JW Marriott Essex House

The JW Marriott Essex House, with its iconic red sign, has been a staple hotel of the area for a while, but three recently remodeled suites from its Central Park Suites Collection are drawing attention back to this beloved hotel—and it’s for good reason.

Located at the southern edge of Central Park, the views from this hotel are rivaled only by the others on that three-block stretch of 59th Street, including the Ritz Carlton and The Plaza. The Art Deco lobby where you check in has also been remodeled, and what I appreciated about the space is that they’re actively mixing elements of modern design and marrying them with the existing details of the building in a way the prevents them from clashing. 

The building hosts a mix of residents and hotel guests who are evenly distributed throughout all the floors, which gives the hotel a sense of calm that you can’t always find in a Manhattan hotel. They’re also gearing up to launch a new steak restaurant, which should bring more life to the lobby in the coming months.

What I loved about the remodeled suites, which were launched in summer of 2023, is that there’s real creative intention behind them. Each of the three suites is inspired by a personality who helped shape the culture of New York City, and you can see hints of those personalities in all the details. They include the Artisans Terrace Suite, which is an ode to the craftsmanship of the city’s artisans throughout history; Meadow Terrace Suite, a feminine-leaning space that was inspired by socialite and interior designer Elsie de Wolfe; and the Delacorte Presidential Suite, which looks to Central Park’s flora and fauna as its main source of inspiration. 

I stayed at the Artisans Suite, and it genuinely took my breath away when I walked in for its sheer size. There was a kitchen with a dishwasher, a primary bedroom with a king bed, dining room, secondary bedroom also with a king bed and its own bathroom, but the highlight, at least for me, was the enormous terrace.

The terrace, wraps around the entire suite on three sides and it had so much seating and space that it felt like it should belong to a restaurant, not a hotel suite. There was a large table that could seat at least eight people, chairs strewn throughout and a ping pong table on one of the sides. All in all, the outdoor space could probably comfortably host a party of 30 people or more, and I was told that they’re planning on installing a cold plunge pool and sauna that should be ready by the end of spring.

If anything, it almost felt like too much space for a two-bedroom, a strange sensation to have in the middle of Manhattan, but guests are more than welcome to invite friends. I was told hosting cocktail parties there is pretty common and that you can even let the concierge know if you’re planning on having catering, and they’ll accommodate.

There are some small design incosnistencies—the motion-sensor light turned off halfway through my shower and the water never got that hot. There were no beverages in the suite, so I had to call room service whenever I wanted anything that wasn’t tap water. I’m really nitpicking here because the experience was an overall dream—the major issue was that it doesn't feel like people have stayed here yet and that I wasn’t sure what to do with so much space, the latter of which probably speaks more to my own lack of imagination. My only other critique was that the room service menu was good, but didn’t feel consistent with the level of quality of the suite itself (think buffalo chicken wings and pasta, not oysters and steak). 

The Artisan Terrace Suite felt the most appropriate for younger people or anyone who want a more social experience. The Meadow Terrace Suite, on the other hand, felt more appropriate for a smaller family or couple, but their balcony had stunning head-on views of Central Park, which the Artisan Terrace Suite did not. The 2,000 square-foot Meadow Terrace Suite also includes a second bedroom with two queen beds, and a full kitchenette with a private entrance.

Finally, the Delacorte Presidential Suite seemed ideal for a bigger family, with two sections of the suite separated by a winding hallway that made it feel more like a luxury apartment than a hotel suite. It’s named after George T. Delacorte, who founded Dell publishing and became known for his philanthropy and the Delacorte Clock. The highlight of the 2,500 square foot space, which also has head-on views of Central Park, is a table for eight people crafted from sustainably sourced wood.

Neighborhood 

It goes saying that the highlight here is the proximity to Central Park, but you’re also within a block of Columbus Circle (with many train lines that will whisk you to the Upper West Side, Harlem and beyond), two blocks from Fifth Avenue and just a fifteen-minute walk to Times Square or Lincoln Center.

Nearby 

In Central Park, you’re no more than a couple minute walk away from The Pond and the Gapstow Bridge. Beyond the park, you’re a three-minute walk to Marea, an Italian Michelin-starred restaurant, the Museum of Arts and Design, The Plaza Hotel and Apple’s flagship Fifth Avenue store.

Time Out tip 

Make sure you bring a sweater if you’re staying in one of the suites—you’ll probably spend a lot of time on the terraces, and it can get chilly at night, especially since you’re so far up.