HotelChatter

First up, the lobby. Palatial and all-white, it boasts high ceilings, wood and marble accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing out to the street. When you walk in, there is a generous lounge area in the center, with check-in on the left, and Peacock Alley Lobby Bar on the far right.

The feel of the lobby is glamorous, but it's uncluttered, with smooth textures and a more minimalist decor than, say, Waldorf-Astoria New York. Of course, this is still Waldorf-Astoria: so part of the design features an impressive web-like wood panel that runs up the walls and wraps a portion of the ceiling ceiling from one end of the lobby to the next.

The hotel has four restaurants: Peacock Alley, (standard for all Waldorf-Astoria properties all over the globe), Ginger (a sushi restaurant and lounge), Brio Brasserie, an all-day restaurant, and Bungalow Terrace on the seventh floor, which is also where you'll find the hotel's rectangular, gold-tiled outdoor pool and spa.

As for the rooms, we took a peek at a ninth floor suite, which pleasantly surprised us with plenty of space, as well as an open minibar (why hide it?) installed at one end of a wooden counter that offered lots of counter space and drawers for putting away clothes. The glass-top desk next to the window was a nice touch, too. Inside the bathroom, we found Ferragamo toiletries and a stand-alone tub.

Also nice was the shimmering gold centerpiece above the headboard, which matched the golden tones of the room. Just like the lobby, the suite struck a perfect balance between classy and minimalist.

As we mentioned before, the hotel officially opens this Friday, with rates starting at $178/night.

[Photos: HotelChatter]