Ritz-Carlton New York review: Stellar service a stone's throw from Central Park

With excellent service and commanding views of Central Park, this New York grand dame lives up to its 5-star reputation   
Ritz-Carlton Central Park
Lucy Pavia30 December 2019

At the Ritz-Carlton in New York the room service kicks in 24 hours before I've even checked in.

I'm still in London when an email arrives asking what my favourite chocolate is (Cadbury's Dairy Milk, thanks for asking) only to be greeted a day later by a trio of the bars on the coffee table in my hotel room.

This is an hotel which does service with a capital 'S', from the bespoke chocolate welcome to the moment post-check-out when I realise I've forgotten my computer charger and a kind concierge offers to whisk it across town for me.

The lowdown

(Ritz-Carlton Central Park )
Ritz-Carlton Central Park

The hotel building has a strong legacy. It first opened in 1930 as the St Moritz hotel, designed by legendary architect Emery Roth and a magnet for the city's cultural elite. In 2001 it became the Ritz-Carlton and in 2018 the interior was sensitively refurbished, preserving plenty of its original features, including the warm cherry wood pannelling in the hotel lobby.

(Ritz-Carlton Central Park )
Ritz-Carlton Central Park

Located on 50 Central Park South, it's also hard to find an hotel with a more commanding view of Central Park. From my room on the 10th floor, I could see all the way north across the park to Harlem.

The rooms

(Ritz-Carlton Central Park )
Ritz-Carlton Central Park

In contrast to the constantly changing greenery of the park outside the window, the rooms are decorated in muted tones modelled on a classic New York townhouse - otherwise known as the international luxury hotel palette of mushroom and grey tones with dark wood accents.

Modern New York hotels are constantly trying to out-do each other with quirky interiors, but though nothing about the Ritz-Carlton is particularly cool, it does specialise in those creature comforts which don't go out of style: beds with 400-thread-count Frette linen, a spacious marble bathroom, Asprey products, fluffy towels and a generous tub.

If you're planning to go big and get a suite there are nine different grades, ranging from a 'modest' 800 square feet Avenue View Suite to The Royal Suite - twice the size of the average London flat and with a personal butler to match.

Eating and drinking

(Ritz-Carlton Central Park )
Ritz-Carlton Central Park

Contour on the ground floor styles itself as an all-day 'gastro lounge' serving small plates, wine and cocktails. For breakfast there are all your classic New York breakfast options, then at dinner and lunch the sharing plates include crispy fried oysters and 'grown up' grilled cheese.

If you want to cocoon yourself from the bustle of the main lobby you can pay extra for membership of the Club Lounge. Like a large, tranquil living room, the Lounge has a rolling buffet of help-yourself breakfast, lunch and dinnertime snacks (the cookies are particularly good).

Things to do

(Ritz-Carlton Central Park )
Ritz-Carlton Central Park

The hotel refurbishment has paid particular attention to the increased demand for fitness options and boasts a suite of luxurious below-ground gym and exercise rooms with state of the art machinery, Peloton bikes and a relaxation area.

But no-one comes to New York just to exercise and there's plenty to do on the hotel doorstep, from the Museum of Arts and Design a short walk away to the Rockerfeller Center and Times Square ten blocks south.

Also, bring your running gear and take a loop around the park to shake off the jet lag - you're in the perfect spot for it.

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