Mandarin Oriental, New York

BACKGROUND The property has been a part of New York City’s luxury hospitality setting since 2003. Two decades on, it shows no signs of having aged and instead manages to hold its own while several newer brands have flooded the market over the last few years.

WHERE IS IT? It is located at one of the most coveted addresses in the city – more specifically on Manhattan’s Westside at Columbus Circle and at the southern entrance to the sprawling Central Park. The hotel is a part of the Deutsche Bank Centre – in fact, the third-floor lobby has an exclusive entrance to the retail floors of the centre.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? You’d be hardpressed to find a better location than this. There may be only one dining option in the hotel itself, but there are plenty more among the wide selection of shops on the expansive retail floors. The lower lobby houses one of the largest Whole Foods shop that I’ve come across in New York and you are a hop, skip and a jump from Central Park. The sta are extremely welcoming and the MO Lounge o ers breakfast, all-day dining and dinner with spectacular views.

ROOMS There are 244 rooms and suites in the hotel. We stayed in the spacious 75 sqm Hudson River View suite, whose shades of teal are a nod to the river. It features floor-

The hotel is located at one of the most coveted addresses in New York City

to-ceiling windows that fill the room with light and there is a large desk to work, a sofa and a dining area for four, while the master bedroom has a king-size bed. If you’re looking for an ultra-luxurious experience at this hotel, there’s the 207 sqm Presidential suite that also features stunning 250-yearold parchment calligraphy.

FOOD AND DRINK On the 35th floor is the MO Lounge whose contemporary furnishings and décor give it the feel of a by-invitation-only members club. However, all are welcome to this space which is open throughout the day. Its lunch and dinner menu is restricted to a page – but each item has been crafted to perfection. Hands down, the soup we ordered was the best soup we’ve tasted in all of NYC. The burrata, risotto, and salmon croque monsieur – with the option to add Golden Ossetra caviar – are all highly recommended.

MEETINGS There are stunning events and meeting spaces on the property – perhaps the most impressive of them is the pillarless 550 sqm ballroom with commanding views over Central Park. There are three smaller rooms for board meetings, as well as The Gallery space where events are held amidst unique art pieces. LEISURE A 1,350 sqm spa spans both the 34th and 35th floors. Rather than choosing a treatment type, you can opt for the Time Ritual wherein you specify a length of time and the therapist will o er a bespoke treatment to fit within that time slot. You can drop by the Technogym-fitted gym on the 36th floor, and you can also request a personal session with an on-call trainer. On the same floor is a 75ft lap pool with great views of the Hudson River.

VERDICT We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and whatever requests we had including transportation, etc. were dealt with very e iciently. It may be a hangover from the bad old days of Covid, but when we checked in there were no co ee and tea amenities in our room which we discovered needed to be requested – and were promptly provided by room service. The same applied to our mini bar which, although fully stocked, was not unlocked until we contacted reception. Probably a good idea to organise that at check-in. David Roberts

BEST FOR Sweeping views of Central Park, NYC’s skyline and the Hudson River

DON’T MISS A meal at MO Lounge

PRICE Internet rates for a weeknight in December for a Hudson River View suite start at US$3,075

CONTACT 80 Columbus Circle at 60th Street, New York, New York 100023, USA; +1 212-805-8800; mandarinoriental.com