Seeking that classic Manhattan vibe but have just a short amount of time to get it? We’re thinking The Lowell, set among historic townhouses on East 63rd Street between Madison and Park Avenues, might be just the ticket. In fact, with its revamped lobby, restaurant, bar and library lounge, we say The Lowell will have VIPs feeling like they’re staying at a friend’s luxurious apartment rather than a hotel.
First, the newly refreshed accommodations: The most popular digs are the suites, particularly those with terraces and / or fireplaces — all with views of Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The 3,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite on the 17th floor has four landscaped terraces and a wood-burning fireplace. The Lowell also has connecting two-bedroom suites for a total of four bedrooms.
We love that the guestroom minibars contain delicacies such as Dean and DeLuca and Tate’s Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies, as well as a curated selection of fine wines like Domaine Hugel Pinot Blanc from Alsace and Pol Roger Champagne.
For specific room requests, luxury travel advisors can contact Amie Buchanan (abuchanan@lowellhotel.com), director of sales and marketing.
The big news at the hotel is the opening of the new restaurant, Majorelle. Charles Masson, from the famed Manhattan eatery La Grenouille, is heading the establishment. On the menu, guests can find foie gras with warm apple délice; chicken roasted with thyme and potato mousseline; baby vegetables, tarragon, turmeric and laurel; and grilled shrimp on rosemary skewers with saffron rice.
At Majorelle, in The Lowell, the menu comprises French classics with Mediterranean influences from the Riviera to Morocco.
Tip: We hear the best seat in the house is on the garden terrace, surrounded by the fountains and the fireplace. The Lowell suggests making reservations at least one month in advance for any seat.
Guests enter Majorelle through Jacques, a chic bar with leather-paneled walls, an antique mirrored ceiling and a marble bar. Top seat here? We say it’s the velvet banquette hidden in a private alcove. (Rendezvous, anyone?). Hand-crafted cocktails and Mediterranean and Moroccan finger food are served throughout the day.
The restaurant and garden connect to The Club Room, a lounge with art books, fireplace and bar. There’s also the refreshed Pembroke Room, a European-inspired salon, where guests can enjoy breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea and private events. Hint: You can find it if you venture up the lobby’s grand marble staircase and enter through large French doors.
Chef Concierge John Mark Hopkins (concierge@lowellhotel.com) has booked private day trips to the Hamptons, front-row seats to sold-out shows (“Hamilton,” anyone?), backstage access to other hot Broadway shows, and private, guided tours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art before it opens to the public.
VIP guests can even book private jets last-minute to fly into New York, where The Lowell will greet them with luxury ground service, which includes a Mercedes S550 and a Rolls-Royce. The two nearest airports are LaGuardia Airport (20-30 minutes) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (45-60 minutes).
The Lowell’s Penthouse Suite is spread over 3,000 square feet of space. Shown here is the living area of the suite.
Looking to expand your wardrobe during the stay? Hermes, Chanel and Oscar de la Renta are just around the corner; Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys and Bloomingdale’s are all within walking distance (and even closer via private transportation). That’s only a sampling, as Fifth Avenue is a mecca of luxury retail.
The Lowell is also near Central Park and Museum Mile. The former offers the Strawberry Fields, the Conservatory Garden, Belvedere Castle and Central Park Zoo. The latter is full of museums and fine arts institutions. Notable destinations include the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. A little further south, just off Sixth Avenue, is The Museum of Modern Art.
The pet-friendly property is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Fine Hotels and Resorts and Virtuoso. The general manager of the hotel is Heiko Kuenstle, who can be contacted at hkuenstle@lowellhotel.com.