WestHouse Hotel

The Scene

Nestled between Central Park and Times Square, WestHouse Hotel capitalizes on the luxe atmosphere of this part of Midtown. Within 3 blocks in any direction from the hotel, you’ll find theaters and concert halls aplenty; Carnegie Hall itself is one block up 7th Avenue from WestHouse. Central Park’s southern border is a short 10 minute walk and the Central Park Zoo is just 15 (scenic) minutes away. The shopping is the absolute tops with 5th Avenue two blocks away and Bergdorf, Barneys, FAO Schwarz, and DC Comics all within easy walking distance. Dining is never a miss around here: with the plethora of super luxe hotels in an already-posh atmosphere, the only real question is where can you snag a reservation?

The Concept

It’s true that New York is---dare we say it---overrun with boutique hotels (and their imitators). Now that this sentiment is out of the way, we’re refreshed by the magnificent luxury brought back by WestHouse. Really more of a private club without the exorbitant annual membership fees, they’ve put incredible thought into the full guest experience. It charges a $30 per person per night “hotel resident” fee, but don’t be turned off by it; look at the fine print and for once be pleasantly surprised. House alcoholic (and non-alcoholic) beverages, barista-made coffees, breakfast, afternoon tea, hors d’oeuvres, evening canapes, most of your minibar, a 24/7 connection to Net-a-Porter (with same-day delivery, no less), unlimited access to business center services...and more. Bottom line, there’s clearly value in this proposition.

The Look

While the Art Deco influence shows in small touches like chrome details and general furniture design, we really get more of a comfortable modern vibe from the space. It’s about as close as you can get to a home-y feel in a decidedly luxurious hotel: collections of stylishly hung images recalling the era, rich carpet, plush fabrics, tufted headboards, bright live plants, complimentary Dean & Deluca minibar, Intelity bedside touch-screen controls to manage the AC, your music, and get in touch with house services, and a custom scent by 12.29 for that extra personal touch. No room is a bad room, but a splurge on the Times Square View King is always worth it in our opinion. The common spaces in the hotel are more or less an even more upscale extension of your room, emphasizing luxury and grandeur with plenty of wood paneling and cushy seating in The Den and with gilded lightness on The Terrace.

In Short

With a clear-minded understanding of today’s traveler, the WestHouse sets a new level of luxury in Midtown Manhattan with a contemporary vibe and intimate atmosphere.