Making

Making
a colourful splash in Manhattan’s Upper Midtown, The Whitby is the
second addition to Firmdale Hotels’ New York portfolio
(following the effervescent
Crosby Street Hotel in SoHo) and packs an eccentrically British
punch characteristic of its designer, Kit Kemp.

While the whimsical interiors are an ode to contemporary design,
the hotel has a homely feel in its informal areas, such as the
drawing room, which beckons guests to peruse one of many
bookshelves before sinking into an overstuffed armchair by the
fireplace. The hotel is perfectly positioned for visitors but, like
its London
siblings,
Charlotte Street and Ham
Yard, it will no doubt become a hit among locals who’ll want to
sleepover after the weekend film club in the 130-seat basement
cinema.

Rooms

Set over 16 floors, the hotel’s 86 rooms and suites are an
outrageous mishmash of patterns, colours, textures and artwork.
It’s a chaos that delights and surprises at every turn. Oversized
patterned headboards dominate bedrooms filled with chintzy
lampshades, jewel-coloured curtains, swirling rugs and vintage
chests, all illuminated by floor-to-ceiling windows that lead out
on to lofty terraces offering skyline views.

What’s for breakfast?

Choose from an extensive buffet, while eggs definitely come
sunny-side up thanks to a large skylight that bathes the orangery
breakfast room in soft morning light.

How about lunch and dinner?

The all-day restaurant offers imaginative seasonal plates and an
English cream tea.

Is there a bar?

Yes, and it’s the hotel’s crowning glory. Here, 30ft of polished
pewter gleams underneath an installation of hanging wicker baskets,
which have been imported from all around the UK, while grey oak
floors are juxtaposed with acid yellow, green and red leather bar
stalls offering front-row views of an impressively stocked back
bar. It will no doubt become a destination in itself.

Amenities

Along with the aforementioned cinema, the hotel has a gym,
private dining and meeting rooms, valet parking and an
all-important DVD library.

Things you should know

You will never achieve the same perfectly curated chaos in your
own home.

Within a short walk you can find…

Central Park and Broadway are just a stone’s throw away, as well
as some of the city’s best museums and galleries.