Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental, New York

We check-in to check out the Mandarin Oriental, New York.

How does the Mandarin Oriental, New York shape up in the New York City hotel scene?

Mandarin Oriental, New York back story

The Mandarin Oriental, New York is one of the six or seven New York hotels that form the foundations of the Big Apple’s five-star offerings. But its impact on luxury hotels in NYC is far greater than merely being a member of this elite club.

When it opened in 2003, as part of the Time Warner Centre development on Columbus Circle (now the Deutsch Bank Center) the Mandarin Oriental, New York was the first hotel to start in the air and keep going; the lobby is on level 35 and the rooms occupy levels 36 to 54. This elevated perspective on Central Park is surprisingly rare (and unheard of in 2003) but showcases the dream New York Central Park vista in all its glory.

an aerial view of the Columbus Circle at Mandarin Oriental NYC — The Mandarin Oriental, New York was the first hotel to start in the air.

First impressions

Entering the foyer on ground and taking the guest lift (as opposed to the residence’s lift as it is a mixed-use office, residential hotel and retail centre) is relatively unassuming, aside from the team of bell boys and concierge staff ready to assist.

The lift doors open on level 35 to reveal a lush Chihuly glass sculpture (the work is installed across two locations, the lobby and ceiling of the foyer 35 floors below to connect the two spaces) that separates the concierge and front desk.

Beyond the sculpture, check-in and concierge desks the sunken lobby bar, MO Lounge is the star of the show with magnificent views of the icon that is Central Park. This sense of arrival is rather unique in a New York hotel; an understated and restrained internal aesthetic so as not to detract from the million-dollar views of the park. This merely confirms the Mandarin Oriental, New York as a very special hotel.

the hotel lobby at Mandarin Oriental NYC — Check into the lavish Mandarin Oriental, New York.

The room

The rooms and suites are what you expect of the super-premium luxury brand that is Mandarin Oriental. Suites and rooms are divided into two classes; Hudson River and Central Park.

As the name suggests, Hudson River rooms and suites have views across the Hudson to New Jersey, south to Hells Kitchen and Chelsea and north to Lincoln Centre and the Upper North Side.

the living room at Hudson River View Suite, Mandarin Oriental NYC — Hudson River suites have a show-stealing view.

Central Park rooms and suites are the million-dollar (probably two) views of Central Park and some of the most sought-after in all of New York, particularly the Premier Central Park View Suite on the southwestern corner suite of every floor.

the bedroom with a view at Premier Central Park View Suite, Mandarin Oriental NYC — Central Park rooms have a million-dollar view.

These corner suites are equivalent to two NYC studios with a lounge room, ‘restroom’, ensuite bathroom and three different TVs.

The tones are chocolate, mauve and slashes of lilac against a silver backdrop. The enormous curved sofa doesn’t dominate the equally large lounge room. A marble bathroom is spacious (for NYC) and the TV inset into the mirror is a welcome novelty.

the presidential suite bedroom at Mandarin Oriental NYC — Settle into a Central Park suite.

But it is the view that is the show stealer here. Waking up and pressing a button to open the black-out curtains to reveal Central Park is a great pinch-yourself moment.

the living room at Premier Central Park View Suite, Mandarin Oriental NYC — Wake up to Central Park views.

The facilities

Being surrounded by arguably the world’s best dining scene, the hotel has opted for straightforward yet high-quality offerings at the MO Lounge.

the elegant dining interior at MO Lounge, Mandarin Oriental NYC — Sip well-crafted cocktails at MO Lounge.

This lack of in-house fine dining surprisingly benefits guests. Within the Deutsche Bank Center itself, there are some of the finest restaurants in the city (and world) including Thomas Keller’s Per Se and hot new Italian eatery Bad Roman. All are on the concierge team’s speed dial, who are likely to get you a seat over a two-night stay.

Exterior of Bad Roman in New York City — Pop into Bad Roman during your stay. (Image: Quentin Long)

Breakfast at the MO Lounge is al a carte only and befitting a hotel of this standard. Extensive selections of eggs, waffles, pancakes and (even better for Australians) coffee that the best Melbourne and Sydney baristas would be proud of.

The day and evening menu is equally appropriate to the brand, albeit unfussy. Think hotel staples like a club sandwich or a burger and then the more aspirational lobster nicoise salad or hand-cut pasta.

Special mention for a sweet end to a NYC evening. If you return to the hotel desperately seeking a sweet end, the Chocolate Decadence is a masterclass in a brilliantly balanced dessert. Hazelnut feuilletine with soft caramel and chocolate mousse is nowhere near as sweet as it sounds, but a symphony of crunchy smooth chocolate greatness. A negroni to accompany it is advised.

The spa at any Mandarin Oriental is world-renowned and within the ultra-competitive wellness market in New York, it says a lot that the spa attracts both locals and guests.

the VIP spa suite at Mandarin Oriental NYC — The VIP spa suite offers relaxing treatments.

The location

On the Colombus Circle (the southwestern edge of Central Park) the hotel is south of the Lincoln Centre and north of the Theatre District. Below the hotel, the shops at Columbus Circle are designer and the aforementioned celebrated fine dining restaurants.

the view at Mandarin Oriental NYC — The suites at Mandarin Oriental, New York overlook the city skyline. (Image: Quentin Long)

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Our rating

4.5 stars – it holds itself to such a high standard and meets them but a small number of the in-room finishes are ready for refurbishment.

What we loved

It doesn’t get any better than the sumptuous views in the spacious indulgent suites and a nightcap with the greatest view in the world from the bar.

What we’d change

Some of the in-room decor was ready to be replaced.

the wellness pool at Mandarin Oriental NYC — Soak up sweeping city skyline views at the luxury wellness pool.

Details

Mandarin Oriental, New York
80 Columbus Circle
New York, New York 10023
(212) 805-8800

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Hotel review: Mandarin Oriental, New York