There’s a new boutique hotel in town that couples old-world hospitality with an urban-chic vibe, high-tech amenities and a competitive price. We just did a hardhat tour of the partially complete Hotel Zero Degrees on Main Avenue in Norwalk, and based on what we saw, the new property with 96 rooms has the potential to be the next go-to spot for business travelers and out-of-town guests. And it could also become a new favorite for locals in search of a cool new venue to host an event.
Scheduled to open this spring in the Route 7 corridor of Norwalk where a number of corporate offices are based, the three-story Hotel Zero Degrees is being developed by Stamford-based RMS. The company, founded by Randy Salvatore, opened a hotel of the same name on Washington Blvd. in Stamford just a few years ago. The Stamford location has been called the next wave in hospitality for combining modern comforts (think flat-screen TVs, free internet service and iPod docking stations in each room) with contemporary décor and a price that won’t get you in trouble with the boss when the expense account gets filed. By keeping things cool and affordable, RMS keeps pace with a city growing more vibrant and young.
The same will be true of the new Norwalk location, where key features serve to differentiate this hotel from others in the area.
In addition to roomy guest rooms with upscale extras like Gilchrest & Soames toiletries, spa robes and laptop-friendly safes, Hotel Zero Degrees will house a restaurant serving coastal Mediterranean-style cuisine. Called Mediterraneo, it will be operated by Ramze Zakka, owner of Mediterraneo and Terra in Greenwich and Sole in New Canaan. The restaurant will be the exclusive food and beverage provider for all hotel banquet facilities, which include three meeting spaces, a ballroom and a rooftop lounge.
That rooftop lounge–a 3,000-square-foot outdoor space with designer furniture, billiard tables and a putting green–is one of a few social spaces at the hotel. There’s also the Zen Den with fireplace located on the main level just beyond the lobby. Plans for the main level also call for a fitness center with all the latest equipment, plus full-height windows that offer nice views of the Norwalk River at the back of the property. Big flat-screen TVs will be here too, to make that early morning workout a little more entertaining.
Hotel Zero Degrees is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony in April and a grand opening in May. By then, the finishing touches will be in. Look for a snack shop with 24/7 access to Starbucks coffee and a free warm breakfast buffet for each guest. There will also be a free van shuttle for guests. This type of service emphasizes what the hotel calls its commitment to sustainability, as fewer people driving can only help reduce the carbon footprint in town. Thus, it seems a night spent at Hotel Zero Degrees will be as pleasant on your mind, body and budget as it is on your conscience.
Hotel Zero Degrees
353 Main Ave.
Norwalk, 06851
203-750-9800