We have to admit we’ve never watched Gossip Girl, but even we pop culture philistines can appreciate how the Lotte New York Palace was put back on the map by it in the late-Noughties – though we like to think it was the other way around.
Where else has an all-gilt dining room? And if the Gold Room’s walls could talk, they’d recount NYC’s socialite history way before the ‘van der Woodsens’ plotted intrigue in it on the TV. Tucking into breakfast here (or any meal – guests mustn’t miss the chance to sample chef Cedric Tovar’s indulgent menu) took us back to the glamour of NYC at the turn of the 20th century.
Our stay in the Lotte New York Palace’s ‘Towers”, a separate wing of the hotel occupying the top 14 floors of the building, was a cut above the rest. Its own VIP lobby and lifts took us to our Executive Suite overlooking St Patrick’s Cathedral, with a view to the rest of NYC beyond. The sprawling living space came complete with a sumptuous bath to soak away our travel lag.
A one-night upgrade to the Champagne Suite was unforgettable – double-height, floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around this mind-blowing 53rd-floor loft with killer views over the city. A giant bubbly chandelier and a wine-inspired mural by French ‘wall tattooists’ Alex et Marine complete the look, along with a Nouveau Nero polished-marble foyer and an exclusive in-suite collaboration with Dom Perignon.
It was hard to leave the luxury of the Lotte New York Palace, but it’s the location that makes this property a must-pick – just a short stroll to some of NYC’s iconic sites, gastronomy and shopping.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Sophisticate | JFK / LGA / EWR | GMT -4 |
| While you’re Out There |
| With New York icon St Patrick’s Cathedral just across the street, the concierge here can tell you everything you need to know – plus some secrets too – about the site. From missing cornerstones, to what is possibly the first African American saint, to the fact that a part of “California Dreamin’s” lyrics pay tribute to it. |
Photography courtesy of Lotte New York Palace
