Not cheap, but this supremely modern stay puts you in the thick of NYC

The hotel

The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue

Check-in

The Langham’s Fifth Avenue exterior.

From the moment my feet hit the welcome mat, I enjoy impeccable service. My bags are whisked away by friendly porters, and the receptionist allocates me her favourite room.

The lobby has a refined style, with lounging areas, a coffee station and a cute kids’ cart with toys, colouring books and a Paddington Bear, a nod to the UK heritage of this hotel brand.

The look

The Langham New York lobby.Credit: Nina Choi

It’s impossible to miss the lobby’s huge art works by New York artist Alex Katz. Constructed in 2010, the hotel came under the Langham Hotels and Resorts brand in 2013. It’s a modern hotel with a few elegant, old-school touches, such as the sweeping spiral staircase linking the lobby to the restaurant and, importantly, the size of the rooms.

The room

The Deluxe Room at The Langham, New York is generously sized.

I’m told the Langham has the largest standard guest rooms in Manhattan, yet I’m still shocked by the scale of my Deluxe Room (rooms range from 51 to 67 square metres). The corner room is flooded with light thanks to panelled windows that wrap around the building’s corner; the lower section hinges open for breezes. They’re also double-glazed, making for a quiet sleep, despite the honking below. The calming beige-and-white colour scheme contrasts with the rich timber wardrobes. Luxe touches abound: Duxiana beds, linen by Frette, pump-pack toiletries by Diptyque and great magazines to read. Filtered water is supplied in sealed, reusable glass bottles while the marble bathroom includes a generous bathtub and a double basin.

Food + drink

Ai Fiori’s menu is inspired by the French and Italian Rivieras.

On-site restaurant Ai Fiori, inspired by the Italian and French Riviera, offers a fixed-price option. Accepting recommendations from the excellent waitstaff, I choose four courses from the a la carte menu: smoky octopus, squid ink pasta with crustacean ragu, roasted rib-eye and to round it out, I squeeze in the perfect tiramisu. A sommelier recommends wines for each course from the vast international menu (we avoid those with staggering price tags – burgundy for US$29,000, anyone?). After dinner, we progress to funky Bar Fiori, where a barman tutors us on American rye whiskey.

Out + about

A stay at The Langham puts you in the thick of NYC.Credit: Photo: Evan Joseph Images

It’s a four-minute walk to the Empire State Building and leafy Bryant Park, where you will also find New York Public Library, is just around the corner. Brave the neon craziness of Times Square or catch a Broadway show – both are within a 15-minute walk.

The verdict

Hotels in New York do not come cheap, but for a special well-located stay in the Big Apple, The Langham is hard to beat.

Essentials

Superior Rooms from $US522 ($800) a night; Deluxe Rooms from $US720 ($1110), based on January rates, taxes included. Accessible, Family Rooms and Executive Club Rooms are also available. 400 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York. See langhamhotels.com/newyork

Our score out of five

★★★★½

Highlight

Relaxing in The Langham Club, the hotel’s exclusive club lounge for guests staying in the upper categories, after tackling a busy tourist schedule.

Lowlight

We skipped our room introduction and so only discover on day two that we have a view of the Empire State Building (if you crane your head and look upwards), and that the bathroom mirror doubles as a TV screen for long soaks.

The writer stayed as a guest of The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue.