New York - hotel / restaurant / attraction report

Hi,

Thought I'd share some views on the hotel and notable restaurants / attractions from my recent New York weekend ( TR under Trip reports forum ). Hope this may help some people.

Gansevoort Hotel, Meatpacking district ( http://www.hotelgansevoort.com/ )

In the Meatpacking district, this is a great boutique hotel and I'd certainly recommend it. Funky decor, great service and superb location for Greenwich and Chelsea. I was really pleased to have chosen this hotel. We had a grand deluxe room on the 5th floor which was clean, spacious and with an ENORMOUS bed which was extremely comfortable. Not cheap, including all the taxes it was around £340 a night, but an experience. The rooftop bar has some great views day and night, but is very expensive.







Pastis ( http://www.pastisny.com/home.html )

Had breakfast here as it was across the road from the hotel ( It has the red canopy in the picture above ) but not an evening meal. Recommended by others here, the breakfast was good.

River Cafe ( http://www.rivercafe.com )

The event of the weekend for the boyfriend and I, this was a magical experience from start to finish. The River Cafe is in Brooklyn by the Brooklyn Bridge, overlooking Manhattan. We could only get a 6.00pm reservation but this was perfect as sunset was around 6.30 that day, and once the blinds were raised as the sun set the view was incredible, fixating. The staff were attentive, service and food excellent, together with a spot on sommelier made a perfect meal complete. Highly recommended.








( Last image not mine but that's the scope of view you get if by window )

Top Of The Rock - Rockefeller ( http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/ )

This was a surprise to both of us, and we're so glad we did it. Normally I'd have gone up the Empire State, but have done that many times. The Rockefeller is far better and quieter too, and whereas with the Empire State you have the feeling of being behind chicken wire, at the Rock laminated glass embedded in the building acts as the barrier, giving impressive views over Manhattan and also great views over the Empire State itself.





( With obligatory A&F bag. See Statue Of Liberty to right of Manhattan )



David.

Fantastic pictures!

Reminds me of when i went to New York just after 9/11.

The views are superb!

[Neil]

Thanks for this David - just booked for NYC again next June and this has really wet my appetite.

I love Top of the Rock also, such a nice feel about it compared to the ESB, the staff were friendly, its so spacious up there and IMHO the views are a whole lot better. You can see Central Pack so well (something not possible from ESB) and the biggest thing for me is that you can see the ESB as part of the New York skyline and it looks fab(especially at night when it is lit up).


The River Cafe - now I'm guessing you would reccommend it, reason I ask is whilst we are out there,its "him indoors" birthday and I have been told I have to book a "nice/romantic Restaurant" for the night - so does the River Cafe fit the bill?

Thanks,
Neil:)

oh and just 1 thing, A&F, love the shop ([:I]) however the brand is fast becoming "so yesterday" so hope you didn't go ott;)

[HighFlyer]

Fantastic pics David!

Now that really has wet my appetite for a return to NYC. I do like River Cafe, and glad to hear you enjoyed it there. Neil - i'd certainly recommend it for 'him indoors'.

Love the shot with the A&F bag too Fab!

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by Attitude23


The River Cafe - now I'm guessing you would reccommend it, reason I ask is whilst we are out there,its "him indoors" birthday and I have been told I have to book a "nice/romantic Restaurant" for the night - so does the River Cafe fit the bill?

Thanks,
Neil:)

oh and just 1 thing, A&F, love the shop ([:I]) however the brand is fast becoming "so yesterday" so hope you didn't go ott;)

Hi Neil,

The River Cafe definitely fits the bill, and ISTBC but if you're a couple you should be sat nearer the window as it appeared to me that there were more tables for 2 there than further back. It's a place with an extravagent wine list, but where they're not sniffy if you order an $80-90 bottle of wine, and the staff were very good at picking out good wines.

The atmosphere, view and service were superb. I'd certainly recommend getting a table for around sunset so you can see the city come alive. Sad that I am, I used a freeware tool called 'Sun Times' that plots sunrise/sunset times for the year. June sunsets are around 8.20 - 8.30 pm

A&F - yes the shop is amazing, and the model standing outside when we went was stunning too! Only a couple of shirts and a zip up top purchased. Like everything we bought there, the credit card bill on our return was amazingly small!

Thanks,

David.

