The Mark Hotel review: Checking in to the New York hotel with a $75,000 per night, five-bedroom luxury suite
There are myriad ways of seeing NYC – but if you want to do it in style, there is only one. The Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side is so beautifully put together that stepping into its lobby is like stepping into a piece of pop art. Designer Jacques Grange has been given carte blanche to wow with his Zebra-striped black-and-white floors, Paul Mathieu orange velvet sofas and a Ron Arad sphere chandelier.
Save your pennies, though, for the hotel is home to the largest collection of luxury suites in the city (the three-bedroom terrace suite is $25,000 a night) as well as the most expensive (and biggest) hotel room in the world: a five-bedroom suite spanning the 16th and 17th floors, costing $75,000 per night.
Tell us more… The hotel is the undisputed king of collaborations – from its bespoke bicycles by Republic (complete with striped chain case and monogrammed bells) to its complimentary shoeshine kiosk by John Lobb. There’s a Frédérick Fekkai hair salon, and a fitness centre which offers personal training by celebrated martial arts experts Punch. Best of all, shopaholics will be in their element as the hotel has also partnered with Bergdorf Goodman to offer guests exclusive round-the-clock access (take one of the hotel’s monochrome pedicabs to get there).
The stay: If you can’t stretch to one of the suites, then don’t worry. The hotel’s bedrooms (there are 100 to choose from) don’t hold back on the glamour. Marble bathrooms (huge for New York), deep carpets and shimmery grass-cloth wallpaper give a luxe feel. With Ladurée macarons left on your bedside, whimsically illustrated toiletries and Italian linens by Quagliotti are just some of the on-the-button details that are wonderfully spoiling.
The food: Overseen by Jean Georges Vongerichten, the amber-hued The Restaurant serves an eclectic twist on French-American classics. The tuna tartare with avocado, spicy radish and ginger marinade and the black truffle pizza are two of his signature dishes – but the menu is packed with sensational delights that you’ll be ooh-ing and ahh-ing over – including a Simply Cooked section (think Maine lobster and Sonoma County lamb chops) that elevates the term ‘simple’ into something joyous. If you can look up from salivating, the dining room also happens to be one of NYC’s best spots for people watching.
Ask about: The Mark Sailboat – yes, the hotel even has its own bespoke 70-foot Herreshoff-designed vessel. It takes guests from Tribeca’s North Cove Marina for a three-hour sail southward into the iconic New York Harbour, passing right by the Statue of Liberty.
Top tip: New York City celebrates Open House, and throws open the doors of many of its most renowned buildings to the public for one weekend a year. In 2017 it takes places on 14 and 15 October.
Carrier (call 0161 492 1356 or visit carrier.co.uk) offers three nights from £1,790 per person based on two adults sharing a Superior Courtyard King Room, on a room only basis, including return flights from London Gatwick with British Airways and private transfers.