Kit Kemp

Crosby Street Hotel is one of downtown New York’s most desirable design hotels and a little corner of London in the Big Apple.

The first US hotel by British boutique hotel brand Firmdale, Crosby Street Hotel is nestled on a quiet cobbled street in SoHo, between Prince and Spring Streets.  It’s perfectly positioned for a spot of shopping at Opening Ceremony, a chic lunch at Balthazar or gourmet munchies at Dean & Deluca.

Design director Kit Kemp’s unique style is what draws A-list celebrities and well-heeled travellers to all eight Firmdale hotels and Crosby Street Hotel is just as covetable and luxurious as its London cousins.  Think riotous colours expertly paired, exquisite prints, ethnic touches and an enviable art collection.

Arrival

On entering the spacious lobby, there is something interesting that meets the eye in every corner.  As we waited for an early check-in, we marvelled at a 10-foot metal sculpture of a human head made up of letter by Jaume Plensa, papier-mâché Beano dogs by Justine Smith and a spectacular Anselm Kiefer painting.

New Yorkers famously love their dogs and Crosby Street Hotel pays tribute to them with dozens of pooches ruling the roost – from the hotel’s stylish logo to artwork throughout the hotel.  A portrait of noble Jack Russell Simone watches over guests in the Drawing Room while the lifts feature charming ‘Dogs of Soho’ montages, snapped by Kit and Tim’s daughter Willow Kemp.

The Drawing Room is a residents lounge designed in rich colours with fireplaces, plush embroidered sofas, objects from around the world, an honesty bar and complimentary bites for guests – mini lemon and yoghurt muffins were offered when we were there.  The Drawing Room leads on to a leafy courtyard garden for hotel guests only – a perfect retreat in the warmer months.

Crosby Street Hotel features 86 bedrooms over 11 floors and all boast high ceilings and loft-style floor length window.

The Room

Our spacious Luxury Room was vibrant and elegant with an apple green statement wall, large flat screen LCD TV, Tivoli radio, iPod player, DVD/CD player, free wifi, minibar, comfy seating, a large writing desk, mother of pearl dresser and two window seats to enjoy the great views over the Lower East Side.

The sumptuous king-size bed featured a stunning candy stripe headboard, Frette linen and a beautiful hand-made white quilt.  A Firmdale signature is the beautiful embroidered silk dressmaker’s form – ours was designed in a pretty chartreuse colour.

A Welcome Treat

We were kindly welcomed with a hand-written note and a special Crosby Street Hotel candle by Miller Harris in a scent created exclusively for the hotel – Le Jardin 10012.  It has a seductive, smoky aroma and is available to buy from the hotel as a very stylish souvenir.

Turndown

At turndown, a cotton mat was placed next to the bed and we were given complimentary bottles of Voss water and a Temple Spa Calming Mist to spritz on pillows.  In the morning, the The New York Times was delivered and waiting for us by the door.

The Bathroom

The marble bathroom was an absolute delight, with a Lefroy Brooks double sink, a fabulous walk-in shower with the strongest water pressure I’ve ever experience in a hotel, heated towel rails, underfloor heating, bathrobes and slippers, a fun neon stool and a full set of Miller Harris Citron Citron amenities.

Breakfast

After a blissful sleep, we went down to The Crosby Bar and Terrace for a leisurely breakfast.  The colourful bar is a real destination restaurant, offering all-day dining, afternoon tea and great cocktails.  The charming terrace is a leafy oasis in the middle of SoHo and during the summer, it’s sure to be a hit with both hotel guests and New Yorkers.

The breakfast menu is a real treat and offers everything from Brioche French Toast to an indulgent Champagne Breakfast.  I ordered the Crosby Breakfast – a cooked English Breakfast with orange juice, seasonal fruit, yoghurt and pastries from the buffet.

The cooked breakfast was large, filling and perfectly cooked using high quality ingredients. I particularly liked the delicious poached eggs, crispy bacon and the buttery bubble and squeak.

Steven went for the American Breakfast – free range eggs, buttermilk pancakes and sausage.  The large pancake was excellent and was served with a jug of maple syrup.

Brits will be delighted that the bar serves excellent loose leaf English Breakfast Tea in a China pot, served boiling hot with a jug of chilled milk.  There is even a Warhol-esque portraits of The Queen, pleasing the US fascination with all things royal and referencing the hotel’s British heritage with a dash of eccentric humour.

The Cinema

Like many of the London Firmdale hotels, Crosby Street Hotel has a state-of-the-art screening room and a Sunday Night Film Club.  There is also a gym open 24-hours a day, private dining and meeting rooms and a spa treatment room.

Families are also well cared for with a special children’s menu, DVDs and popcorn, children’s books and babysitting service.

Concierge were excellent and advised us on the quickest way to get uptown that day – the New York Subways routes can sometimes need an insider to decode.  All of the staff we met were friendly and addressed us by our names every time.

Crosby Street Hotel also has some serious green credentials – it is certified gold LEED by the US Green Building Council.  The kitchen garden on the 12th floor has an urban vegetable patch managed by head chef Anthony Paris and a Tudor style chicken coop with four Araucana chickens producing pale blue eggs.  The Meadow Suite also boasts a woodland meadow with over 50 varities of native flowering plants.

Crosby Street Hotel has it all – a cool downtown location, gorgeous design, a warm atmosphere and lots of character.  Whether it’s staying overnight or hanging out at the bar over smart cocktails or brunch, Crosby Street Hotel is a New York address that you need to know about.

Room rates at Crosby Street Hotel start from $555 per night, based on two sharing a Superior Room.  For more information and booking, visit: www.firmdalehotels.com

Chérie City was a guest of Crosby Street Hotel

Photos by Chérie City and Crosby Street Hotel