Aman’s latest opening in New York City brings the hotel group’s elusive aesthetic and considered minimalism to the big apple, where interiors by Jean-Michel Gathy – a longtime collaborator and visionary behind several Aman hotels – sit strikingly in a Twenties landmark building.
Paint the picture
The hotel takes up the most of of the 26-storey Crown Building, a Roaring Twenties landmark which has been completely restored. It’s one of those counterintuitive set ups where the reception is on the 14th floor, and the 83 suites and residences run above and below it. Interiors by Jean-Michel Gathy continue the brand’s east-meets-west signature style, which lives on since the inception of the first Aman hotel in Phuket in the Eighties. Dark and pale woods, burnished metals, paper, grass cloth, slate and polished plaster have been combined to create handsome, textural interiors, with public spaces curated with interesting artworks. It does actually manage to feel like an oasis in the heart of the city.
Design notes
The place is actually pretty extraordinary. Perhaps most impressive area to see how Gathy made the existing architecture bend to his will is in the Lounge Bar. This corner of the 14th floor has been opened into a huge, double height space which belies the fact that it's so high up in a tower block (equally unexpected is the substantial outdoor dining and seating area that wraps its way around this part of the building). Hanging from the ceiling of the Lounge Bar is an enormous, new sculpture by the Dutch paper artist Peter Gentenaar; its twists and turns evoke the idea of a dancing flame stopped in mid motion.
Why stay here
In short, because you can afford it. This is apparently the most expensive hotel in New York by quite some measure. As such it will offer guests a degree of privacy and sense of seclusion that you will be hard pushed to find anywhere else in the city.
What’s around
The hotel is in Midtown, just off 5th Avenue and its plethora of high-end boutiques such as Saks and Bloomingdales. A short walk will lead you to many sights including the Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Centre and the crowning glory of New York City: Central Park. At any time of year it is a welcome antidote to the endless, elbows-out hustle of the Big Apple.
Rooms and facilities
Rooms range from the 718 sq ft Deluxe on 56th Street Suite to the 2,270 sq ft Aman Suite. Each has a fireplace, a minimum of two, large windows and seating areas which would comfortably fit four. The oversized king beds are a nice touch, as are the swivelling shoji screens which allowed the enormous bathroom to be closed off or opened up to the rest of the suite.
Food and drink
There are two restaurants at the hotel: Arva, relaxed Italian with an outdoor terrace and Nama, Japanese fine-dining, the highlight of which is a seasonal catch tasting menu. Both are highly recommended.
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Spa and wellness credentials
Spanning 27,000 sq feet over two floors, there’s a good size gym, steam, sauna and plenty of treatment rooms where you can enjoy anything from a massage to a gong bath. There’s also a magnificent indoor swimming pool, around which are relaxation areas that have their own fire pits.
Family-friendly and accessibility
There were a few well behaved children on our visit, and the hotel is wheelchair accessible. It’s recommended to get in touch before you check in if you have specific enquiries.
Booking essentials
Stays at Aman New York start from USD $1,950 per night, based on single or double occupancy, including breakfast at Arva and excluding taxes.
