It had been nearly a decade since my last visit to New York City. My memories were of a pre-Covid, pre-Trump era – a city brimming with an unparalleled dynamism. New York, truly, possesses a character unlike any other global metropolis. Despite hearing whispers of a decline in certain areas, a supposed echo of a grittier past with Midtown losing its luster and the subway’s safety in question, I was eager to see if the vibrant New York I remembered still existed.
Returning recently, I was relieved to find that those concerns were unfounded. New York seems to have weathered recent global challenges remarkably well. Arriving in TriBeCa, a long-time favorite neighborhood, felt like a warm welcome back to the New York I cherished. This positive impression was significantly enhanced by a stay at a new hotel that completely dispelled any lingering doubts about the city’s continued vibrancy.
TriBeCa (photo by Marley White, courtesy of NYC Tourism)
The Warren Street Hotel, a recent addition to the Firmdale Hotels collection, stands as a testament to this enduring New York spirit. Firmdale, known for its distinctive boutique hotels – including the Charlotte Street, Covent Garden, and Soho Hotels in London – has a knack for creating properties that are both unique and deeply rooted in their locations. Naming their hotels after their addresses, like Warren Street, boldly declares their presence and commitment to the neighborhood. This approach, evident in their London hotels, translates seamlessly to their New York ventures.
The Warren Street Hotel makes a striking statement from the moment you arrive. As my taxi turned the corner, the hotel’s aquamarine glass and steel facade stood out against the more subdued tones of the surrounding buildings. The expansive, full-width, floor-to-ceiling windows are immediately captivating. Stepping into my suite on the tenth floor, the window, dominating the entire wall of both the lounge and bedroom, almost overshadowed the interior design – a feature that is typically the defining characteristic of Firmdale properties.
Warren-Street-Hotel-lobby
Kit Kemp, Firmdale’s acclaimed creative director, is the design visionary behind these spaces. Entering the lobby feels like a personal greeting from Kemp herself. A vibrant explosion of color greets you – bold primaries, abstract prints, contrasting patterns, and captivating artworks. It’s a truly enriching visual experience. Kemp’s design philosophy creates spaces that are not only inviting but also inspire a sense of comfortable domesticity, elevated to an art form. The boldness is tempered with sophistication, the eclecticism refined, never descending into mere quirkiness. Signature Kemp touches are everywhere: textured fabrics, including wonderfully tactile linen wall coverings, beautifully framed pictures, and pops of red – in this suite, manifested as two scarlet painted chests of drawers in the living room. This design language is reminiscent of the sophisticated yet inviting interiors found in Firmdale’s renowned London hotels.
Warren-Street-Hotel-suite
Adding to the allure are carefully curated artworks and objets d’art, Kemp’s own Tall Trees toiletries, and elegant Spode china in the discreet kitchenette. The centerpiece is an absolutely magnificent bed with a grand, oversized headboard – creating a room so inviting, you’ll find it hard to leave. Kemp’s book, ‘Every Room Tells a Story’, placed on the coffee table, encourages a deeper appreciation for every design element, prompting a level of engagement rarely experienced in a hotel room. However, it was raising the blinds and revealing the view that truly underscored the hotel’s exceptional location. Directly ahead, One World Trade Centre soared above the surrounding buildings, a breathtaking panorama.
The World Trade Center site is just a short walk away. After a quintessential cup of tea – brewed in a proper teapot and served in Spode china, naturally – I strolled to the site. The area has undergone a remarkable transformation. The new World Trade Center building, now a decade old, is a soaring, elegant structure that overlooks the poignant memorial, a cascading sculpture marking the footprints of the former towers. Amidst the modern architecture, including shopping destinations, restaurants, attractions like the Oculus, and the 9/11 museum, a palpable sense of solemnity remains, subtly punctuated by the white roses placed in the names of those lost, commemorating their birthdays.
The-Oculus
My wanderings continued via the Hudson River and Rockefeller Park, offering a distant view of the Statue of Liberty, before heading north into Chelsea and the West Village. Coincidentally, my visit coincided with the Biennial at The Whitney Museum of American Art, a museum I had surprisingly never visited before, a common oversight for tourists focused solely on landmarks like the Met.
Among its impressive collection featuring works by iconic American artists such as Edward Hopper, Jacob Lawrence, and Georgia O’Keeffe, the Whitney Biennial stands as the museum’s flagship exhibition and a leading survey of contemporary American art for over 90 years. The 2024 edition, Even Better Than the Real Thing, features 71 contemporary artists exploring timely and critical themes, sparking conversations among the city’s art enthusiasts. This year’s subjects included gender identity and the impact of AI.
Whitney-Biennial-Garner
Among the many compelling pieces, Pippa Garner’s satirical commentary on consumer culture, presented through her ‘impossible inventions’ sketched in a retro magazine advert style, stood out, almost hidden on the 3rd floor. After a couple of hours immersed in art and a morning of walking, a stop at the museum’s Frenchette bakery for a pizz’ete and a refreshing yuzu soda was a welcome treat.
Beyond the Whitney, there were other notable changes since my last visit. The now-iconic High Line, a repurposed elevated railway line transformed into a park, had opened, conveniently located near the Whitney. Having experienced a fresh perspective of the city, I ventured into Chelsea and revisited the certainly-not-new Chelsea Market. A New York staple since the mid-2000s, Chelsea Market has evolved considerably. While still offering grocery outlets and market produce, it has become a hub for trendy eateries and boutique shops, while retaining its distinctive red brick charm.
Chelsea-Market-New-York
It’s incredibly easy to lose track of time simply walking through New York City. My fitness tracker registered over 16,000 steps as I returned to the Warren Street Hotel, gratefully sinking into an armchair in the lounge. The honesty bar offered a much-needed drink and snack, a gentle reminder that attempting to see everything in a single day is impossible. As I considered dinner in the hotel restaurant, I was already anticipating the next day’s explorations.
New York, it’s wonderful to be back, and my appreciation for your vibrant energy has only deepened.
The Warren Street Hotel is located at 86 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007. Superior rooms start at $875 per night. For more information, including details on Firmdale’s other properties, please visit www.firmdalehotels.com.
The Whitney Biennial is open until August 11th, 2024. For further details, please visit www.whitney.org. For information about the World Trade Center and its attractions, please visit www.officialworldtradecenter.com. For details on Chelsea Market’s shops, eateries, and events, please visit www.chelseamarket.com.
For more inspiration and trip planning resources for New York City, please visit the official tourism website at www.nyctourism.com.
Hotel photos by Simon Brown
