The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
Though the Waldorf-Astoria name is used by many hotels across the country, the New York location is the flagship, the pioneer in ultimate luxury. First housed in the Empire State Building, the hotel has resided in its current location, four blocks from St. Patrick's, since 1931. Located on posh Park Avenue, the Waldorf offers two distinct types of accommodations: the hyphen, as it is called, maintains an elegant and stately series of guest rooms, while the Waldorf Towers (on floors 27 to 42) offer boutique accommodations with the latest in style.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning in the Astoria Lounge, also gateway to the Guerlin Spa and Fitness Center. Three restaurants serve the property, and Sunday brunch is available at the Peacock Alley eatery. Kenneth's Salon also is open daily.
The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
301 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 355-3000
waldorfastoriacollection.com
Omni Berkshire Place
Just one block from the front doors of St. Patrick's is the Omni Berkshire Place, recently listed as one of Travel and Leisure's 500 List of World Best Hotels for 2010. Though owned and operated by the mammoth Omni Corporation, Berkshire Place does its best to make each of its guests feel right at home. The lobby is known as the "living room," encouraging guests to settle in for a chat with friends or a good book.
High-quality duvets and bedding are standard in every guest room, and at 271 square feet, are larger than the New York City average. Specialty suites are named after literary giants like Millay and Thoreau, and the Rogers and Hammerstein suite features a full thousand feet of space, a spa tub and a terrace with a stunning view of the city. Fireside Cocktail Cuisine occupies the most of the first floor, serving three meals a day, and room service is available 24 hours a day.
The Omni Berkshire Place
21 E. 52nd St. (at Madison Avenue)
New York, New York 10022
(212) 753-5800
omnihotels.com
The New York Palace Hotel
Originally designed in 1882 as townhouses for New York's elite, the Palace Hotel has undergone a number of reconfigurations in the intervening years, most recently when it was taken over by the Dorchester Collection in 2008. Modeled after Rome's Palazzo della Cancellaria, the Palace offers plush furniture, sumptuous robes, and specialty soaps and shampoos, creating a luxurious escape for each and every guest and is one block away from the Cathedral.
One-, two-, and three-bedroom suites are available, and a complimentary car service is available for the 20-block vicinity of the hotel. There is also a free shuttle to Wall Street and Times Square for both business guests and tourists. The fitness floor looks right out onto the facade of St. Patrick's, and spa treatments can be booked with advance notice. Three restaurants serve the hotel, and in-room dining is available 24 hours a day.
The New York Palace Hotel
455 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10022
(212) 888-7000
newyorkpalace.com
