Review of Mandarin Oriental New York

The Mandarin Oriental, New York is located at Columbus Circle – situated at the southwest corner of Central Park. The Time Warner Center – that sits just west of the Circle - comprises two glass towers, some 230 metres (750 feet) tall and the Mandarin Oriental hotel sits between floors 35 and 80 in the North Tower – although the very highest floors are managed Residences. The Center was opened in October, 2003.

Within a few blocks of the Centre are the Hudson River, Hell’s Kitchen, Times Square, Broadway and of course, the magnificent 843 acres of Central Park, the lungs of Manhattan.

The hotel is within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of John F. Kennedy Airport, La Guardia Airport and Newark Liberty Airport. Teterboro Airport – the private jet terminal – is 22 kilometres (14 miles) from the hotel and lower Manhattan offers a helicopter service to all the airports. 

The Mandarin Oriental, New York offers 198 rooms and 46 suites – all boasting floor to ceiling windows, granite & marble bathrooms, and contemporary Oriental décor. The Suites offer larger bedrooms and added facilities like media rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, and soaking bathtubs.

The hotel starts on floor 35, so every view from every window is fantastic. Most of the regular rooms and suites offer views of the Hudson River and Central Park but the higher you go, the more expansive the vista becomes. The Presidential Suite up on the 53rd floor offers unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline … truly spectacular.

Room sizes start at 37 sq. metres for a Hudson River View room (398 sq. feet) and increase to 307 sq. metres (3305 sq. feet) for the Suite 5000. 

Mandarin Oriental is regarded as one of the finest service providers in the luxury hospitality industry. Nothing is a problem for the staff and a smile is a permanent feature on their faces. Guests are greeted at street level and are whisked up to their rooms or suites within minutes of their arrival.

A hotel Concierge is your best friend in a city like New York for it is they who will reserve a table at the finest restaurants, book tickets for that “sold out” concert or help you beat the queue at tourist attractions – getting to the viewing platform of The Empire State Building – for instance. 

The Mandarin Oriental, New York offers its guests a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a 23 metres (75 feet) indoor lap swimming pool, yoga classes and of course running maps for Central Park. On the 35th and 36th floors of the hotel is the Spa - 1,350 square metres (14,500 square feet) of peace & tranquillity. The famed Mandarin Oriental spa treatments are all on offer - from pedicures and manicures to jet-lag cures and mind-clearing massages. There are six treatment rooms, a Thai Yoga suite – complete with a deep soaking tub, a VIP Spa Suite that has its own fireplace & steam room and oxygen vitality pools.

The Time Warner Center itself offers a stress-free shopping experience. On the third floor of the building, you will find a selection of boutiques from fashion labels like Hugo Boss and Michael Kors to the luxury luggage brand Tumi.

Jazz at The Lincoln Center is part of The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and is attached to the Time Warner Center. With the musical maestro Wynton Marsalis as its artistic director, this location has become the place in Manhattan to enjoy jazz … smooth, swing, contemporary and classical. 

The Mandarin Oriental, New York is fully wheelchair accessible. Two pets up to 12 kilograms each (25 pounds) are allowed in the hotel – although there is an extra charge for this service. Guide and assistance dogs are also welcome.

The look and feel of the hotel can only be described as contemporary Oriental – and it would not look out of place in Hong Kong or Shanghai. The Mandarin Oriental group has a modern signature style which includes the use of plush furnishings, decorating in soft gold, red and white hues, and adorning exquisite Asian-inspired art on the walls. 

The Time Warner Center buildings are made up of glass and metal which gleam in the day and are lit up at night-time by the lights surrounding the statue of Columbus.  

The Mandarin-Oriental, New York has one restaurant – MO Lounge – where delicious all-dining is offered.  Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking Central Park. The restaurant also boasts a 1,300-bottle wine cave and superb views of Manhattan from the restaurant’s floor to ceiling windows.

The hotel offers in-room dining – around the clock.

The Time Warner Center is home to two of the finest restaurants in the city. Thomas Keller’s Per Se holds 3 Michelin stars. The modern American menu is stunning. Masa – the 3 Michelin star brainchild of chef Masa Takayama – offers the finest Japanese cuisine – arguably in the USA. Both restaurants can be booked through the hotel Concierge. 

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has adopted a “Naturally Better” plan – embracing global sustainability initiatives. The Mandarin Oriental, New York aims to eliminate single use plastics as a matter of urgency. The group was founded in the 1960s in Hong Kong and now has 33 hotels and residences in 23 locations. Mandarin Oriental – like all the other major luxury hotel brands – is keen to make all its properties as “green” as possible, as soon as possible. This includes cutting out as much waste as possible and recycle fastidiously.