The only travelling we can do for now is looking through our past travel photos and reliving the good times. I was browsing through my NYC photos for inspiration the other day and came across photos from my stay at 1 Hotel Central Park, a one-of-a-kind urban retreat hotel in NYC. So today’s post is a review of this amazing gem of a hotel located at 1414 6th Avenue steps away from Central Park.
This was my first visit to the Big Apple and I decided to go with my colleague’s recommendation and booked 1 Hotel Central Park because I was intrigued by its concept of an urban retreat inspired by nature. I’m an experienced traveller and have stayed at many excellent hotels so I’m not easy to impress, however 1 Hotel Central Park (and another 1 Hotel property in NYC – stay tuned for a separate review of the stunning 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge!) did just that.
From the moment I entered the hotel I knew it would be different to any other hotel I had stayed at. The lobby is small but very cosy with a sitting area that looks more like a hunting lodge in the woods. There are some beautiful books with amazing photography on coffee tables in the lobby – you can enjoy them while waiting for your room to be ready.
The check in process was very fast and efficient and I was given quirky round wooden keys for my room instead of the usual plastic card keys. I love this idea!
The walls in the lifts are made to look like tree trunks, very special and unique.
The same leafy/ woody theme is followed in the rooms. There are real plants all over the hotel including in the nooks by the door frames (looks like some kind of moss). The room I was staying in was a king room with a window nook overlooking the 6th Avenue and I had a partial Central Park view.
Of course the cute nook was the first thing I had to check out after entering my room! It is very cosy with cushions and is wide enough to snuggle with a book and a cup of tea (or coffee). Just perfect!
What stands out about 1 Hotels is their clever use of space and meticulous attention to detail. New York hotel rooms are notorious for their small size but my room did not feel too small and I had enough space for myself and my luggage.
As you enter the room there is a quirky sink with filtered water that is safe for drinking. The sink is separate from the bathroom (a toilet and a shower) but it is just opposite the bathroom door so not an issue. The shower is separated from the toilet with a slider partition and has a glass wall overlooking the bed, you can also close the curtains on the wall for privacy). I loved the cute little hourglass timer set to 5 mins – a great way to time your showers and help save the environment. Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel were in big refillable bottles instead of the usual small bottles, a great way to reduce waste. I did not try the shampoo and conditioner as I only use my own but loved the body wash and soap with vetiver.
The bed was great with comfy bedding and 100% organic cotton sheets, it was like sleeping in a fluffy marshmallow. This, together with blackout curtains, makes for a great night’s sleep.
There is also a desk and a chair with a faux fluffy sheepskin and a small closet with cosy socks, hairdryer and the best ever steamer! I couldn’t use my own hairdryer due to voltage differences and the hotel’s one did a good job.
I was very happy to find a Nespresso machine in my room because I have to have my cup of tea at any time of the day (or night!). It makes a good cup of coffee too.
I loved that they keep fresh fruit by the lifts for guests to take with them. A great reminder to have your five-a-day! I didn’t get a chance to try the restaurant downstairs but heard good things, hopefully next time! I did try takeaway coffee from Jams downstairs, it was really good.
Another thing that I appreciated was that there are cardboard boxes for recycling in the room – makes you remember to do your bit for the environment.
A separate word on the hotel staff – the doormen were very polite and courteous, as was the rest of the staff (unfortunately cannot recall any names). A wonderful stay overall and I can’t wait to be back at some point in the future.
Have you stayed at any of any of 1 Hotel properties? What’s your favourite place to stay in NYC? Please share with us in the comments below!
Bisous
Yasmina
