A hidden place within the elegant avenues of New York's Upper East Side is currently in the spotlight. The Lowell Hotel is a serene establishment that is tucked away within a residential block and surrounded by some of the top fashion stores in the world. This 74-room hotel is 17 floors full of creature comforts, refined artwork and posh furnishings, and is consistently named one of the best hotels in the world.
The minute you walk into the lobby of the Lowell Hotel you are immediately hit with the smell of fresh orchids and hydrangeas. The enticing scent only gets better with the complimentary hot chocolate and cookies offered to guests while checking in (best way to beat off the New York winter chills). The Italian marble lobby is currently under renovation but is still quite extravagant, with no expense spared by the current owners. This boutique hotel has been decorated by famed interior designer, Michael Smith. He is best known for decorating the Obama’s private residences in the White House and being BFF’s with the family.
When you get up to your private residence, be thankful you don’t have to deal with the typical flimsy hotel key card; you actually get an wrought iron key to unlock your oasis. One also may luck out and get one of the few rooms with an actual wood burning fireplace, a rarity in NYC. Just make sure to call down to the front desk to have them light it, while you are lounging in your sitting room, drinking fresh made Keurig coffee and wrapped in your complimentary luxe robe, no less. The simple yet elegant furnishings make your hotel room unleavable, along with the cushy bed, artistic ambience and attention to details.
All the details come into play when you head down for breakfast or afternoon tea at The Pembroke Room. Waiters in white coats and gloves, before bringing you your selections on the finest china and silver. One of the waiters even makes homemade jams for guests to enjoy with their morning biscuits. Dining should be an experience, and The Pembroke takes you back to a time when refined elegance is always part of your meal.
Between the glorious ambience to the detail-oriented service throughout your stay a guest couldn’t ask for much more. The sky’s the limit, and that’s never a bad thing.
TIME OUT TIP: Caffeine is a way of life for New Yorkers. If we could get a caffeine IV on a daily basis, we would. But if you have had one too many espressos head over for a nice pot of tea at Alice’s Tea Cup. At Lexington and 64th, this cozy little tea shop has everything that fits your fancy.