Tag: w hotels

View All Tags

/ / / / / / / /

The Saddest Cupcakes That Ever Graced A Hotel Bar

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 201 PARK AVENUE SOUTH [map], New York, NY, United States, 10003
February 7, 2012 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

We showed up to a pre-Fashion Week party last night at W Union Square and, as usual with these types of events, made a beeline for the bar. Planning on ordering a quick cocktail, we then noticed something that made us chuckle. At one end of the bar on a silver tray were rows of mini cupcakes—thick with icing, delicious looking, and virtually untouched.

But what else did we expect? This is Fashion Week, after all, where anything more than a stick of celery is considered an indulgence.

Not that these sugar bombs put a damper on anyone's fun. Indeed, with guest appearances by DJ Chelsea Leyland, W Global Fashion Director Jenné Lombardo, and man-about-town Waris Ahluwalia, the music was loud and the paparazzi bulbs were a-flashin'. Boy, were we glad for that drink.

more ›

/ / / / / /

The W Dallas is Krawling with Kardashians

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 2440 Victory Park Lane [map], Dallas, TX, United States, 75219
January 30, 2012 at 1:07 PM | by | Comment (1)

The Gansevoort Park was so Kim's last failed marriage ago! The new place to find your fave Kardashians is now the W Dallas Hotel & Residences where Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom are renting a two-bedroom penthouse condo.

Naturally, where there's one Kardashian, there's always at least a couple of more visiting. That's what happened last week when Khloe was visited by Kim, Kourtney and mom Kris. Later on, brother, Krobert, er, we mean, Robert arrived and the fam headed to watch Lamar play for his new team, the Dallas Mavericks.

Since there probably wasn't enough room for the rest of the Kardashians in Khloe and Lamar's apartment, we're gonna go ahead and presume they grifted booked the best suite in the hotel which is the E-WOW Suite which includes 1,323 square feet of space on the 15th floor, a master bedroom and bath, a dining table for six, a wet bar, kitchen, living room and a 60" plasma screen TV, good for watching the Kourtney and Kim Take New York marathons on E!

more ›

/ / / /

Going Dutch at the W South Beach

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 2201 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139
January 19, 2012 at 2:43 PM | by | Comments (0)

Back in October we noted that the W South Beach would be doing away with their Solea restaurant and installing The Dutch, an oyster bar, from NYC chef Andrew Carmellini. (This is actually the second Dutch location after NYC.)

But when we popped into the restaurant last week, we were salivating to see that Carmellini has imported one of our favorite dishes from his other NYC hotel, Locanda Verde at the Greenwich Hotel. That's right we're talking about the heavenly sheep's milk ricotta served with grilled bread ($14).

more ›

/ / / /

Now You Can Get Hollywood Hair With SoFla Views, At the W Fort Lauderdale

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 401 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard [map], Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States, 33304
January 16, 2012 at 11:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

No hot SoFla hotel is complete without a sleek salon doling out sleek tresses, so it was inevitable that the W Fort Lauderdale would join the blowout set. And it comes with serious A-list cred, as the beachfront property is the proud new location of a Ted Gibson Salon.

For anyone who doesn't know, Gibson is the kind of hairstylist who's always in demand at events like last night's Golden Globes. You may have also seen him work his magic on What Not to Wear.

more ›

/ / / / /

The Coolest Part Of W Union Square's New Bar Is On The Ceiling

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 201 PARK AVENUE SOUTH [map], New York, NY, United States, 10003
January 10, 2012 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

Last June, W Union Square closed its underground bar (suitably named Underbar) in order to re-launch an entirely new concept in the same space. Six months later, W unveiled Lilium, a black-and-gold accented nightclub with a moderate-size dance floor and video art that loops on a flat-screen behind the bar.

But beyond the giant bubble chandelier in the foyer, and the Todd English-prepared small plates offered, by far the most interesting touch here are the hand-sculpted steel lilies that adorn the ceiling like some sort of gilded cave of forgotten dreams. Artist Scot Brown used over 4,000 lbs of steel to create the effect, and along the walls, he etched the contours of yet more lilies, which are then illuminated against the dark steel by fluorescent lights. Scroll down to see the lilies in their everlasting bloom!

more ›

/ / / / / / /

W Downtown Warms Up New Yorkers The Only Way It Knows How: Free Hot Chocolate

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 123 Washington St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10006-1509
January 5, 2012 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

New York most definitely was getting too cold for us yesterday, when we found ourselves strolling through lower Manhattan, near the 9/11 memorial. So cold, in fact, that we made an impulse decision to go hide out in the W Downtown for a few minutes, seeing as the crowds on a Wednesday afternoon were minimal.

The hotel's relative emptiness also worked in our favor when we got up to the fifth-floor Living Room bar and noticed, to our sheer delight, the bar was offering free cups of hot chocolate. And not, like, a one-cup-per-person deal. It was self-serve. And it was gooood!

Tucked in a corner at one end of the bar was a small thermal dispenser, surrounded by candles, as well as a small placard that read: "Yummy hot chocolate! Enjoy!" So we did.

more ›

/ / / /

Worst Hotel Hype of 2011: W Paris Opera

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 4 rue Meyerbeer, Paris, France, 75009
December 29, 2011 at 10:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

It's what you've been waiting all year for--The 2011 HotelChatter Awards! We'll be bringing you the best and worst of the year all day today and part of tomorrow. Agree or disagree with our picks? Air your thoughts in comments below.

