The Alex Hotel Rating: 4.0 Pearls

Midtown East, Manhattan, New York City

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The lobby

Its non-descript, 33-story building (erected in 2004) sits on the border of two less-than thrilling neighborhoods Midtown East and Murray Hill. And yet, on the inside, the Alex's interiors feel distinctly downtown.

David Rockwell, renowned for his work on the W hotels and Nobu, designed the 203-room property. The lobby is pretty small, though it makes quite the impression with its fireplace and color-changing background lighting. Like the hotel itself, the hotel's Japanese-fusion restaurant, Riingo, attracts a quieter, business-oriented clientele -- you won't see any dancing on tables here.

With Pfizer and TIAA Cref just around the corner, and the United Nations is just a couple of blocks away at 46th Street and First Avenue, The Alex is an attractive option for business travelers. But leisure travelers can also find much to like about the hotel -- its large suites; its in-room kitchens; its top-notch bath products; and, from time to time, rates that dip far below comparable hotels.

The front desk

Service is, on the whole, prompt and attentive. In my case, the second I walked up to the hotel a doorman greeted me, helped me with my bag, and directed me to the front desk, where a clerk was ready to input my information -- no hassles. Unlike at some of the larger business hotels in the neighborhood, a porter was on hand and ready to help me to my room. Housekeeping responded to a request for extra bath products in about five minutes. The concierge was incredibly helpful, even when it came to less-common inquiries such as the closest Dunkin Donuts and New York's best, cheapest nail salons.

Because the hotel is so close to the United Nations, it gets a lot of diplomats and other prominent foreign guests. For that reason, security is tight. Not only is there a guard on-duty 24/7 in the lobby by the elevators, but there are only two entrances/exits to the hotel and both are monitored by a surveillance camera. Hotel employees also undergo extremely thorough background checks.

View on a Larger Map

Unlike more centrally located Midtown hotels, the Alex is about a 10-minute walk east of Grand Central Station; the next closest subway line is the 6 at 51st Street and Lexington Avenue (seven blocks away). The hotel is a few blocks from the United Nations, and its top floors provide excellent views of that building, the East River, and Midtown landmarks like the Chrysler Building.

Midtown East is where many New Yorkers come to work. Iconic skyscrapers -- the Chrysler Building and the Seagram Building -- dominate the skyline. On the ground, plenty of delis and Starbucks cafes feed the cubicle occupants. Nightlife is scarce, but excellent, typically pricey, cuisine is always within walking distance. On its western border, Fifth Avenue is home to shopping icons like Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co., along with high-end flagships like Gucci and Versace. Madison Avenue, one block east of Fifth Avenue, is also dotted with designer boutiques.

The area lacks the residential quaintness of the Upper West Side, and most insider haunts are found farther downtown in areas like SoHo or the West Village. But subway access is ample, making it easy to venture anywhere in the city. Plus, the 24-hour, tourist-focused chaos of Times Square and the Theater District is just a long walk, short taxi, or brief subway ride away.

Deluxe Room

In the standard room (the Deluxe King), there's an open closet built into the wall, a desk area with a series of vertical shelves, and a 29-inch Sharp Aquos flat-screen TV across from the oh-so-comfortable king bed (covered in Frette linens and a choice of down and hypo-allergenic pillows). The television is connected to stereo speakers that, in my room, sounded pretty fuzzy. On the bright side, the TV has DirecTV satellite, meaning there are a lot of cable channels to choose from. Six HBOs plus new-release movies on demand.

Even cooler, there’s a small LCD TV in the bathroom next to the sink. This meant that I could watch SportsCenter while showering in the morning -- snazzy. The rainfall showerhead makes the experience even more pleasant, as do the fantastic shampoo and conditioner from L'Occitane. The only drawback is the lack of body lotion, but housekeeping brought me some with no problem.

The mini-bar includes a plethora of delicious snacks from New York gourmet purveyor Dean and Deluca, ranging from $9 to $12. I was able to get Wi-Fi for $15/day (a high-speed plug-in connection is also available for the same price).

My seventh-floor room didn't have much of a view; I looked out onto an inner courtyard filled with pipes and HVACS, and even late into the night I could hear people swearing from either the building next door or perhaps Third Avenue. Management later told me that guests who stay for more than one night are (not surprisingly) given the rooms with the best views and most light. Regardless of how long you’re staying: Request a street-facing room.

Of the hotel's 203 rooms, 130 are suites that include luxe amenities like Poggenpohl kitchens, Sub-Zero refrigerators, and Miele dishwashers. I was able to check out a one-bedroom suite (these range from 500-700 square feet) and a two-bedroom penthouse suite (800 square feet). Each was more stylish and comfortable than any New York apartment I’ve ever visited; I can’t imagine a more splendid space for an extended hotel stay. The hotel also has studio suites that range from 280-360 square feet.

The gym

There is free Wi-Fi in the hotel's small but charming lobby. It costs $15/day in guest rooms. There is also free Internet access and printing in the business center. Above Riingo there is a stylish meeting room, but its capacity only reaches 30 people.

There’s a huge, 24-hour fitness center on the third floor (accessed by the in-room key card). Equipped with Life Fitness cardio machines -- all with personal TVs and DVD players -- as well as weight machines, dumb bells, and yoga mats, the fitness center is one of the best on-site facilities in the city. The only things missing are exercise balls (to which I’m partial), but the fresh fruit and reading material softened the blow.

The hotel does not have a spa on site, but guests can request in-room treatments from an off-site provider. I also noticed that I had the option to order full-size bath products via a card on my door.

Two Bedroom Penthouse Suite

As much as I liked my Deluxe King room, even ‘’I’’ found there were a lot of sharp edges to bang into and electronic devices that would be easy to mess up; in child-parlance these are rooms for looking, not touching. Furthermore, Deluxe Kings do not have room for cots, and the hotel’s only restaurant, the Japanese-themed Ringo, does not exactly scream “kid-friendly.”

On the other hand, many of the hotel’s larger suites are more spacious, and feature living rooms with couches and kitchens with huge refrigerators and great cooking appliances. For families with older kids, these could be a great option.

About five different housekeepers knocked on my door over the course of my stay -- one to offer turn-down service, and four to ask if wanted a morning tidy-up -- so it's clear the hotel is well-maintained. I only noticed one room service tray when I headed out to the elevator, and it was gone by the time I returned half an hour later. I found my room to be spotless, as were all common areas.

Riingo restaurant

The Alex has one restaurant, Riingo, which serves up “Japanese-American” cuisine. ("Riingo" is Japanese for "apple." I didn’t misspell the Beatles drummer's name.) Opened by celebrity-chef Marcus Samuelsson, the restaurant started out with some mixed reviews in 2004, but has come a long way since. The space is interesting -- the double-height wall is covered in a repeating projection of birthday candles -- and the menu is inventive, but the food was a bit on the bland side, with the exception of a zesty mixed greens salad ($10). Then again, I didn't go for signature items like beer-braised short ribs ($15) or foie gras sushi ($8/piece).

For less adventurous (or more cost-conscious) diners, there are ample restaurants in the neighborhood, like the well-reviewed Comfort Diner. There's also a gourmet market on 45th Street, a deli on the corner of Second Avenue, and countless restaurants stretching in both directions along both Second and Third Avenues.

New York City 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 15-25 percent.

To save some cash, try the group shuttles like Super Shuttle that are available at all three airports for about $14/person. You 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.