HotelChatter

Highlights: With 420 rooms (all offering free Wi-Fi!) on West 63rd Street and Broadway, just a block from Central Park, the Empire is “perfect for visitors who want to be within walking distance of essential tourist spots yet avoid the Midtown crowds.” The hotel’s public spaces, including a “sleek rooftop lounge, pool deck, and sumptuous lobby bar” are “glamorous.”

And “despite the velvet ropes, the bar lacks the pretension of other equally beautiful lounges (for now at least),” writes the NYT, with “inspiring” views of the city. Plus, the room’s shower has a rain shower head and soft teak wood flooring; a pet concierge offers 400-thread-count beds for four-legged guests.

Lowlights: Though stylish, says the Times, the small rooms lacked basic items like a desk lamp and bath mat, with signs of wear prevalent. The “bathroom could have been better designed,” with everything falling onto the floor, sink, “or worse.” Though room service has plenty of offerings, it’s probably not worth overpriced items (think $15 eggs) and a $5 delivery charge. Yeah, that'll make you lose your appetite pretty quickly, if you ask us.

Bottom line: “While the Empire’s rooms could use some polishing, especially at $300 or so a night, the bars make it a serious contender for an entirely different kind of Fashion Week blowout,” concludes the Times. Rates start around $279 a night.

[Photo: Jessica Ebelhar/The New York Times]