Not to see New York’s skyline is not to see the city. In winter, when cloudy days often shroud the city in a grey haze, the best way to guarantee a view of the skyline is to make yourself a part of it. It was with this mindset that I booked a stay at the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, the 580-foot-tall luxury property that has come to define high-end hospitality in the North of Madison neighborhood since its opening in 2022. This was my second time visiting the city, the first coming during a stormy, overcast stretch of January days two years ago. This time, taking in the iconic views was as much of a priority as the conference I’d come to attend. The Ritz-Carlton New York NoMad proved an ideal base, providing a respite from Manhattan’s busy streets with the guest experience you’d expect from a top-tier hotel, with much within walking distance and a metro station right outside the front door.
The Best Way to See the New York City Skyline? Sleep Inside It at This NoMad Hotel
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My room at the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
Photo: Ritz-Carlton New York, Nomad
I stayed in a Manhattan Club King Room on the 37th floor (from about $1,595 per night). Reaching this from the lobby took all of a few seconds on what was the quickest, quietest elevator I’ve ever used. Contrary to the preference of most higher-end Marriott-affiliated hotels I’ve stayed in, the TV was off when I entered the room. That’s undoubtedly because the hotel doesn’t want to distract from the room’s star attraction: the unobstructed view of Manhattan. I nearly dropped by suitcase upon first glance out the window – there before me was downtown; even a New York novice like me could identify One World Trade Center and the Statue of Liberty.
After some 10 minutes of star-struck skyline gazing, I finally turned to face the room’s interior. To my right sat a mini-bar cabinet complete with a plethora of snacks and an expansive liquor and wine offering. Hungry from 24 hours of travel, I opened a bag of trail mix, not caring about the charge I was to incur for doing so. I was glad to see a Nespresso machine in place of a Keurig. Despite my historic struggles with consistently getting these machines to work properly, I’d just returned from Japan, where daily practice had me feeling somewhat confident I’d be able to successfully draw a cuppa in the morning. Above the bed, a string of mood lights were woven together like a helix, covering the room in pleasantly soft lighting that was functional but not intrusive.
I then stepped into the expansive walk-in shower. As is expected at the Ritz, the water heated quickly and sufficiently, and the water pressure was sufficiently strong (and was easily adjustable if it wasn’t). The king bed faced the king’s view head-on. That night, as I lay trying to calm myself after a very long travel day, I turned out all the lights and let the skyline of a city that never sleeps woo me down. I felt myself melt into the sheets and never got up to close the curtains, certain that I’d rather wake to this view than anything else.
Settling into the Club Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad
Photo: Tim Wenger
My stay included access to the 36th-floor Ritz-Carlton NoMad Club Lounge, a private hospitality suite open from breakfast through dinner and serving complimentary buffet-style eats and drinks commensurate with the time of day (yes, that means mimosas in the mornings). I visited each morning for breakfast and can say with certainty that I’ve never enjoyed breakfast with a better view, as tables sit aside large windows facing Lower Manhattan.
This isn’t your standard continental breakfast. Eggs are cooked fresh, the potatoes are perfectly sauteed, and just about any standard breakfast fare imaginable is on offer, from oatmeal to sliced fresh fruit. Coffee in all its incarnations is served by staff. Visiting in the afternoon is ideal for happy hour, with sports on TV in the lounge. There’s no better spot in the city to drink a Manhattan while gazing at the drink’s namesake.
Some 37 floors below, the dungeon-like hotel gym offers a standard selection of free weights and cardio machines. Open 24 hours a day, I wound up here at about 4 am on my first overnight at the hotel because I’d just arrived on a long-haul from Tokyo and couldn’t sleep. The Club matched the vibe of the hotel’s lobby, minimally decorated but incredibly comfortable and welcoming. The experience, amplified by beat-heavy background music, contrasted my experience staying at the somewhat stodgy Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences in Vail, Colorado, as this location is decidedly hipper, newer, and targets a clientele that arrives in New York expecting to immediately channel Manhattan’s chic energy. The spa accentuates this, as does the chic Bazaar Bar in the lobby, also under the direction of Andrés’ culinary team.
Staff and service at the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
Photo: Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
By the time I’d arrived in New York, I’d been traveling for nearly two weeks and realized I’d left my computer’s charger port behind. This was doubly troublesome because when traveling, I frequently charge my iPhone by plugging it into my laptop (don’t bother telling me how bad this is for the computer battery, I’m aware, and apparently don’t care enough to change my habit). As such, both my phone and laptop were on the brink of dying. At around 3 AM I woke to no battery life on either and an inability to fall back asleep, so I went downstairs and asked the night attendant if the hotel had a charger I could borrow. He headed into a back room and returned with a dusty old charger that fit the mini-USB cord I had with me, and I can only presume this was his personal charger that he kept at work for times like this.
I’m sure mine was a small request in the lexicon of “annoying guest asks,” but the prompt solution to my query exemplified the service I received throughout my stay. The staff was exceptional without fail, and I must also give a shout-out to the women in the Club Lounge for being both willing to engage in early-mornings chats with a travel editor who very obviously doesn’t meet the styleguide of the lounge’s traditional guests, and who also could never figure out how to get his key card to open the door into the lounge itself. This meant I had to knock and then explain myself each time I wanted to come inside. Still, they welcomed me like family.
Experiencing Chef José Andrés’ famous Zaytinya, steps from my room
Photo: Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad
The Michelin-starred celebrity chef José Andrés oversees the culinary program at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad, headlined by his signature Zaytinya restaurant, which also has locations in Washington, DC; South Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and two additional outposts in California. I dined here with a fellow writer my second night in town, ordering a collection of tapas plates paired with wines introduced by the house sommelier. Zaytinya is an excellent place to eat when with a party of picky eaters like us, as ordering small plates here can be tailored to just about any dietary restriction.
We ordered a collection of vegetarian mezze, including Hommus and Baba Ghannouge, followed by Grape Leaf Dolmades and a fantastic Honeydew Tzatziki. The latter shed the often overwhelming taste of strained yogurt that so frequently defines tzatziki for a subtler, sweeter taste that conjured dining on a Mediterranean Island moreso than in the big city. Another standout was the Seared Halloumi, which was nearly meatlike in its density but with a nutty, citrusy finish that only the best of Spanish chefs could conjure.
From here we dove into the seafood mezze, with the Sea Scallops arriving perfectly seared with a side of tzatziki and a top of sesame rose spice. This dish was, for me, the highlight of the evening because it shifted my perception of a common seafood that I’ve never particularly cared for – these scallops maintained a crisp freshness and were at no point overly salty or mushy.
As someone who is frequently on the road for work, I’ve become a fan of hotels where I can end a long day with a memorable meal and then easily meander straight to my room. This amenity itself isn’t uncommon, as many great hotels have equally impressive restaurants. But iconic dining experiences such as Zaytinya make a stay at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad a uniquely full-circle experience.
In addition to Zaytinya, the hotel is home to Andrés’ Bazaar Meat steakhouse and the elevated (literally) Nubeluz rooftop bar and lounge, located atop the hotel with 360-degree views of the city. 