My Friday alarm went off a 4:00 a.m. I slid out of bed, made myself semi-presentable, and tossed the last of my toiletries into my carry-on. I rolled my bag out to the car, rather proud of my minimalist packing job.
The sun rose as the plane left the tarmac. I was in a New York state of mind. One Marvel movie later, I landed at LaGuardia Airport. I grabbed a sandwich at Hudson News before hailing a cab into the city. Destination - The Marlton Hotel.
The Marlton Hotel was tucked away in Greenwich Village, a few blocks from Washington Square Park and Bleeker Street. The lobby's residents included NYU students, influencers and travelers alike. Fireplaces flanked the lobby, with ample seating and workspaces. The espresso and cocktail bars gave the space a post-modern appeal.
The hotel's check-in was decorated by the coaster-sized hotel keys mounted on the wall. A quick peek on Instagram would suggest that these keys are as iconic as the hotel itself. Paired with the antique elevator and narrow, dark hallways, the decorative elements of the hotel gave me the impression that I had traveled back in time. When the elevator door opened, I half expected to see the likes of Jack Kerouac or Neil Simon inside.
The hotel room was intimate, to say the least, but well-appointed. The overwhelming water pressure in the shower was a delightful surprise, and the closet made the best use of small nooks. The windows let in the natural light and had views of the village below. As someone who normally stays in Midtown where it's not uncommon to hear sirens and dump trucks throughout the night, I was relieved by the peace and quiet of this sleepy hotel and neighborhood.
After freshening up, I headed to Bleecker Street by taking the scenic route. I wound my way through 11th-13th and Perry Streets, where well-kept brownstones with window boxes lined the streets and trees leant their shade. Popular attractions in the area include Carrie Bradshaw's apartment, Magnolia Bakery, Waverly Inn, and select boutiques.
After a bit of window shopping, I met up with Hannah for happy hour at Olio e Piú, an Italian restaurant situated in the heart of Greenwich and alongside a busy flower shop. From there we walked to Chelsea Market...well...we started to walk there and realized 15 minutes later we'd been walking in the wrong direction. Eventually, we arrived at Chelsea Market were we did a little shopping and discovered Big Mozz, a restaurant with the best (and biggest) mozzarella sticks I've ever had the pleasure of eating.
The High Line was a short walk away. We reached the top of the pedestrian park just as the sun was starting to set over the Hudson River. The mile walk north along the river took us through Chelsea and the Meat Packing District with views of the Empire State Building lit up with the setting sun. It was dark by the time we arrived at The Vessel at Hudson Yards.
Our Uber took our hungry bellies and sore feet to the edge of Little Italy, where we dined at Osteria Morini on Lafayette Street.
Sleep came easy. The following morning we enjoyed breakfast at Margaux, The Marlton Hotel's signature restaurant, before heading to The Frick Collection. The former Fifth Avenue home of Henry Clay Frick, a Gilded Age industrialist and art collector, was a unique art experience that plucked me out of NYC and dropped me back in Newport, RI. The private collection and architecture made this museum one of kind.
We made the most of our afternoon in the Upper East Side by shopping. Favorite stops included Kate Spade, Barneys, and Bloomingdales.
When it came time to eat, we slipped into Serendipity III, a tradition of ours. We ordered heaping plates of food, and of course a frozen hot chocolate, and spent the meal trying to recall the specifics of the film Serendipity, which was filmed upstairs. The details were fuzzy, but our bodies were rejuvenated by the calories.
A walk was in order, so we made our way to Central Park. The lower east side of the park includes The Central Park Zoo, street vendors, and the Gapstow Bridge overlooking The Pond and The Plaza Hotel.
From here we headed back to the hotel to freshen up for our matinee show that evening. Moulin Rouge was a spectacular spectacular! Following the show, we went around by the stage door to get our Playbills autographed, before heading to Time Square for a late-night slice of pizza. A trip to NYC is not complete without a visit to Junior's, where I ordered a slice of classic New York cheesecake and an egg creme as a nightcap.
Sunday arrived quickly. After checking out of the hotel we walked to Washington Square Park and did some shopping in nearby SoHo. Hannah and I concluded our trip with drinks at The Marlton Hotel's bar before heading back out to the airport.
Planning a trip to NYC? Visit my New York City Been Places page for recommendations.
Happy Traveling,
AB
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