WHAT’S IT LIKE? This is a designer hotel with a personal touch. Revolving doors take you through to a small reception with a triple-height ceiling, a large fireplace, glass-enclosed bamboo and a colour scheme of tan, beige and pale green “chosen to reflect the elements of earth, land and sky”. Designed by David Rockwell, it’s a suitably low-key, restrained introduction to the style of the hotel. On check-in or when reserving the room, guests complete a “preference profile” so staff can stock up the fridge or book a personal fitness assessment.
WHERE IS IT? Midtown, close to Grand Central station.
HOW MANY ROOMS? 203 rooms and suites in a 33-storey tower.
ROOM FACILITIES: Rooms are furnished to a high standard: Frette linens, limestone bathrooms, Frédéric Fekkai toiletries and fully equipped Poggenpohl kitchens with Sub-Zero fridges stocked with Dean and Deluca snacks (bafflingly there was no kettle, but I was informed that these could be requested).
Rooms have flat-screen TVs, digital audio players and DVD players, while other nice touches include sweets laid out in drawers in each of the place settings under a glass-topped table. There was a decent-size workdesk, which folded down out
of a credenza, and combining this clever use of space with the personal touch there’s also the Alex Business Cart, which is a “fully-equipped office on wheels which can be rolled into your room and contains a printer/fax/scanner plus writing and office materials”.
I was a little disappointed by the condition of the room, with several things broken including a cupboard door which had been propped against a wall, but was impressed by how quickly these were fixed once I had pointed them out. It also had the happy result that with the door back in its right place I found the previously hidden climate control for the room, so I could finally turn up the temperature, which had been too cold.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS: Under chef Marcus Samuelsson, Riingo offers both American and Japanese classics, with chef Shigenori Tanaka in charge of an eight-seat sushi bar. In addition, there is a 30-seat bar and lounge area next to the lobby, with a good list of cocktails as well as a selection of infused sakes and sake cocktails. The walls are decorated with attractive artwork and the à la carte breakfast is delicious.
BUSINESS FACILITIES: On the third floor there is a small business centre with computer terminals.
LEISURE FACILITIES: For a small hotel, there is a good-size gym (on the third floor), well-equipped with towels, water, fruit, yoga mats and headphones for the exercise machines.
PRICE: Internet rates for a midweek stay in mid-June start from US$559 for a Deluxe room (24-hour cancellation).
VERDICT: The sort of place an independent business traveller would love, habit-forming almost, with the friendliness of the staff, the can-do attitude to requests, and the excellent concierge Flo Marinez.
CONTACT: 205 East 45th Street, New York; tel 1 212 867 5100, www.thealexhotel.com
Tom Otley
