One Night of Luxury at The Sherry-Netherland

You’ve seen it. That 38-story building standing proudly on the east side of Central Park. It towers above other pre-war structures in the area, thanks to its Gothic minaret. A stellar address. World-class concierge. A renowned restaurant. And a sidewalk clock that says you’ve arrived. Welcome to The Sherry-Netherland. This 1927 gem features individually decorated guestrooms, so you can pretend that you’re returning to your very own New York apartment should you stay here. Many people do stay here, and often. In addition to rotating hotel guests, the building houses 165 cooperative apartments.

I spent one night at The Sherry-Netherland a few months back. Even though I’ve called New York home for more than a decade and walked by the building countless times, I savored every moment of my stay. I loved pretending that I lived at this prestigious address, if only for one night!

Welcome to The Sherry-Netherland!

My room was spacious – it resembled a one bedroom apartment (and a sprawling one at that) – with a separate living room, dining area, and even a kitchen. It had almost everything I’d need to move right in. (A girl can dream, right?) The bath didn’t have a tub, just a luxurious shower. I think I’d adjust.

Some feel that The Sherry Netherland is one of the most elegant and beautiful buildings in Manhattan. It’s been said to rival the Helmsley, Woolworth Building, San Remo, and even the Chrysler.

Italian mainstay Cipriani is located on the ground floor. The restaurant is based on the original Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy and has been open since 1985. Besides perpetually classic dishes like potato gnocchi with gorgonzola and roast chicken alla Romana, Cipriani hosts quite the social scene every night. While it’s fun to go and people watch, you have to eat some of the house favorites too. I also cannot recommend breakfast enough – the smoked salmon bagel is excellent!

The Sherry-Netherland is one of the few hotels in New York with attended elevators. I loved that old-school perk every time I stepped inside the lift.

This gorgeous building is no doubt a piece of New York history, and even if your budget doesn’t allow you to stay in the hotel, at least peek inside the lobby. Admire the 860 square-foot mural that graces the arches. Artist Joseph Aruta based the ceiling design on Raphael’s frescoes in Cardinal Bibbiena’s Loggetta at the Vatican Palace in Rome. Forty years after completion, water damaged the work of art, and the hotel plastered the ceiling, painting over the mural. In 2013, it was restored to its original glory.

The best amenity is the address. You can’t beat the location – Central Park is across the street, and you’ll be caught between Midtown and the Upper East Side. You can walk to Museum Mile, shop on Madison and Fifth Avenue, or hop the subway and head downtown. Only to return to feel welcome and pampered at The Sherry-Netherland, a quintessential New York hotel in one of the most sought-after areas of Manhattan.

For more on The Sherry-Netherland, visit the website and check out my complete review of this hotel in The Telegraph.

The Sherry-Netherland
781 5th Ave
New York, NY 10022
(212) 355-2800

Also, read about my stay at the Crosby Street Hotel, the hip Hotel Americano, and the hotel where Bob Dylan and Jack Kerouac lived.

Posted on April 18, 2018