SURFACE MAGAZINE – THE CROP OF FRESH ARRIVALS RE-ENERGIZING NEW YORK CITY’S HOTEL SCENE
August 22, 2022
Post-pandemic, the city is roaring back to life. Here are our favorite stylish new hotels to know—all of which happen to be steps away from the most talked-about bars, restaurants, and cultural happenings to crop up.
THE WALL STREET HOTEL, FINANCIAL DISTRICT
The space: Set in a stunning, 14-story beaux arts structure that once served as the original home of the New York Stock exchange, designer Liubasha Rose has reinvigorated the interiors with a refined touch. Architecture firm Stonehill Taylor restored the building and combined with an adjacent structure to create the expansive hotel.The 180 rooms are tastefully outfitted in a palette of muted blues, grays, and creams. Communal spaces are adorned in hand-crafted accents, from Gio Ponti–inspired chairs upholstered in sumptuous Pierre Frey and Dedar fabrics to a reclaimed fireplace sourced from the Ambassador Suite at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
French-Southeast Asian flavors are in store at hotel bistro La Marchande, where chef John Fraser turns out grilled lobster with coconut sauce américaine and steamed Dover Sole with vermouth-lime butter. Don’t sleep on the drink menu’s impressive lineup of champagnes, beaujolais, and vermouth cocktails.
Location: Overlooking the East River greenway in the Financial District, a once dormant neighborhood on the rise. The buzzing South Street Seaport is a short walk away.
Highlight: The hotel’s vast contemporary art collection consists of pieces created exclusively by Australian Aboriginal artists who are part of the indigenous-owned arts organization APY Art Centre Collective; a hand-painted De Gournay mural with scenes of downtown New York wrapping the walls of the lounge, a collaboration with Rose Ink Workshop; and a 3D floral abstract oil painting by Danish painter and designer Thilde Maria Kristensen.
Nearby: Long an afterthought Governors Island is having a moment and is accessible by a quick ferry just a short walk away. Book a treatment at QCNY: a new day spa with massages, a sauna that boasts skyline views, multiple outdoor pools and a customizable wellness experience by way of its themed saunas and steam rooms. For instance, the retreat’s botanic steam sauna is infused with rosemary, and its mountain stube dry sauna perfumes the air with the woody scent of its all-pinewood interior. Next up, drinks and bites at Gitano Island: a waterfront restaurant, lounge, and mezcal bar that debuted this summer as an extension of the Tulum-based hot spot known for its “gypsy disco.” The waterfront locale boasts postcard-worthy views of downtown Manhattan, best enjoyed with a signature Summer Love rum-watermelon cocktail and beats spun by the rotating cast of house DJs.
Back on the mainland, Manhatta has been making waves since it reopened thanks to an inventive cocktail program and unparalleled city views from its 60th-floor perch. Or, head to the new Tin Building by Jean-Georges, a Roman and Williams-designed culinary market on Pier 17. Groceries and dishes inspired by various corners of the globe inform the ample market stalls, cafes, bars, and restaurants. Fulton Fish Co., a champagne and raw bar, feels most apt given the Tin Building’s waterfront perch and past life as the home of the Fulton Fish Market.
