By Shari Hartford
The pandemic hit every industry and every employee hard…both financially and personally. The service and hospitality industries were especially hard hit and continue to ride out the repercussions today. In New York City, I am happy to see the slow but steady progress of reopening, rebranding and reinventing hotels as tourism increases and life, as our new and safe normal, begins again.
As I step my cautious foot back into the pond of hotel exploration, I was delighted to take my first steps at the Concorde Hotel New York. Located in midtown, with easy access to transportation hubs, tourist attractions and office towers, the Concorde is a chic oasis in an increasingly busy city. The small and soothing lobby is stylistically monochromatic. The sofas are leather, the ambiance is mellow and the small bar/café, called Bonsaii, is hospitable. There is even a lovely outdoor space for evening drinks and tapas complete with killer views of the skyline.
As our lives become more frenetic, the calm of the hotel is apparent once entering the elevator. Although the building soars to 37 stories, there are only three to four accommodations per floor, for a total of 122 rooms and suites. I toured the hotel and was blown away by the Ambassador Suite…a one-bedroom contemporary paradise with a state-of-the-art kitchenette, sweeping city views (more on that later) and even a working fireplace.
As for my accommodation for the evening…it was perfect! Large by New York hotel standards (284 square feet) the City View Deluxe had everything you need for a comfortable stay. I particularly loved the white leather reading chair and the pop of color with deep purple throw pillows. My usual hotel room nemesis, poor bedside reading light, was bright and at the perfect angle. With a mini frig, Nespresso coffee maker and an ample bathroom complete with soaking tub and a separate shower, I’m happy to say that one night wasn’t nearly enough.
Now back to the views. There was a storm moving in on my night at Concorde. The extra-large windows presented a completely unobstructed image of the cityscape as the black clouds rolled over the building tops. Flashes of lightening were their own fireworks display. Spectacular!
All too soon, a glorious morning dawned. Reluctantly, I bade farewell to my high-above-the-rooftops retreat. Next time I’m in the hood, I’ll be sure to settle in for a cocktail on the flowery outdoor patio.
For more information:
Concorde Hotel New York, 127 East 55th Street, New York, NY 10022
Shari Hartford is the former managing editor for Diversion magazine, where she wrote about travel in the northeast and cruising. She is currently a freelance writer and editor based in her hometown of New York City.
