The Lowell is a very special independent luxury hotel on the Upper East Side with the intimate feel of a private residence.
A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, The Lowell is nestled on a quiet, leafy street, just a short stroll from Central Park, MoMA, The Whitney Museum of American Art and the high end department stores of Fifth and Madison Avenues.
The charming Art Deco/Modern hotel began as a residential apartment hotel in 1927 and has maintained its homely, old world character, while also welcoming guests for short stays in the city. The Lowell is very discreet about its high profile guests, however, Madonna famously made a two-bedroom suite there her home for nine months in the late-eighties.
The Lowell is a small hotel with 47 suites and 25 deluxe rooms set across 17 storeys. The lobby is petite and quietly opulent, with soft lighting and a colour palette of soft gold, ochre and cream shades. A thoughtful touch for guests is complimentary hot apple cider and hot chocolate with cookies, to enjoy while reading a newspaper or to take out.
Arrival
We arrived in the early evening and were swiftly checked in by the warm, professional yet chatty staff. Guests are offered a welcome drink on arrival and two glasses of Champagne were delivered shortly after our luggage.
The Suite
We stayed in a spectacular Lowell Deluxe One-Bedroom Suite, which is the epitome of Upper East Side refinement. The separate living room, redesigned by Michael Smith in light beige and natural stone tones, was filled with exquisite dark wood furniture, Chinese porcelain lamps, a large sofa, comfy armchairs, an intricate tapestry rug, flat screen TV and contemporary artwork. The suite also has free wifi and we loved the delicate white roses on the table.
A unique feature is the elegant original fireplace with baskets of wood logs – in fact, The Lowell is the only hotel in Manhattan to offer this.
Staff are on hand to light the fire, offering a choice of aromas, so guests can enjoy a warm glow while relaxing in the lounge. Our stay was sadly a little brief to experience a roaring open fire in our living room, however Concierge called us in the morning to check if we wanted our fire lit – really, nothing is too much trouble for the dedicated staff.
We were also delighted to stay in one of the two Lowell suites that features a private terrace, boasting impressive views of the Manhattan skyline. Waking up to New York with a morning cup of tea on the terrace was a real treat – in the warmer months it will be a very enviable spot.
The Kitchen
An advantage of staying at The Lowell is the separate granite-topped kitchen fully set up with kitchen utensils, pots and pans, a china dinner service and The Lowell mugs. If cooking isn’t on the agenda, there is a mini bar fridge full of premium beverages, tempting Dean & Deluca snacks and a whistling kettle with a selection of teas and coffee.
The Bedroom
The spacious bedroom was classic and stylish with two built-in wardrobes, a large flatscreen TV and the most sumptuous, heavenly king-size bed. At turndown, the bed was meticulously prepared for sleeping, complete with bedside mats and slippers and bottles of Voss water.
Guests can also leave their shoes outside for a complimentary shoe shine, to be returned in the early hours. In the morning, The New York Times was delivered in a Lowell canvas newspaper bag.
The Bathroom
The beautiful bathroom, covered entirely in Selene marble, featured a double sink, a walk-in stall shower, a deep soaking bath tub with a flatscreen TV on the wall, BVLGARI thé vert bathroom amenities and little extras such as a bath mitt and a wooden nail brush.
Relaxing bath in the enormous tub with BVLGARI thé vert bath salts, followed by slipping into the oversized bathrobe and slippers was the perfect way to unwind after a long day of travelling.
The Restaurant
The Lowell’s second-floor restaurant The Pembroke Room is a New York institution, known for its refined afternoon tea. Overseen by Executive Chef Michael Fred, the civilised, dainty restaurant also serves breakfast and weekend brunch and pre-theatre dinner.
The Lowell’s steak and chop restaurant The Post House is perfect for good ole American classics. The much loved power lunch hotspot serves tempting dishes such as Maryland Crab Cake, Jumbo Gulf Shrimp and Cajun Rib Steak for lunch and dinner.
The Lowell is perfect for guests who prefer an elegant city retreat over a buzzing lobby scene. It’s an exquisite hotel where you can lounge elegantly and live the Upper East Side dream.
The Leading Hotels of the world (00800 2888 8882) offers stays at The Lowell, New York from $700 per room per night based on two sharing a room on a room only basis. For more information and booking, visit: www.LHW.com/lowellnyc
Chérie City was a guest of The Lowell
Photos by Chérie City and The Lowell