Well, we can start considering January 7th a national holiday because from now on because it marks the date of one of the most anticipated births in hip-hop history. If you haven’t checked your Twitter account or listened to the news in the past couple of days, then we’ll be the ones to tell you: Music power couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z welcomed their own pint-sized diva, Blue Ivy Carter, this past Saturday night. Sorry, Suri, your relevance just plummeted…because shortly after baby Blue’s birth in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital (where Jay-Z reportedly rented out an entire floor to ensure his growing family’s privacy), the Twittersphere exploded with congratulations from the couple’s famous friends, all wishing them and little Blue the best. And we bet some of those friends will soon be making trips to the Big Apple to visit the bouncing bundle of joy. But where are these celebs to stay? Don’t worry, Kanye, we found the perfect hotel for you. And you too, Gwyneth. We scoured the city and found hotels suited to each of the couple’s besties, no matter his or her style.
Kanye West: The Standard New York
Kanye is one of the couple’s closest friends. He really wanted Beyonce to win the VMA for “Best Female Video” in 2009 (causing quite a backlash from fans of Taylor Swift — and nice people in general) and he looked even more excited than Jay-Z when Beyonce announced her pregnancy at last year’s VMAs. So a visit from him is likely. But even if he makes an appearance in NYC to celebrate the birth of two of his best friends’ first child, he’ll also want to make an appearance on the party scene. Because everyone knows that Kanye West likes to party — he raps about it, talks about it, and most obviously, he does it — often. So our hotel winner for the rap icon is The Standard, a New York City icon. Our number one pick for the best NYC party hotel, The Standard is home to three extremely popular night spots: one casual (the Biergarten); one upscale (Living Room); and one that’s too cool for school (Boom Boom Room). The celebrity hotspot lounge, the Boom Boom Room closes to the public at 10 p.m. and becomes an ultra-exclusive members-only club with a “pre-made list.” Kanye’s been spotted there before and old habits die hard — we bet he’ll be there again.
Rihanna: Hotel Gansevoort
Though Rihanna has stayed at the midtown Gansevoort Park Avenue, our pick for the singer is it’s original, downtown sister, Hotel Gansevoort, located in the more cutting-edge Meatpacking District. (Plus, the Gansevoort Park has been cursed ever since Kris and Kim’s marriage died there.) The young, party-happy Rihanna would love the hotel’s location: It is just steps from high-end designer shops (like DvF and Stella McCartney) and serious nighttime spots — she could walk a few blocks to meet up with Kanye at The Standard. The disco-lit lobby has sleek modern furniture and the spacious rooms feature luxurious linens and sexy bathrooms are just Rihanna’s style. But best of all for Rihanna? The Gansevoort Hotel has a glamorous rooftop pool. A native of Barbados, Rihanna loves the ocean — she was once caught skinny-dipping, she likes to party in the waves, and over Christmas she was snapped joking around with her younger brother in the water. Well, there’s no beach in Manhattan, but the cool rooftop pool is the next best thing; RiRi can take a dip during the day and then return to the rooftop’s cool Plunge bar for some nighttime fun. And then “Aunty Rih,” as she called herself in a tweet, can visit “princess Carter” and the proud parents!
Gwyneth Paltrow: The London NYC
First of all, kudos to Gwyn for clearing up the baby name. (She was probably quick to do so to prove that Apple was not the first nor the last bizarre celebrity baby name). A good friend of Beyonce’s, Gwyneth tweeted her excitement over Blue’s birth and we can only hope that we’ll get to spot her in New York City soon, delivering her well wishes in person. We decided to put her up at the London, in case she’s a little bit homesick from her pad in the U.K. The Union Jack flies out front (next to a flag bearing the hotel’s name in a stylish font), framed maps of London adorn the lobby and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has two restaurants here. And if she’s worried she’ll pine for Chris and their tots, Apple and Moses, the home-y (yet luxurious) suites are spacious, with more than enough room for all four of them. Plus, the hotel’s Midtown West location puts guests just a short cab ride from Lenox Hill Hospital. Gwyneth may even run into some other celebs at the hotel on her way to visit Beyonce; Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, and Usher have all reportedly stayed at the London Hotel recently.
Russell Simmons: The St. Regis New York
As Baby Blue is now joining hip-hop royalty, it makes sense that hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons would send his congratulations to the proud parents. And as Russell spares no expense, he very well may visit Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Blue and stay in one of New York City’s most luxurious, most expensive, and most exclusive hotels — and in a fabulous suite to boot. So our hotel pick for Russell is the St. Regis, ranked by Oyster.com as the best luxury hotel in New York City. Even Russell (a known perfectionist) may find it difficult to find fault with the St. Regis. There are hotels, and then there are hotels — iconic, epitomizing structures that are more than the sum of their rooms and amenities. In a hotel, you sleep, and maybe eat or log a few miles on the treadmill, in order to work and/or play in New York City. A hotel, however, is a different stay. It’s a destination within a destination, a place where those who can afford to stay there experience a special slice of the city, and where those who can’t afford it visit anyway. And the St. Regis is a hotel. To make his stay as over-the-top as possible, Russell can book the massive Presidential Suite, with three bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a luxurious dining room.
Kelly Rowland: The Plaza
Former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland should only visit the happy family if she thinks they’ll let her past security. (The singer accidently let the sex of the baby slip a couple of months back.) But we doubt Beyonce and Jay-Z are the type to hold a grudge. Especially after Rowland reportedly made up for her red-carpet mishap by gifting baby Blue with a Swarovski crystal-studded baby bathtub, weighing in at 3,000 pounds. At over $5,000, it was an expensive apology…but now we’ve learned two things about Kelly Rowland that we didn’t before: She loves her friends (and doesn’t want to lose them over some word vomit!); and bathing in style is clearly important to her. That’s why our hotel pick for Kelly is The Plaza. Not only is The Plaza one of the most luxurious hotels in New York City — with 24-hour on-call butlers, a wine-inspired spa and a top-notch salon, and large Louis XIV-style rooms — but it is also home to the sexiest, most decadent bathrooms in the city. Even standard rooms have bedazzled bathrooms with floral tile murals, 24-karat-gold-plated sinks, and deep soaking tubs. So after a long day of visiting with her BFF and her baby (Kelly promised she’s good at handling messy diapers!), Kelly can unwind with a luxurious bath and cozy up in a plush robe. Any Texas gal is sure to love the glamour.
RELATED LINKS
- Celebrity Sightings Hotels in New York City
- Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in New York City
- All-Time Sexiest Hotel Bathrooms
All products are independently selected by our writers and editors. If you buy something through our links, Oyster may earn an affiliate commission.
