60 Thompson — Hotel Review Rating: 4.0 Pearls

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Oyster Hotel Review

Reporter: William B.
Updated: December 7, 2009

 Scene

Although SoHo's shopping certainly draws hordes of locals and tourists alike, the area only has a few hotels. Most of them -- The Mercer, SoHo Grand, and 60 Thompson -- are stylish, expensive, and popular with celebrities and executives from the fashion and entertainment industries. Hotels in Times Square and Midtown East fit right in with their skyscraper neighbors, and SoHo is no different. Here they blend in with the neighborhood's mix of restaurants, cafés, upscale boutiques, and apartments.

The hotel attracts a young, well-heeled crowd. Until the economic downturn, rooms rarely went for less than $500; now deals can occasionally be had for as low as $239 or $279, but the moment the economy improves, you can be sure the hotel will quickly jump back to its exclusive rates. Even in these down periods, it still gets away with having an exclusive members-only club -- the rooftop bar, A60 -- to which only card-carrying VIPs (and hotel guests) are granted access.

In a city in which the hottest new club or restaurant is lucky to have a six-month shelf life before reinvention is necessary, 60 Thompson has managed to stay relevant for more than seven years through discreet, accommodating service, stylish (but never flashy) rooms, and a restaurant and two bars that are able to back up their attitude and exclusivity with high-quality products.

 Celebrity Sightings

Kirsten Dunst is reputedly the hotel's No. 1 fan and has often been spotted partying during the week at Thom Bar and A60. Thom Bar also made a recent appearance on an episode of MTV's The City when Diane von Furstenberg hosted a fashion week after-party there. In general, the hotel is known as a favorite hangout for models.

The hotel also had a starring role in the recent Steven Soderbergh movie "The Girlfriend Experience", which depicts a few days in the life of a high-class New York City escort. Guess where she entertains her clients? 60 Thompson's sister property, Gild Hall, which is also featured in the movie.

 Service

When I entered the ground floor foyer where the concierge desk is located, the doorman asked my name and radioed it ahead to the front desk before taking my bags.

Greeted by name upon approaching the front desk, my paperwork was already out and ready for me to complete. The service just rolled on from there. The concierge made dinner reservations for me and mapped out my route on a discreet, non-touristy map. Housekeeping brought me fresh, warm towels within minutes of requesting them. The doorman even gave me an umbrella on an overcast day. Service was attentive and attitude-free, without being overbearing.

 Location

The hotel looks onto the old tenements and loft-style buildings that make the area so iconic. By night, there are plenty of great dining options, bars, and lounges nearby.

In terms of transportation, taxis are everywhere and the 1, A,C, and E subway lines are all within three short blocks of the hotel.

 Airport Transportation

New York has three nearby airports: JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Flying into JFK or LaGuardia is typically easiest and the least time-consuming. From JFK, it's a one-hour, $45 flat-rate taxi ride to anywhere in Manhattan. From LaGuardia, it's about a 30-minute, $40 metered cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 (plus tolls), and can take more than 90 minutes. Don't forget to tip your driver 15 percent to 25 percent.

To save some cash, guests can try the group shuttles that are available at all three airports for about $14 per person. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. People can also take public transit from any of the airports for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairs. For mass-transit directions right to the hotel, check out HopStop.com.

 Rooms

My 300-square-feet queen superior room -- the cheapest room at the hotel with a queen-size bed, rather than the superior king -- was spacious enough to fit a minimalist beige couch in front of the window. That's saying a lot for an N.Y.C. boutique, where most rooms are only about 200 square feet. Although the beige carpet appeared to be a little worn, the light wood dressers, dark-wood-and-metal nightstands, and suede paneling above the simple black headboard were all in pristine condition, creating a mood that was at once understated and incredibly chic.

The neutral look of the bedroom was contrasted by the rich, dark brown marble bathroom. The gray mosaic tile floors were utterly luxurious, if a little cramped, but I was a bit put off by the cheap plastic showerheads.

Gauzy white curtains covered the soaring, 5-foot-high windows that open inward. These could potentially create a very dangerous situation for small children or those with vertigo, as there are no screens or safety gates. The windows also tilt inward from the top so as to allow for air to come in, but nothing to fall out.

In addition to an iPod dock and 32-inch LG flat-screen TV, other cool amenities include a stocked mini-bar from famous N.Y.C. gourmet grocer Dean & Deluca, a cozy Sferra robe, and an assortment of Kiki de Montparnasse Intimacy Kits.

Rooms come in a variety of different configurations. There are 18 superior kings (300 to 325 square feet) and 27 deluxe kings (325 to 350 square feet), which cost $20 to $40 more than superiors. There are also 10 double deluxe rooms (380 square feet with two double beds). There are also 12 suites, ranging from 500 to 1,800 square feet, that cost $575 and up. Way up.

 Features

The subterranean gym is small and dark, but includes a few new cardio machines (treadmill, bike, and elliptical) that each have a personal video screen. There are also free weights, but not much else. I opted for a run along nearby Hudson River Park to see a bit of the city.

The hotel doesn't have a business center, but it provides printing and faxing services at the front desk to guests who need them.

 Family

Don't get me wrong -- I'm sure they wouldn't turn away the Jolie-Pitt brood or anything -- but the Thompson brand doesn't exactly go out of its way to cater to kids. Rooms are very precisely designed, and they often don't have space for an unsightly cot. Not to mention the fancy TVs, sharp-edged furniture, and drawers full of sex toys. Furthermore, upscale Thai food isn't exactly kid-friendly. Yes, the 850-square-foot Thompson suite has a king bed, sleeper sofa, and two bathrooms, but at an average of $1,000 or more per night, it isn't exactly an economical option.

 Cleanliness

My check-in was delayed a bit because the head of housekeeping had to personally inspect my room before allowing me into it. He did an excellent job; the room was spotless. It goes without saying that the high-end bars and restaurant are held to a similarly exacting standard.

 Food

Well-reviewed and considered one of the finest Asian restaurants in the city, Kittichai presents a modern take on Thai classics with dishes like baby back ribs with chocolate and Thai spices, and monkfish with hearts of palm and ginger curry.

The dark, stylish dining room is anchored by a large reflective pool accented with floating candles and lily pads. At $30, the little-known, three-course pre-theater dinner menu is a steal! It's served from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is also a $20 prix-fixe lunch menu.

 Drinks

On the second floor near the front desk, Thom Bar's minimalist, dark-wood interior is set off by its illuminated top-shelf liquor bottles. An attractive, black-clad staff serves $15 cocktails and tasty bar bites from hotel restaurant Kittichai. The bar, which I recently spotted on an episode of MTV's The City, stays open daily till 2 a.m.

Super-exclusive A60 sits atop the 13th floor (it's too cool to be superstitious) and offers incredible views of downtown Manhattan. Closed in wintertime, the rooftop is ringed with cool white cushions and landscaped shrubs. It's only open to card-carrying "members" (read: celebrities, fashion types, and other bold-named scenesters) and hotel guests, so for the price of a room you just might gain access to some of the best celebrity-gawking in Manhattan. Be forewarned: The bar is often closed for private parties. No matter, New York magazine still named it one of the city's best rooftop bars.

 Bottom Line

A 100-room boutique with an inventive design, attentive service, a chic restaurant, and an exclusive rooftop bar, 60 Thompson epitomizes swank, SoHo hip. Its location amidst prime shopping, dining, and all-night debauchery helps keep it at the top of the cool meter.