In a city rich with architectural history, the W New York on Lexington Avenue remains distinctive for its exceptional service and striking Renaissance-inspired design by architect Emery Roth. Housed in the building that once contained the Montclair Hotel, the façade features ornate details such as sculpted elephants above the entrance, their trunks entwined around the marquee supports, and sculptural figures above the second-floor windows appearing to bear the building’s weight.
Inside, guests find pillow-topped feather beds and Bliss bath products that help create a comfortable urban retreat. Contemporary, sophisticated décor continues throughout the guest rooms, the Living Room lounge on the lobby level, and the hotel’s meeting and event spaces. On site, the 22,000-square-foot full-service Bliss 49 Spa offers treatments and amenities ideal for relaxing after a day of exploring the city.
While visiting, consider a quieter, beautifully designed outdoor space: Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. Accessible by the Roosevelt Island Tramway from a station near 59th Street and Second Avenue, the park is a peaceful four-acre memorial designed by architect Louis I. Kahn. Weather permitting, complimentary guided tours are offered on weekends at 1 p.m., and private tours may be arranged in advance. The park’s layout features avenues lined with little-leaf linden trees that lead to a granite monument and a bronze bust of President Roosevelt, with five copper beech trees marking the entrance.