Over the years, I’ve stayed at countless hotels in and around New York City. From moderately priced to ultra-luxury, I’ve learned that cost doesn’t always determine the true worth of the hotel experience. With more than 500 properties in Manhattan alone, the options are a bit dizzying. I’ve experienced everything from affordable boutique options with exceptional service to one of the hottest (and most expensive) hotels in the city where I found a bed bug in my bathroom. Moreover, I’m not one to shy away from my honest thoughts (see my TWA Hotel post for reference). As such, I was a bit nervous to stay at the Crosby Street Hotel.
I first discovered the hotel via Rachel Zoe’s Bravo show, The Zoe Project – remember that one? I’d heard of the property before, but the show really gave me eyes in on a proper stay. Plus, I lived for the “drama” of things going awry during Zoe’s “bananas” awards season. When Brad and Tay-Tay went toe-to-toe? I was on the edge of my seat. But, I digress… lol! She and her team stayed there during New York Fashion Week, and I was immediately drawn to the colorful prints, lively patterns, and stunning accommodations. Soon, I started to learn more about the company, their interior designer, and the various properties in London. I was sold!
About Crosby Street Hotel
Crosby Street Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel (with room rates to match) and made its debut in fall of 2009. It’s also home to The Crosby Bar, a gorgeous restaurant and gathering space that stretches from one side of the hotel to the other. The space also includes a stunning courtyard terrace that’s perfect for warm weather meals and cocktails. The Crosby Street Hotel is one of two properties in New York City managed by Firmdale Hotels, a widely respected industry leader in travel and hospitality. Additionally, the company has eight boutique hotel options in London, where Firmdale is headquartered.
Upon arriving at the hotel, we were swiftly greeted by the bellman who helped with our luggage and escorted us to the lobby. Our concierge, Angel, greeted us warmly, helped us to our room, and demonstrated all of the features and amenities of the space. From start to finish, the front desk and hotel staff were warm and helpful. It was raining one morning, and they quickly retrieved branded umbrellas for our use. Plus, they were willing to hold our bags prior to our flight (even though we stayed in Connecticut for a night between checking out from their hotel and heading back to Chicago).
Location, Location, Location
One of the biggest selling points of the Crosby Street Hotel is the location. Situated in Soho on Crosby Street (naturally) between Prince and Spring, the hotel is literally steps away from some of the best shopping, restaurants, and nightlife in the city. Plus, the neighborhood’s cobbled streets and historic cast-iron buildings are a sight to be seen. Looking to dine at one of Anna Wintour’s favorite spots? Well, Balthazar around the corner. Remember when Carrie took Berger shopping for designer duds? That Prada flagship boutique is around the other corner! I’ve outlined a few more of my favorite neighborhood spots a bit later this post.
Looking to see other parts of Manhattan? You can catch six different subway lines via the Prince Street and Spring Street stations. Both are a block away from the hotel entrance making your NYC explorations so convenient.
Crosby Street Hotel Room Type
Crosby Street Hotel offers fifteen different room types ranging from the Superior Room to a Deluxe Two-Bedroom Suite. We chose to stay in the most expensive suite… just kidding! Our room was the Deluxe category and situated on a high floor. Beyond being more lenient on our wallets, the 10th floor location made for a very quiet night’s sleep. As someone who’s travels all the time, I always prefer staying on higher floors at hotels to avoid street noise (i.e. sirens, police cars, etc.).
Shop my palm print robe here {and the shorter version here}
A few years ago, we stayed at SIXTY SoHo on Thompson Street. While the location and quality were great, they placed us on the second floor (and facing the street). It was probably one of the loudest nights I’ve experienced in the Big Apple. It’s proximity to the Holland Tunnel didn’t help either. Thankfully, Crosby Street is a much quieter nook of the neighborhood, so I’m sure the lower floors are far more serene.
All of the rooms at Crosby Street Hotel were designed individually, so no two are exactly alike. Plus, they feature floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in so much natural light. I found the bed and linens to be incredibly comfortable, and the bathroom was spacious and well-appointed.
