The selection of hotels in Manhattan is staggering at the four star range, and when I am traveling for business I get the pleasure of staying at one of these fine establishments. My recent trip to New York allowed me to stay at one of the newest of these hotels for 16 full nights.
The Eventi Hotel at 851 Avenue of the Americas is fairly new to the Big Apple, but that didn’t stop them from being at capacity for the entire time I stayed there. The Eventi is a Kimpton property, and with that legacy comes an instant following of boutique patrons that expect nothing but perfection when staying on property.
As this property is less than six months old, it is still under construction on some of its outer areas, and there were a few minor detours I was asked to take to circumvent the crews of workers as they labored to finish the exterior before the upcoming holiday season. For instance, to access the restaurant, I was asked to leave the front entrance and enter via 6th Avenue as the interior entrance has yet to be completed. This was not much of an inconvenience all things considered.
I was extremely impressed with the employees of the hotel. They were very attentive to all of my requests, which when I am working out of a hotel suite can be quite numerous. No matter how odd or inconvenient my request, someone on property was able to help me, or find a solution to my need. As I have stated in the past, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished on the island of Manhattan in 24 hours or less if you know the right person to call. If I didn’t know who to call, they did.
Insider Tip: Become a Kimpton member on the website to receive multiple benefits like free Internet in your room. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a room upgrade if one is available, but don’t ask unless you’re a member…that won’t look very good. Membership is free.
The Hotel itself is gorgeous. The interior decor is whimsical and elegant, with a sense of the modern renaissance. Dark woods, marble, grand artwork, and leather adorn the lobby with a feeling of comfort when returning from a long day in the concrete jungle.
I have stayed at this property three times now, and I have had a different room each time. I like that because it keeps the cookie cutter feeling out of the equation. This hotel has at least five different footprints for the same size room and that allows for a new and unique experience every stay. My first stay I had a large open King suite with a wide entrance displaying some fine art. The baths are all relatively similar, but the layout will vary. Marble, glass, and tile make up the very spacious room and the rain room showers are wonderful.
My second and third stay allowed me to sample the corner suites with a breathtaking view of the Empire State Building via the wall of windows. Viewing the lights of 6th Avenue from the 25th floor is a New York experience you will keep with you forever.
Insider Tip: The Eventi is pet friendly and caters to your four legged family members like no other hotel I have ever frequented.
Foodies will be very impressed with the cuisine on property, but I suggest room service over the restaurant for a few reasons. I always dine in the restaurant at the hotels I frequent to check on certain key aspects of a great dining experience and unfortunately, the Eventi came up lacking in some of those key areas. Firstly, bring a sweater because the air conditioner is set at 62 degrees and you will have a hard time using a fork when sitting on your hands. Secondly, your food has a very hard time staying warm when the room temperature is so cold, so you are forced to eat fast. I hate to eat fast…especially when I am with good company, and paying a lot for a meal. Thirdly, as this is a new business, the staff is still working out the kinks, so I will be gentle on them, but the service was not nearly as attentive as the hotel staff.
My first stay had me rising early so I sampled the breakfast buffet in the restaurant and was shocked that there were no plate warmers. The plates were ice cold, which of course instantly made my food ice cold and before I could get back to my seat, I had to ask the waiter for a warm plate. This request was not easy to fulfill. Neither was my request for a warm coffee cup, as the 62 degree mug instantly chilled my hot coffee. Another interesting fact is that I noticed the prices for the menu items had been significantly reduced from my first stay to my third stay, which is good because the buffet was extremely overpriced. Still, at any price, your food should stay warm for the duration of your meal. These issues do not factor in when ordering room service. Your meal is delivered in a timely fashion and at a perfect temperature.
Insider Tip: The roasted chicken with green beans and garlic-mashed potatoes is out of this world! Trust me!
Most hotel gyms are small on both space and equipment. The Eventi gym is larger than most boutique hotel gyms and I won’t really complain about it. My needs were met sufficiently considering I was working 12 to 16 hour days which left me very small windows of time to work out anyway.
Sometimes I wonder if the architects ever actually enter the buildings they design. There are some issues that I noticed that are worth mentioning that I find almost humorous in their lack of detail. The main elevator bank in the hotel lobby has about a four foot standing area while waiting for one of the three elevator doors to open. The issue is that each of these three doors is adorned with a large wooden frame that only allows you to see the elevator door you are standing in front of. And to make matters worse, the light that goes off when an elevator reached the lobby is inside the wooden frame, and the bell that goes off is masked by the music playing throughout the lobby, so unless you are standing in front of the elevator that opens, you could easily miss it. That’s pretty annoying when all you want to do is get to your room and enjoy that view and some fantastic room service!
The Eventi offers plenty of space for events, meetings, private parties, weddings, and even private screenings in their luxurious private theater.
The Eventi also has a top notch spa on the property and if you have the time and the extra money, you will be whisked off into another world for the duration of your experience. I promise it is worth every penny.
I highly recommend the Eventi for your next stay in Manhattan. You will be most impressed with your choice. If you have stayed there, feel free to add a comment. I’m always interested in opinions!
Website:
http://www.eventihotel.com/
The Digital Gypsy Strikes Again!
PUMPKIN SEEDS not only taste delish, but they are loaded with antioxidants & nutrients that will nourish your skin while you munch away! Turmeric also has numerous benefits for your skin as well… so here’s a simple recipe for my Turmeric-Toasted Pumpkin Seeds that you can keep around for a crunchy snack that you can really smile about!
Fill your glass with ice & pour the SANTA-Rita over it.
A light and festive-looking holiday snack!
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