Hotel Sofitel, New York City (United States)
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Hotel Sofitel, New York City (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States -
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2008-06-16
This at the time of my stay was one of the newest hotels in New York, and merited a review from the rave comments I had received. A modern hotel is a rarity in New York. I arrived at the Sofitel and proceeded to the reception. The entrance to the hotel was quite impressive. An old style awning at the front gives way to a very modern and luxurious feel of a hotel. The lobby area is decorated with rich leather lounge chairs and soft sofas. The reception is very modern and smart and the check-in was brisk. The attendant pointed out that there was a small fitness center downstairs, and the restaurant hours. I bounded upstairs on the lift to Room 1203. The room was a good size but not overly so. The furnishings, soft and hard, were impressive and of an upmarket quality.The king bed was surrounded by a light timber bedhead and two good size cabinets on either side. One had a telephone and the other a clock radio. There were two very nice lamp shades on either side of the bed as well. A print also adorned the bedhead which covered the ceiling to the floor. The print had a light above it to light it up. The window was average in size and opened on to other buildings. The drapes were plain but of good quality. There was a long light timber dresser cabinet and mirror opposite the bed, on which a glass top featured a lamp, a phone and the TV. Topping off the room was a mahogonay table and two armchairs and a lamp stand.
The bathroom was a good size with a separate full size bath and shower, good bench space, a magnifying vanity mirrow which was steam free as was the main mirror, and a hair dryer. The mirror was framed in fluroescent lights and with other light fittings the bathroom was superbly lit up, there was even a light above the bath. The wardrobe was quite small. It had two doors, each covered in full by a mirror, however only one side was for hanging whilst the other was shelved. There was also a safe on one of the shelves and in the hanging area, which was only barely adequate, there was an iron and an ironing board, and two bathrobes.
The room overall was excellent and reflective of the Sofitel brand, which is the top of the range hotel product for the French hotel chain Accor, which also manages Novotel, Ibis and Formula 1.
There was a French accent to the hotel which was evident throughout. Many of the staff added a dash of French to their dialogue, the base of the facade of the hotel is limestone, which is a link to France as many of Paris's most historic monuments are built of limestone. Throughout the building there are prints of Paris and New York. sculptures, and there's even a gift boutique store, Le Petit Bijou filled with unique objects from France. At night there's a turndown service and a small bottle of French natural spring water Evian and glass/es are placed by your bedside.
At night I ventured down into the lounge in the lobby area and read the papers provided. I then went through the bar to the restaurant Gaby "Brasserie Francais" and ordered aome carrot and ginger soup ($7), sirloin steak and mashed ($28). The intimate bar and restaurant combined, offered lush fine dining, in an informal atmosphere I found later it opens for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6am to 1am, and also provides room service.
Whilst at the hotel I visited the downstairs Fitness Center, where I found a variety of cardio and fitness equipment along with TV monitors, towels, Evian water, and fresh fruit.
Quite a classy hotel in all.
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