Crosby Street Hotel, Firmdale Hotels

The Crosby Street Hotel, a Michelin Three-Key property in New York City, consistently garners high praise for its vibrant design, exceptional service, and prime SoHo location, offering a luxurious and distinctive stay.

Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for the Crosby Street Hotel is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as "fabulous," "exquisite," and "wonderful." It holds a superb rating, with high scores for cleanliness, comfort, staff, and location. The hotel is often seen as a lively, fresh take on hospitality, providing a design lover's nirvana with boutique chic and an authentic sense of homeliness.

Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the Crosby Street Hotel:

• Design: Co-owner Kit Kemp's eclectic and whimsical design, characterized by bold colors, unique artwork, prints, patterns, and textured wallcoverings, is a major draw. The interiors are described as art-filled and thoughtfully curated, from the lobby to the individual rooms.
• Service: The staff is frequently highlighted as exceptional, friendly, attentive, and professional, going "above and beyond" to ensure a comfortable stay.
• Location: Situated on a cobbled street in the heart of SoHo, the location is repeatedly praised as amazing, perfect, and incredible, offering both a vibrant neighborhood experience and a sense of privacy.
• Amenities: The hotel boasts excellent amenities, including a well-equipped 24-hour gym, a private 99-seat (or 107-seat) movie theater, a beautiful inner courtyard, and a plush drawing room with an honesty bar. The "champagne hour" in the residents' bar is a particularly nice touch enjoyed by guests.

Room Quality

The 86 rooms and suites, spread over 11 floors, are fresh, contemporary, and individually designed with Kit Kemp's signature style. They are consistently described as luxurious, comfortable, and spacious, especially for New York City standards. Key features include:

• High ceilings and full-length/floor-to-ceiling windows that provide abundant natural light and often offer spectacular views of Lower Manhattan.
• Luxurious comfort: Rooms feature plush bedding, Frette linens, and thoughtful details like bottled Evian water and heated towel racks.
• Designer bathrooms: Bathrooms are large and well-appointed, often featuring marble, bespoke Miller Harris bath products, anti-mist mirrors, and sometimes even a waterproof TV.
• Modern conveniences: Each room includes a flat-screen cable TV, DVD player, iPod docking station, minibar, and free WiFi.

Dining Experience

The Crosby Bar & Terrace serves as the hotel's main restaurant and bar, offering breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea, and an à la carte menu for lunch and dinner.

• Quality: The food generally lives up to the hype, with the bar and restaurant often bustling with both hotel guests and locals. The Crosby Bar sources many ingredients, including spices and fresh eggs, from the hotel's rooftop garden.
• Breakfast: While some guests have noted breakfast as "just okay" or "nothing special" despite attentive service, it offers a large variety of options, including a continental buffet. Complimentary daily breakfast is a significant perk for some guests.
• Afternoon Tea: An afternoon tea with pastries and sandwiches is offered daily.
• Room Service: Room service is prompt and efficient.

Service & Staff

The service at Crosby Street Hotel is a consistent highlight, with staff repeatedly described as "exceptional," "friendly," "helpful," "attentive," and "professional." Guests appreciate the personalized and professional approach, noting that staff go "above and beyond." Concierge services are highly effective in securing last-minute reservations and providing recommendations.

Location & Accessibility

The hotel's location on a cobblestone street in SoHo is a major asset.

• Neighborhood: SoHo is known for its distinctive character with cast-iron buildings, upscale boutiques, art galleries, and diverse dining options. It offers a calmer, less touristy experience compared to Midtown.
• Attractions: The hotel is within walking distance of numerous attractions, including shopping, restaurants, art museums like the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art and The Drawing Center, and is adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art Design. Famous eateries like Balthazar and La Esquina are also nearby.
• Transport: The Crosby Street Hotel boasts excellent accessibility to public transportation. The Spring Street and Prince Street subway stations (R and W lines) are just a 2-minute walk away, and the Broadway-Lafayette Street Station is a 5-minute walk. LaGuardia Airport is approximately 50 minutes away by public transport, and JFK around 75 minutes.

Value & Pricing

The Crosby Street Hotel is considered a pricey luxury boutique hotel, reflective of its upscale offerings and prime SoHo location. Room rates can start around $916/night in the off-peak season and $1145/night in the high season (2024 figures), with an average room price around $1405, significantly higher than the city's average. Despite the high cost, many guests consider it to be exceptional value for money given the luxurious experience. Promotions like free night offers can also provide substantial savings.

Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor criticisms have been noted:

• Breakfast: A few guests found the breakfast to be "just okay" and "nothing special," despite attentive service. Service during breakfast can also be slower-paced.
• Communication regarding benefits: There have been instances where guests were not fully informed about included benefits like breakfast or food and beverage credits upon check-in.
• Lack of in-room coffee: Some guests noted the absence of an in-room coffee station.
• Absence of a dedicated doorman: While bellmen are present, the lack of a full-time doorman at the entrance was noted as atypical for a luxury hotel in NYC.
• Renovations: Occasional room renovations have led to minor disturbances for some guests, although the hotel reportedly handles these issues well.
• Design Preference: While mostly adored, some areas of the hotel's design felt "overdesigned" to guests who prefer a "less is more" aesthetic.

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