Located on the ground floor of the glorious Payne Whitney mansion that houses the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, the Albertine is a gem of a bookshop and reading room. The only French language bookstore in New York, it offers two floors of eclectic material in both French and English as well as a small offering of rare editions. The childrens’ books on the second floor take flight under a ceiling painted as a cloudless night sky studded with stars and the zodiac’s signs, all the brainchild of Jacques Garcia who oversaw the Albertine’s meticulous design. The deep sofas and amber lighting lure one into a lingering frame of mind. We are definitely in Europe here – we could as well be in a cafe or bistro – far away from the raucous noise and hard edges of Manhattan. A rare moment of bliss.
Tim and Kit Kemp, founders of Firmdale Hotels, have just opened their second NY property at 18 West 56th Street, 2 blocks from Central Park and steps away from great shops, restaurants and museums. The Whitby is as stylish as their downtown Crosby Street Hotel - in fact, I prefer it, finding the public spaces warmly inviting and the top floor 2-bedroom suite with furnished terraces divine. All the comfortably spacious rooms are flooded with light and delight with the choice of art, fabrics and attention to detail. Each room is unique and so, if you come and go with regular frequency, try them all until you find the one that perfectly suits!
https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/new-york/the-whitby-hotel/"
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