Away from most of the hustle and bustle, but still withing walking distance of Wall Street, The Conrad allows you to live a little more like a local in New York
The Conrad is a buzzing boutique hotel in lower Manhattan, tucked in between the Hudson River, Wall Street and Tribeca. Battery Park, its small neighbourhood, is only thirty years old. In the 1980s it was all unused ground – hard to imagine in present day New York. The newness of the whole area gives it a sense of slick modernity, which is carried through into the Conrad’s style.
Being in Battery Park means that you are largely sheltered from the crowded tourist throng up in Midtown, so in terms of Manhattan the Conrad is a very peaceful place to be. Despite avoiding the traffic and noise, be assured that you will still be only a brisk walk away from Wall Street, the One World Observatory (the highest building in the western hemisphere), and the 9/11 Museum, alongside good shopping and plenty of restaurants.
Nearby hotspots that come particularly highly recommended are Delmonico’s, which serves out-of-this-world steak in smart surroundings, as well as Bell, Book & Candle for informal brunches, and of course the Magnolia Bakery for fans of cupcakes – and Sex and the City.
Your fellow guests at the Conrad will to be families, young couples, businessmen, and weekenders from upstate. If you are taking children along yourself, then they can enjoy in-house cooking classes, a trip to the cinema on the ground floor, nearby river cruises around the city, and a trip to the Statue of Liberty.
The Conrad offers large bedrooms for Manhattan, which come with Nespresso machines, a separate sitting area, smart lighting and extremely comfortable beds. The spacious shower room comes with a rainfall head and delicious-smelling Aromatherapy Associates toiletries. However, if you are a bath person then make sure you book a premier or a luxury suite.
In terms of eating and drinking, the rooftop bar Loopy Doopy offers a showstopping view of New Jersey City across the Hudson River, with the Statue of Liberty off in the distance. Loopy Doopy only seats 75 people, so in good weather you might have to queue. The cocktails tend to be contemporary and playful – the house cocktail is alcoholic lollies to be dipped in prosecco.
Loopy Doopy takes its name from the vast steel artwork that is suspended throughout the fifteen-storey lobby that dominates the hotel. Loopy Doopy’s squiggly motif is also replicated on the key cards and on tiles in the bedrooms to give the whole building an arty theme.
Just off the cavernous lobby, the Atrio restaurant is not to be missed with fantastic brunches, Modern Mediterranean lunch and dinner. There is also a great shop selling lovely bits and pices to take home. Other handy facilities include the barber, gym and business centre.
It is a real treat to visit New York before Christmas but off-season is a sensible time to go for the cheapest rates – so you could try going between January and March, and July to August for the best deals. Any time of year though, the Conrad offers great value for money in Manhattan.
Double rooms from £156, excluding breakfast.
Conrad New York: 102 North End Ave, New York, NY 10282
conradnewyork.com
