While I have my favorite hotels in the city, I am always open to trying something new; and after hearing from at least 5 friends that I would love the vibe at The Fifth Avenue Hotel I had to check it out for myself. I generally prefer to stay uptown (UES) so the location on 28th and Fifth was a little busy for me, but I was game. I booked through my sister who is a Fora agent (same as Virtuoso but geared to a younger clientele) and thus was able to receive breakfast as well as a $100 credit during my stay. If you would like her contact please reach out to me, she is a pro at booking for easy going or difficult clients (like myself). One note, The Fifth Avenue Hotel is pricy, a Junior Suite here is more expensive and smaller than my usual go-to, The Mark; and unfortunately the hotel was full during my stay so I was unable to receive an upgrade. With all those things being said, I was still anxious to check it out, especially Martin Brudnizki’s maximalist interiors.
Battling the traffic and finding our way to the hotel left us a little frazzled, but we were consoled by the gorgeous multi-layered aesthetic that greeted us, along with a very pleasant staff. After a quick peek at the surroundings on the first floor we were accompanied up to our (very small) suite and introduced to our amenable Butler.
On first glance everything looked great, each detail was filled with color and whimsy and made me smile, but upon further examination I found that the quality was not of the highest caliber. This was certainly a case of style over substance, and I would predict that as time goes by it won’t age particularly well. In addition, the size of our accommodation (quite small) for the price (quite high) was not a winning equation for me. Lastly, the bathroom was tiny with no bathtub, only a shower, a definite strike in my book. Long story short, the aesthetic was indeed up my alley, but I will not be staying here again.
I had more success with restaurants in NYC, and really enjoyed Atoboy which was in close proximity to the hotel. Boasting a very appealing four course $75 prix-fixe menu with the option of adding a fried chicken supplement (definitely recommended) the vibe was casual and hipster. There were about 5 tables around us celebrating birthdays, so the mood was upbeat. If you go with four people or more you pretty much can sample everything on the menu which is absolutely worth your while.
My favorite meal of the trip was enjoyed at Andrew Carmellini’s namesake restaurant in The Fifth Avenue Hotel, Café Carmellini. Featuring an appealing menu of French-Italian inspired specialties, a terrific wine list, over-the-top professional yet effusive service as well as the aforementioned Martin Brudnizki interiors this restaurant was a total win, I loved it. It is an ideal place to celebrate a special occasion (in this case my birthday, hence the signage), and I would recommend it 100%.
Breakfast at Café Carmellini was also a treat, and while we enjoyed it as guests of the hotel, it may also be worth a trip even if you aren’t spending the night.
A highlight of our stay in New York was a walking and eating excursion in Greenwich Village with Scott’s Pizza Tours featuring deep dives into three classic spots including John’s of Bleecker Street, L’Industrie and Denino’s. While three different restaurants are always featured, the particular ones on a given day are decided by the whim of the guide. As it happens I don’t eat pizza unless its gluten free, but my husband considers it one of the four basic food groups so I was happy to tag along for the experience. It turned out to be a magnificent day, our guide was entertaining and informative, and our group was incredibly friendly so it was a win-win. The tours are very well-priced, and include plenty of pizza and NY culinary history; I would absolutely recommend it for any Pizza Aficionado (a gift certificate would make a perfect holiday surprise). In case you were wondering, my husband rated L’Industrie the best of the three.
Heading into the holiday season I anticipate several more trips into the city, and will report back on anything noteworthy. One thing I do know, if I am going to stay overnight it will be uptown.
Thanks for the shout-out! ♥️ also, now all I can think about is pizza!