- Jacqueline Zonkowski
I checked into The Fifth Avenue Hotel on a beautiful spring morning for a one-night staycation with a friend. We were attending a wine event on property that would be held in The Grand Salon and The Conservatory. The stay lasted just one night, but it lingered longer than many lengthier stays.
The Stay
Set inside a landmarked mansion stitched to a modern glass tower, The Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan feels less like a property and more like a stage set for beautifully dressed mischief. The design is layered, maximalist, and unapologetically dramatic. Every surface seems considered. Every object feels placed with intention, because they are. Most of the interiors were custom-made for the hotel.
We had booked a City King and were upgraded to a Grand King, which came with a full room orientation from our butler, a sentence that still feels almost too indulgent to type. There was a sense that the staff truly enjoyed the theater of hospitality, as no interaction felt forced.
The room itself surprised me with its size. New York hotels often require spatial compromise; this one did not. A proper wardrobe framed the entry, opening into a sitting area with a bistro table and a separate desk beyond the bed. My brain immediately started running rampant with thoughts of how to recreate this space at home.
The vibrant greens and blues gave off a jewel-box rich aesthetic with layered textiles, deep tones, lacquered finishes, and clever lighting that kept everything glowing.
But what stayed with me most wasn’t the room, it wasn’t the staff, or the dining. It was how the hotel reveals itself slowly through each moment spent wandering its halls.
My Favorite 90 Seconds
Sitting down with a cocktail at Portrait Bar, and glancing around the room at all of the other guests was just a moment. The wood-paneled alcove located past the elevator bank has a carved stone fireplace and walls covered in eclectic portraiture.
Our phones were put away in our bags and we just giggled over cocktails like we did a decade ago when I first moved to New York. It was one of those moments that took me back to being 24 and enamored by all of the possibilities promised by the city outside.
The Moments That Make It
One of the “wow” moments of our stay at The Fifth Avenue Hotel was when we were whisked into The Conservatory for a masterclass on wines from Southern Italy. The room almost seems out of place in New York City, something more like you may find in West Palm Beach. It was like stepping into the most beautiful and elaborate greenhouse I could have ever imagined. The room itself is stunning with mirrors everywhere, reflecting light, and color and making the room seem infinitely larger, with a vaulted glass ceiling, dramatically draped in white. Again, I was wondering how to recreate this feel, or what kind of party I could throw here.
Dining at Café Carmellini is not to be missed. The room is full of grandeur. More vaulted ceilings, crushed velvet banquets, living trees breathing life into the center of the room, as if it needed more energy than the guests themselves bring. Starting with oysters and champagne, we settled in for a long, luxurious dinner filled with people watching and delectable bites crafted in the open kitchen.
Who This Hotel Is Actually For
This hotel is for luxury travelers who want a scene, but also one they may not have stepped foot in before. It’s for someone who appreciates art, vibrant baubles, and little details.
It’s for aesthetes, romantics, celebrators, and anyone who believes the environment affects emotion. It’s ideal for milestone weekends, cultural travelers, design lovers, and couples who want their hotel to feel like part of the story.
I found myself lingering as I strolled through each room, finding something different to be enamored by every time I walked by. The hotel gives you a sense of wonder. In a city like New York, that’s a great quality to have.
Practical Stay Notes
Visited: for a spring overnight and again in summer for dinner and drinks
Length of stay: 1 night
Room: Grand King (upgraded from City King)
View: City view
Purpose: Staycation + on-property wine event
Reader Takeaways
Best time to visit: It’s a 5-star stay any time of the year
Can’t-miss experience: Cocktails at Portrait Bar by the fireplace
Best for: Design lovers, romantic stays, celebration trips, cultural traveler
Nearby Points of Interest
Eleven Madison Park: The world-renowned tasting menu destination just a few blocks south, ideal for a landmark New York dining experience.
Rezdôra: A Michelin-starred favorite celebrated for its refined takes on Northern Italian cuisine, just west of the hotel.
The Morgan Library & Museum: A serene cultural gem housing rare manuscripts, rotating exhibitions, and one of the city’s most beautiful historic interiors, an easy walk north.
SVA Galleries: Showcasing contemporary exhibitions and emerging artists through the School of Visual Arts’ rotating gallery program.
Eataly Flatiron: A world-renowned Italian marketplace for espresso stops, gourmet provisions, and casual dining opposite the Flatiron Building.
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Jacqueline Zonkowski is a writer and marketing professional drawn to places, people, and experiences that linger long after the moment has passed. Her work focuses on travel, hospitality, and lifestyle storytelling with heart and intention.
Website: www.jacquelinezwrites.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jacquelinezwrites
