The Lucerne Rating: 3.5 Pearls

Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City

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.

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 has valet parking and self-parking for daily fees.

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.

• Superior (standard) rooms come with Queen, Double, and King size beds. At 150 square feet, the rooms are quite a bit smaller than most N.Y.C. hotel rooms, but they are spaced out so that they don't feel impossibly cramped. Upgrades to deluxe rooms mean more space per person, and additional seating.
• Two-room suites feature kitchenettes, microwaves, and fine china.
• Each room comes with down feather pillows, but guests can request to swap them for microfiber pillows.
• Flat-screen TVs have free HBO. On-demand movies and a Nintendo game system are availble for an extra fee.
• Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms
• For more old-fashioned New York entertainment, the hotel offers free copies of USA Today and the New York Times.
• Bathrooms have Temple Spa products. Tubs come with bath mats and a handle -- a thoughtful touch for guests with mobility concerns.
• CD players and alarm clocks in every room
• iPod docking station
• Coffeemaker and Wolfgang Puck coffees available upon request.

Well-maintained gym

• Fitness center with free weights, strength machines, and a variety of stationary cardio equipment. Each machine has its own flat-screen TV.
• An in-house spa that provides hot stone massages, facials and foot treatments. In-room massages and facials are also available.
• A business center decorated like a cozy library, with PC terminals, and a printer, fax machine, and telephone.
• 24-hour room service
• 1,000-square-foot meeting room space on the penthouse floor that can accommodate 50 people.
• 24-hour concierge

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.

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, and Lucerne guests are awarded a 15 percent discount on breakfast at Nice Matin. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Nice Matin provides room service 24 hours a day
• Nearby, there are ample other dining options within walking distance. Among the standouts is Ouest, a restaurant run by celebrity chef Tom Valenti.