In a city that has been rewriting its story for nearly 350 years, Grayson Hotel opens today at 30 West 39th Street, paying homage to the turn-of-the-century industrialization of New York and the cross-cultural culinary awakening it inspired.
Grayson Hotel’s industrial-chic personality shines through a crowning arrival design feature, a two-story steel spiral staircase connecting the street level with an indoor-outdoor dining experience on the second floor.
The new-build hotel is owned, developed and managed by the Fortuna Hotel Collection, and joins The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand as its first New York City property.
Each of Grayson Hotel’s 296 guest rooms showcases a collection of artwork curated by Indie Walls, a full-service global art consultancy, highlighting beloved historical sites in New York City and providing a thought-provoking environment and an experience that inspires. Three interconnecting hotel suites on the fourth floor offer private balconies with views of landmarks old and new.
Decor elements in both the rooms and suites feature vintage books and objects that represent Grayson Hotel, fully immersing guests in the local culture and the unique story of the hotel. The accommodations are designed to blend the stark contrast of raw and refined, industrial and guild – steel and glass juxtaposed with lacquered wood, rattan and gold accents.
“New York is a city built on grace and grit and we’ve engaged the same principles to create Grayson.” notes David McManus, General Manager of Grayson Hotel. “Concrete ceilings, iron-railed staircases and detailed millwork are the backdrop for the best in dining, rooftop lounging and a series of collaborations with NYC institutions. Grayson Hotel is all about celebrating what makes New York, New York.”
In-room amenities include a butler-style mini bar service offering to-go craft cocktails, locally sourced snacks and beverages. Additional amenities include Lather bath and body products in bamboo lemongrass scent; custom-designed “hoodie” bathrobes and a bronze statue of the hotel’s French Bulldog mascot, Grayson, inspired by the age of the industrial revolution.
Hotel guests benefit from Midtown Manhattan neighborhood perks such as nearby shopping and dining experiences as well as on-site food, beverage and minibar credits. Guests will also be met with a 24-hour fitness centre, GRIT, which features all the essentials for a great workout, including SoulCycle commercial bikes, TRX treadmills, a StairMaster HIIT machine, dumbbells, cross trainers and more. Guests of Grayson Hotel will also receive access to Oasis Day Spa, located just minutes from the hotel.
Acclaimed New York City-based hospitality company Apicii, helmed by founder and CEO Tom Dillon and led by an all-star team of hospitality veterans including Chief Culinary Officer Jonathan Benno of his namesake and Michelin-starred New York City restaurant, Benno, alongside Beverage Director Kyle Tran, will open multiple dining experiences at Grayson Hotel beginning this fall. Inspired by the team’s deep knowledge and experience with Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines, as well as extensive travels and long relationships with culinary pioneers, distillers and craftsmen across each region, Grayson Hotel’s culinary and beverage concepts will deliver a much-needed oasis away from the bustle of Bryant Park and Midtown Manhattan.
The ground floor all-day dining restaurant, Harta, will offer a pan-Mediterranean Brasserie featuring a collaborative menu between Chef Jonathan Benno and Executive Chef Mark Zuckerman that reflects an exploration of regional cuisine. Among Harta’s dish highlights are artichokes with red kuri squash and rainbow carrots, brodetto with a variety of seafood in a tomato-saffron broth and black bass with artichokes, fennel, radish and vadouvan broth. These join a dessert menu with items such as a créme fraiche panna cotta served with shredded honey filo, blackberries and mint. The wine program features a hand-picked list of Old and New World wines selected to complement the cuisine. On the second floor, Benno and Zuckerman present Bar Harta, a casual and convivial sister space to Harta, featuring a wine and tapas bar on a bright, seasonal patio.
Located on the 28th floor, Bar Cima is an intimate, rooftop mezcaleria with indoor-outdoor seating and views spanning from the Empire State Building to the East and Hudson Rivers. The interior evokes polished Mexican luxury, welcoming guests through walnut and brass-adorned doors into an intimate lounge area with jewel-toned seating in patterned velvets, custom stone tables with ornately carved bases and an antique mirrored ceiling. The bar itself is a jewel box for the expansive mezcal and tequila collection, made from tall walnut shelving lined with earth-toned stone panels. Out on the north terrace, guests will find a wall of tiles with copper sconces playing off their patterns and furnishings with wrapped-rope and colorful metal details, alongside the breathtaking views.
Expected to open in Spring 2023, Tacalle will be the property’s taco garden. “Tacalle and Bar Cima are two concepts envisioned by Dillon, who brings more than two decades of experience developing and operating a number of the nation’s highest acclaimed Mexican restaurants, bars and lounges, including Richard Sandoval Restaurants and Rosa Mexicano, while consulting Master Mezcalier, Courtenay Greenleaf, for the Bar Cima space.
The architecture and design of Grayson Hotel is credited to Italian Marcello Pozzi, Founder and Principal of Marcello Pozzi Architecture & Design (MLLO), a progressive practice that spans architecture, interior and industrial design. The guest room’s design elements are developed and implemented by The Setting New York. The restaurant concept and design can be credited to Dutch East Designs, a firm known for creating tailor-made environments with artistry and technical precision.
