Park Lane Hotel New York review

If the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, location, then the Park Lane New York is sitting on a gold mine.

Located along Central Park South with a view of The Pond and easy access to Billionaires’ Row, where some of New York City‘s toniest high-end boutiques reside, the Park Lane is an ideal spot for acting out the New York visit of your Centurion Card dreams.

It’s likely those dreams don’t involve any actual work, which is a good thing, because if there’s one type of traveler the Park Lane is not set up for, it’s folks on work trips. While there was a desk in the room we stayed in, its height and the height of the desk chair made working an uncomfortable experience.

Still, when you’re surrounded by whimsical decor, cozy lounges and luxe boutiques, responding to emails might be the last thing on your mind. The Park Lane is an excellent home base for a Big Apple shopping experience — just make sure you set an out-of-office message before you check in.

What is the Park Lane New York?

A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the Park Lane New York sits across the street from Central Park and provides excellent park and skyline views from its 610 accommodations as well as Darling, the property’s rooftop lounge.

The hotel’s refined but playful art deco-inspired design makes it easy to envision both Daisy Buchanan from “The Great Gatsby” and the White Rabbit from “Alice in Wonderland” popping by for an aperitif or putting their feet up after a day of retail therapy.

Furniture throughout the property is low-slung, sleek and rounded, with dusty pink and muted forest green hues foregrounded. Murals and other painted details on the walls showcase plants and small animals, while an abundance of flowers imbue the public areas and accommodations with a joyful and fresh vibe.

How to book the Park Lane New York

The easiest way to book the Park Lane is through the hotel’s website. However, the Park Lane Hotel is a member of Capital One’s Premier Collection, so if you have either the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business, you can book your stay through Capital One Travel to enjoy benefits like up to $100 in on-property experience credits, availability-based room upgrades and free daily breakfast for two, not to mention earning 10 miles per dollar on the room rate.

The hotel is also a member of the American Express Hotel Collection, so if you have an eligible card and book through Amex Travel, you might be entitled to benefits like an availability-based upgrade, on-property credits to spend on qualifying dining and spa charges and the ability to redeem Pay with Points for prepaid bookings.

Since this hotel participates in the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program, you can use I Prefer points to cover the cost of your stay as well, though nights here will cost quite a few points.

I simply paid for my three-night July stay by booking directly through the hotel. At the time, the rate for a king room with a park view ranged from $427 to $442 per night, though rates can climb to over $1,000 per night when booking closer in or on dates of major events or holidays.

Related: How a January trip to NYC can save you tons of money

The location by Central Park is phenomenal

As its name suggests, the Park Lane New York sits across the street from Central Park between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The location makes for a lively streetscape — opt for a park view room for an unobstructed view of the action in the park, as well as horse-drawn carriages and well-heeled New Yorkers passing by.

If you’re into the arts, you’re in luck, as both the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Modern Art are about five blocks from the hotel. For other tourist attractions, you’ll need to wander farther afield.

Have your credit card ready, because the shopping in this neighborhood is incredible. Within a five-block radius of the Park Lane, you’ll find the flagship Tiffany & Co. store, Van Cleef & Arpels, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Saint Laurent, David Yurman, Gucci and Burberry. If you’re going to New York to show off a shopping haul on social media, the Park Lane provides an appealing backdrop for the goods you’ll be showcasing thanks to its quirky decor and plethora of colorful nooks and crannies.

The eye-catching decor draws you in

Though the Park Lane is fairly nondescript from the outside, inside is another story. The art-deco-meets-woodland decor looks like it came from the world’s most stylish book of fairy tales. As you walk into the lobby, you’ll immediately notice massive flower arrangements, plush carpeting and a sophisticated color palette based around tourmaline pink and sylvan green, that come together in a whimsical yet chic setting.

The accommodations, including my park view room (this category ranges from 350-437 square feet), extend this design aesthetic. Forest creatures like rabbits, squirrels, birds and foxes were painted in the corners of the room and on the credenza as subtle, refined references to the woodland theme.

The bed had a low, upholstered headboard and a crisp white duvet that helped keep the look from appearing too childish, though. Complementing the elegant design was a pair of lounge chairs upholstered in purple velvet to provide a pop of color by the room’s huge picture windows.

The bathroom was equally luxurious, though with a much bolder appearance. Long, skinny subway tiles in alternating black and white horizontal stripes created a classically swanky design that, interestingly enough, looked a bit like the inside of a Sephora store.

Perhaps that reference was intentional as a way to inspire guests to keep up with their skincare routine no matter how tired they may be after a full day out in the city, for which the hotel provided high-end Le Labo hair and skin products from the Hinoki line. In terms of square footage, the space was compact, but large enough to accommodate an expansive marble countertop with the sink, the toilet and a walk-in shower.

