1 Hotel Central Park
Daily price line
Upcoming nightly rates
Review
Character and identity
A biophilic 18-story tower on Central Park's southern edge, wrapped in some 40,000 living ivy plants and grounded by reclaimed water tower wood, antique barn wood floors and a soaring oak lobby ceiling. The 229 rooms read as urban sanctuaries in earth tones, with glass-walled walk-in showers, in-room yoga mats and window-nook daybeds. Jams, Jonathan Waxman's revived Californian project, anchors the dining room with unfussy farm-to-table cooking and a wine list nodding to his late partner Melvyn Master. Service is warm and casual rather than choreographed. LEED Silver certified, Michelin Key recognised.
Who's it for
Best for:
Design-minded travellers and wellness-leaning couples who want Midtown access without Midtown's hard edges. The location suits anyone planning to live in Central Park, MoMA, Carnegie Hall and the Broadway theatres, and the sustainability story will resonate with guests who care how the luxury is built. Creative professionals and return New Yorkers fit the crowd.
Should look elsewhere:
If you want white-glove, choreographed five-star service with a dedicated butler register, the relaxed approach here may feel under-orchestrated outside the Elm House Suite's VIP Guru tier. Those after classical Manhattan grandeur, marble and gilt, or a true resort with pools and kids' programming should book elsewhere.
Bottom line
The defining trick here is atmospheric: the plants, filtered water, reclaimed timbers and easy service genuinely lower your pulse in the middle of Midtown, and that cocooning effect is the reason to book. Pay up for a park-facing room or, if the budget allows, the Elm House Suite for the wraparound terrace and concierge upgrade. Strongest in spring and autumn, when the park does half the work.