Essex House, a Westin Hotel

160 Central Park South

New York, New York 10019

Written by Jeff Heath

The Essex House Hotel is located in an historic art deco landmark property on exclusive Central Park South in Manhattan. In 1991 the hotel completed a major 20-month, $75 million renovation to restore the magnificent lobby and enlarge the guest rooms. A member of the Westin hotel chain since 1999, the 40-story luxury hotel also offers even more exclusive rooms under the St. Regis brand on the hotel's upper floors. Just across the street from Central Park, this luxury hotel is in a perfect location and offers guests views of

Central Park and midtown Manhattan.

Essex House Hotel Location

The Essex House Hotel is located on Central Park South between 6th and 7th Avenues. The hotel is just steps away from Carnegie Hall, Columbus Circle and shopping on Fifth and Madison Avenues. Saks Fifth Avenue, Museum of Modern Art, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center are within a one-half mile radius of the hotel. The Theater District, Times Square, Bloomingdale's, Grand Central Station and Lincoln Center are within a one-mile radius. The Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and Penn Station and the United

Nations Building are well within two miles. Little Italy, Chinatown, the Brooklyn Bridge, Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange are all within five miles of the hotel. LaGuardia Airport is 7 miles away. JFK International Airport and Newark International Airport are both about 15 miles away.

Essex House Hotel Accommodations

The Essex House Hotel has over 600 rooms. Under the Westin brand, the hotel offers 511 guestrooms and suites. The St. Regis Club located on the upper floors of the hotel provides an additional 107 guestrooms and suites. Room amenities include heavenly down bedding, hairdryers, two-line

speaker phones with data ports and bathroom phones, mini-bars, in-room fax/printer/copy machines, marble bathrooms, bathrobes, a scale and a magnifying mirror. Services include the daily delivery of The New York Times, complimentary overnight shoeshine and one-hour pressing service. The hotel also offers rooms for the business traveler that feature an ergonomic chair, a spacious work desk and basic office supplies.

Essex House Hotel Suites

One and two bedroom suites feature separate living and dining areas and upgraded room amenities. Guests in St. Regis Club level rooms receive fresh flowers, high-speed Internet access and 24-hour butler service. The 2,300-square-feet Presidential Suite features a master bedroom with a king bed,

a second bedroom with a queen bed, a kitchen with a dishwasher and microwave, a living room and dining area for six.

Essex House Hotel Rates

Rates range from $330 to $475 double. Suites range from $450 to $3,000.

Essex House Hotel Dining

The Essex House Hotel's Alain Ducasse Restaurant opened in June 2000 replacing Les Celebrities. The new restaurant is named after world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse who also has restaurants in Paris and Monte Carlo. The chef of this 60-seat restaurant is Didier Elena who has worked with Mr. Ducasse for 12 years. The Café Botanica

has views of Central Park with a soothing fountain and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring American cuisine with Mediterranean influences. Journey's is the hotel's lounge.