Hotel Gansevoort — Hotel Review Rating: 4.0 Pearls

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Oyster Hotel Review

Reviewer: Corina Z.
Updated: May 12, 2010

 Scene

Back in 2004, the opening of the 14-floor Gansevoort signaled an important moment in the Meatpacking District's transformation from a prostitute-cruising locale to a style-conscious enclave full of bottle-service clubs, Sex and the City-filmed-here bistros, and the Alexander McQueen boutique. Five years later, the Hotel Gansevoort may no longer be the in spot -- that distinction probably belongs to the newer Standard or Bowery Hotel these days -- but the 187-room hotel is no flash in the pan, either; it is now riding the downward slope of its buzz curve with grace.

The key to Gansevoort's success: backing up the hype with substantive amenities. Beneath the hotel's flashy light-changing exterior, guests find sizable, luxurious rooms with free Wi-Fi and HBO, 24-hour room service, and the much-talked-about rooftop pool, which is as thrilling for families as for fashion-conscious 25-year-olds. By night, the disco-lit lobby is filled with the clicking heels of young, short-skirted women accompanying their black-blazered boyfriends to the rooftop pool. An occasional celebrity might still wander by, hide out in the duplex penthouse, or get carded at the restaurant. But the next morning, it's the 10-and-under set splashing around in the rooftop pool while lifeguards round up the floaties.

That's not to say Gansevoort's lost any of its carefully cultivated sex appeal -- the hotel's own acid-jazzy CD compilations, extravagant 400-thread-count sheets, and sexy bathroom lighting attest to that. But this is a hotel that might just be maturing with age, along with its customer base.

 Service

Battling the all-style-no-substance stereotype, Hotel Gansevoort ratchets up its service. If a guest falls ill or reports a toothache, the 24-hour concierge will actually contact the hotel's own doctor or dentist. (I was a little disappointed, however, to see the concierge desk empty when I went down around 11 p.m.)

Although staff is highly professional, meticulous, and slightly formal with guests, the service is also distinctly different in tone from what you get at the stately old New York luxury hotels. Instead of white gloves and cap, the doormen sport what can only be described as a sexy doorman look: crisp white button-down shirt open at the collar and tucked into slimly tailored black pants. Housekeeping comes twice a day, including the evening turndown service (when it leaves behind a card detailing tomorrow's weather report -- a nice touch).

At a guest's request, a Nintendo Wii, PlayStation, or PSP will be delivered to rooms at no additional cost. Toiletries like toothbrushes, razors, and combs are free, while certain sundries (contact-lens solution, dental floss, AA batteries) are available for an additional fee, as are services like garment pressing, shoe shining, and tailoring.

 Location

The Gansevoort is located in Manhattan's cobblestone-paved Meatpacking District, a subsection made up of the far northern and western blocks of the West Village and bordered by Chelsea to the north. Once home to hundreds of slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants and, more recently, a disproportionate amount of the city's illicit sexual activity, the area has in the past decade been transformed into a trend-conscious enclave full of bottle-service clubs, Sex and the City-filmed-here bistros, and designer boutiques like Alexander McQueen, La Perla, and Christian Louboutin.

The location is ideal for exploring the neighborhood clubs -- say, checking out the DJs at Cielo or celebrity-spying at Tenjune.

Because of the heavy nightlife traffic, the area is a safe place to roam -- but expect weekend nights in particular to be packed with boisterous and sometimes inebriated partyers, many of them daytripping from New Jersey and Long Island. During the day the neighborhood is much mellower, perfect for window-shopping and people-watching from the new High Line park or one of the many bistros and cafes with sidewalk seating.

 Rooms

This is not one of those places where an ultra-cool lobby tries to distract you from essentially ordinary rooms. Yes, the Gansevoort's got the ultra-cool lobby, but the rooms have much to recommend them as well. Even the lowest-priced guest room, the approximately 250-square-foot Superior, boasts 400-thread-count sheets on a king or queen bed, toiletries by model-frequented New York salon Cutler, and an iLuv hi-fi audio system with an iPod dock and four-CD disc changer, playing the hotel's own acid-jazz CD compilations.

I could list what made the bed here so plush -- 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens encasing a featherbed and goose-down pillows and duvet -- but it needs to be experienced to be believed. It was hard not to lie down for more than a few minutes without falling asleep. And a convenient switch next to the bed lets you control the window shades without getting up.

