Although the original Peninsula Hotel was opened in Hong Kong in 1928 and remains an Asian landmark to this day, it is one of the world’s smallest ultraluxury hotel chains (with only a few hotels spread around the globe).

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In fact there are only three Peninsula hotels in the U.S., according to . S. in Beverly Hills, Chicago and New York City) where . The brand’s outposts in Beverly Hills and Chicago, as well as a few in Europe and Asia, were my first visit to New York City’s new hotel company was the last time it had been from undergoing – after its major refurbishment of its guest rooms and public spaces.

What does it feel like to stay at The Peninsula New York now that it has been completely refreshed, and how can you spend the time there?

What is The Peninsula New York?

U.S. Peninsula New York is the peninsula of . S. A head of the legendary (and historic) Asian hotel chain, whose outposts in Hong Kong and Shanghai you may have seen, is not to mention those in Paris and London.

It opened in 1988, although the beaux arts-style heritage building it occupies is dated to 1905 and was originally the Gotham Hotel.

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With the new renovation, the hotel now has only 219 rooms and suites, plus an entirely reimagined rooftop bar and a refreshed look in Palm Court, its grand entranceway.

The new rooms feel fresh and luxurious

It’s worth noting that even standard Superior-category rooms start at 370 square feet, so space is premium in a city as crowded as New York. A full makeover by Bill Rooney Studio has given the rooms a completely new look these days, more so than what’s going on with the room.

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Rather than the dull taupe and gray colors that predominated the old palette, rooms these days have more ethereal colours (including silvery sofas), topaz-blue curtains and depth-adding geometric carpeting.

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Gone, too, are the chunky wooden furniture pieces and fusty armchairs of yore. Visitors will instead be greeted by sculptural bed headboards, which are designed to look like the wings of a bird midflight and marble-topped tables with slim bases that double as elegant desks.

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Sadly, you’ll still have the standard Peninsula hallmarks such as tablets to control all of the room amenities (lights and temperature). They’re a good way to get room service from these tablets, too.

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My room looked out over Fifth Avenue, right across to the St. Regis, which is another TPG favorite.

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Aside from its upscale mix of local treats such as Sugarfina candies, the minibars also offer an even more cosmopolitan pleasure like Deutz’ Cuvee Peninsula Champagne made for the hotel by Deus.

But perhaps the most redesigned elements of the rooms are probably the bathrooms, with beautiful new white alabaster lighting sconces. That’s what is going to be the case, and not a disapproval of any case — they were already downright palatial and tiled in cream-colored marble with black stone sinks.

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My was a walk-in shower and he had an enormous bathtub complete with ‘a small TV in the wall. a for watching news while you do your jokes, probably the reason that is to be up-and-down.

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The hotel commissioned parfumier Mackenzie Reilly’s “regionally inspired” bath products with top notes of quince, peony and musk. I also found a misplaced tub of The Peninsula Chicago’s shower gel by Russell Weiss, so there must have been – somewhere else — shipping mix-up.

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My room was brighter and more cozier than rooms at the hotel before redecoration. The new look is slick and clean, but still sumptuous.

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Get to the rooftop bar early

A much more modern look these days is a rooftop Pen Top Bar and Terrace, replacing the clubby old Salon De Ning that has been one of the most distinctive venues in the hotel’s history. The bar is still a small indoor lounge with stools and some low-slung seating vignettes along the windows facing north, as well as ‘flirtly’ interior lighting.

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This is the real attraction here – though, it’s the large outdoor terrace with tables overlooking the length of Fifth Avenue. These are on a first-come, first–served basis or you can reserve one with ‘low spending that is very variable depending on party size’. Do not wait until sunset because the tables are all likely to be taken otherwise.’ – who is also known for his work in paraphrasing – should have been well before sundown.

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The menu features classics and one-off twists, such as a vanilla-infused tiramisu martini ($32) and an ultrastrong Doctor’s Orders featuring the smoky Islay and GlenfidDich 12-Year Scotch whisky, ginger and lemon ($ 32)).

