Whether it’s a crisp February or sweltering July, New York is frenetic and fabulous all year round, but there’s something undeniably special about it in the run-up to Christmas.
From walking the window tour (Bergdorf Goodman to Saks; Bloomingdale’s to Barneys; Lord & Taylor to Macy’s) to watching the New York City Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker; skating at Central Park or spying the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree (lit this year on 30 November), no other city does festive with such panache.
Two new hotels to acquaint yourself with, both in prime uptown locations, are Hyatt 48 Lex and Andaz 5th Avenue. Opposite the grandest of landmarks – the New York public library (look out the window and imagine everything from Ghostbusters to Carrie in her wedding gown) – the one-year-old Andaz 5th Avenue is cool personified, with loft-like bedrooms and factory sash windows epitomising industrial chic. Popular with both a hip business crowd and people like me who want their hotel to make a style statement, I loved everything about my room: from its bathroom with Greenwich-style black shutters and multi-tasking in-shower footbath to its free mini-bar.
A few blocks away, the Hyatt 48 Lex opened last month and affords floor-to-ceiling views of Manhattan (you’re so gloriously in the thick of it, office workers across the street will see everything if you’re not canny with your curtains) and I liked most its pied-à-terre feel. Rooms have the most discreet, slick kitchenettes with mini fold-away dishwasher and fine wines.
Homebodies will also appreciate the second-floor Lexicon Lounge – a chill-out zone for guests to wine taste or browse coffee-table books while grazing on croissants if they’re not peckish enough to tackle Jelly Donut Pancakes and Brass Ale Beer Waffles in the Lexington Brass bistro.
Why it’s hot
For Christmas and indeed any shopping, New York is by far the most enjoyable place to do it, from high street favourites J Crew, Anthropologie, and Brooklyn Industries to designer haven Barneys Co-op (barneys.com/co-op) or the boutiques of Bleecker Street. The vintage and designer seconds stores around Soho and Nolita are great for a mooch; I bought near perfect Miu Miu boots at Ina in Soho (there’s others in Nolita and Uptown; inanyc.com) and discovered Brandy Melville — like Urban Outfitters’ little sister with a one-size-fits-all philosophy. For red velvet cake en route, stop at the cosy Olive Tree Café (212-254-3480) and watch Charlie Chaplin movies playing on the wall.
Eating and drinking
Not normally one for sticking to the safe parameters of a hotel bar, I could while away many a night at the Andaz basement bar where they serve up amazing small plates from bacalaito frito (cod fish fritters) to clam pot and potato torta with crème fraîche. But for in-demand cocktails – if your name’s not down, you’re really not getting in – head to the cavernous Beauty & Essex (beautyandessex.com); The Back Room (212-228-5098) for potent concoctions in teacups and, my favourite, Please Don’t Tell (pdtnyc.com), where you access the bar via a Clark Kent-style phone booth and its genius mixologist, Jim Meehan, offers up personalised cocktails. Jeffrey’s Grocery Restaurant and oyster bar (jeffreysgrocery.com) in the West Village has an amazing vibe for trying to stay awake that first night in NYC.
Photo opportunity
Head across the bridge to hip Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for more shopping – Amarcord Vintage Fashion (amarcordvintagefashion.com) and Beacon’s Closet (beaconscloset. com) – and great views of Manhattan across the water.
Room rates at Hyatt 48 Lex (hyatt48lex. com) start from £320 and £399 at Andaz 5th Avenue (andaz.com). British Airways flights to New York start from £378 return* (ba.com or 0844-4930 787)
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