There are several hotels we could call out for hyping themselves up without actually delivering anything to us devoted hotel guests in 2011. Like Thompson's Belgraves Hotel in London which is now opening February 1. But we expect delays from Thompson just as much as we expect celebrities to frequent their hotel lounges.

Back in NYC, the Dream Downtown certainly took forever to open but it's now one of the hottest places to stay (and swim) so that lengthy wait was worth it. We've also been waiting a long time for Virgin Hotels to take flight but we were satiated (for now) with their announcement of a Chicago hotel in 2013 (Ugh.)

And we can't even get started on Edition Hotels which managed to open only one other hotel in 2011 before losing its flag at the Edition Waikiki bringing the total of open and operating Edition Hotels back to one.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Making Last-Minute Plans This New Year's Eve? Here's Where To Party

December 28, 2011 at 2:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

The champagne is chilled. The DJs are finalizing their playlists. Your sequined outfit is hanging up in your bedroom closet. Now, all you have to do is figure out exactly what you're in the mood for. New Year's Eve is this Saturday night, and though guest lists are filling up quickly, these hotels still have openings. So whether it's a masquerade ball or a tequila tasting or a circus-themed soiree, we guarantee you'll find what you're looking for below.

For people who like to dress up

When The Americano sent us the menu for their new restaurant back in November, we salivated over the "Latin fare with a French flair"-inspired menu (Chile Rellenos, $10; Turbot (flatfish) a la Plancha, $27; Poulet Fermier, $26). Though chef Oliver Reginensi is supposedly moving onto NYC's Le Cirque, he's sticking around long enough to put together a lavish feast for the New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball (above). Choose between a three-course dinner ($95) or a four-course dinner ($200). The first comes with a glass of champagne, the second comes with a whole bottle of Moet a Deux. Take your pick. Afterwards, everyone will take to the lower level for a big ol' dance party.

more ›

/ / / / /

W New York's Christmas Tree Spells It Out

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 541 Lexington Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10022
December 23, 2011 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

...And the award for most literal Christmas decorations in a hotel goes to the W New York. Walking into the lobby, it's a little tinsel tree and a few metallic mosaic tchotchkes all around, but go straight ahead and you'll see it: a TREE. No, really.

Their faux Christmas tree vertically spells out "T R E E." Sure, at first we just thought it was an awkwardly cube-shaped tree as W's attempt to be edgy, but it's so much more than that. It's...letters. Hmm.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Are Hotels Becoming The Next Rock 'n Roll Venues?

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 515 15th St Nw [map], WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, 20004
December 21, 2011 at 9:07 AM | by | Comments (0)

Yesterday, the widely-read indie music blog Stereogum published a second installment of their new "Stereogum x W Hotel Suite Session" video series, which features up-and-coming bands performing at a W Hotel of their choice. No fans, no stage, not even any fancy lighting or effects. Just a regular old rock band taking over a regular old hotel room—and making you wish you could be snuggled up in bed for a front row seat.

But this isn't the first time we've seen this. Back in April, Aloft hotels were running a near identical partnership with Pitchfork called the Video Surveillance Series, where the "footage" was made to look as though it "caught" the bands in action. Same idea, different effect.

And while the trend is certainly proving a success, we have to ask: what's going on here? Is this the next generation of live music? Will bands eventually give up on the traditional venues and just embark on national chain hotel tours?

more ›

/ / / /

The W Paris to Open on Valentine's Day With Pink Bubbly and Steep Room Rates

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 4 rue Meyerbeer, Paris, France, 75009
December 16, 2011 at 3:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

We've been waiting so long for the W Paris to open that we nearly forgot its newest opening date was just two months away! And reminding us that we're almost there is HOTELS Magazine who managed to get a sneak peek at a guestroom and an intriguing backlit digital wall that weaves through the public and private spaces of the hotel.

Kinda hard to believe, but the W Paris will be the first W Hotel in France and will have just 91 guestrooms, including 22 suites, making it more boutique, in terms of it size, than recent W hotels. Judging from this room shot, the spaces will have high ceilings, non-fugly carpeting and gorgeous city views but also, very open bathroom plans as the sink is only separated from the bedroom by a mirror partition. Hopefully, the toilette is enclosed somewhere.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

Kristen Wiig Got Lucky In A Booth At The W

Go To The Hotel's Web 
  Site Where: 201 Park Avenue South [map], New York, NY, United States, 10003
December 9, 2011 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

With all this talk of the holidays, it's easy to forget hotels are good for something other than just pretty lights, cakes and Christmas trees: random hook-ups! And no one, not even a fully-fledged movie star like Kristen Wiig, is above a passionate night of making out in a hotel bar.

Photographers caught Wiig at the W Union Square earlier this week, during an album release party for the Black Keys, casually making out with Fabrizio Moretti, The Strokes' drummer. OK, well, maybe not that casually. According to sources at the event, the two were "literally on top of each other" in a booth in the hotel's new basement club, Lilium (more on that later).

more ›