FAJO Picks — Stylish Venues

There is no doubt that New York City’s iconic Times Square is a uniquely thrilling experience. With a sensory overload unlike any other, however, the magic comes to a quick halt for most when the bright lights and big crowds become just too much compared to serenity. It’s difficult to imagine then that only steps away, in the midst of the theatrical chaos, exists the luxurious oasis that is The Chatwal Hotel.

The moment you step off the bustling streets into Chatwal’s dazzling lobby — a clear homage to the Broadway era — the flashing banners and busy streets of New York feel like a million miles away. The building, originally the epicentre of American theatre during the 20th century, once housed the country’s first professional theatrical club, The Lambs Club, and is a veritable New York landmark in the heart of the theatre district.

Today, the building has been reinvented as The Chatwal, with Thierry W. Despont as the master architect. The creative mind behind the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Frick family mansion and the centennial restoration of the Statue of Liberty, Despont honoured the building’s history by reincarnating the glamorous Broadway era across the entire hotel — from lobby and restaurant, to its 76 guest rooms.

The suites are generous in space, luxury and comfort, making the hotel the perfect respite from the busy city. Dining at the famed Lambs Club restaurant downstairs is more than a simple convenience for hotel guests: it’s one of the city’s best dining experiences. Five-star meals await hungry guests and in-the-know business executives, amid dark lacquered-wood wall panels with built-in red leather banquettes and bright chrome light fixtures. For guests who would rather not leave the comfort of their plush robes and own rooms, the restaurant is also responsible for the in-room dining experience.

For fear of being too pampered, the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa has an outpost inside the hotel, but will come to you for a full in-room spa package that includes a blowout, a manicure and a reflexology-style foot massage.

The three-person team from the spa comes in one after another, at exactly the right time: a few minutes before your blowout is complete, the manicurist walks in and talks to you about what in-season Essie colour you’d like, and right as she finishes the last coat, the massage therapist arrives and sets up.

“Your nails can dry while you receive your next treatment,” explains the manicurist. At the end of your foot massage, you feel more relaxed than you’ve ever felt before … and all in Times Square.

It’s a memorable feeling to have the opportunity to explore some of the city’s finest offerings without ever having to leave your hotel.