TL;DR What makes this Manhattan boutique hotel special? Why should I stay here?

Stylish, historical :boutique hotel on the Upper East Side
Celebrity favorite: with legendary penthouse
Luxury with personality: and speakeasy vibes
Prime location: near Central Park
Swanky New York experience: with impeccable service
Check prices here

Luxury is easy to find on the Upper East Side, personality a lot harder but this hotel has both.

One of NYC’s most well known, it’s also the choice of celebrities thanks to its enormous penthouse, discreet service, and prime location a block from Central Park

This is your chance for a luxurious stay, some celeb shoulder rubbing, and the ultimate in a swanky, but without the bland, Upper East Side experience.

What are the rooms like?

Number of rooms: 152
Spacious layouts: starting at 400 sq ft, suites up to 1,500+ sq ft
Variety of options: from Studios to 2-bedroom suites
Decor: whites and jewel tones, subtle design with standout marble tubs and velvet couches
Amenities: HDTVs, audio systems, marble bathrooms, minibars, climate control
See each room in detail here

We’ll start with the space.

These are roomy for any hotel, but a central New York number in a landmark building?

We’re starting at 400 square feet for a Queen Single. A Two-bedroom Premier Suite runs over 1,500.

There are plenty of options in between. Suites especially have lots of variation, from Studios to 1-bed 2-bath options with sofa beds to full 2-bedrooms.

The decor is classic and simple. Lots of whites and off-whites, set off by jewel tones and some lovely textured textiles.

Besides the flowy, peach-toned curtains, there’s nothing we’d really write home about, but it’s comfortable and classic and pretty inoffensive.

Okay, maybe the marble soaking tubs. And maybe the plum-colored velvet couches in the suites.

Alright, there’s a lot to enjoy design-wise, set up with deft subtlety.

Even if you’re not shelling out for the velvet couch experience, the level of luxury is notable.

All rooms include HDTVs, audio systems, stunning marble bathrooms, individual climate control, and chic mini bars.

What are prices like?

Check prices here

And what’s the food like? Any facilities we should know about?

Variety of dining: from caviar “clam shack” to red-velvet restaurant
Mark Restaurant: plush all-day dining with New American cuisine
Avant-garde bar: quirky design and creative cocktails
Concierge services: wellness, personal training, Central Park activities, sailboat rides

The bars are where the designers really went off.

There’s a lot of variety here as well. We’ll start with a clam ‘shack’ where they serve caviar and French wine.

The uncanny divide between beachy and ultra-gourmet is actually quite amusing.

The same caviar partners have established a much more suitable restaurant and bar inside the hotel. This all red velvet and low lighting.

The actual Mark Restaurant is an all-day situation with a plush atmosphere. It’s Very Fancy New American cuisine, with plenty of fresh seafood.

And then, our favorite, the odd little bar. It’s the biggest burst of personality in the place, with little clusters of wall lights and patterns on the furniture you’ve never seen before.

It’s a perfect take on a more avant-garde version of the rest of the space, and the cocktails don’t hurt either.

There’s nothing much on-site, but they do a nice job of arranging all sorts of services to fit your itinerary.

Contact the concierge for wellness services like in-room massages, personal training sessions in Central Park, a ride on the hotel sailboat, and more.

How is the neighborhood? Anything interesting nearby?

Dream location: between Madison & 5th Ave, one block from Central Park
Cultural icons: Guggenheim 15 mins, the Met even closer
Other attractions: Frick, Central Park Zoo, 5th Ave shopping nearby
Getting around: cabs plentiful, subway less convenient

This is the location of dreams.

You’re between Madison and 5th Ave, a single block from Central Park.

We hear that, if you don’t take a walk out there at least once a day, you’ll be haunted by the ghost of every rom-com character from the 90s.

It also makes for an easy walk to some of the city’s cultural greats. The Guggenheim is a 15-minute walk, and the Met is even closer.

The Frick, the Zoo, and of course, 5th Avenue, are all easy to access on foot as well.

Once you’re in a cab, most everything will be easy. The West Village is a 15-minute drive, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can get to Brooklyn in 25.

One very minor downside is that most subway stations are a bit of a walk, but we’re assuming most luxury boutique guests are happy to take a car.

And what about the reviews? What did other guests think?

Some things guests liked:

“Excellent property. Reasonably priced for the top-level service and comfort you get. Food was good. The front desk and concierge staffs are top notch. Overall, a 10 rating from me. I will definitely return….”

“The staff are very friendly and polite, Breakfast is fabulous, the rooms very comfortable , good gym, great shopping near by! We love it….”

Some things guests didn’t like:

”The Mark is nice but it’s also one of the most expensive 5 star hotels, Manhattan. The problem is it’s pretty plain compared to the other hotels in the area not much stood out….”

”Hotel rooms very comfortable and bathrooms generous but dining room and food was very disappointing….”

Read all the reviews right here