The Peninsula New York

“Pretty Awesome!”

Location -- FIve Stars... This midtown location on 5th is perfect whether you are headed for a stroll in Central Park or to Broadway for a play! Fear not if you have never hit the limit on your AMEX Black Card... All the shopping you could ever want, including the very dangerous Harry Winston Jewel… more

Location -- FIve Stars... This midtown location on 5th is perfect whether you are headed for a stroll in Central Park or to Broadway for a play! Fear not if you have never hit the limit on your AMEX Black Card... All the shopping you could ever want, including the very dangerous Harry Winston Jewelers and virtually every designer store you can think of are right near the hotel on 5th Avenue. Even the Black Tap (my favorite spot in New York for milk shakes is only 1 block away. You can also walk to the best museums NYC has to offer including the Metropolitan, the Neue and the Frick (my personal favorite). If you have meetings in the Financial District or plan to spend time at the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden, you may want stay further south... travel time to there areas can be an hour or more in traffic :-( The Staff -- Five Stars -- while everyone was great, there are a few staff members that definitely deserve special recognition. First, Sonia has to be the most genuinely cheerful bellperson on the planet. I was at the hotel for 5 days and she greeted every guest she encountered with a cheery hello and a big friendly smile. Everyone in my party commented on Sonia and I heard several guests mention her in passing bright smile after encounters in the elevator or hallway near the front desk. Second, Renaldo at the bar on the 2nd floor is exceptional. By the second day, he knew what everyone in my party liked to eat and drink. Rather that taking our orders, he confirmed them. Do you know how good it feels to go someplace where they remember who you are and what you like to eat/drink? If you don't remember, go visit Renaldo at the Peninsula Bar so you can find out! If you do remember, treat yourself and get a drink at the Peninsula bar when Renaldo is on duty. Third, Shuma at the front desk is a gem! She is kind and professional in equal measure... the only reason I know her name is we had a problem with the bill because of a American Express room credit snafu and she dealt with it perfectly. Bravo and thank you! And fourth, I would like to thank Victoria at the Concierge desk. Victoria is kind, patient with tourists (like me), knows NYC including drive times like the back of her hand, and handled everything from theater, museum and dinner reservations effortlessly. She also knows all the special shopping districts in town and is a complete wiz at straightening out transportation issues from taxis to Lyft and busses to airlines. All of this said, the rest of the staff was very, very good at what they did and how they did it... these four were just a cut above... I am grateful to every member of the Peninsula staff that made my visit special. Food -- Five Stars. If the Peninsula is capable of serving a bad meal or a bad drink, I did not find one nor did anyone else in my party. For breakfast, be sure to try the malted waffles (light and fluffy as any in the universe), the smoked salmon eggs Benedict and the Japanese Breakfast... All fantastic... I was also partial to the Sweet Greens Juice! Facilities -- I have to plead mostly ignorant because I was running from meeting to meeting and museum to museum rather than basking in the sun or being pampered at the spa. The rooftop bar is definitely worth visiting... However, they do not have heat lamps... Rooms -- Four to Five Stars -- impeccably kept and spacious, the rooms/furnishings could be updated and the use of smooth stone floors in the showers is a bit puzzling... How do you spell "slip and fall?"

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