Roman C.
Yelp
I'm going to tell you a secret and you have to promise not to tell anyone.
You can taste New York without New York money.
How? The eminent Concorde hotel.
I'm here now, writing this review.
It's midnight and the Upper East Side looks so beautiful from up here. This window is four times the size of my body and yet I feel so large. It's all in the room, I think. It makes me feel like I'm Wilson Fisk. I'm Tony Stark. I'm Bruce Wayne upon Gotham.
In this moment, I run New York.
Wait a moment. Something caught my eye. I wonder why a single room light is on the 61st floor of the Bloomberg building? Is Mike home?
You really need to see the Bloomberg building at midnight from this floor. What a view.
Back to the Concorde. Every place is defined by its people, so let's talk folk. All Concorde staff I encountered were excellent, from the courteous doormen to the tireless housekeepers. A few to note: the amiable Christopher Shepard, the efficient Rada Drascovic, the soigné Dukens Alexandre. They exemplify luxury hospitality. Meet them and consider yourself lucky.
Look, we all agree that that hospitality in New York is a gamble, regardless of star ratings or thousands paid. Well, not the Concorde - it's consistently well reviewed as far as excellence in customer service and I got to experience first-hand why. New York is not known for consistency in anything. I was impressed.
Let's now talk about the space. Understand that this hotel is less boutique and more New York history. It was born as a residential high-rise owned by a major airline to provide exclusive lodging to visiting crew. Keep in mind that corporations take it very seriously that the people flying their billion-dollar aircraft get the pinnacle of luxury for their night's rest. So, you will too.
The Concorde is designed with your comfort in mind. That's why every floor only has four rooms. That's why the beds are so soft. That's why the soothing tones of mid-century modern mellow your eyes. That's why I'm typing this with my laptop on a marble table top. That's why... the bathrooms.
Oh, the bathrooms. God damn. We're talking bathrooms the size of a New York city studio. Professional vanity mirror taking up a warehouse chunk of wall real estate. Walk-in shower and soaking tub. That's right - and. Have you ever finished a run in Central Park with a perfectly-temperature-controlled Bahamas waterfall of a chilled shower, soak your tired muscles in a home spa of a soothing bubble bath, then back to the Bahamas you go? I have.
A bit about the amenities. Well, there's the essential WIFI, but note that you can ask for a network cable for better Zooming or Teaming. 92 Mbps down / 94 Mbps up during my stay, by the way. My TV is quite big and has all the usual channels and music. A fridge (mind you, much mini) lets me keep a few refreshments cool for when needed. Finally, an iron and board in the room let me have my pilot uniform looking crisp for my flight out.
A note about laundry - Hill Cleaners (160 E. 55th St) is just down the block.
If you get bored, there's a lot to do. Are you a tourist or a non-jaded local? Rockefeller Plaza and Central Park are within walking distance. Funny story - a few days into my stay at the Concorde, I climbed a tree in Central Park to see if I still could. Well, I certainly got down faster than I got up. My rib hurt for a week. Cherish your twenties, kids, because they'll pass you by.
Be smarter than me and work out at the Concorde gym on the 4th floor. It's not massive, but has all the essentials: treadmills, bikes, weight machines, and free weights. Mirrors, too - mirrors holding secrets. Shh.
Hungry after all that exercise? Whole Foods and Duane Reade are just 3 blocks away. If you're so inclined, so is McDonalds. Want takeout? There's over 30 local restaurants on Seamless. I highly recommend Jackson Hole. The pecan pie is de-li-cious.
Ready for some retail therapy? Bloomies, Saks, Bergdorf, Home Depot, Zara, MUJI, Saks Off Fifth, Uniqlo... to list a few... are within a 10 block radius. I recommend stopping by Columbus Circle on the west side of Central Park too - their Nordstrom is amazing. If you find yourself in the Men's shop, ask for Will in Men's Shoes, because he's a class act and you won't be disappointed.
Want to travel a bit? Public transportation is readily accessible, both subway trains (N, R, W, E, M, 6) and buses (M2, M3, M4, M50, M101, M102, M103, Q32, Q60). I'm telling you, this place is so convenient.
All in all, staying here is a fantastic experience and I highly recommend it.
I will forever hold a special place in my heart for the Concorde. It helped me get over a - very - difficult goodbye. This hotel means a lot to me and I hope it will for you, too.