Awash with colour, pattern and plenty of character, Warren Street Hotel, the latest property from Kit Kemp in New York, is a brilliant example of the designer’s playful side.
Art occupies every available surface, lifts are covered with pictures in hand-painted frames, decorative plates are on display in the dining room, and bedrooms have lighting on which ornamental birds perch. Yet, if you want to find a moment to unwind amid the energy of New York City, this is the place to do so as the rooms and suites are incredibly spacious and miraculously quiet.
The Vibe
You can’t miss Warren Street Hotel, Firmdale group’s latest opening in Tribeca, New York. It stands out from the sidewalk, a bold blue steel and glass building with a huge American flag fluttering above the door. This is the group’s third hotel in the city and Warren Street has all the usual eclectic interiors and extensive art collection seen in Kit Kemp’s other hotels. This time, however, the property has been carefully put together by Kit along with her daughters Minnie and Willow Kemp. There are almost 700 artworks throughout the public spaces and bedrooms, and the design team has travelled the world sourcing unique, handwoven pieces. In the buttercup yellow lobby are towers suspended like totem poles by Argentinian designer Cristián Mohaded, and vases overflowing with fresh flowers line the reception desk. The layering of colours and materials make for a happy welcome, as if you’ve entered a private home rather than a hotel, and you can’t help but smile as you check in.
The Rooms
Each of the 69 rooms, suites and residences have their own personality, through patterned headboards, unique artworks and custom wallpaper. All are flooded with natural light flowing in via floor-to-ceiling windows, some with landscaped private terrace gardens and spectacular skyscraper views of lower Manhattan, including One World Trade Center and the Hudson River. They’re also all incredibly comfortable and miraculously quiet. A particular favourite is the Junior Terrace Suites, which have fabric-lined walls, sumptuous patterned sofas and thick blackout curtains. With plenty of soft textiles and interesting art throughout the spacious living room and adjoining bedroom, it feels like a comfortable home from home. There is also a tiny kitchenette hidden behind a pocket door and the hotel is happy to arrange for an additional bed in the sitting room, transforming it into a great family room if needed. The marble-clad bathroom won’t disappoint either, with a walk-in shower, deep bathtub with TV inset into the wall, and Kemp’s own line of bath products. Enjoy a wind down in the bath after a day of walking New York’s streets to get you into the spirit for a night out in the city that never sleeps. Amid the mayhem of Manhattan, rooms here invite you to put your feet up, but the skyline views mean you never lose touch with the energy of New York City.
The Food + Drink
Even during opening month, the bar and dining room on the ground floor were packed in the evening with a mix of guests and well-heeled locals keen to try out their hot new neighbourhood spot. Food is brasserie-style, with the likes of beef carpaccio, grilled halibut, asparagus risotto and lemon tart with crème fraîche. Perch on a stool at the long bar sipping on cocktails and, in the morning, breakfast takes the form of a generous buffet and a la carte highlights such as French scrambled eggs and gigantic fluffy pancakes. Service is discreet but attentive and the friendly concierge will help with local dining recommendations.
The Little Extras
While New York has so much to offer, take some time to relax in this hotel. The private sitting room is beautifully decorated with custom upholstery, batik-patterned rugs, a working fireplace and plenty of books housed in a hand-painted bookcase by British artist Tess Newall.
The To-Do List
All of New York awaits, but there’s so much to do on foot from the hotel too. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a seven-minute walk and the waterfront is nearby too; put your trainers on and walk The High Line to end up at the Whitney Museum of Modern Art where you can see work by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Alexander Calder amongst others. For dinner, head over Brooklyn Bridge and into Dumbo for a picturesque meal at Celestine overlooking Manhattan. Further afield, take a stroll through Central Park, eat dumplings in Chinatown, see a show on Broadway, pass through Grand Central Terminal (one of the busiest train stations in the world) or shop in the fashion boutiques in Soho, the list goes on (and on).
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