Loews Regency New York

The recipient of a buzzed-about $100 million makeover completed in 2014, the hotel lobby shows of clean lines, marble tile floors, columned Art Deco grandeur, 24-foot ceilings, and velvet sofas as you enter. A long, narrow seating area is off to the side, where obviously well-heeled guests chat and lounge under popcorn-flowers-and-butterflies artwork by Brooklyn artist Nina Helms. The best part? The leisurely atmosphere and relaxed attitudes of the cosmopolitan guests, not a single one of whom had a laptop or smartphone out on our visit. Any weekday morning, the power brokers and other important people of the city—from Police Commissioner William Bratton to Wall Street tycoons to Spike Lee--can be seen noshing and networking in the Regency Bar & Grill.This enduring property has been a New York institution for over 50 years, and was once the favorite New York City getaway of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Today, guests are a bit more down to earth (mostly middle-age executives) but they’re still here for the same luxurious details and easy comfort that made this place a stunner for the Hollywood elite. Many guests are repeat customers, and staff members always work to remember people by name.

The location is ideal for power shoppers who want to unwind from a day at nearby Hermes, Bergdorf's, Barney’s, FAO Schwarz, or the Apple Store by communing with nature in Central Park. First-time visitors to New York City determined to soak in spots like Times Square, the Empire State Building, or Museum Mile should prepare for a hike or cab or subway ride. Business travelers who want to save the company dime by forgoing taxis will want to make note that the nearest subway stations are serviced by east-side trains -- they'll want to go ahead and get a cab for appointments on the west side of Manhattan.The Loews is on Park Avenue, a street that is famous for its high-end real estate (it is on the list of most expensive city streets in the U.S.). The broad treelined boulevard is mostly recognizable by its grass median, which is also lined with trees (one of the only streets in Manhattan that has this feature). During the winter holidays the trees are decorated with tasteful white lights, and in springtime the medians bloom with cheerful tulips. No matter what the time of the year, taxis are always consistently whizzing by.Park Avenue is, for the most part, as safe as it looks, even at night. The street is lined mostly with high-end residential buildings (each with a doorman), which operate as the avenue’s watchmen to some degree.Nighttime noise is virtually nonexistent since the neighborhood is mostly composed of the early-to-bed-and-early-to-rise crowd. The hotel’s location -- at 61st Street -- is on the cusp of frenetic Midtown and the hoity-toity Upper East Side. Just two blocks west is the city’s urban jungle,Central Park. The high-end shops and boutiques ofMadison Avenue-- from Gucci to Armani to Ralph Lauren -- are just a block away.

Despite a typically small Manhattan footprint, the spare but elegant design, emphasizing light and airiness—big windows, cherry-blossom artwork above the beds—makes rooms seem spacious. The rooms are full of thoughtful extras, including the omnipresent electric outlets at the base of the lamps and on the sides of the large, ergonomically designed desks; iPod docks by the beds; and Frette linens. The attention to detail extends to the bathrooms, where guests can continue watching their shows on the televisions set into the mirrors, blow out their hair with salon-grade dryers, and check make-up in power-lit magnifying mirrors. Coffeemakers are surprisingly absent, however, and rooms with kitchenettes lack utensils (they must be requested). Note that some bathrooms have walk-in showers rather than shower/tub combos—a pro for some but not others.

Taking the cue for its makeover from customer suggestions, the Loews Regency has put on emphasis on the details that make a trip easier and more enjoyable for traveling families or business people, from the morning, where they start the day with their choice of newspaper delivered to their door, to the end of their stay, when they can use a small business center off the lobby to print out the boarding passes for their flights. Hotel staff take particular pride in being pet- and child-friendly. With advance notice and a reasonable flat fee, hotel rooms are prepared with dog or cat beds, food and water bowls, and pet toys. When children stay at the hotel, they are kept busy with age-appropriate toys and activities, and the staff is prepped to be extra-friendly and accommodating to the little ones.The big, modern fitness center gets lots of natural light, and personal trainers are available upon request. There's also an on-site salon—useful for the small weddings regularly held at the hotel.  Regency Bar & Grill draws many of the city’s elite, and is a New York City institution. It's especially known for its "Power Breakfasts." Gotham’s powerbrokers and financiers -- such as Mayor Bloomberg and the Tisch family (who, incidentally, own the Loews hotel chain along with the NY Giants) -- have been known grab a coffee and an omelet in the handsome dining room. Lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner are also served. Reservations are strongly encouraged. There's also a cute coffee bar on the premises. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.