new york staycation at the kimberly hotel
Earlier in the summer, I spent a night at the Kimberly Hotel with a friend who was in town on business. Long story short: there was rooftop drinking, and views of the Chrysler building. Best of all, there was a suite that was about triple the size of my Upper East Side apartment.
Needless to say, I had been itching to return to the Kimberly for weeks. Lucky for you, I’m super selfless and willing to do anything to gather information for my readers. As such, I decided that a mid-week New York staycation at the Kimberly Hotel needed to happen, tout suite.
Scenes from the Kimberly, round one.
So, last Thursday, I packed by bag and headed to midtown for a staycation from my day-to-day routine. After two separate stays at the Kimberly, I can now officially say it. This midtown hotel holds the key to my heart. Let me break it down for you:
1. Room Size
Though the Kimberly has a good amount of traditional guest rooms, the majority of the rooms they offer are suites. Each is equipped with separate sitting areas and kitchenettes. This means that my Luxury One Bedroom Suite on the 30th floor was quite literally triple the size of my studio apartment. Yep, the one located about forty blocks away. The bedroom alone, with a king-sized bed and a panoramic view of midtown, was larger than what I call home every day.
Photos courtesy of the Kimberly
After dinner, I was so happy to come back to my palatial size room and plop down on a full-sized couch. This may seem commonplace to non-New Yorkers, but I’m usually eating dinner off a coffee table while sitting on floor cushions. My suite at the Kimberly might as well have been Versailles.
2. Amenities
I’m a sucker for amenities. If there’s a shampoo I like, I’ll take it, and if there’s a terry cloth robe involved, you know I’m wearing it. There’s just something about kicking your feet up in an oversize white hotel robe that does something for the soul. …No? Anyone else? Bueller?
The Kimberly’s amenities didn’t disappoint. Oversized robe? Check. Neutrogena soaps and shampoos worth taking? Check. Hairdryer, scale, fully stocked mini-bar? Check, check, check. Just heavenly.
3. The Extras
Because I was only staying in the hotel one night– which, for me, meant enjoying my king-sized bed as long as possible– I had little interest in exploring the extras, like the Fitness Center. That is, until I learned the owner of the Kimberly is also the owner of the New York City Health and Racquet Club. As a guest of the hotel, you have the ability to utilize any of the Health & Racquet Clubs around the city (of which there are nine). If working out isn’t your thing (aheeemthelazytravelers), guests also have special access to the NYHRC PRIVATE YACHT.
Photo courtesy of the NYHRC
Ya heard me. The yacht. NYHRC’s yacht sets out during the summer months for three-hour-long sails around the city and reservations are only available to members of the club or guests of the Kimberly. If that alone isn’t enough to sway you, then we’re no longer friends.
4. The view
The clincher has to be the Kimberly’s views. Mostly all of the suites and guest rooms boast amazing views of midtown, AND the majority have covered outdoor balconies. When was the last time you saw that in Manhattan?
Perhaps its most popular attraction is the Kimberly’s rooftop bar and terrace, Upstairs. Situated on the penthouse level, Upstairs offers 360-degree views of Manhattan, including a stellar view of the Chrysler building. It’s equipped with heated floors and a glass retractable roof so that you can enjoy the space year round and at any time of the day. In the mornings, guests can enjoy the buffet breakfast at Upstairs, and in the evenings, the space turns into one of the city’s most happening happy hour locales.
If you’re coming to New York, whether for business or fun, the Kimberly is one of your best bets for places to stay. It’s central location, spacious rooms, and unbeatable views are only a few of the reasons this hotel has been holding its own against the thousands of other New York City hotels. Also, did I mention the rooftop bar?
xo!
the wino
Lazy Travelers
The Lazy Travelers are two transatlantic best friends who have mastered the art of exploring a new city. Though Ashley is based in London and Carolyn is in Philadelphia, we'll use any excuse to reunite around the world. We’re professional bar hoppers, pub crawlers, and food testers, and you’ll never see us zipping around, checking things off a list of “must-sees.”
19 Comments
Harvey (H-Bomb's Worldwide Karaoke)
I wish I’d known you were going to be there; the Kimberly is literally across the street from the building where I work, and I can see the Upstairs rooftop bar from my office window! And I’m a huge fan of that bar; I myself have brought out-of-town visitors there.
I had never seen any of the hotel’s guestrooms, though, so it was interesting learning about them from this article.
Harvey (H-Bomb’s Worldwide Karaoke) recently posted..Country no. 29 on my World Karaoke Tour: I was not a chicken in Kiev
Lazy Travelers
next time im there i’ll let you know, harvey! maybe you need to suggest they start a karaoke night…
YJ @ thefancyvoyager
Wow the hotel looks gorgeous! would love to be at the rooftop bar!
YJ @ thefancyvoyager recently posted..6 Reasons to Travel
Lazy Travelers
if you’re ever in nyc, you have to try the rooftop bar. its divine!
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Craig Zabransky
I’m thinking if your name is Kimberley, you are probably taking the robe home too… Looks great. Never been a fan of the staycation word or concept… but I know I’d also enjoy a night not eating on a coffee table….
stay kimberly-cationing, Craig
Lazy Travelers
i love how in nyc, you can spend a night in a different neighborhood than where you live and it feels like a legitimate vacation! xo
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@mrsoaroundworld
Ohhhh maybe this should be on Mrs. O’s future NYC visit?
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..Your Summer jumps around the world
Lazy Travelers
for sure, mrs o! aaaand you can invite me. xo
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Mary Anne
Sounds like this is the next place I am staying in NYC.
Lazy Travelers
great, ill be there.
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Erin at The World Wanderer
Paradise found? Umm, I think so! A yacht! That rooftop! Suites! Staycation…here, I come! PS I also wear the hotel robes – obsessed. xx
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Lazy Travelers
im hoping the yacht has robes too…
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Raul (@ilivetotravel)
Holy cow! That yacht is a unique offering for a hotel! Awesome
Lazy Travelers
right?!?! i think every hotel should have a yacht that’s accessible to guests.
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lola
ok…hotel looks luverly but the yacht, well let’s just say i’m a sucker for fancy boats.
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Lazy Travelers
arent we all, miss lola?
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Leah Travels (@L_e_a_h)
I didn’t realize how much I love a good robe at a hotel until there was none. Seriously? Am I an animal?
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Donald E. Wuerz, LTC, US Army -CE-RA, Retired
My grand-uncle Oscar Wuerz (son of Captain Union Forces William Wuerz who invented the folding baby carriage) owned the Kimberly Hotel in the early 1900s and lived with his wife in the penthouse. His manager is said to have siphoned off great sums of money so my grand-uncle went bankrupt ……or so the family story has been repeated. No help has been given from current Manager to verify this story.
Donald E. Wuerz, age 84, in Aurora, Colorado
Lazy Travelers
so fascinating! thank you for sharing, donald! we so enjoyed our time at the kimberly. AND, ashley certainly enjoys the luxury of her folding baby carriage, so thank you to captain union forces william wuerz! glad you came across our site!