The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

The Carlyle may be my favorite hotel anywhere. EVERYTHING is perfection. The location, the rooms, the ambience and of course the staff. THE BEST. This was our second stay here and it was just as great as the first time. Several weeks prior to arrival for a five night stay I contacted the hotel to let them know that again our 11# Papillion Felix would be with us and to request some specific items be placed in the room. Brittany Schlau (guest experience coordinator) responded very quickly answering all questions, even offering to have Felix's specific type of food in the room (I declined the offer, we brought his food with us)! (Food and water bowls on a mat were in our room upon arrival, as were the specific items requested). Also prior to arrival I contacted the concierge team to arrange dinner reservations. David, Jeff, Julie and Jared on the concierge team were very helpful and quickly responded to my inquiries, doing their utmost to ensure my satisfaction. Upon arrival, the front desk told me they had upgraded our room, which was a welcome surprise. The lovely room (1211) was right off the elevators and overlooked E 76th, however it was extremely quiet. The room boasted plenty of storage, a comfy king sized mattress, divine bedding & Frette towels. Housekeeping was great, always replenishing our water bottles and coffee pods for the amazing Nespresso machine. The staff here is outstanding: the doormen, the elevator attendants (shout out to Marcos!), security staff, front desk staff, Vuk at Bemelman's. Everyone & everything here is lovely. We definitely will return for a third stay!

The hotel is beautiful and the rooms spacious and well appointed. What you would expect for a Rosewood Hotel. I was put in a room with a courtyard view which isn’t what I had booked or been informed of prior to my visit. I let the front desk know and I was moved to the correct room view. Not ideal having to unpack and then re pack. Breakfast service was fine at quiet times but during rush hour not the best. I had to remind the staff to bring me what I ordered. I’ve stayed in many rosewood properties and they are generally exceptional. There was a dog in the room next to me which kept yapping which also wasn’t ideal but hey ho. I like dogs. The hotel location is amazing and the staff are very well mannered. Small things make a difference and it’s clear the staff work as a good team. I didn’t feel especially intimately looked after but wouldn’t necessarily expect to be. My late check out wasn’t available. I would consider staying again but may try the mandarin or Four seasons instead to compare.

The Carlyle has for decades been the choice of Hollywood royalty, music royalty and royalty itself. My every visit has been memorable. Rosewood Hotels are one of my favourite most wonderful hotel brands in the world. At the rarefied highest level of luxury hotels, not only is everything exemplary but their individual hotels tend to have at least one outstanding and unique feature. There are a number of iconic hotels in Manhattan however one of the most famous, which I have always associated with Hollywood glamour has to be The Carlyle. I've been visiting New York for over 35 years. I absolutely love a great bar within an iconic hotel. That is why I will stay at the Beverly Hills hotel when in Los Angeles as their Polo Lounge is terrific. To experience real, traditional New York and step back in time, this is the NYC hotel equivalent. I love art deco design and as for the unique feature…look no further than their incredible, atmospheric and world famous Bemelmans Bar. Now almost 80 years old and going strong, nothing beats a couple of evenings at Bemelmans which has barely changed since my first visit nearly 30 years ago and this is a credit to Rosewood. The music always fits the surroundings, the atmosphere is historic and as for the murals…they just have to be seen. The Carlyle is beloved by so many from the world of entertainment travelling from the west coast, just as the Beverly Hills hotel is beloved by so many from the East coast. Our last visit was in December and it was terrific but then, every stay that we have ever experienced at a Rosewood Hotel has been wonderful. My wife and daughter are back in New York in June and when it comes to entertainment it is the Carlyle and Bemelmans Bar (along with the current cast performing Sunset Boulevard on Broadway) that will be the highlight of their stay. My next Rosewood visit is to Saint Barths… which we would not be doing but for the Rosewood as these are truly destination hotels. I've met some wonderful hotel directors over the years and they don’t come much more special than Marlene Poynder of The Carlyle who we truly thank for keeping tradition going so brilliantly.

We absolutely loved the Carlyle! It was our first time, as we usually stay across the street. We far preferred the Carlyle, its wonderful service, beautiful restaurants, and old world charm. We have found our new city getaway place abs can’t wait to return!!

The Carlyle is a New York classic, great location and an ideal spot for a first timer in the Big Apple. Room was super comfortable , the food in Dowlings restaurant was delicious, Benelmans bar was busy, thank you Dimititrous for always getting us a spot to sit. The Conceirges did a fabulous job booking our trips and restaurants, highly recommend Pastis and Balthazar for dinner. Always getting us express tickets for things like Top of the Rock, Empire State Building & Circle line. Walk the high line and see Grand Central Station.