above: Towering trees lend a glamorous greenhouse effect at Café Carmellini. below: Martini butlers are available to hotel guests. – Photography by William Abranowicz
Imagine stepping into a 19th-century mansion straight out of New York’s Gilded Age, complete with bow-tied butlers, decadent details and gold leaf everything. At The Fifth Avenue Hotel, you can. After a 10-year renovation by Flâneur Hospitality, the newly opened NoMad gem is ready to welcome visitors looking for a glamorous city escape.
Once the home of society fixture Charlotte Goodridge, the brick and limestone Renaissance-style building—now referred to as The Mansion—was redesigned as a bank in 1907 by architects McKim, Mead & White. Preserving the legacy of Ms. Goodridge’s legendary soirées, design firm Perkins Eastman oversaw the meticulous restoration and worked with PBDW Architects to construct a striking modern addition: an adjoining 24-story glass tower.
Drawing inspiration from the neighborhood’s rich history and the opulence of the building itself, the interiors evoke a sense of Bohemian romanticism and Gilded Age glitz with a modern twist. Visionary designer Martin Brudnizki, renowned for his masterful blend of eras, also took cues from the travels of owner Alex Ohebshalom, filling it with painted columns, pleated pink silk canopies, rainbow-hued crystal chandeliers and bone-inlaid tables; collected treasures that capture his globetrotting spirit.
“At The Fifth, we’re not just offering accommodation; we’re crafting an immersive journey,” says Ohebshalom. “It’s a whimsical escape, a transformative experience right in the beating heart of Manhattan. We want our guests to slow down, to savor every moment and to truly engage with their surroundings.” And those surroundings are a visual feast, a kaleidoscope of jewel tones, eclectic accents and museum-worthy art curated from flea markets to high-end galleries. The hotel’s suites and guestrooms are a celebration of color and texture, with garden greens, buttercup yellows and peony pinks creating a vibrant backdrop for bold patterns and luxurious finishes.
Café Carmellini, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is James Beard Award-winning Chef Andrew Carmellini’s love letter to New York City. He channels three decades of culinary expertise into a modern menu, marrying Italian and French influences to create a distinctly New York experience. And the dining room itself is a masterpiece. The landmark building’s neoclassical bones are bedecked with touches of maximalist flair: grand, sculptural trees, an inviting open kitchen and private balconies perched for viewing diners below. If you’re looking for a more discreet option, escape to The Portrait Bar, where guests can enjoy cocktails and snacks by the carved stone fireplace and tuck into the intimate corners of the rich, wood-paneled space.
The hardest part will be stepping out into the real world, and readjusting from the flâneur mindset of The Fifth: where the ultimate luxury is defined by your ability to slow down and savor life’s sensory delights.
The Fifth Avenue Hotel
1 West 28th Street
New York, 212-231-9400
thefifthavenuehotel.com
GET A ROOM
Each jewel box has its own personality and palette.
FIT FOR A KING
At 575 square feet, The Mansion Suite is palatial, by New York standards. Utilize the butler and luxury house car service to really feel like royalty.
HOME, SUITE HOME
This one’s move-in ready. The Studio Suite includes a living room and study, two closets and a large entry foyer.
REST EASY
The city never sleeps, but you’ll get plenty in The Grand King, one of the largest of the tower rooms.