Hotel and Room Design
The Firmdale co-owner and interior designer, Kit Kemp, has become quite the force in the design world. Her signature style incorporates bold hues with playful prints, oversized fabric headboards, and impeccable art. Every inch of the room’s design features thoughtful touches. In fact, I loved the wallpaper so much that we emailed the hotel concierge to ask where to source it! If you are interested in learning more about Kit’s style, I highly recommend visiting her site and her “Sleeping Around” blog. You can even purchase items inspired by her interiors, including mannequins, lighting, sofas, and beyond.
Each guest is also given a full size of RikRak lavender and eucalyptus pillow and linen mist which is positively divine! The smell is intoxicating. We brought it home, and I’m confident we’ll restock it when ours runs out. The brand, RikRak, is also used for bathroom toiletries, and the collection was fully designed by Kit Kemp as well (I have no clue how she makes the time for everything, lol)!
Guest Areas and Food & Beverage
Perhaps one of our favorite aspects of the hotel is how they create common areas for hotel guests. With a prime location, Crosby receives a lot of walk-in traffic from people coming for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea. It was wonderful to have a calm, relaxing area just for a handful of people.
Bob and I spent a lot of time in the Drawing Room, a chic space where you can grab drinks and food. We even met with our DBA manager in the space, as it was a perfect spot for a relaxed meeting. At the same time, this topic brings me to my biggest (and only critique) of the hotel – the service in the guest areas is HORRIBLE. Like, really bad.
Bob had to get up no less than five times to try to find a server to get a drink, grab our check, ask for more water, etc. Oh, and so did everyone else sitting in the space (there were easily six other groups of guests sitting in the drawing room having the same problems). Granted, there were several special events being held at the hotel during our stay (i.e. the restaurant was closed for dinner for a private event, the screening room was booked for a party, etc.).
When meeting with DBA, Bob had to get up to find a server to get us water. She then told us she’d be back to take our order. 30 minutes later, she was nowhere to be found. So, Bob got up yet again to find someone to order our drinks.
As someone who works in travel and hospitality, I understand the importance and value of private parties and buy-outs for overall revenue for a property. However, we were greatly disappointed with the lack of service in terms of food & beverage. When you’re paying a premium penny for your stay, the common areas reserved for guests should be well-staffed and attended to. In full transparency, it makes us reconsider another stay at a Firmdale property, since it felt as though the private events took priority over hotel guests.
My Favorite SoHo Restaurants
Given that The Crosby Bar was closed for a portion of our stay, we ventured out for our meals. Thankfully, I’ve always loved New York’s downtown neighborhoods. From Greenwich Village, to the Meatpacking District, Nolita and the Lower East Side, there’s just so much personality to all of these areas. SoHo’s architecture and charm is absolutely unparalleled. Plus, there are so many amazing placed to eat. If you decide to book a room at Crosby Street Hotel, here are a few of my favorite nearby eateries:
For fine dining, I love The Mercer Kitchen and Cipriani
Jane is a perfect spot for brunch
Felix is my favorite place to go when the weather is warm (love their mojitos)
Dos Caminos has a Soho outpost
by CHLOE is a block from Crosby Street Hotel and offers a plant-based menu
Last, but certainly not least, Fanelli’s Cafe is the perfect no-frills bar and restaurant (and it’s been there since 1847!)
Shop my jumpsuit here, the wicker bag here, and the pumps here
Final Thoughts
Will we book another stay at a Firmdale Hotel? Yes. Sure, we were disappointed by the F&B experience, but we’re definitely willing to give them a second chance. Maybe we just picked an “off” weekend? We’ll likely try Whitby Hotel, which is located in Midtown. I have a feeling that location will have less private events and be slightly more focused on the guest experience. We also hope to stay at one of their properties in London.
All in all, the overall service (i.e. front desk/concierge/housekeeping) is superb. The rooms are STUNNING. I’d just recommend finding a bar near the hotel for a nightcap on weekends. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting for an hour to get your check.
Follow Style Charade on Bloglovin’!