Luxury Hotel in New York : Hilton Manhattan East

The Hilton Manhattan East, located on the corner of 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue in Midtown Manhattan is a luxury hotel that is quentissentially New York. It opened in April 2010 after an extensive renovation, in the historic building formerly known as Tudor Hotel New York. This 300 room neighborhood property has a distinct personality with its historic gothic architecture of 1931.

In 2007, the National Trust for Historic Preservation deemed the hotel a Historic Hotel of America. After seeing this property first-hand, I must agree with Dave Horton, Global Head, Hilton Hotels and Resorts who captures the essence of this property when he stated, “As an intimate retreat in the heart of Midtown, this boutique hotel is a great option for both leisure and business travelers to New York.”

I did not get the pleasure of spending the night at this hotel, but my colleague, Stafford Kendall of Covalent Logic offered the hospitality of her suite during our Wine in the City event (which occurred simultaneously with Blogher 2010). When I left for the night, I have to admit that I was quite jealous of Stafford’s swanky digs at the Hilton Manhattan East during her stay in NYC.

The Property: Contemporary boutique is how I would describe my impression when first walking in the doors of the uber fabulous New York Hilton Manhattan East. The gothic architecture was so New York to this southern mama. The lobby area was chic and sexy with friendly smiles from the staff. The lobby bar and restaurant were popular places as there was maybe only one or two seats left when I passed by. The elevators were fast and the coziness of the place made me feel like I was welcomed with a hug by a new friend.

The Rooms: Stafford had a Terrace Suite which included living area, wet bar, cozy bedroom, ginormous bathroom (yes, ginormous), and the most spectacular view of New York. The room took advantage of every nook and cranny available and was decorated in colors of soothing blue and earth tones. While the room is decorated in a manner with it’s historic architecture, it also offered all the amenities that I love about Hilton Hotels and Resorts. Plus, in the closet was one of those plush Hilton robes.

The Dining: Stafford ordered room service for our little army of swag organizers (Amy aka CheekyCherry was onhand to assist). It didn’t take as long as I had expected for our food to arrive and it was delicious! I couldn’t have had better service if I would have been sitting in the dining room itself. Everything we needed was delivered, even extras we forgot to mention.

The Location: Besides being in the historic Tudor City historic district, this property is close enough to the action of Times Square, yet close enough to feel like you’re a resident and not a tourist in New York City. It’s near the United Nations headquarters and close to Grand Central Station.

My Mama Moment: I grabbed a glass and a bottle of wine and stepped out onto the terrace to take in the atmosphere of Midtown Manhattan. The breeze tickled my neck and I could hear the horns and noise of the traffic below. I sat for a bit and admired the tops of the nearby buildings and their grand rooftops while being amazed that I was actually in New York.

Pros: Fabulous lodging for a romantic getaway or an intimate gathering of friends. The Wine in the City reception featuring Kendall Jackson Wines was phenomenal and I was extremely proud to be part of the event. Room service was good as were the canapes being passed around during the reception. Plus, they have those wonderful Hilton beds that I so love.

Cons: I didn’t get to stay overnight for one thing, and for this southern mama, the price is a bit more than my normal travel budget. However, as far as Manhattan prices go, it was spot on and is a good value for the type of accommodations (hello, luxury) and personal service offered at the Hilton Manhattan East.

Great For: Couples, Business Travel, Leisure Travel, Corporate Events, Receptions. Families are welcome to all Hilton properties, but as a mama, I’d want to enjoy this place sans kids. Should you plan a visit, be sure to check out our list of free things to do in New York City.

Website: www.HiltonManhattan.com

Special thanks to Hilton Hotels and Resorts, the Hilton Manhattan East, and outstanding staff (Daniel, Daphne, and all) for hosting the wine reception during our Wine in the City event. It was an amazing experience. For those looking for an exclusive conference or event venue in Manhattan that is chic, sexy, and intimate, you can’t go wrong with this property. Not to sound cheesy travel cliche’, but this really is a hidden gem.

New York City Hotels