The Grayson Hotel, part of the Hyatt Unbound Collection of hotels, opened this week after many months of delays (see NYC Hotels: When Will the Grayson Hotel Ever Open?).
Everyone was curious about this new hotel, including myself, so I went for a tour of the hotel today. Hopefully I can now answer a lot of your questions. First and foremost, I can tell you this – I really liked the hotel. It has a likeable vibe. It is boutique and sophisticated without the attitude (the ‘tude). It is classic but also modern with wonderful lines, curves and designs. It is very Mad Men. It is memorable and impressive. It has flair and character.
The Grayson is located on West 39th between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, on what may be called a typical Midtown Manhattan business street. But, since I live in New York City, let me give you a little perspective. The Grayson is close to the New York City Library, Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal, three locations that I like a lot! There are tons of restaurants and stores near by. It is close enough to Times Square to be able to walk there in 5 minutes, but far enough not to be in the middle of all the noise and glitz and chazerai (a Yiddish term) unless you have tickets to Hamilton in which case it’s worth it. It’s roughly a 20-minute walk to Hudson Yards and the Highline, both of which I highly recommend. For the Hyatt people, the hotel is about 3 blocks from the Andaz Fifth Avenue, and about a mile from the Park Hyatt New York and Thompson Central Park. While we’re at it, it is also quite close to the two Hyatt Centric hotels.
The Grayson is newly built, has almost 300 rooms, of which only three rooms are suites. (I’m surprised there are not more suites.) There is a full service restaurant on the main floor, and bars on the second and rooftop floors.
The hotel makes great use of outdoor space at all of the locations (hopefully they’ve invested in some outdoor heaters for the winter months . . . ).
I was shown a King room, a double room and the suites (which aren’t quite finished yet).
The rooms are not large, but they are attractive and designed to make maximum use of the space.
Below are photos of a standard King room. Those traveling for business will be pleased with the desk in the room. The room also has a real closet and a robe. I did not notice a minibar or coffee machine. The bathroom is modern with an industrial feel to it, and I am in love with the Lather toiletries which have a lemongrass scent (I meant to borrow some of the toiletries on my way out, but forgot to do so). The only thing I didn’t care for was the ceiling. The hotel is a new construction – I don’t see the necessity for a distressed ceiling look.
This is a double room. It has a sitting area instead of a desk.
A lot of the rooms have connecting doors for those who want to stay in adjoining rooms. I asked whether the hotel has limits on how many persons (or adults and children) may stay in one room and whether rollaway beds were permitted, but the employee was not sure of the answer.
The suites are not finished yet. I was surprised that there are only three suites: A king, a king ADA and a double. They are L-shaped junior suites, and they all have a balcony.
The hotel restaurant, Harta, is designed as an upscale, comfortable, modern brasserie. It is fully open to hotel guests, and will be opening to the public soon. There is both indoor and outdoor seating.
Dinner Menu:
Breakfast Menu:
The bar on the second floor is called Bar Harta. It is not quite finished yet, but it’s really nice and very large! I am looking forward to visiting when it opens!
The rooftop bar is called Bar Cima. It is open, but there is still work being done. This will also be fabulous when completed!
The views from the rooftop are spectacular. In the photos below, you can see the Empire State Building as well as the New Year’s Eve ball at Times Square!
The hotel fitness center, Grit, is located in the basement of the hotel. Everything is brand new and one entire wall is mirrored. This is how the website describes the fitness center:
Kickstart your morning or blow off some steam in the evening at GRIT, our hotel’s go-to destination for exercise and wellness. Open for 24 hours, every day of the week, GRIT features all the essentials to achieve your workout, including SoulCycle commercial bikes, TRX treadmills, a stairmaster HIIT machine, dumbbells, cross trainers, and more.
There is also a conference/meeting room in the basement.
The hotel does not have a pool. It doesn’t have a spa, but I heard rumblings that it will offer deals in conjunction with Oasis Day Spa.
Many thanks to the welcoming staff of the Grayson Hotel for showing me the hotel.
A New York frequent flyer who elegantly combines her passions for worldwide travel, running a gazillion marathons all over the globe and staying fit ... without sacrificing her fancy for good wine and food.
Thanks for the review, but, as a tip to non New Yorkers, there is no way you can walk from the Grayson to Hudson Yards in 10 minutes- I’d say 25 at least, depending on the traffic lights.
thanks for your comment. I changed the estimate to 20 minutes.
I recently stayed at the Grayson Hotel, New York City, part of the Hyatt Unbound Collection, and it was a fantastic experience. The hotel blends modern luxury with classic charm, making it a perfect retreat in the heart of the city. One of the highlights of my stay was the spa treatment I received at spa west village. The professional staff and serene environment provided a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of NYC. Highly recommend this hotel and the spa for a relaxing getaway!