Rooms prioritize form over function … if you plan on working

With such whimsical furnishings, perhaps it’s not surprising that the Park Lane is not ideally set up for business travelers looking to get work done. While the internet connection was fast enough, the desk space in the room was compact and most of the surface area was taken up by the ice bucket and drink glasses.

The desk itself was high while the chair was uncomfortably low, making it hard to work for several hours without constantly repositioning yourself, and the chair was difficult to move around.

Working on a laptop in the room’s low-slung lounge chairs wasn’t much better. Despite looking stylish, they had stiff bottom cushions and low, curving backs that made sitting in them pleasant for only about five minutes.

The bed, at least, was comfortable, but I didn’t have the guts to take meetings from it via Zoom. As expected, it was a much better spot for sleeping thanks to its supportive mattress and abundance of pillows.

Chances are you’re not coming to the Park Lane to work, though. If that’s the case, you’ll likely be more than content with the layout and design, as the property prioritizes leisure necessities like plush bathrobes, cushy slippers and spacious closets large enough for storing your wardrobe and shopping purchases.

Dining options are solid but have some minor misses

When your stomach starts to grumble, the Park Lane has several lounges and restaurants you can visit without venturing far from your room.

Darling

Situated on the hotel’s 47th floor, Darling — the Park Lane’s moody marquee lounge — is the spot to go for indulgent light bites (think: wagyu beef skewers for $40 and lobster macaroni and cheese for $30) and inventive twists on classic cocktails.

The venue impresses with its breathtaking views of the Central Park and the skyscraper-packed skyline. This makes it a popular place for both guests and locals at night (only guests are permitted during the day).

Much to my disappointment, I wasn’t able to get in during my stay, as reservations tend to fill up fast. So, learn from my mistake and book a table as far in advance as possible if visiting Darling is a top priority for you.

Rose Lane

A smaller lounge on the ground floor, Rose Lane offers a similar upscale yet cozy vibe as Darling. What it lacks in jaw-dropping city views it more than makes up for with attentive service.

In addition to serving a selection of cocktails, including several that are also on the menu at Darling, Rose Lane welcomes guests for lighter fare throughout the day. A coworker and I tried a few cocktails, but the highlight of the experience was the attentive service from the Rose Lane bar and waitstaff.

Park Lane Cafe

For more substantial fare (plus drinks) at night, head to the Park Lane Cafe. Open every evening, this venue is ideal for guests who crave dinner on the fly, as reservations are not required.

The Park Lane Cafe’s menu features classic dishes taken a notch higher, such as wagyu meatballs braised in homemade tomato sauce ($21) and pan-seared Alaskan salmon with a sun-dried tomato and couscous salad ($32). Though the menu wasn’t extensive, everything my dining companions and I ordered was very good, with the wagyu meatballs being a true standout. The service was also attentive and friendly without being overbearing.

Related: Why I love hotel bars, especially when I travel solo

Other hotel amenities are limited

During my stay at the Park Lane, most guests seemed more interested in exploring the neighborhood than the hotel itself. That was likely due to the property’s lack of other high-end amenities.

Other than its food and beverage outlets and a couple of event spaces, the only on-site facility available to guests is a serviceable gym with Peloton bikes and a Lululemon Mirror. Judging by the scene in the lobby and lounges, though, most guests seemed more inclined to get their workout in by walking to nearby stores and carrying full shopping bags back.

Reasons the Park Lane New York might not be for you

• Aside from its proximity to Central Park and MoMa, the Park Lane lacks an ideal location for sightseeing, especially when compared to other hotels with similar price points and features.
• If you’re looking for budget shopping and dining, you won’t find it near the Park Lane, as it sits in one of New York’s most expensive neighborhoods.
• The property is set up best for leisure travelers, so you may want to stay elsewhere if you need to get some work done while in town.

Accessibility

The Park Lane is in an older building, but still has a number of features to ensure accessibility for everyone. Darling and Rose Lane are ADA accessible, and the hotel features an accessible entrance and reception area.

Service dogs are welcome. Accessible rooms have strobe alarms and door knock alerts as well as a roll-in shower or tub with grab bars.

Related: How to make sure you get an accessible hotel room if you need 1

Checking out

The Park Lane New York isn’t ideal for first-time Big Apple visitors (unless you have a hefty transportation budget for taxis and ride-hailing services), as it’s a bit removed from the city’s many must-dos.

However, if you’re a repeat visitor looking for a stylish, unique stay close to Central Park and the luxe shops of Billionaires’ Row, the Park Lane can be an excellent choice. It didn’t hit the mark for a work trip, but I would return to the Park Lane for a future trip, especially if I had some minimum spending to hit with a high-end shopping spree.

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