Conrad New York, 102 North End Avenue
Another new kid on the luxury Downtown block, the five-year-old Conrad New York is part of the Hilton chain, but with a hipper, funkier vibe. Perfectly situated on North End Avenue, just moments from Battery Park – departure point for cruise boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island – the Hudson River park and the new Brookfield Place shopping centre, it’s also next door to the Regal movie theatre with its entrance on Murray Street.
Service at the Conrad New York is superb – evident from the moment I stepped out of my taxi. Doormen were quick and keen to collect my luggage, and I received a warm and welcome reception with great concierge service. The interiors here are breathtaking: a massive atrium lobby with an impressive contemporary art collection. More than 2000 pieces are on display in the public areas and in the Conrad’s 463 luxury guest suites. From conceptual artist Sol LeWitts’s Loopy Dolly (blue and purple) rising an awesome 13 stories above the atrium, to Pat Steir’s Topsy Turvy at the top of the grand staircase, the huge space feels just as much art gallery as hotel lobby. There is more than 30,000 sq ft of meeting space – ideal for adjacent financial corporates.
“We pride ourselves on our support of the arts,” Hilton Comms director Mark Ricci tells me over a refreshing cocktail at the bar next to the open kitchen for ATRIO, the Conrad’s dedicated all-day dining restaurant. “We are also the go-to bar for many local firms. It’s a lively after-work scene here.”
We meet Executive Chef Gerron Douglas who shares his new pizza recipe with us (it includes petit pois) – a must-sample for later. I love the open-plan bar, lounge, restaurant and kitchen. You can breathe here. The vibe is cool, trendy and glamorous and the bartenders are smart, swift and engaging.
The Conrad’s accommodation is all-suite, all providing views towards the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson. Averaging 430sq ft, the top suite, the Conrad, is a 1500sq ft luxury haven that would suit most business travellers as well as families. It has a private study with iMac, as well as kitchenette and separate dining room and living areas.
My suite has views across the river, with large-screen TV, a wet room (no bath) with large rainfall shower, seating area and plenty of wardrobe space. I love the thoughtful touches: Nespresso machine, spacious desk, and a roomy safe that could fit several iPads or laptops.
Dinner that evening at ATRIO was delicious. There are plenty of dining options in nearby Brookfield Place Mall (Park, Beaubourg at Le District, Le Veda, North End Grill…) but I recommend eating at the hotel at least once during your stay. My friend and I enjoyed our fabulous Roasted Main Scallops and Grilled Hangar Steak. Both beautifully prepared, cooked and presented. The chocolate pannacotta with amarena cherries and marcona almonds was sublime.
Even later the same evening, I am sixteen stories above street level enjoying the Conrad New York’s seasonal ‘green’ roof Loopy Doopy Bar terrace, with its superb views of the Hudson across to the New Jersey skyline. Handily, you don’t ever have to leave your room for service, simply call reception or download the dedicated Conrad concierge app to make dinner reservations or order room service.
The Conrad’s retail neighbours include the Brookfield Place shopping mall, a new complex with luxury brand shops, restaurants and a waterfront plaza that leads straight to the North Cove Marina, a cool outdoor space with canopied seating.
A Conrad Shopper in the City package with the neighbouring Westfield Center at the Oculus includes: one night’s stay in a deluxe suite, a $200 Westfield World Trade Center gift card, a $500-value gift box, a tour of the Oculus and exclusive Westfield Concierge services. Luxury brands here include: Dior, Breitling, Montblanc and Smythson.
I work off dinner the next morning at the gym, followed by a fabulous buffet breakfast in the ATRIO dining area. You’ll find a good selection of juices, breads, cheeses and cold cuts here, as well as cereals and diverse cooked options. The coffee was excellent.
Such is the Conrad’s superb location I managed to visit the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum (www.911memorial.org), as well as the One World Trade Center Observatory Tour (www.oneworldobservatory.com) in just a few hours. The twin reflecting pools are nearly an acre in size and lie within the footprints of the Twin Towers. Names of those who died are inscribed in bronze panels edging the pools. It’s an incredibly moving and thought-provoking experience.
The 9-11 Memorial Museum is located underground next to the original World Trade Center site. You can see the massive slurry walls built to protect the towers from the encroaching Hudson, as well as remnants of box columns that formed the exterior structure of the Towers. There are hundreds of artifacts and moving video witness testimony to one of the blackest days in modern American history. Take your Kleenex. It’s a hushed reverential atmosphere and may be too upsetting for some.
The Hudson is an ever-present and calming presence at the Conrad, so I was excited to hear that it has partnered with America’s Cup competitor and Olympian Steve Colgate and his wife Doris at North Cove Marina to offer guests exclusive 2-hour sailing packages around Manhattan.
If you’re looking for a superbly located luxury Downtown hotel that provides a cool vibe against the backdrop of the very best city and water excursions, the Conrad New York is a superb choice.