Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC ★★★★

The Big Apple is, in my opinion, perfectly summed up by New York State’s Latin motto – ‘Excelsior’, translated as ‘Ever Upward’. This is a remarkable, dazzling city where life moves at a thousand miles an hour, but is only ever looking in one direction - up. A neat throng of iconic buildings all fight for space among the uniform blocks of Manhattan, each bidding to free itself from the crowd by rising higher than the others. The result is that you cannot help but walk around with your head permanently tilted back, gazing ‘ever upward’ in awe at the world’s tallest city. At the Gansevoort Park Avenue, you can truly live the high life by putting yourself right amongst the famous skyscrapers and enjoying the city from a completely unique perspective.

I am, of course, talking about the hotel’s stunning centrepiece, its rooftop. The summit of Gansevoort’s twenty storey masterpiece of style and design is the perfect place to get into the true spirit of what New York City is all about. Its six different areas set over various levels all offer something different, and all attract a cosmopolitan, friendly and trendy crowd. There are various bar and chill out areas, some with dramatic floor to ceiling windows to dazzle you with natural light and stunning views, some with a more sultry atmosphere and fashionable vibe, some with outdoor terraces and warming fireplaces, and some with prestigious furnishings and eye-catching modern artworks.

The cream of the crop is the rooftop swimming pool area. A chic sun terrace is bedecked with elegant furnishings, artificial greenery and a laid back ambiance. The heated pool connects an indoor terrace to an outdoor one, and is superb to unwind and cool off after a hectic day in the city. The Empire State Building is perhaps the most famous of the innumerable Manhattan skyscrapers - for me, the image of King Kong hanging off the top of that spire is etched into my mind as one of the symbols of New York – and the pool enjoys staggering views over its brightly illuminated upper floors. Between the mosaic pinup girl on the pool floor and the unrivalled perspective over that mighty skyscraper, there is a distinct atmosphere of 1920s New York glamour.

The rest of the hotel, however, is all about 21st century style. Aside from the glitzy rooftop bar spaces, the whole building oozes sophisticated design and contemporary fashion. With bold shades, clever colour schemes, quirky patterns and elegant prints, this is the New York Fashion Week side of the city. In fact, you can even treat yourself at the hotel’s own Cutler Salon, which has a growing presence on the fashion week catwalks. From futuristic furnishings to classy chandeliers, the décor is an eclectic yet harmonious mix.

This is as true in every bedroom as it is in the spacious lobbies. They are as roomy as they are luxurious and beautiful, with plush furniture, plenty of state of the art technology, superbly appointed and vast bathrooms, and huge floor to ceiling windows affording no shortage of natural light and lovely views from the balconies (Grand Deluxe rooms and suites). Almost looking like they have been taken straight out of a glossy magazine, the rooms are also perfectly comfortable and functional, with all sorts of outstanding amenities (the sound systems are particularly excellent).

Even the biggest of Big Apples isn’t enough to sustain a hungry traveller like me, but fortunately the cuisine is another area where the Gansevoort Park Avenue excels. Once again, the rooftop must get another honourable mention for the brilliant brunches and light menus available in the lofty, chic and scenic upper floors. However, back down on the ground, the Asellina Italian restaurant is also fantastic. A fusion of traditional and modern Italian cooking, it offers sumptuous food in atmospheric and refined surroundings, perfect for a relaxed lunch or fancy dinner. In fact, if you forgo the temptation of following in Audrey Hepburn’s footsteps with a breakfast at Tiffany’s, the restaurant also offers an enticing array of options to get your day off to the perfect start.

Once you do branch out of the hotel, New York is perhaps the most hectic and happening city in the world. There is so much to see by day, and so much to do by night! Tonight, for example, we are getting another taste for New York’s Great-Gatsby-style glamour, making the short journey across to Broadway in a yellow cab and squeezing in a fancy dinner before seeing a show. In fact, I should probably get moving – I wouldn’t mind finding time for one of the hotel’s hand-crafted cocktails at the swanky Windsor Bar before we leave. I will leave you, then, with the words of Charlie Chaplin, who so enthusiastically and concisely summed up the glittering, exhilarating side of New York encapsulated by the Gansevoort Park Avenue… “The glamour of it all! New York! America!”