“Aman New York: Experience Ultimate Luxury and Serenity on the Upper East Side”

The “Aman” hotel group is known for ultra-luxurious resort hotels in a fantastic natural setting – most with sea views, such as the “Amanpuri” in Thailand or the “Amangiri” in the rocky desert of the Colorado Plateau in Utah. The group recently opened its first hotel in New York City. After Tokyo, it is the second in a metropolitan area. It’s in the headlines «Aman New York» but mostly come for its room rates: it’s considered the most expensive hotel in the city. Room rates start at $1,950 for the entry-level Deluxe on 56th Street suite for a minimum of 70 square meters.

The Crown Building, birthplace of the Museum of Modern Art

You live in the best location. The “Aman” is located on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, opposite the new “The Landmark” flagship by Tiffany & Co. and diagonally across from the high-end department store Bergdorf Goodman, in the Crown Building. The historic building has an eventful past: in 1921, the 26-story building was built as one of the city’s first skyscrapers and was considered the most expensive commercial space in the USA. In 1929, shortly after the stock market crash, the Museum of Modern Art was opened in a suite of the commercial building, and in the early 1980s the Philippine dictator Marcos became the new owner.

With the “Aman”, another chapter is now being opened in the historic skyscraper: with 83 suites, two restaurants, a jazz club and a garden terrace on the 14th floor as well as the three-storey spa as the centerpiece, this place on the Upper West Side is establishing itself as the new Place to be.

The golden lattice front at the entrance shimmers discreetly, and the manned porter team is a clear indication of the good address. One enters a high, dark entrance hall, simply decorated with vases with huge sprigs of cherry blossoms and archaic Asian artworks. The reception, lobby, terrace and restaurants are on the 14th floor. Access is only granted to hotel guests, tenants of the “Aman” apartments, “Aman” members and registered visitors.

A waste of space and area

Arriving at the top of the Lobby Lounge, it is light, airy and comfortable. Instead of ostentatious interiors, the focus here (as in the rest of the hotel) is on noble, rather reserved decor with Asian Zen flair. Apparently, however, no savings have been made in terms of staff, who buzz around here with the well-heeled, very style-conscious clientele. The ceiling height is also impressive; instead, a few floors of lucrative residential and commercial space in this extremely expensive real estate location were foregone.

It is true that you can also enjoy the view of the urban building jungle from many other addresses in the city. The qualities of the “Aman New York” lie in the inner values: the calming resort feeling contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the big city.

A personal butler

The reception is relatively discreet and clearly arranged in a dimly lit corridor between the lifts and the restaurants. Entering the room, pardon me, the suite, is all the more impressive. These are obtained with the help of a personal butler, who, if you wish, will also store the contents of the suitcase neatly in the spacious cupboards. Interesting to watch him do it.

After the entrance, which is more spacious than many a New York bathroom, the suite opens up via a corridor. On one side is the front with plenty of storage space for clothes, a safe, minibar and coffee bar. On the other side is the huge bathroom, a comfortable private spa with a free-standing bathtub, a room-size shower and a Japanese toilet with a heated ring seat and an intimate shower.

Harmoniously illuminated panels, which can be folded out individually as if they were shutters in an exotic island temple, separate the bathroom from the living area. There you’ll find a jumbo-size bed, a flickering gas fireplace, and sitting areas by the windows with city views.

As in every new hotel room, it also requires some orientation and getting used to the regulation of light and window blinds. In this case, practically everything can be controlled via tablet: a few swipe gestures and the lighting scenario is already orchestrated from folding panels to murals, a fireplace and bed lighting.

Physical exercise and relaxation

After a long journey overseas, you feel like you’re in a cozy retreat in a suite like this – also thanks to small touches like a fragrant shower soap or a shimmering semi-precious stone to help you fall asleep.

And even more resort feeling awaits in front of the room door. The spa is spread over several floors: Bijoux is the indoor pool, a small indoor pool with a high ceiling and a fireplace. The 280 square meter fitness studio is airy and bright thanks to large windows overlooking the urban jungle. The equipment is state-of-the-art: in addition to Technogym training equipment, there are also Vacu-Therm steppers and infrared body rollers. In addition, analysis and high-performance training equipment and even a large cryotherapy chamber and a yoga and Pilates studio with reformer equipment.

Physical exercise is followed by relaxation, for example in the banja sauna and hammam – be it in the equally extensive cloakroom area or in the private spa house. The ultimate is personal treatment. In the private treatment room with its own shower and toilet, you can embark on a two-hour “Signature New York Treatment”: After the footbath, power stones give you calming energy, followed by a flowing massage with various scrubs and oils made from plants and wood. This cleansing, regenerating and revitalizing treatment begins and ends with a singing bowl.

We continue to one of the two restaurants, either Italian “Think» or ins “number”. Japanese specialties are served in the latter. During our visit, the three of us shared three starters – edamame, shishito pods with bonito flakes, a special tofu – and a chicken main course. In addition, there is one main course per head with six sushi specialties from the daily menu. The food was delicious, as was the sake that was served with it. The service was correct. The gastronomic experience in the modern Japanese wooden interior cost a whopping 666 dollars, including a twenty percent tip – supposedly common for this exclusive location.

“A new place of peace” – a new place of peace – that is the credo of “Aman New York”. In fact, the hotel offers a lot of peace, which is particularly appreciated after a few hours in the hustle and bustle of New York’s big city.

The bill at check-out brings a normal earner back to reality. One swallows empty and puts oneself off: This excursion into the well-padded world of the rich “Aman” clientele was extremely expensive – but also super good.

Aman New York730 Fifth Avenue, 10 019 New York