By Stacey Zable, Family Travel Editor
The Park Central Hotel New York, originally built in 1927, re-opened in October following a multi-million dollar renovation. In addition to its fresh new rooms and accommodating staff, the main selling point of this property is its ideal location, which is on 7th Avenue between 55th Street and 56th Streets. Find it near many of the city’s top attractions, including Central Park and Times Square, with countless restaurants and shops right outside its door. Visitors also may be interested in knowing that the historic property has played host to such celebrities and iconic figures as Jackie Gleason, Frank Sinatra, Mae West and Eleanor Roosevelt, who kept a suite at the hotel.
The sleek new hotel design features neutral palettes, creating a welcome respite amidst midtown west’s loud and bustling neighborhood. During the renovation, care was taken to retain the integrity of the hotel’s architecture, but also upgraded the hotel with contemporary amenities, such as flat screen televisions and iPod docking stations in all guest rooms. The 761rooms are a comfortable size, with kings, queens, doubles, plus King Suites and King Accessible Rooms. A family of four would be comfortable in a Two Queen guest room.
Request the Times Square View Two Queen Room for a straight view down Seventh Avenue towards Times Square and where the New Year’s Ball drops.
The hotel is also home to the new Park Kitchen restaurant and over 15,000 square feet of event space. New Executive Chef Nathaniel Eckhaus is at the helm of the 139-seat restaurant and bar that serves a modern American menu all day. The Park Kitchen Breakfast package includes a breakfast buffet with choices of scrambled eggs, Belgian malted waffles, fruits, pastries and more.
If the day calls for good food on the run, the hotel also has a gourmet “grab-and-go” shop, Central Market, in its lobby. The Central Market Breakfast Package offers a savings of up to 50 percent for breakfast on the go with choice of brewed beverage (coffee, tea, decaf), water, or juice along with a pastry, muffin, or croissant, and a choice of fresh seasonal whole fruit. The Rocky Package features a discounted ticket for the new Broadway show “ROCKY,” plus a signature cocktail and a breakfast buffet.
A good choice for families is the Eat and Play Discount Card Package. Guests receive a Gray Line New York Eat and Play Card, which provides discounts of 10 to 50 percent off hundreds of restaurants, attractions, shops, and shows throughout Manhattan. The discounts are available for up to four guests for 30 days from its first use.
Room rates start at $199 per room, per night. A $20 plus tax, per room, per night, facilities fee provides guests with complimentary Wi-Fi, local and domestic long distance calls, use of the 24-hour Fitness Center and a welcome drink (house wine or signature cocktail) or non-alcoholic beverage with the purchase of an entree during lunch or dinner service in Park Kitchen.
Visit parkcentralny.com for more information.
Stacey Zable is an award-winning veteran travel writer and family travel expert who has written about destinations, resorts and cruise lines around the world. Send travel questions and comments to Stacey at [email protected].
City Sidebar:
A Night in New York — Top 5 Romantic Date Ideas
Got an evening to kill and someone cool to take on the town? Here are five ways to spend the evening in the City that Never Sleeps
1. Dinner and a Show
Don’t complicate things too much, stick to the meat and potatoes of dates! Sop at Club A Steakhouse in Midtown for dinner and try to sit upstairs, where the dim lighting makes for a perfect romantic setting. Aside from melt in your mouth steaks and among the savory sides is the creamed spinach, a fave with locals and travelers alike. Indulge in their decadent homemade cream puffs over a glass of wine for dessert before heading to Broadway where Chicago, Wicked, and Mamma Mia! are all great options for a date.
2. Wine and…Diamonds?
Wine is a great way to loosen up – and pop the question. Uncorked Wine and Tapas in Midtown is perfect, as the ambiance is intimate and chic, but not too stuffy. Share a bottle of wine and relax as you snack on their popular cheese plate. Then try the Diamond is Forever Martini with Grey Goose vodka, lime juice, and a 1-kt diamond engagement ring. Cold feet on this $10,000 cocktail is a no-no, and know that this drink requires a 72 hour advanced notice.
3. Halloween in Spring
Prefer a more unconventional type of date? Check out Times Scare, a themed venue where it’s Halloween all year long! Sip on creepy cocktails at the KillBar. Complete the evening by running through scary corridors in the Haunted House located upstairs, where monsters and zombies (or Broadway wannabes?) jump out when it is least expected.
4. Comedy and dancing
What better way to break the ice than laughing and partying? Hit either The Broadway Comedy Club (Times Square) or The World Comedy Club (Midtown), then have some cocktails and dance the night away at Webster Hall, NYC’s oldest and largest club in trendy East Village.
5a. All the single ladies … Dateless in Manhattan? Worry not. NYC is home to amazing nightclubs, bars, and restaurants that are great to meet new people. But if travelers want to embrace their single status, On Location Tours offers an amazing Sex and the City Hotspots Tour. This tour is perfect for gal pals who want to walk around Carrie & Co.’s old stomping grounds. 5b. All the single guys … For the ultimate single guy’s night out, check out Rick’s Cabaret in Midtown, which doubles as a steakhouse and a gentleman’s club. Or, try the upscale gentleman’s club, Sapphire New York, on 333 E. 60th Street in Manhattan.
More information: NYCTourist.com
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