In short… A very intimate, cozy, chic hotel in the heart of TriBeCa
The vibe… While I’d visited The Greenwich Hotel often for meetings, I’d never spent any significant amount of time there. I have to say, it’s one of my favorite hotels ever. It feels more like a residence—it’s discreet and you can easily walk right past it without noticing, as it doesn’t have a big canopy, or cluster of doormen (they’re just inside the door!), or a big sign. Once inside, there’s a small front desk for check-in—and then you’re whisked upstairs to your room. The whole setting is dark, moody and sexy. There’s a salon/lobby area with lots of couches, a guests’-only salon area (The Drawing Room) with a roaring fireplace and a separate little indoor dining area, and a beautiful outdoor terrace. Wide plank floors throughout add to the home-like feeling, as well as tiles that were so cool I had to ask where they were sourced—one of the owners spotted them on their travels abroad. It’s for sure a lesson in lighting (if you’re a low-light fan), as well as in restraint. And yet while it could feel too cool for school—the hotel is co-owned by Robert De Niro, who’s had a longtime commitment to TriBeCa’s cultural scene—all of the guests we encountered were very friendly and down to earth. Also, because the hotel is very dog-friendly, it’s easy to meet other guests.
The rooms… We were completely spoiled with the giant Greenwich Penthouse, the biggest hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. Two floors, with a huge living/dining/kitchen (yes a working kitchen!) space on the first floor, with a double ceiling height and windows…along with a spacious bedroom, big bathroom and tons of hallway closets for storage. Upstairs is the same bedroom/bathroom layout, but with an overlook to downstairs from a study area. The bathroom has a great tub that appears to be marble but isn’t (marble tubs lose heat too fast!). I also love the Red Flower products in the bath. The owners really leaned into their travels and what inspired them—and you can feel it. It doesn’t feel “decorated” but tasteful, lived in. Also, a very sweet welcome guest gift—a deck of cards in a leather case from Métier.
Food & Drink… Locanda Verde has been a neighborhood destination for years, independent of its being part of the hotel—which means it has a nice local vibe as well as a great Italian menu by Andrew Carmellini. I didn’t eat in the restaurant itself, as I wanted to take advantage of a big perk of being a hotel guest: that you can eat on the terrace or in the fireplace room. Part of what makes The Greenwich Hotel so intimate is that they don’t let non-guests patronize the bar, so they can keep it cozy and for guests only. One night, we struck up a conversation with a friendly man and his very cute dog on the couch just across from us, and the next, we shared a table with another guest who filled us in on his very researched restaurant list for the week. When does this ever happen in a big city?
The spa… This was the biggest surprise to me—I had no idea how incredible the pool and space are at the Shibui Spa, where there’s the framework of a 250-year-old Japanese farmhouse that’s been installed in the lantern-lit pool room—very sexy. I also didn’t know that non-guests can book treatments and use the facilities. I had an incredible massage—a poultice treatment that dates to the 14th century, along with cupping and deep tissue massage—and I want to go back for the one where they walk on you. The facial treatments also look great, with products from In Fiore, Augustinus Bader, and Natura Bissé. This is going to be my new go-to gift for friends in New York—a spa treatment here is so transporting.
Be sure to… Invite a friend to come join you for a drink in that beautiful fireplace room—it’s divine. And take a walk to Pier 26, after getting a coffee at the Kaffe 1668 just up the street. It’s also worth noting that this hotel is a part of Leading Hotels of the World, which has a club called Leaders Club. Apparently, if you’re a member, you can start earning free nights pretty quickly.
Date of Stay: October 27-29, 2024
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