We review NH Collection New York Madison Avenue and discover a delightful mix of past and present
A midtown gem.
Ah, New York. Concrete jungle where dreams are made of. Many of these might include checking into the city’s most iconic heritage hotels – we’re looking at you The Algonquin, St. Regis, and Waldorf Astoria. But a slew of new properties are redefining what hospitality in the city means. Enter NH Collection New York Madison Avenue, a recent addition that – as we discover – brings a touch of Europe to the Big Apple.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
NH Collection New York Madison Avenue review
Perched on the corner of Madison Avenue – the boulevard famous for its contributions to the golden age of advertising in the 1950s – and East 38th Street, this spritely hotel boasts an ideal location in the heart of midtown. Grand Central Station and the boutiques of Fifth Avenue are a five-minute walk away, while Times Square, the theatre district, and the Empire State Building are just a 10-minute stroll.
Where past and present collide
NH Collection New York Madison Avenue is European brand NH Hotels’ first foray into North America. They’d waited a long time for the perfect moment, which materialised when a historic building – built in 1923 – in the perfect location in New York became available.
The hotel’s building once housed a men’s college residence and several fraternities and still features aspects of its 100-year-old history in parts of its design. Of course, it underwent an extensive remodelling to bring it firmly into the 21st century.
Stepping off 38th Street and through the revolving door, guests entire a spacious, welcoming lobby. Natural light filters in through a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, while double-height ceilings give a grand sense of space.
Check-in desks are immediately to the right. The backdrop feature wall is hung with old-school room keys—a nice touch, though, of course, they’re just for show. Within minutes of arriving, check-in is complete, and I’m handed the modern key cards to access my room.
Bonus: reception staff are unfailingly friendly and helpful – one spends 15 minutes going through a list of recommended restaurants in the area, giving a thorough analysis of each, and offering to make reservations.
To the left, there’s a spacious seating area where guests can do a spot of work during the day or socialise by night. The 1950s-inspired MAD Lounge & Bar is tucked behind this – it turns out well-made craft cocktails – though you’ll want to head into the lounge hidden round the back to enjoy nightly jazz performances. And, through the lift lobby, there’s a chic reading lounge with a grand fireplace.
Blissful boltholes
There are 288 guest rooms and suites at NH Collection New York Madison Avenue, each one paying homage to the hotel’s home city. But, you’ll want to book one of the Tower or Empire State Suites for extra space and special design features like original brick walls.
The Junior Suite I’m in is decidedly modern, and—a bonus for this crowded city—there’s space aplenty. At first glance, the suite feels like what you would expect of a business hotel – albeit a rather nice one. A closer look reveals some nice touches that add a little personality and flair. Immediately on entering the suite, guests encounter a seating area featuring an expansive couch backdropped by a stylised map of New York City. In the modern bathroom, there are Brooklyn Bridge tiles on the shower wall, which is a quaint touch.
The suite has just about everything you’d need for a comfortable stay, from plush robes and slippers to an expansive working desk, plenty of wardrobe space, and a minibar featuring a Nespresso machine. But the soothing colours – whites, greys, creams – geometric light fixtures, and marble-topped nightstands add a little something extra that elevates this over your average business hotel room. Perhaps the best part, though, is the soundproof windows. This is the city that never sleeps, after all, and no one wants to be woken up by the sounds of New York City by night.
Full-service extras
It’s in its public spaces that NH Collection New York Madison Avenue comes alive, though. MAD Bar & Lounge is the main hub, bringing the Mad Man-era ideal of sophisticated happy hours back to life. The bar also forms part of the local format of NH Collection’s Lobbies Alive concept, seamlessly integrating into the lobby to create a vibrant, interactive experience where guests come together.
The hotel also houses a Serafina restaurant, which claims to be the most luxurious location of this famed gastronomic brand. It’s certainly an aesthetic treat. There’s jewel-toned banquettes and seats, colourful art, vintage photos of New York, a black-and-white Art Deco-inspired marble floor, and a lavish bar that takes centerstage. Locals and guests flock here for the decadent breakfast buffet, though the terrace is more popular for happy hours and Italian-inspired dinners.
Somewhat surprisingly, the hotel has also managed to fit a 24-hour gym into its basement. It’s not huge – with four people in it one morning, it did feel a bit claustrophobic – but it has all the cardio and weights equipment you need for a heart-racing workout.
Visitors to New York City are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a place to lay their heads, from uber-luxe hideaways to cheap(ish) and cheerful chains. NH Collection New York Madison Avenue manages to perfectly pitch itself as a solid mid-range alternative that offers almost all the top-tier services you need with cosy design and attentive staff—you can see why guests who visit the city are often repeat customers.
Find out more about NH Collection New York Madison Avenue
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