Dylan
Hotel Information: This Midtown hotel occupies the former Chemists' Club, a 1903 Beaux Arts building, now fully restored. The lobby, by noted New York designer Jeffrey Beers, incorporates original architectural elements, including a dramatic staircase leading to second-floor meeting rooms. Lighting is soft and contemporary, and the color palette incorporates dove-grey, cobalt-blue, and copper. Velvety sofas and chairs provide plenty of room for relaxing.
Amenity highlights: The hotel's Benjamin Steak House showcases USDA Prime beef, personally selected by the chef and aged on the premises. The decor is equally impressive: A high, coffered ceiling; a gorgeous working fireplace; rich woodwork; sumptuous leather seating; and a mezzanine overlooking the main dining room.
Complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the Dylan Hotel.
Insider tip: The Dylan stands along a stretch of East 41st Street known as Library Way. The New York Public Library, with its famous marble lions guarding the entrance, is one block from the hotel and well worth a visit. The third floor features a magnificently appointed reading room and a variety of intriguing artifacts, including a Gutenberg Bible and a tiny copper globe from the early 1500s. The library also offers free tours twice daily, Tuesday through Saturday.
The New York hotel offers spacious, handsomely decorated guestrooms with luxury bedding, large desks, complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access, and TV with cable, HBO, and pay movies. Clock radios with iPod docking stations are bedside. Safes are large enough for laptops.
Carrara marble bathrooms include vessel (bowl-style) sinks, designer bath products, bathrobes, and slippers. Beaker-style water glasses are a witty tribute to the building's origin as the Chemists' Club. Most bathrooms have showers only, but Executive Rooms feature jetted tubs.
Rooms on the fourth floor and below are part of the original Chemists' Club and have 11-foot ceilings.
Ninety percent of Dylan Hotel guestrooms are nonsmoking.
