Park Lane Hotel New York

"When the original Park Lane New York opened on Central Park South in 1971, it had a European glamour about it. Over the decades, that glamour faded into a rather stodgy beige look. Cut to Fall 2021, when the 47-story property debuted a full reimagination, courtesy of design firm Yabu Pushelberg, that transformed the stuffy hotel into something untraditional and much more inviting—especially compared to its neighbors, the Plaza Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton. Fans of Ludwig Bemelmans and Marc Chagall will love the whimsical illustrated murals by NYC-based artists En Viu placed throughout the property. Look at the ceiling above the check-in desk for a spring-green scene, or along the saturated blue walls of the staircase leading up to the hotel’s newest dining concept, Calvert’s, on the second floor. In the 610 guest rooms, murals of Central Park scenes are found behind the beds and dressers. You’ll notice navy blue tones in the City View rooms, while the Park View rooms take on softer tones of pink and beige to give the greenery of Central Park center stage. The staircase up to Darling—the only rooftop bar on Central Park South—has a more dramatic design, with a mural reminiscent of floral still-life paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. The space, which used to be a private apartment, has both indoor and outdoor areas. But once the weather warms up, there’s really no choice when you have those expansive Central Park views as an option." - Jennifer Flowers

"By all accounts, the Darling should be a real scene. The rooftop bar at the Park Lane New York, which reopened in late 2021 after a total renovation, touts plenty of inventive cocktails and tasty bites with which to enjoy them—plus sprawling, frankly unrivaled views over Central Park. Happily, though, it feels convivial and relaxed (minus the occasional Gen Z-ers snapping selfies against a turf wall); grown-up but not too self-serious. The indoor space houses the bar and a handful of cozy banquettes, but you’re really coming here for the view—so head out to the terrace, grab a table beneath the twinkling string lights, and ask for one of the specialty cocktails. Here Comes Trouble, a potent blend of tequila, blood orange, lime, and—in a surprise-and-delight twist—spicy wasabi-lavender honey, is a total palate-tingler. The Darling Unlimited offers a tart mashup of vodka, spiced pear, ginger, lemon, and angostura. Soak up the views while you sip, then soak up the booze with something from the tight snack list; the crispy chicken sliders are a no-brainer, though if you’re down to splurge the tender Wagyu sandwich on crisped milk bread feels as decadent as a three-table banquet. —Betsy Blumenthal, features and franchise editor" - CNT Editors, Vicki Denig

"When the original Park Lane New York hotel opened on Central Park South in 1971, it had a certain European glamour about it. Over the decades, that glamor faded into a rather stodgy beige look. Cut to fall 2021, when the 47-story property debuted a full redesign courtesy of design firm Yabu Pushelberg that transformed the stuffy hotel into something wholly untraditional and much more inviting—especially compared to its neighbors, the Plaza Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton. Fans of Ludwig Bemelmans and Mark Chagall will love the whimsical illustrated murals by NYC-based artists En Viu woven throughout the property. Look at the ceiling above the check-in desk for a spring-green scene or along the saturated blue walls of the staircase leading up to the redone Harry’s New York Bar on the second floor. The staircase up to Darling—the only rooftop bar on Central Park South—has a more dramatic design with a mural reminiscent of floral still life paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. The space has both indoor and outdoor areas where you can order seafood towers and Boulevardiers made with Japanese whiskey and ume plum liquor." - Lyndsey Matthews