Words by Kirsty McCormack
New York City is known for being the city that never sleeps, and you’re certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to hotels, but if you want to stay in the heart of Manhattan then look no further than The Knickerbocker.
The iconic building – a member of Leading Hotels of the World – was built in 1906 and played host to the world’s biggest names in entertainment, politics, culture, and high society in the earliest years of the 20th century.
The Knickerbocker was one of three entities – along with the subway and the New York Times – whose arrival at the crossroads of 42nd Street and Broadway transformed a then-sleepy Times Square into the city’s biggest tourist hot spot.
Hotel
This stand-out hotel hasn’t always been a place to party – and sleep – because way back in 1921, The Knickerbocker was converted into offices thanks to the onset of Prohibition. Fast forward to 1988, and the property was declared a New York City Landmark and now stands firmly as one of Manhattan’s premier luxury lifestyle hotels.
The storied hotel, once frequented by well-known figures such as John D. Rockefeller and F. Scott Fitzgerald and a permanent residence for opera singer Enrico Caruso and Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, is unsurprisingly filled with fabled legends, and it has even been suggested that it was the birthplace of the dry martini.
Room
Don’t be fooled by The Knickerbocker’s understated entrance at Six Times Square, because beyond the subtle concierge and check-in desk, there are 330 luxurious guest rooms, including 27 Junior Suites and four Tribute Suites – the Caruso, Cohan, Martini, and Parrish.
Whichever room you find yourself in within the hotel’s 16-story Beaux-Art façade, all accommodations will feel spacious thanks to the high ceilings and six-foot windows, and the muted tones of grey against the neutral furnishings and oak wood finishes really add to the feeling of luxury.
Thanks to sound-reducing windows and automated blackout drapes, you’ll never know you were nestled in the heart of New York City’s busiest location – and won’t have any trouble whatsoever falling into a slumber in your plush bed which comes complete with luxurious SFERRA linens and Ploh feather pillows.
Food and drink
When you think of sipping on cocktails in NYC, you normally think of a rooftop bar – and The Knickerbocker is home to one of the best in the city. St. Cloud is nestled between the skyscrapers of Manhattan and offers both indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an extensive cocktail menu and seasonally inspired small plates.
If you’re looking for something more filling to eat then Charlie Palmer at The Knick is the ideal spot, which is where guests can enjoy a delightful breakfast menu that includes a smoked salmon platter and fluffy buttermilk pancakes. Chef Charlie Palmer has also announced the arrival of Charlie Palmer Steak IV, a new and elevated steakhouse within the Charlie Palmer Collective, which will open on the fourth floor this spring.
An exciting new fine dining experience, the restaurant will embrace its theatrical neighbour Broadway and include select immersive tableside experiences including The SeaSide – which is a tableside creation of daily pristine seafood, flash poached tableside and served warm over inspired greens, pickled fruits and citrus.
Another is the Martini Cart, which is already available at the hotel and has been created in honour of The Knickerbocker’s legacy of perfecting the dry martini in the early 1900s in its famous hotel bar, which is rumoured to be the birthplace of the classic cocktail. Dubbing 2024 as their ‘Year of the Martini’, the hotel is organising Martini Masterclasses throughout the year with renowned, global mixologists and an exciting recipe book.
To do
Thanks to The Knickerbocker’s prime Manhattan location, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do as the hotel is surrounded by an array of shops, while the luxury stores on Fifth Avenue are just a stone’s throw away. With the hotel’s Shop and Stay Program, guests will receive a $100 gift card for the popular department store Nordstrom as well as bespoke welcome gifts, personal styling sessions, and a delicious daily breakfast in Charlie Palmer.
Guests can also enjoy exclusive Broadway benefits with the Curtains up at The Knick offer, which includes discounts on tickets for certain shows, and entry to the Museum of Broadway which is just a short walk away. And when you’re looking for a quiet moment to relax after a day of retail therapy and an evening of singsong, the tranquillity of Bryant Park is just two minutes away by foot – and is an absolute gem of a space in Manhattan.
Factbox
Address: 6 Times Square, New York, NY 10036
Phone: +212 204-4980
Website: theknickerbocker.com
Photography courtesy of The Knickerbocker unless otherwise credited.