I received a free upgrade from the 250-square-foot Superior to the 300-square-foot Grand Deluxe, which had a sweet bay-windowed alcove with a sleeper sofa and a great view of 9th Avenue. For those who can swing a suite, the 435-square-foot Gansevoort and the 500-square-foot Manhattan boast additional living rooms, Ionic breeze machines, and 42-inch plasma TVs.

While the flat-screen TV in my Grand Deluxe room was a bit small -- 23 inches instead of the 30 inches mentioned on the website) -- it did offer free HBO among its 40-plus channels. And Nintendo Wii, PlayStation, or PSP game consoles can be delivered to rooms at no additional cost. (A minor complaint: The Wii I asked for came with only one game: (Madden NFL).

And this is a new one, at least to me: The lights in the bathroom have a setting that -- I kid you not -- throws a spotlight on the bathtub.

 Features

No question, the Gansevoort's guests-only, 45-foot-long rooftop pool remains its most distinctive asset. It's just around 4 feet deep, but it's heated, open 365 days a year, and has an underwater sound system. And the novelty of swimming among the rooftops of Manhattan never seems to wear thin.

Drinking among the rooftops holds up pretty well, too. Five years after it opened, the Gansevoort's rooftop lounge, Plunge, continues to pull in a nightly parade of short-skirted and high-heeled 20- and 30-something women and their male counterparts. The view is great, of course, but at $15 to $16 per cocktail, you do pay for it.

In an attempt to keep up with Meatpacking District nightlife, the hotel has replaced once-hip Ono restaurant with a lounge and garden area called Provocateur. The lighting is dim, the banquettes are purple, and the roof retracts in warm weather.

Off to the side of the lobby, the 24-hour business center offers free Internet surfing and printing. But with just two computers and printers, expect an occasional wait.

The Gansevoort's spa is reopening as Exhale Spa, offering a full menu of treatments and on-the-go services, such as manicures, waxing, and body scrubs. The striking infinity-edge whirlpools and the lounge featured in the spa's previous incarnation will remain. Exhale is also adding a 1,500-square-foot fitness studio for daily yoga, Pilates, and conditioning classes.

Guests can still use the 24-hour, guest-only fitness center for free. It's small but adequately equipped with elliptical machines, treadmills, bikes, strength-training machines, and a gigantic flat-screen TV. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any windows.

 Pet-Friendly

The Gansevoort will let guests bring pets of any size or type for a per-stay fee of $100. Pets are not allowed at the rooftop pool or lounge or in the restaurant or bar. The hotel website mentions "complimentary pet amenities" like a collar tag and Barking Zoo treats and toys -- but they don't seem so complimentary if you're paying $100.

 Cleanliness

With twice-a-day housekeeping service, the rooms here can't get much cleaner. I found no dust, mildew, or mold anywhere. The pool was well maintained, as were the common areas and restaurant.

 Family

Though it doesn't market itself as such, the Gansevoort is one of the most family-friendly hotels I've visited -- everything from diapers and bottle warmers to larger items like infant bathtubs and strollers (as well as more common cribs) are available free of charge. Rollaways, on the other hand, are not offered.

And families do book here. I talked with a woman from Brooklyn who chose the Gansevoort for a fun grandmother-granddaughter bonding experience. With kids, a rooftop pool sells itself.

Pay-per-view offerings include programs from Disney Channel and PBS Kids on Demand ($8.95 each), and the 40-odd free channels include Nickelodeon and Toon Disney Channel. PlayStations, Wiis, and PSPs can also be borrowed free of charge. (The hotel also advertises bikes available for free use -- but stocks only two Pumas.)

The children's menu features kid-friendly standards like chicken fingers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese, and cookies and milk. Prices range from $9 to $13.

At about 250 square feet, even the smallest rooms can accommodate a crib. And several other room classes come with sofa beds.

 Food

Tanuki Tavern, a Japanese "gastropub" (one of those trendy joints that takes its menu of bar food very seriously), opened in October 2009.

The Gansevoort offers 24-hour room service, but between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. the more limited menu consists mostly of sandwiches and snacks. The hotel serves fantastic La Colombe coffee, but the $16 waffle I ordered with it tasted rubbery. There's something to be said for the pleasure of enjoying breakfast in your bay-window nook overlooking the city -- but you'd be better off at Pastis, the French bistro just across the street.

 Bottom Line

This 187-room Meatpacking District hotel is more than its lauded rooftop pool -- guests also score luxe 400-thread-count bedding and cool Cutler toiletries, plus free Wiis, HBO, and Wi-Fi. The nightly parade of clubhoppers outside the door can grow tiresome -- but if that's your scene, the proximity to so many excellent restaurants and bars is hard to beat.