[Neil]

Hi Neil,

The River Cafe definitely fits the bill, and ISTBC but if you're a couple you should be sat nearer the window as it appeared to me that there were more tables for 2 there than further back. It's a place with an extravagent wine list, but where they're not sniffy if you order an $80-90 bottle of wine, and the staff were very good at picking out good wines.

The atmosphere, view and service were superb. I'd certainly recommend getting a table for around sunset so you can see the city come alive. Sad that I am, I used a freeware tool called 'Sun Times' that plots sunrise/sunset times for the year. June sunsets are around 8.20 - 8.30 pm

A&F - yes the shop is amazing, and the model standing outside when we went was stunning too! Only a couple of shirts and a zip up top purchased. Like everything we bought there, the credit card bill on our return was amazingly small!

Thanks,

David.

Cheers David - models in A&F? never noticed them before[:w], moving swiftly on... thanks for the tips on the River Cafe and the sunset times too!! I'm def going to look into that more, be a nice surprise for him (providing he don't read VF!!)

Neil:)

[fozzyo]

Top of the Rock is definately the site to do - we are planning on going back later this month.

The A&F store is huge, and I found it very different to the other stores - much darker lit, much more nightclub vibe to it. And they now to have a thing for putting a half naked model in the door - ever popular with the gays and girls. I was too embarrased to ask why the staff girl with him had a Polaroid.

For those of a geeky persuasion the new 24hour Apple Store is just down and over the road with its Tardis like (the up and downy bit of it) lift in the glass cube loby.

Something we haven't done, but my parents did when there in June is one of the red bus tour things. Incredibly touristy but apparently really fascinating - we may venture onto one this time.

Hotel looks lovely!! Thanks for the recommendation - we usually stay in Chelsea Pines Inn when just us, its nice, friendly, great location. The decor is a world of chintz, but good location for the nightlife. And not far from our traditional first night restaurant - The Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Apparently one of the best Margerita's in Manhatten.

Originally posted by fozzyo
Top of the Rock is definately the site to do - we are planning on going back later this month.

The A&F store is huge, and I found it very different to the other stores - much darker lit, much more nightclub vibe to it. And they now to have a thing for putting a half naked model in the door - ever popular with the gays and girls. I was too embarrased to ask why the staff girl with him had a Polaroid.

For those of a geeky persuasion the new 24hour Apple Store is just down and over the road with its Tardis like (the up and downy bit of it) lift in the glass cube loby.

Something we haven't done, but my parents did when there in June is one of the red bus tour things. Incredibly touristy but apparently really fascinating - we may venture onto one this time.

Hotel looks lovely!! Thanks for the recommendation - we usually stay in Chelsea Pines Inn when just us, its nice, friendly, great location. The decor is a world of chintz, but good location for the nightlife. And not far from our traditional first night restaurant - The Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Apparently one of the best Margerita's in Manhatten.

Mat,

Agree with lots of this! There was someone with A&F guy but I didn't see a camera and I thought it would be cheeky to ask for a picture. Oh well! The store is a bit dimly lit though, and we got directed to the changing rooms after changing shirts etc in the store floor. There are people welcoming you onto each floor but no-one looking for the 2 lost Brits ( well, 1 Brit and 1 Aussie ) looking around for the changing rooms [:I]

The Apple Store was great ( and very useful for web surfing, something that infuriates me at the Regent Street store! ) but the lift was rather popular so we took the stairs instead. The BF picked up an iPod Universal Dock and remote at a good price compared to UK.

The Chelsea Pines Inn was recommended to me by some close friends, the location is indeed excellent and only a hundred yards or so from the Gansevoort. I understand the rooms are themed? With a 'Judy Garland' room?!

Thanks,

David.

Great trip and photos David - glad you enjoyed the Gansevoort recommendation.

NYC is a great place to hang out.

Great TR and photos David. Looks like you both had a great time. I'm all excited again now

Never stayed there but the Hotel Gansevoort looks great, albeit expensive. Although thats New York accomodation all over these days. Its in a great area too. did you visit the Chelsea food market on 9th. Theres some really nice shops in there..

Originally posted by David_Doyle
I understand the rooms are themed? With a 'Judy Garland' room?!

They do have themed rooms. Every room is named after a star from the golden age of Hollywood. In previous visits I've stayed in the Kirk Douglas, Mitzy Gaynor (??), Troy Donahoue and indeed the Judy Garland Room..



You would think it would be the best room in the house, but it was the smallest one there I've stayed in.

Cheers!

Dean