The Roxy Hotel

New York

BACKGROUND Opened in 2000 as the Tribeca Grand, this hotel was renamed the Roxy last year and has just had a US$10 million renovation. It is part of Grand Life Hotels, which includes the Soho Grand.

WHAT’S IT LIKE? First impressions were positive. The door was opened for me on arrival and as I checked in I was offered a glass of champagne. One of the hotel’s big claims is that it helps to make travel feel less lonely. It seems to work, from gimmicks such as a pet goldfish in your room on request, to the events taking place most nights – on the Thursday night I was there, a jazz band played in the lounge (below), followed by a jazz trio in the Django basement club, followed by a DJ (I was in bed by then). The hotel is built around a central atrium and is very New York. It has a 400 sqm “Living Room” with different areas – the Roxy Bar and Lounge, Paul’s Cocktail Lounge and Jack’s Stir-Brew Coffee.

WHERE IS IT? At 2 Avenue of the Americas in Tribeca. It is two blocks below Canal Street (the subway for which is close by), and bordered by Church Street, Walker Street and Sixth Avenue.

ROOM FACILITIES The 201 rooms have been redesigned by local Briana Stanley, who has put more lights in (guests had commented that they were dark). I was impressed both by how bright my room was and how easy the lights were to operate. Entry-level Standard rooms (23 sqm) have a double bed and shower. Superior Kings (23 sqm) have an oak media cabinet, a custom leather luggage bench and a walnut workdesk with Eames chair. The Tivoli audio system let me play music (and stream BBC radio) before bed. The bathroom had toiletries from New York’s CO Bigelow and Frette robes. All rooms have free basic wifi and complimentary newspapers (including The Wall Street

Journal). Upon request, you can have a preloaded iPad, a Macbook, or borrow DVDs.

Other room categories are Deluxe King (23-26 sqm), Deluxe Double (26 sqm, sleeps four people), Studio King (32 sqm), and one-bedroom (40 sqm), Deluxe one-bedroom (49 sqm) and Deluxe two-bedroom (75 sqm) suites. There is also an 84 sqm penthouse with a rooftop terrace.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS The hotel is a very happening place, while at the same time welcoming to those staying there – you don’t feel out of place sitting in the bar alone, for instance. The bar, lounge and restaurant always seem to be busy. Jack’s is a New York brand of coffee shop – I thought they were serving beer on tap but it was cold-pressed coffee. There’s also a Blackstones hair salon.

MEETING FACILITIES The Django club can host 175 guests and the cinema has capacity for 125.

LEISURE FACILITIES There is a good gym in the basement – although the Hudson River Park isn’t far away. Tom Otley

The hotel is a very happening place, while at the same time welcoming to those staying there