The Firmdale hotel collection is impressive. You might know the brand for London’s Ham Yard and separately Soho Hotel, or in New York, The Whitby, but their most recent addition, Warren Street Hotel in Tribeca, is also deserving of your attention.
Hotel
Each of the hotel’s 69 bedrooms, suites and residences have been individually designed, many with beautifully landscaped private terrace gardens and spectacular skyscraper views of lower Manhattan and the Hudson River. This is a hotel that makes a NYC trip one to remember.
Since opening in February, Warren Street Hotel has been awarded One Michelin Key, joining a small handful of hotels across the US with this unique stamp of approval. From our one night stay there, we can see why.
Room
No two spaces are the same at this hotel, each of the accommodations has been designed by British designer Kit Kemp, who is known for her fanciful interiors. We were shown to the junior terrace suite, one of 69 bedrooms, suites and residences in the hotel, and this room was indeed fanciful.
This open plan, bright space was packed with bold, joyful prints, a lavish king-size bed and surrounded by statement print walls, lined with bright, textured art. Behind the room’s intricately embroidered curtains and stunning floor to ceiling window, a private oasis awaits: a terrace, rich with plants, trees and thick, long grass that makes you want to whip off your socks and stand bare foot, while gazing up at the lower Manhattan skyline.
Our room was opposite 56 Leonard, a higgledy-piggledy high-rise nicknamed the Jenga Tower – it’s quirky design mirroring the pops of colour that encapsulate Kemp’s artistic style.
The bedroom and balcony were special and so too was the bathroom. Grand, luxurious, with a giant bathtub – everything a hotel bathroom should be. The smaller details – a TV in the wall, double sink, and built-in sound system – were not lost on us, but it was the white marbled grandeur, with sunlight streaming through large windows, giving it an almost heavenly feel, that we’ll remember.
Food and drink
Warren Street Bar and Restaurant is a modern, neighbourhood brasserie offering a mix of brunch plates and New York classics. For those not staying at the hotel, it’s well worth a visit for the interior alone. Much like the hotel bedrooms, the space is a celebration of colour and creativity, with an eclectic art collection and characterful interiors.
The food is also delicious. For breakfast, we tried the New York Bagel, which was loaded with smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers as well as the omelette, which guests can customise to their own taste. In line with the tasty food, the coffee was just as impressive too. Weeks on, I still think back to our leisurely morning there, sat browsing the New York Times amidst a room of city creatives in the most beautiful of settings.
We didn’t try the dinner or lunch menu, but reviews from guests suggest the standard is just as good as the breakfast offering.
To do
Nestled in New York’s exclusive Tribeca neighbourhood, my first tip for some local sightseeing – keep your eyes peeled for celebrities. Harry Styles, Jennifer Lawrence and Meg Ryan have all reportedly owned penthouse lofts in the area. While there is plenty of glamour in this southern Manhattan district, don’t mistake it for a place lacking character.
We were in town – just in time and rather fortuitously – for the city’s basketball franchise to make a run in the playoffs. The New York Knicks haven’t won a Championship since the 1973, but that didn’t deter the enthusiasm of local fans in bustling Puffy’s Tavern we visited on our first night.
If you want fancy rather than casual and non-descript, an array of amazing bars and restaurants awaits you. A short walk west to the banks of the Hudson, during the summer you’ll find Grand Banks – an oyster bar aboard the historic Sherman Zwicker schooner docked at Pier 25.
It’s a great place to grab a cocktail and enjoy a magnificent Manhattan sunset over the Hudson. The area is not short of history, and you are reminded of the sacrifices made in the neighbourhood during 9/11, with plaques adorning walls on the street, and a poignant and moving memorial just a short walk away.
In a nutshell
Although a new addition to New York’s hotel scene, this five-star hotel is destined to be a classic. Go for the insanely luxurious rooms and stay for the delicious food, stunning interiors and exciting location.
Factbox
Address: 86 Warren St, New York, NY 10007, United States
Phone: +1 212-255-8686
Website: firmdalehotels.com
Hotel photography courtesy of Warren Street Hotel.
