Midtown Manhattan’s Hospitality Haven, The Times Square EDITION
Hotelier Ian Schrager’s latest rises above the reputation of its neighborhood
From the 10th floor balcony, guests of The Times Square EDITION can gaze down at one of the most famous intersections in the world. There, tourists wander in all directions. They stop to take photos of the bright lights and big brand advertisements—and they tap the undeniable energy whizz-banging about. Up on the hotel’s balcony, officially referred to as the Blade Runner Terrace, Times Square and its fleet of Elmos and Transformers appear quite beautiful—even to a New Yorker. Here, a row of two-person tables, wrought iron love-seats and Green Emerald Arborvitae evergreens separate the outdoor space from the city. It’s one of many positions of cinematic splendor in the hotel.
It all begins with a ground-level entry vestibule, a poured-concrete reception desk and elevators that lead to the lobby, which sits on the 10th floor. The moment one enters into the hotel, elegance—the EDITION way—wafts from every fixture, furnishing and the very scent suffusing the air. Once again, hotelier Ian Schrager, working with Marriott International, demonstrates that luxury is defined by attention to detail. From chevron-patterned flooring to a blackened steel scissor stair, color is kept to a minimum and material is allowed to speak for itself.
In addition to the Blade Runner Terrace, the 10th floor also features an interconnected all-black sitting room and a 1,200-square-foot lobby bar. The ivory silk drapery of the latter, coupled with Christian Liaigre standing lamps and bar stools, various antiques and the white onyx countertop lends a demure allure. Even the lighting here aims to remind visitors that they’re in an EDITION hotel and not the chaotic crossroads of 47th Street and Seventh Avenue. Yabu Pushelberg partnered with ISC Design Studio (also Schrager’s company) on the graceful interior design, and the successes are undeniable.
Hotels may be social spots for many, but their primary purpose is rest. And the 452 rooms and suites here reflect that. Serenity blankets the decor. And minimalism aids the smaller rooms. Space is a premium in Manhattan and the EDITION knows how to make the best of what they’ve got. As far as the experience of staying there goes, from our 27th-floor room, late at night, we heard Times Square down below—only as if it were a whisper though. It didn’t disrupt. It was an ambient track. Similarly, the shades are not black-out and colorful light does slip through the edges. It dazzles in slender lines. It’s not bright enough to disturb sleep either—unless someone needs complete sensory deprivation.
Schrager, known for co-creating Studio 54 and inventing the boutique hotel concept, brings in two partners strong enough to intrigue locals: the programmers behind Bushwick’s House of Yes, and the first Michelin-starred chef in Times Square, John Fraser. The former helms the seventh-floor cabaret, Paradise Club, and produces a carnivalesque nightly four-act show. Then the space transitions into a lavish discotheque. Fraser‚ of Nix and The Loyal, oversees the all-day Terrace restaurant on the ninth floor and the fine-dining establishment, 701West, on the 11th floor. All three destinations demonstrate Schrager’s keen eye for a social setting.
For those of us who live in NYC, Times Square requires our attention. There are several reasons we end up there. Theaters dot the neighborhood, family and friends who come to visit want to see it. And now there’s this EDITION. Its club will be a draw, especially for its programming. With Michelin aspirations, so will the restaurant 701West. The Times Square EDITION is the ninth hotel in this portfolio, and devotees of the brand will trust the considered minimalism and signature Le Labo products. And, of course, there will be those supporters of Schrager who’ll visit to see how it compares to the pristine New York EDITION and the future-forward Public. They won’t be disappointed.
Images courtesy of EDITION Hotels
