The Knickerbocker Hotel commanding an enviable address in the heart of Manhattan, edging the glow of Times Square and the calm of Bryant Park, an iconic New York City landmark is reborn. The Knickerbocker hotel is a haven of refined elegance; a legendary monument created by John Jacob Astor IV in 1906, now re-imagined into a sophisticated urban sanctuary.
Mere blocks from some of the world’s most revered cultural diversions – Broadway, The Metropolitan Opera, MoMa, and an easy walk to Fifth Avenue and Central Park – here is where legendary tenor Enrico Caruso and renowned American playwright George Cohan each made his home. Where artist Maxfield Parrish originally showcased his famed Old King Cole mural, and where names like Rockefeller and Fitzgerald gathered in what was known as The 42nd Street Country Club.
Guest Rooms
Make yourself at home in one of the 330 air-conditioned rooms featuring tablet computers and minibars (stocked with some free items). Your pillowtop bed comes with down comforters and Egyptian cotton sheets. Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary, and flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment. Private bathrooms have rainfall shower heads and designer toiletries.
300 rooms – including 27 junior suites and 4 signature suites – all have an astounding view of the city, lit up in true New York glory. The décor is stylish, with beds piled high with luxury linens, and crisp writing desks begging you to do something as wild as pick up a pen. The King Premier room can be booked by non-royalty
Bathrooms are spacious and modern, with cool marble surrounding the sink and walk-in rain showers enclosed in opaque glass. Once you put on the terry cloth robe, you’ll be done for. You may only hope for a lofty accomplishment such as figuring out the prime Internet radio station to play on the room’s iPad while you enjoy the iconic view from your window.
The terrycloth bathrobe that beckons. The only other place to outdo that view is the rooftop bar. And as the only rooftop bar in Times Square, it’s a fantastic place to people-watch. The soaring skyscraper views are well worth the soaring cocktail prices. Fitzgerald and Rockefeller once hobnobbed here, so it’s wise to follow their lead, if only as a creative exercise.
Premium Amenities
Enjoy recreation amenities such as a 24-hour fitness center or take in the view from a rooftop terrace. This Beaux Arts hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and babysitting/childcare (surcharge).
Dining
Satisfy your appetite at the hotel’s restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dining is also available at a coffee shop/café, and room service (during limited hours) is provided. Relax with a refreshing drink at one of the 2 bars/lounges. American celebrity chef Charlie Palmer has his restaurant encased inside the hotel, overlooking Broadway and 42nd street. His eclectic menu ranges from the tenderest fried chicken to sea scallops that almost melt on the tongue. The hotel has a legendary reputation for extravagant food and drink, so while at the Knick, do as the Knickerbockers do.
During New Year’s Eve, staying at the Knickerbocker will put you above Times Square and below the ball drop. It’s an unbelievable way to see one of the world’s most famous countdowns.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, limo/town car service, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Planning an event in New York? This hotel has facilities measuring 2200 square feet (198 square meters), including meeting rooms. A round trip airport shuttle is available for a surcharge.
History
John Jacob Astor IV first built The Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square in 1906, averaging a rate of $3.25 a day. Don’t pack your bags just yet: prices have risen considerably. Surprisingly, this is not a gingerbread house; it’s the exterior of The Knickerbocker. Although a financial crisis didn’t keep the Knickerbocker in the hotel business for long, it did become the location for Newsweek Magazine and was designated a New York City landmark by 1988. There are even rumors that this was the birthplace of the martini, which is reason alone to justify a cocktail at any time of day.
There is nothing old-fashioned about this lobby . Reopening a hotel with such a history is an interesting venture. There must be a lofty aim to keep the building’s integrity while appeasing the high standards of Times Square’s luxury market. The renovation has polished its edges just enough to warrant donning a tie before entering the lobby.
Location
Overlooking Times Square, this elegant hotel with a beaux-arts facade dates from 1906 and is a minute’s walk from Times Square- 42nd St subway station and a 13-minute walk from the Empire State Building.
The Knickerbocker
Address: 6 Times Square, New York
NY 10036, United States
Phone:+1 212-204-4980
