New York City



The Experience

Hip, chic and über-trendy describes both the hotel and its surrounding neighborhood, New York's Meatpacking District. Designer-label outlets are your neighbors and hot-ticket restaurants, such as Pastis and Spice Market, are on the doorstep. Still, all the hipness you need is right in the hotel. This towering glass skyscraper is flooded with light, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows, while masculine eelskin-clad columns, marble and steel simply add to the effect.

The Rooms

Again, light is the key feature, be it the natural light from the enormous windows or the clever steel bedside reading light. The color is muted, with bedrooms done in beige, taupe and brown and bathrooms in gray and black marble, with square stainless-steel basins and a single orchid in a glass reflected in the mirrors. While deluxes are hardly huge (300 square feet), there's still room for a king-size bed, a seating nook along the bay window and even step-out balconies. But upgrade to the 450-square-feet Gansevoort suite and you're guaranteed two "standing" balconies and a view of the Hudson River.

The Service

There's less attitude than you might expect. The young team exude an air of coolness but actually know their stuff when it comes to restaurant recommendations and tips on New York. At night, good-looking staff in short, white robes and flip-flops serve you cocktails in the trendy G Spa.

The Highlights

Door policy is tight, so grab your key and head up to Plunge, the rooftop bar. The action is out on the deck, where you can perch on a leather stool and admire the view across the Hudson River. (The obligatory plastic glasses do somewhat detract from the experience.) The 45-feet pool with underwater music stays open late, so take a dip and cool off under the stars. Alternatively, check out the spa-by-day, lounge-by-night that is Gansevoort Spa & Lounge, where the red-glass treatment rooms turn into private lounges and there's a hot tub in the middle of the bar. With a limit of 75 guests, it's a key venue for the in crowd.

-- Alistair Scott

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