A new 500-foot tower — one of the tallest in the area — joins the Manhattan skyline with today’s opening of The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad.
The hotel’s location — Broadway and West 28th Street — makes for prime real estate, with Madison Square Park, the Flatiron and Empire State buildings, and Midtown all within walking distance. It’s the second NYC hotel from the Ritz-Carlton brand (the other sits next to Central Park).
Devised by architect Rafael Viñoly (who also created Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas), the newly built hotel’s design draws heavily upon the inspiration of the neighborhood — once upon a time, NoMad served as Manhattan’s flower district — to an artful result.
Floral and plant motifs repeatedly appear throughout the space, beginning with the first step across the lobby’s threshold. At first glance, the lobby and adjoining bar seem to meld with the outdoors, given the light flooding through the floor-to-ceiling windows and the abundance of live flowers and greenery.
The interior design heightens the effect with blush-pink velvet couches, the floral pattern of the tiles and sconces with dangling tails that mimic the tendrils of the live hydrangea arrangement fixed above the bar.
The freshness of the lobby design extends to guest rooms as well. “The artwork is floral themed and is pulled throughout the building’s design to reflect true modern luxury,” said Bastian Germer, the property’s general manager.
The guest rooms certainly feel luxurious with amenities that include bath products from Diptyque — a new partner for the Ritz-Carlton brand — two-toned terrazzo marble soaking tubs and arresting views — all 250 accommodations face south, ensuring an unobstructed vista of downtown Manhattan no matter where you rest your head. Of course, the Ritz-Carlton Club Level, which resides on the luxury hotel’s top floors, will have the best views (plus, they come with access to the 36th-floor club lounge, where you can enjoy food and drinks throughout the day, a dedicated concierge and more views).
Lower-level guest rooms provide a glimpse of the historic wooden water tower, an iconic component of the vibrant neighborhood’s streetscape. The road the rooms overlook — recently renamed Tin Pan Alley — once housed many cabaret bars and jazz clubs at the turn of the century.
The NoMad hotel picks up where the party left off with its three dining venues led by celebrated chef José Andrés. For now, you can get your fill of the chef’s flavorful fare at Zaytinya, a blue-and-white-filled space where a fusion of Greek, Lebanese and Turkish cuisines is served for breakfast (savor dishes like shakshouka and menemen, Turkish scrambled eggs with tomato and feta), lunch and dinner (the latter meals offer mezze like grilled Mediterranean octopus with marinated onions, capers and a split pea purée, along with a kebab platter).
But the coming attractions warrant repeat visits. Gourmands will want to make reservations at The Bazaar, Andrés’ avant-garde culinary theater, when it debuts in the fall. And Nubeluz, the Roaring ’20s-themed rooftop bar, opening later this year, will undoubtedly make a mark on Manhattan nightlife with a jaw-dropping panorama of the sparkling city lights.
