Location
Located in New York's Financial District, the hotel is a hop and a skip from the end of the Brooklyn Bridge, a five-minute walk from the new One World Trade Centre, the 9/11 Museum and the spectacular Oculus transport hub-cum-mall. An eight minute walk take you to the nearby East River dock from where you can get to locations like Williamsburg and Dumbo – but also the New Jersey shore and Rockaway beaches
Vibe
Think the Guilded Age where everything screams 19th-century New York, but nothing is old-fashioned. Built in 1881 as one of New York’s first skyscrapers, then serving as an office block for decades, The Beekman was abandoned for over 15 years before its multi-million-dollar renovation by British architect Martin Brudnizki, the man behind Soho House and the renovated Royal Academy of Art. Its air is quietly mysterious. Unlike anything else in New York City, the Beekman is a 19th-century stunner, using eclectic design elements in the massive lobby area (oriental rugs draped from the check-in desk, bookcases filled with objets d'art, distressed green walls, and pink velvet sofas) that make you want to spend a few hours taking it all in. The central spine of the hotel is the atrium, a nine-storey riot of wrought-iron balustrades under a glass roof.
Rooms
287 rooms, including 38 suites are furnished and decorated in a simpler, sleeker style than the public areas, yet retain a vintage feel, with grand wooden wardrobes and chests of drawers, marble desks, leather armchairs, and a minibar cleverly hidden behind a tapestry table-skirt. The bathrooms are tiled in Cararra marble with double sinks, Victorian-style mirrors and lighting, and products from hip Brooklyn perfumier DS & Durgen
Food & Drink
Temple Court: Serves modern American cuisine by chef Tom Colicchio. With its Instagram-ready wall of coloured tiles, lit from behind – there are white tablecloths and a menu with an unapologetically retro flavour. Also the spot for breakfast.
The Bar Room : Like something straight out of an Agatha Christie set, all plump sofas, fringed table lamps, green leather-topped bar stools and a long glass case stuffed with conversation-starting curios.
Le Gratin: Inspired by his hometown of Lyon, Chef Daniel Boulud's casual dining experience is influenced by the notable bouchons and bistros of Lyon, best known for their lively ambiance, warm service, and soulful Lyonnais-style cuisine.
Activities
There is a spacious two-floor fitness centre that does not really look like a gym, with its wood panels and a spiral staircase between floors. Many significant architectural and historical sites are located down the street from the hotel. On the steps of Federal Hall, an 1842 rebuild of the original, George Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States. Across the street, the New York Stock Exchange, completed in 1903, is the financial capital of the world. Wake up with a cup of Intelligentsia at Blue Spoon Coffee Roasters and end the night at The Dead Rabbit Grocery and Grog, an excellent watering hole and one of the cosiest joints in the neighbourhood. Luxury brand shoppers will find what they are looking for at Westfield World Trade Center, including a casual lunch at chef Daniel Boulud’s Epicerie Boulud — all located under the same roof of the stunning Oculus, designed by acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava. A stay in the Financial District also means proximity to the right side of the river. Hop on the NYC Ferry at Wall Street/Pier 11 and jet across the East River to Brooklyn neighbourhoods like Dumbo, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint in mere minutes.
Cons and Areas For Improvement
Noise: The noise from the bar below the rooms is loud and can be heard throughout the night.
Room service- The menu is very limited and lacks room service favourites such as club sandwiches and burgers.
Water- There was no drinking water provided in the rooms and upon asking only tiny bottles appear.
Price: Restaurant food is ok in taste but definitely overpriced
Views: As the hotel is surrounded by tall buildings the views are not great
Natural light: The hotel is generally quite dark in keeping with its ye old New York decor and theme.
Value For Money and Insider Tips
Don't miss the excellent art collection: An unusual feature of this hotel is its art collection, which is spread throughout the public areas of the hotel. The collection was put together by Katherine Gass
The location is great for Creatives and Wall-Street types who will blend in with the well-heeled locals who pack out the lobby bar every night but not so great for Families with kids. Or anybody who wants to be in the middle of the action, like the Village, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, or Central Park.
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