The Empire Hotel, NYC
The historic Empire Hotel in New York made a grand debut last year after an extensive redesign of its rooms and exclusive rooftop spaces. The hotel is one of the oldest establishments on the Upper West Side still operating under the same name at the same location. Highlights of the lavish revamp include the sultry Lobby Bar on the ground floor, the spacious rooms and suites, and the addition of the exclusive Pooldeck on the 13th floor where the giant neon Empire Hotel sign casts a red glow of “Old Hollywood” glamour upon it. The Empire Hotel first opened in the mid 1890s but was completely rebuilt in 1923, when the iconic red neon sign was erected – one of the first ever and longest standing neon billboards in the United States. Yeah, I utterly enjoy the historic quirks of this pioneering hotel that started off with rates ranging from $2.00 – $5.00 per night back in the old days. It was also the first NYC hotel to have an outdoor street café as well as air conditioned meeting rooms – they would put ice in the vents and used a fan to circulate the cold air.
The 12-story hotel remained unchanged through the years until now. Just like the boutique Hotel Marcel at Gramercy, the design duo Goodman Charlton oversaw the interior design. The interior design and décor has a classic, neutral palette of ochre, coffee, cream and caramel, accented by hand-crafted metalwork such as hammered bronze, brass and copper. The Lobby has a sweeping staircase to the mezzanine level that overlooks the ground-floor seating area. Ochre-coloured shantung silk drapes run from the vaulted ceiling to the marble floor. High-backed plush couches and zebra print and mahogany chairs are intimately grouped on the ground floor and mezzanine level.
Expect to see The Empire Hotel in your favourite TV shows soon as it is becoming a hotspot, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall and guest star Penelope Cruz were spotted filming scenes this week for the upcoming Sex and The City sequel in the Lobby Bar. On Gossip Girl, Chuck Bass just bought the Empire but unfortunately I did not cross path with Ed Westwick or Leighton Meester but the cast is said to return filming new scenes later this year. New York Fashion Week will also relocate across the street to Lincoln Center in September 2010.
The Empire Hotel is a New York Classic Reborn. This place is not for everyone and a minus about this hotel is probably the snotty attitude at the reception desk but in NYC, it might be considered a good indication of high standard. On my birthday, I stayed on the 8th floor in a spacious and stylish Living Room suite with an iconic view of the city that never sleeps – what a great place to celebrate indeed. The room interior include accents such as faux-crocodile covered side tables, splashes of tiger and zebra print on cushions and wing-backed chairs, crisp white Frette linens. Some of the room features include a LCD flat-screen TV, an iPod docking station and wireless Internet access, I also found myself lingering under the oversized rainfall showerhead with the L’Occitane bath amenities. The Empire Hotel has 50 luxury suites, five of which are Living Room suites, plus 363 plush rooms with 7 different room styles.
The Pooldeck on the 13th floor is located above busy Broadway with north-facing, 180 degree city views. The classic poolside decor is lightly infused with the decadent charm of the South of France, with custom-designed teak sun beds, a plunge-pool and private Cabanas. The Cabanas at the Pooldeck provide a hip hangout for guests to unwind and enjoy the views or cocktails. Happy birthday to me!
The Empire Hotel is located at 44 West 63rd Street, NYC.
Photo Gallery The Empire Hotel
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Yen Huynh, Creator of mecho | the style black book
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