The Carlyle: A Rosewood Hotel

Frommer's Review

This 34-story grande dame towers over Madison Avenue majestically, perfectly epitomizing the old-world, moneyed neighborhood where it stands. Service is white-glove (literally) and doormen actually wear bowler hats; many celebrities and dignitaries, some with faces obscured by silk scarves, sip tea in the hotel's cozy Gallery. Guest rooms range from singles to seven-room suites, some with terraces and full dining rooms. All have marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and all the amenities you'd expect from a hotel of this caliber. The English manor-style decor is luxurious but not excessive, creating the comfortably elegant ambience of an Upper East Side apartment. Many apartments have breathtaking views of either downtown or the West Side and Central Park.

The lobby was renovated recently: The marble floors and columns, the original clock, and the Piranesi prints and murals were restored, and new features such as Baccarat light fixtures, a new reception desk, and expanded concierge space were added. The hotel's Carlyle Restaurant features excellent French fare, while the supper club Cafe Carlyle is the place for first-rate cabaret. Charming Bemelmans Bar, named after illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans, who created the Madeline books and painted the mural here, is a great spot for cocktails; there's live jazz Monday through Saturday evenings.

Facilities:
3 restaurants (including one of the city's best cabaret rooms); tearoom; bar; high-tech fitness room w/sauna, Jacuzzi, and spa services; concierge; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; video library

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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