An island escape exists just a five-minute tram ride from Manhattan. Graduate New York, a hotel situated in the East River between Manhattan and Queens feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of midtown. It’s a place where you can admire the city’s skyline without hearing sirens, a spot where you can feel disconnected and yet connected at the same time.
With 224 rooms, Graduate New York offers a chance to stay overnight on the island and soak up the quiet luxury of this relaxing retreat. I stopped by this summer, and it made the perfect staycation destination. Plus, the hotel also won me over so much, that I'm even recommending it to friends and family visiting from out of town.
Graduate New York is just a few steps from the Roosevelt Island Tramway or Roosevelt Island F subway stop, both of which provide easy access to and from Manhattan. Once I stepped inside the hotel, I was warmly greeted at a check-in desk that evoked an old-school library card catalog. Around the lobby and into the ground-floor restaurant, 250,000 books fill massive bookshelves. Towering over the check-in desk is "Flyboy," a 13-foot-tall sculpture by artist Hebru Brantley depicting a boy in aviator goggles holding a lightbulb.
The sculpture with its message of curiousity makes sense considering that Graduate Hotels are situated in towns with universities, each one filled with nods to the local community. In New York, the hotel is located next to the Cornell Tech campus.
Upon entering my guestroom, I couldn't help but bypass the Malin + Goetz amenities in the bathroom, the plush king-size bed, and the crushed velvet couch to head directly to the windows and gaze at the view of the water and the city skyline. The views here are unrivaled. I could see the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center from my room—a rare treat to see all in one window pane. I watched as boats glided by, seaplanes buzzed around and planes soared into the sky, making for a blissful moment of peace.
As I unpacked my belongings, there was plenty of room in the bathroom for toiletries, though I would have loved a bit more space in the closet for longer items like dresses and some hooks at the door for purses and hats.
After a stroll around the island, I headed to the Panorama Room, its rooftop bar, for dinner and drinks. The views here took the views in the room to a new level. There’s even an outdoor area, which is perfect for photos at sunset. The food menu focuses on raw bar staples, along with a section of “from the land” meats and snacks. The bass crudo is a must, as well as the seasonal salads with a side of truffle waffle fries that came with an Espelette aioli I would’ve drunk on its own. As for cocktails and mocktails, choose from more than a dozen hand-crafted options.
After a truly restful sleep in the quiet, comfortable room, I woke up the next morning and grabbed breakfast at Anything At All, the lobby-level all-day cafe, before heading back out onto the island.
Neighborhood
Until the 1980s, the island wasn’t open to the public, but it’s now home to about 11,000 New Yorkers. There are about a dozen restaurants on the island, but the restaurants at Graduate New York are the best.
Nearby
1. Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park: This lush park celebrates Roosevelt’s advocacy for freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. The park, opened in 2012, pays tribute to the late president and his accomplishments.
2. Smallpox Hospital: This 1800s-era ruin is now a skeletal shell covered in ivy—and it makes for a very cool photo opp.
3. The Girl Puzzle sculpture: On the northern end of the island, don’t miss this powerful sculpture honoring pioneering journalist Nellie Bly.
Time Out tip
Bring your walking shoes to stroll the island from end to end. In all, it's about a two-mile walk past apartments, recreation courts, restaurants and parks.