"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe?The experience begins on the sidewalk as you take in the soaring Beaux Arts facade of this NoMad monument, which was originally built in 1901, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, and designated a New York City landmark in 2018. All that history aside, the hotel has already become an area favorite in its three short years operating as part of the James Hotels group, serving as a quintessential anchor of the neighborhood. What's the backstory?The interiors (designed by Thomas Juul-Hanson) are contemporary without being cold, making this place the kind of hotel that's sensible enough for a work trip but also engaging enough to make the most of your time in Manhattan—the lobby's arched seating areas in particular are a great place to host an impromptu business meeting during the day, and perhaps curl up with a friend and a cocktail in the evening. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book?We booked a standard room but were pleased to receive a space-available bump to a suite (the kind of service typical of James Hotels). It was jaw-droppingly spacious for a Manhattan hotel, even as far as suite-category rooms go, and even more surprising was the amount of natural light, which can be hard to come by in a Manhattan high-rise. The furniture was part mid-century, part-Scandinavian, and absolutely soothing—a nice change of pace from other city hotels, which sometimes focus too much on being dark and sexy. From the comfy custom-designed beds, to the large windows and gorgeous marble bathrooms, the room had a light and airy vibe that delivered some serious urban zen. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?No charge for the Wi-Fi. We emailed and streamed just fine. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?Scarpetta on the ground floor serves up sceney haute Italian, and it seems there's always a crowd from lunch through late-night, but the real action goes down in Seville, an intimate underground cocktail lounge inspired by the jazz age with leather chesterfields and plush velvet curtains. For a quintessential sexy New York cocktail moment, it's one of the best spots in the neighborhood. And the service? We booked through a third-party website, and check-in was impeccably smooth and quick, making it from taxi to our room in about four minutes flat. It's also worth mentioning that the front desk is especially welcoming to furry guests as well—not only is your pet greeted with a warm welcome upon arrival, but the front desk is game to arrange water and food bowls delivered to your room. They also offer up a natural paw balm should those NoMad sidewalks prove tough on Fido's little feet. What type of travelers will you find here?With so many great seating areas, there's definitely a scene in this hotel's lobby as afternoon turns into evening, and it feels like there is always a pleasantly buzzing (but never noisy) level of energy. It's the kind of crowd that probably says "work hard, play hard" on their Bumble profile—entrepreneurs looking for a cool place to take meetings on one hand, and leisure travelers looking for an approachably elegant hotel on the other. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene?What was once a south-midtown wasteland has become one of the city's most engaging neighborhoods, especially if you're a wellness junky. The hotel has partnerships with a number of fitness and beauty studios in the area, from treadmill workout class SLT Tread, to Throwdown Boxing, and House of Cryo (which can be booked for in-room cryotherapy treatments). Is there anything you'd change?People always have strong opinions about Manhattan hotels—the rooms are too small, it's in a weird location, the food stinks—but oddly enough, the James New York - NoMad seems to get pretty much everything right. Any other hotel features worth noting?Valet parking makes check-in a breeze if you're driving into the city. It's also worth mentioning the in-room "Four Bodies Wellness" program, which allows guests to experience a kundalini yoga class through their in-room TV, access a complimentary one-month membership to the INSCAPE meditation app, and also book one-on-one sessions with various intuitive and wellness counselors (yes, you can have astrology and tarot card readings booked directly in the comfort of your room). Bottom line: Worth it? Why?Saying a hotel has a "sense of place" is a pretty tired trope at this point, but this one really hits the mark, providing a current and compelling snapshot of where New York City currently stands with food, design, and wellness." - Todd Plummer
