The Lucerne Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City

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Lobby Bar

Fronting the ornate red-stone building that towers over its immediate neighbors in Manhattan's Upper West Side, the 250-room Lucerne's entrance is often manned by two alert doormen and has an aura of quiet power. Inside, the hotel feels warm and secure, with its hibiscus flowers, red and gold Oriental-looking patterns, and quiet '80s pop songs like "Reminiscing" by Little River Band and Patti LaBelle's "On My Own," and "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin, from the "Top Gun" soundtrack.

The Lucerne takes its name from an alpine city in Switzerland -- though there isn't much of a Swiss vibe at the hotel, and the hotel is operated by the Empire Hotel Group, which manages a series of other mid-range New York hotels. The name speaks, vaguely, to a more traditional, European aesthetic, exemplified by the tapestries flanking the entrance and the lobby's intricately patterned upholstery.

Front Desk

Service is impressive, and the staffers appear to genuinely enjoy their work. Doormen are always standing by to hail a taxi, check-in and checkout are a breeze (even at peak hours), porters are on-hand, and the phrase "yes, sir" abounds. When the doorman held the door for me, I uttered an involuntary "thank you, sir" myself.

I tested the concierge, and his romantic dining recommendation -- Ouest, from celebrity chef Tom Valenti -- was a solid recommendation. Though the restaurant gets some high-profile guests, like former first ladies Laura and Barbara Bush, he had no trouble making an 8 p.m. reservation. For drinks, the concierge was able to recommend several nearby haunts, including Jake's Dilemma, which, he admitted, was kind of a "hole in the wall," but still fun, and sees such near-celebrities as former child actor Mason Reese.

Service requests were handled very quickly. My room service breakfast order arrived in 16 minutes, and a request for extra towels was fulfilled in 14 minutes. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

View on a Larger Map

The corner of West 79th Street and Amsterdam is at the slow-beating heart of the Upper West Side, an area comprised mostly of apartment buildings that could, with their doormen and front desks, be confused for luxury hotels. But excellent restaurants like Ouest are still close by, and there's still a fair smattering of night life, with popular local bars close by like Dive 75 and the Boat Basin, which features an enormous stone patio overlooking the Hudson river.

Plus, several of New York's vaunted museums are immediately accessible. The American Museum of Natural History is one block east, and the Children's Museum of Manhattan sits four blocks north of the Lucerne. A 20-minute walk through Central Park lands visitors at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subway access around the city is more limited here than in Midtown West over 30 blocks south. There's only a 1-line subway station at the end of the block on Broadway, and the B and C trains run at 81st Street and Columbus, about a 10-minute walk away.

The Lucerne offers valet parking for a steep $48 per day; self parking costs $34 per day.

The Superior Room

Rooms at the Lucerne take a traditional approach to opulence -- carved wood desks, heavy Persian-patterned drapes held open by tasseled ropes, and lightly gold-inflected wallpaper that creates a warm, welcoming mood. The resulting old-world, neoclassical vibe contrasts with that of rooms in more modern UWS hotels like On the Ave and Hotel Beacon. All rooms were renovated in April 2009, so they're in great condition.

The Lucerne offers Superior (standard) rooms with queen, double, and king beds. At 150 square feet, the rooms are quite a bit smaller than most N.Y.C. hotel rooms, but they don't feel impossibly cramped. Upgrades to deluxe rooms mean more space per person, and additional seating. Two-room suites, with kitchenettes, microwaves, and fine china, are also available.

In my Superior queen room (No. 1119), the bed was immaculate. I tossed aside the stiff, decorative fringed pillows for the softer white ones underneath and slept very comfortably in the smooth, soft sheets. Each room comes with down feather pillows, but guests can request to swap them for microfiber pillows. Noise from street traffic posed no problems on the 11th floor.

Looking at electronics, the 26-inch flat-screen TV had free HBO, but the reception was slightly fuzzy. The TV also sported on-demand movies and a Nintendo game system, both of which cost extra. Free Wi-Fi is available, and, for more old-fashioned New York entertainment, the hotel offers free copies of USA Today and the New York Times.

In the bathroom, the Temple Spa products were plentiful. The hotel even leaves a separate body-wash container on the shower's soap dish. Tubs come with bath mats and a handle -- a thoughtful touch for guests with mobility concerns. In my room, the shower head had great pressure.

I have only a few small issues with the room, all of which relate to technology. With the lamp plugged in, the desk provides only one outlet for a laptop. To charge up a phone or a camera, you'll have to use the outlets in the bathroom. The Sony CD player and alarm clock feel a bit outdated compared to the iHome iPod docking radios at most high-end New York hotels. Also, there is no phone at the desk, and the bedside phone isn't cordless. Deluxe rooms, however, have more outlets and a second phone.

Well-maintained gym

The gym features free weights as well as strength machines and a variety of stationary cardio equipment. Each machine has its own flat-screen TV. The space was immaculate, and flanked by an inviting bathroom. The hotel also offers an in-house spa that provides hot stone massages, facials and foot treatments. In-room massages and facials are also available.

Decorated like a cozy library, the business center is actually a comfortable place to get work done. Four PC terminals, flanked by dividers for a bit of privacy, line one wall. On the other side of the room, a printer, fax machine, and telephone were set into elegant wood shelving. The cloth-bound classic hardcovers on one shelf were a nice touch, though I would've preferred Shakespeare's tragedies over his histories (my editor would argue otherwise).

The penthouse floor features a 1,000-square-foot meeting room to accommodate 50 people, but that was under renovation during my visit. (Renovations have since been completed.)

The standard rooms are smaller here than at most New York hotels, and are really only designed for two people who can share a bed. But there are several double rooms available, and the Deluxe rooms offer considerably more space. The rooms are generally insulated from noise from other guests or street traffic. The hotel also provides cribs upon request, and babysitting services are available through the concierge.

As New York hotels go, the Lucerne is slightly more family-friendly -- in large part because of its Upper West Side location. New York's most family-friendly museums, like the the Museum of Natural History, and the Children's Museum of Manhattan are just a short walk away.

In the room, the carpets, desk, and other furnishings were free of spots, stains, and dust. The bathroom was near-spotless, save for a barely noticeable rust stain on the tub. The lobby, hallways, fitness center, and business center are all maintained at a very high standard of cleanliness. Barring the tub's minor blemish, the Lucerne was incredibly clean.

Ouest Restaurant

Nice Matin, a cozy, classy, French-intellectual-type restaurant and bar, rents space from The Lucerne and is accessible through the hotel's lobby. Contrasting a contemporary look with classic highlights, the bar and dining area are illuminated by two white, modernist versions of chandeliers, from which sprout incandescent bulbs hanging by short cords and the barstools are made of wood with riveted green leather seats. Meal prices range from about $16 for the Five-Napkin burger to a $25 daube of beef short ribs. Lucerne guests are awarded a 15 percent discount on breakfast at Nice Matin.

Nice Matin also provides room service 24 hours a day, and my breakfast order of Irish Oatmeal with raisins, dates, and banana arrived promptly.

Nearby, there are ample other dining options within walking distance. Among the standouts is Ouest, a restaurant run by celebrity chef Tom Valenti.