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Everything at the Mandarin Oriental, New York is elevated, even from the very first impression. As I stepped off of 60th Street in midtown Manhattan and into the hotel’s foyer for a stay this fall, I was quickly whisked up an elevator to the 35th-floor lobby. Tucked away from the noise of the city on ground level, I noticed a botanical glass sculpture by artist Dale Chihuly emerging out of a moss garden. As I adjusted my eyes, staggering skyline views came into focus out the window.
The 244-room luxury hotel is regularly named among the city's best—and I learned that's for good reason.
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After checking in for a comped review, I headed up another elevator to the Hudson River Suite on the 53rd floor. Prices per-night for the suite range from $2,100 to $4,595, bookable here. Once inside, I was struck by the size of the space. Coming in at 800 square feet, the suite is bigger than my Manhattan apartment. There's a spacious living room area with two sofas, a table for working or dining (I did both during my stay), a bedroom, a full bathroom with a robotic toilet, and a powder room. Each space exudes a quiet luxury with thoughtful details.
Despite the contemporary artwork, the giant TVs, and even a TV in the bathroom hidden in the vanity mirror, I was most drawn to look at the panoramic views. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the suite boasted both Hudson River and Upper West Side city views. I couldn't help but gaze at the cars moving like ants below and watch as the sky turned from bright blue to burnt orange and finally inky purple. A pair of binoculars on the end table allowed me to get a close-up view of architecture around the neighborhood.
After sundown, it was time for me to get dolled up, as I was lucky enough to try The Metropolitan Opera VIP Experience, a new offering from the property. My group and I dined in The Grand Tier, beneath the Met Opera's iconic chandeliers, delighting in burrata, mushroom soup, arctic char, lobster and stuffed delicata squash. And then for my favorite part: We pre-ordered an after-dinner drink and dessert to enjoy after the first act of the show. We quickly found our seats and settled in for a captivating performance of Rigoletto, then during intermission hustled back to our dining table for pavlova, semifreddo, crème brûlée, and opera cake paired with coffee and grappa. Fully sugared up, we ventured back into the theater for act two.
After that truly memorable experience, I couldn't wait to relax in the bathtub with custom bath salts provided by the hotel. I was pleasantly surprised to return to the room and see that the turndown service team left us with slippers and a nice spruce of the room. They even folded the nightgown I'd carelessly thrown onto the bed into a beautiful fan!
After a warm bath, slipping into the soft, king-size bed felt like a dream. I couldn't help but keep the curtains cracked to admire the city lights before falling asleep.
In the morning, I treated myself to room service, and I felt even more spoiled than Kevin McCallister in Home Alone 2. A room service attendant arrived pushing a cart decked out with a white tablecloth to spread on the dining table, plus an array of cutlery, dishware and adorably tiny jams. The meal included a latte served in a carafe, a tall glass of orange juice and an omelet that would make Chef Gabriel from Emily in Paris weep.
On this trip, I opted to sleep in and skip the morning water aerobics class, but I'm definitely planning to visit the 75-foot pool next time. Unlike many hotel pools relegated to dank basements, this one is a showpiece with massive windows, bright lights and plenty of room for getting some exercise.
On a past visit, I checked out The Spa at Mandarin Oriental for a facial, which is just one of the award-winning spa's vast offerings that are worth checking out. Also worth your time, whether you're staying at the hotel or just dropping by: The lavish afternoon tea served in the MO Lounge with a selection of tea sandwiches, scones, sweet treats and Central Park views.
For when you eventually want to make your way into the city, the hotel's central location along Columbus Circle means New York City is at your doorstep. But it's definitely hard to tear yourself away from the city views while you cuddle up in bed or relax in the tub, and that type of luxe relaxation is definitely at home here.