Occupying a 1905 building in Manhattan’s theater district, the Chatwal New York has opened as a tribute to the iconic style of 1930s Gotham. Architect and designer Thierry Despont oversaw the design of the hotel, injecting glamour of early 20th century travel and the tradition of Empire Art Deco into the 83 guestrooms and suites, restaurant, and public spaces. He also drew inspiration from the craftsmanship of iconic luxury travel trunk designers of the 1900s, celebrating travel pieces as finely crafted objets d’art.
Throughout the building-which originally acted as the clubhouse for the Lambs, America’s first professional theater club-Despont has made subtle nods to the structure’s theatrical and historical origins. A floor-to-ceiling 18th century stone fireplace serves as centerpiece for the hotel’s restaurant, the Lambs Club (upper left), whose walls are lined with black-and-white photographs of original Lambs. Elliptical doors, originally part of the Grill Room, have been restored and reinstalled in the Chatwal’s private function room. In addition, the building’s exterior has been restored with its original marble ram heads and a marble plaque alluding to the glory days of the Lambs Club.
The Chatwal’s 4,500-square-foot penthouse floor-named the Barrymore Suite in honor of the acting family-includes four guestrooms, four full bathrooms, two sitting rooms, dining rooms, kitchenettes, private heated outdoor terrace, and a roof deck overlooking 44th Street. Meanwhile, the Stanford White Studio (right), bearing the name of the building’s original designer, has been refurbished with the original oak wood-paneled walls, a granite fireplace with a detailed wood mantle, and a fully furnished private outdoor terrace.
The luxury offerings continue with the Spa Chatwal by Kashwere, which features three treatment rooms, three private changing suites with steam showers, a relaxation lounge with spa aperitifs, signature infinity lounge with a saltwater lap pool and two plunge pools offering hot and cold therapy, a fitness center, and a manicure and pedicure studio.
