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A recent foray into Manhattan gave me the opportunity to try The Fitzpatrick, a relatively new hotel on Lexington between 56th & 57th Streets. It is operated by an Irish group and has another hotel in the Grand Central area as well as properties in Ireland.
It’s done in the classic style — furniture reminiscent of some not-quite-discernable previous period — Edwardian, perhaps — which is a bit different now that most new properties are grasping for hipness. The room was certainly adequate and well-priced: the weekend rate was just under $200. The bed was comfortable and requests for decaf coffee for the in-room coffee maker and extra towels were seen to promptly. The staff was courteous throughout.
The television was set on a wall perpendicular to the way one lies on the bed which made viewing awkward, particularly given that there was no side chair as an alternative. However, that was a mild distraction — when one is in NY, the last thing on the agenda should be watching television.
It’s generally true that the farther east or west from 5th Avenue you are willing to venture, the greater value you’ll find. Most of the comparable hotels we’ve found are farther south — Murray Hill has quite a few — and if you want to be a bit more uptown, The Fitzpatrick is a good choice. Just two blocks south of Bloomingdale’s, it is a bit dangerous if you have a shopper in tow.
We did discover two wonderful restaurants to put on your list (they’ll be going on our NY page shortly): Toqueville and 15 East both on East 15th Street. We visisted both as part of a private affair so please take these observations in that context. Toqueville offers French cuisine in a cozy, comfortable setting. The roasted pear salad, golden beet risotto, and beef two ways were all memorable. The portions were just right for a four-course meal.
We didn’t actually get to eat at 15 East (it was the site of a wedding ceremony we were attending) but several of the people we met during the evening confirmed that it is a great local spot: neighorhood-y yet still elegant enough for an evening out to feel special. We will be stopping by to try the sushi when next in NYC.
