During a stay at the Beekman Hotel, you’ll keep returning to one thing: it’s breathtaking nine-story Victorian atrium capped by an exquisite pyramidal skylight. Not only are most of the hotel’s 287 rooms located off of balconies surrounding it, but the mental image of that exquisitely renovated centerpiece will never be far from your mind. It surely ranks as one of the Financial District’s most stunning architectural treasures.
The building that is now the Beekman Hotel was originally built in 1881, and was one of Manhattan’s very first skyscrapers. Neglected for years, it was beautifully restored by Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects to its former glory, and opened as The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, in September, 2016.
Don’t get the wrong impression, however. A stay here feels nothing like a weekend trapped in a staid museum. Even though the attention to historic detail extends to the rooms, many of which boast original antiques, the hotel is chock full of contemporary art and surreal motifs that assure you that this seriously impressive building isn’t taking itself too seriously.
The two buzzy restaurants located in the hotel draw a chic crowd that keeps the common areas buzzing. On any night of the week, you can expect packed rooms at both Fowler & Wells and Augustine (try the whisky burger). Luckily, the concierge can assist you with getting reservations at both. After a lively dinner, relax with a nightcap next door at The Bar Room. It’s perfectly located at the bottom of, once again, that gorgeous atrium.