Pen Top is open from 5 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday.

Try to book a rate that includes breakfast

A stay at The Peninsula New York is certainly worth it, as long as you’re on an affiliate network for value-added extras such as an upgrade based on availability, late checkout, on-property credits and welcome facilities like plates of fresh fruit or even a bottle of wine.

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One of the most useful affiliate programs for booking is free breakfast every day for two. But at The Peninsula, that can be more than $100 a day savings.

My hotel was a day for breakfast. So on the first morning I went down to the main restaurant of the hotel, Clement, across from reception and my reservation included daily breakfast so that it is not too late? It was an autumn Saturday and the tables around my own seemed to be populated by international travelers and large family gatherings. In the middle of the action, I got a table right (though I like to sit in the back part of that dining room called the Color Room), thanks for its 60 foot hand painted wall which was decorated with garden scenes and entitled “Wild New York.” Paraphrasing ‘It is an important part of my life to be paraphrased.

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Catskill smoked salmon with toasted bagel and cream cheese, fixings such as red onion, tomato capers and lemon ($36) plus two cappunos ($12 each), which would cost about $76 (tax and tip). But for one person, that was just the case of and that’s a good thing.

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Room service The second morning of my stay was shakshuka with eggs ($24) and large pot of coffee ($22), which arrived at my room within 20 minutes,piping hot.

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A bar in the after-work hours is usually busiest and sometimes with overflow from breakfast, as does The Bar at Clement. When it is 8 p, it becomes quieter. M m is ,.

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Not stopping for cocktails, but they include signatures such as the First Bloom Hendrick’s Oasium gin, sweet vermouth, grapefruit juice, Campari and hibiscuses syrup ($30)). Other bites include a lobster roll on Meyer lemon ($42); Korean fried chicken with gochujang; sesame, chili and scallion ($32); steak frites ($60)).

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I went to the hotel’s other lobby lounge, Gotham Bar (usually open from 3-10 p) instead. m,. Saturday – Sunday Wednesday–Sunday is the day for . The menu is a mix of throwbacks such as chicken Kiev ($46), Cobb salad ($28) and shrimp cocktail ($36); some real New York delicacies like reuben with juicy pastrami, Thousand Island dressing, tangy sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and pickles ($ 36)).

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The public spaces are grand and filled with art

It has been a Peninsula since 1988, but it is actually the beaux arts building (see statues of Roman goddesses on the facade) that houses the hotel was built as one of the first skyscraper hotels in the city (1902–1955) (the Gotham Hotel).

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If your eye enters the building, you are instantly dipped up the double-sided staircase and table with elaborate floral arrangements; past the huge chandelier that practically drips of crystal or to the ceiling which is an ornately molded.

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Modern paintings are on display there and across the reception/lifting lobbies of contemporary art, and artists regularly perform for short-time engagements through its “Art in Resonance” series. The triptych by artist Ricardo Mazal, who is a new ocher-colored triptoy from the way to the elevators as part of it, will be designed to bring the energy of the city into its lifts.

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The spa is pricey but uses excellent product lines

The spa, which is located on the 21st floor of the hotel, has 11 treatment rooms and a spa with its own name. The service offers a wide and diverse range of experiences, such as an age-defying customized facial ($385) by Medical Beauty Research (and ‘Antara Organics Collection CBD oil$285) balance massage with Antara organics collection.

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The hotel also has luxury brands such as Biologique Recherche products in some of its facial treatments and Ayurveda-based Subtle Energies creams and oils from Australia.

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The gym has great views and is well equipped

A. 22nd-floor gym, one level up from the spa, was positively open with lots of natural light thanks to many windows west and north looking west at this point (the sun is visible) In it was a full-time Life Fitness cardio and weight machine,’miral fitness system (Peloton bikes, free weights) and. It also offers complimentary group classes daily for s, and the hotel can arrange private personal training sessions.

