As you can imagine, I am very particular about hotels in New York. There are so many options (old and new) and I always feel like I need to narrow down my options to three hotels max for my readers. The Crosby Street Hotel, part of the fabulous Firmdale Hotels, is definitely up there, next to the Surrey and The Mark Hotel.

New York City is known for is art and historic culture, and yet rarely you find the two mixed into a hotel. With 86 rooms on 11 floors the Crosby Street Hotel is definitely a spacious place in the perpetually crowded NYC.

Placed in the center of a cobblestone street in the trendy SoHo neighborhood, this reformed parking lot hotel is in true minimalist form to match the neighborhood’s industrial history. Made of brick, stone, and glass compliments the surrounding urban landscape. Kit Kemp, the owner’s wife, definitely has the perfect eye to make this happen.

From the moment you set foot inside, you will be wowed. Once you arrive at the hotel, head over to The Crosby Bar for their staple, the Tiger’s Eye, or delight yourself in a yummy champagne cocktail.

The hotel itself is comprised of original and usual pieces for a hotel. Collaborations with local designer and artisans help decorate the hotel. Along with the lobby, the Drawing Room, Sculpture Garden, and Crosby Terrace are each unique in style. The Sculpture Garden is a quiet sanctuary for the guests; it is away from hustle&bustle and noise of the city. The Crosby Terrace is a sunny little spot open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea all day. Order the Ruinart Tea, which comes with scones, tea sandwiches, and your choice of tea. Talk about lavish!

The rooms of this contemporary hotel are each unique- with their own color palette and personality. Each room is spacious and light with floor-to-ceiling warehouse style windows. I usually opt for the one-bedroom Crosby Suite, the views are utterly spectacular and the rooms come with a living room and dining area. The design is uber chic- the purple, gray, and green interior matched with the high-ceiling chandelier is perfection.

Don’t miss what I think is the best service any hotel can offer: They have a pressing and unpacking service for those who are pressed for time, which is especially useful for the on-the-go New York Fashion Week crowd. In the meantime, just go grab a quick bite at Balthazar, which is 15 ft away.

One of the most unique things about this hotel is the Rooftop Kitchen Garden. It is situated on the 12^th floor of the hotel. This garden is an urban vegetable patch managed by the hotel’s head chef Anthony Paris. It supplies the hotel’s restaurant with fresh seasonal produce such as melons, blueberries, tomatoes, and herbs. Whatever the occasion for your visit to NYC, The Crosby Street hotel is one of my personal favorites and the ultimate in combining art and luxury.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.