The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

There is no dearth of great hotels in New York; there are plenty of five star hotels too; there are hotels that wow you with their amenities and offer lovely massages in their exclusive spa; there are hotels that have marvelous architecture and a wonderful history; there are hotels that offer you great deals and throw in every possible sightseeing experience along with room tariff. But there is only one hotel that takes you back to the New York of the days gone by; days that you only read about in books or watch on stage in Broadway performances – and that’s The Carlyle.

Since the 1930’s the Carlyle has been patronized by artists, local and international celebrities, and even presidents who’ve counted on the hotel’s old world discreet values and the white glove service. The marble-floored lobby with Piranesi prints and murals is a beauty and you half expect to see JFK walking across it hand in hand with Marilyn Monroe. Even today, it is not unusual to see mysterious celebrities with their faces obscured by scarves entering the hotel or dining in the Gallery. It all adds to the ambience and mood of the hotel.

There are more than a 180 guest rooms in The Carlyle, and you can choose from singles to seven-room suites. Some even have full dining room and terraces. Each of the 57 suites in the hotel is individually decorated and provides enough space for you to entertain and relax. 23 suites come with Baldwin or Steinway baby-grand pianos, which are kept fine tuned in case you wish to indulge your musical talents.

The Carlyle has three on site restaurants, including one of the city’s best cabaret rooms, Café Carlyle, which has also seen performances by Woody Allen on jazz clarinet and Judy Collins. The Bemelman’s Bar, which gets its name from Ludwig Bemelman, author of the Madeline children’s books, is a great place to grab some cocktails while listening to the nightly piano performances.

If you are looking for fine dining options, the Carlyle Restaurant is your place. It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. The food is heavily inspired by French cuisine, but you do have to cough up quite a bit for a meal.

Iconic, traditional, classy, luxurious…these are just some of the words that can be used to describe The Carlyle. But to know and to feel exactly what these words mean, you have to set foot into this grand dame of a hotel, even if it is just once in your life.

35 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021 (800-227-5737, 212-744-1600)

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