In short… The Lowell Hotel is the most elegant yet cozy place to stay on the city’s Upper East Side—plus, it’s family owned!
The vibe… While The Lowell’s exterior reads more apartment building than luxury hotel—there’s no grand entrance with lots of doormen and cars pulling up—the interior also feels incredibly discreet and private. There’s a small check-in desk rather than the classic big lobby at the front, and the elevators just beyond it bring you up to your room (the hotel is 17 floors). If you want to meet up with friends or colleagues, the salon/living room is quiet and subdued, with the atmosphere of a private club. It actually reminds me of the green salon room at La Reserve in Paris.
The rooms… Michael Smith (the Obamas’ White House interior designer) oversaw the rooms’ decor, and while I’m not usually his biggest fan (his taste runs a bit trad for me), his designs work so well here. After all the of-the-moment hotel templates, it’s refreshing to be in a straightforward, classic, and extremely comfortable hotel room, some of them with fireplaces and terraces, and others with kitchens and dining rooms. I’d suggest a fireplace room if you’re here in a colder month, and a terrace room any time of year!
Food & drink…Downstairs there’s a very chic (if splurgy) restaurant and bar, Majorelle, where all of our Upper East side friends go for drinks, tea, or a special dinner. It’s an intimate space full of beautiful flowers (it’s named for YSL’s famous gardens in Marrakech), serving a French/Moroccan menu. Great cocktails, too!
Be sure to… Obviously you have to take advantage of being so close to Central Park! I’m a big fan of Viand, the old-school Greek diner just a block away–they have the best roast turkey year-round, which we like to order on an open faced sandwich with Russian dressing on the side. My husband and my favorite store, Mashburn, is about a 10 minute walk north.
Date of Stay… July 21, 2020
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