the huge tubs of the elegant marble bathrooms (stocked with DDC28 bath products created by Dina De Luca Chartouni, the hotelier’s wife). Suites also come with small kitchens, a dishwasher, full-sized fridge and an elaborate mini bar. And guests staying in larger suites are lucky enough to enjoy terraces with sweeping Manhattan views – play a game of spot the skyscraper.
Best for...
There’s no getting around it, this hotel is for a classy customer. The Lowell is pretty high end: stars including Jennifer Lopez and Madonna have been known to stay in the biggest suites, with plenty of space for their entourage. However, not all rooms are quite as exclusive, and the Lowell is worth splashing out for: reading all of the different sections of your complimentary New York Times in the Pembroke breakfast room on a Sunday morning takes some beating.