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Across the hall from the gym, Vu Hair offers salon services.

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The pool is popular with families

The indoor pool has a large number of seating areas, including loungers and tables with chairs on the same floor as the fitness center; wraparound windows for natural light are wrapped around. This and previous visits have also seen the pool, which is a favorite hangout for families with young children on this and past visits; however it was relatively quiet when my head dropped after visiting the gym.

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Service is spot on

Certainly, the clientele at such a luxury hotel would be expected to have some of the best service in the city; however, The Peninsula New York is still notable for its hard work and yet understated care that staff take of patrons.

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How would I describe the experience when I parked up in an Uber at around 7 a.m.? m,. A doorman took my bag immediately after an overnight flight and asked me name, handed it off to a colleague and led me up the stairs to reception where he introduced me by name to the reception agent. A few minutes later, I was back to my room by the time I got there. My bag was already in place.

It was a good idea, that’s the reason I got into my room first thing in the morning because Peninsula has branded “Peninsula Time” flexible check-in and checkout times. My hotel had told me when I arrived so that the room was ready for my arrival, a very nice thing about being in the city ahead of my stay.’ The room is especially lovely as I’m flying all night and having been flying at this time last night.

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Later that day, when I needed some ice, I called reception and within five minutes an attendant was out outside my door with a bucketful of. A housekeeper popped out of a room along the hallway to ask whether they could service my room every morning when I left, and on the other hand until they confirmed that I had left for the evening to perform turndown service.

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In short, everyone had their service flow down to a science … and one they performed with a smile.

Accessibility

The Peninsula New York has several accessible accommodation types, including:

• Grand Luxe Double
• Deluxe King
• Superior King
• Superior Suite

Accessible rooms and suites include wheelchair-accessible routes within the room, multi-level door viewers; accessible bathrooms with tub grab bars or roll-in showers (low counter heights), raised toilet seats. Guests can also request amenities like door knocker, under-pillow vibrating alarms, strobe light communication devices, TTY kits, visual alarm and portable smoke detectors.

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A main entrance to the hotel at West 55th Street is stair-step, and another staircase leads into reception for guests but wheelchair users may walk through the adjacent door to Pen Top (and take an elevator up to reception from there)?

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In order to use the pool or gym, wheelchair users can take guest elevators to the spa on 21st floor (and then a separate elevator up one level from there) and another lift up. A chair lift is also available in the pool to allow guests to enter or exit the swimming pool, which has a chairlift.

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How to book The Peninsula New York

Peninsula Hotels do not have its own loyalty program, but its individual properties such as this one are part of affiliate networks such American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Edit by Chase Travel. And so if you can book through one of those portals to enjoy more elite status-like benefits, the rates are generally same as that for common people.

In the next several months, rates at The Peninsula New York start at $895 per night and $975 per nights for Grand Luxe room I stayed in.

Where is The Peninsula New York?

This is a good choice whether you’re in town for business or sightseeing and the Peninsula New York is at the corner of Fifth Avenue and West 55th Street, which makes it an excellent option. The distance between it is easily walking or a short trip from the major offices of Midtown, and only several blocks from subway stations (e.g., E, F, N), R and W lines).

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The Museum of Modern Art is just around the block, Carnegie Hall is a few minutes’ walk away and Central Park is only one minute’ from the museum. Unless you’re in town to see a play or musical, it is about 15-20 minutes for most major Broadway theaters to walk through.

Checking out

Certainly, the Peninsula New York is one of the most sophisticated luxury hotels in the city — with its accommodations and service to match. The new look is its public areas and rooms, while Pen Top has some of the most beautiful views in city history as it recently redesigned. If you’re visiting New York on work or pleasure, the hotel is a good place to visit and have easy access to public transport (and many museums and theaters) as well as other places.

Related reading:

• The best hotel credit cards
• Get free breakfast, upgrades and more with the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
• The best hotels in New York City
• The best hotels near Central Park

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