Murray On Travel

In New York City I must have walked by the corner of 26th and Park Ave South and the Hotel Giraffe several times but never noticed it before this review.  My attention is usually consumed by knowing that one of my favorite restaurants, Blue Smoke, is nearby.   But with just a glance upward I would have noticed something different.  A newer brick boutique hotel with dozens of small balconies overlooking the corner.

This rather small 72 room luxury hotel was built from the ground up to be something different from a major cookie cutter chain hotel.  A doorman welcomes you into the small but comfortable lobby of the Hotel Giraffe.

A mixture of comfortable seats let guests lounge or work in the lobby.  Food, snacks, and beverages are served here at various times of the day.  A rooftop patio is also available.

Each afternoon you will find complimentary afternoon tea, coffee, cappuccino, espresso, cafe au lait along with cookies and pastries.  From 5-9pm Monday-Saturday evenings a generous wine and cheese service is enjoyed by the guests of the Hotel Giraffe.

The hotel's Suite #506 is a king with sofa bed accommodation.  The sitting room has two comfortable arm chairs , an HDTV with DVD, AM/FM radio, and a sofa bed.  Large floor to ceiling windowed doors open out onto a narrow balcony.

Warm colors give the room a very restful feeling.  The suite's artwork is minimal and understated.  A small coat closet is located just beside the entry door.

A mini-bar area, large closet and the entrance to the bathroom are located in the hallway that connects the sitting room to the bedroom.  This suite is mirrored on each of the hotel's 10 floors.

A well stocked mini-bar refrigerator is in a bright, mirrored alcove that also has a few interesting books.  Tall Blondes: A Book About Giraffes, by Lynn Sherr, is provided in each room and gives guests and interesting insight into these unique animals.

The bathroom is small when compared to the rest of the suite, but very well appointed.  Towels and supplies are basic and plentiful.  A lighted makeup mirror makes a great night light.  The comfortable bathtub/shower was welcome, especially after spending a long day on your feet in the City.

Beyond the bath is the bedroom with its own door separating it from the rest of the suite.  High quality bed linens with maroon accents compliment the warm tones of the bedroom. The king bed was comfortable and plenty of pillows are provided. Double-paned windows cut down on street noise.  I found it very quiet compared to other New York City hotels I've visited.

A very wide desk has plenty of room for spreading out your work, or for just organizing your personal gear.  Two closets on either side of the desk have drawers, hanger space, and a TV.  It is odd that the TV is an old standard definition model.  The hotel provides a full range of TV/Cable channels.  The suite had a wired internet connection at the desk and WiFi.  The WiFi was strong and fast in both rooms.

An unexpected treat in the sitting room is a narrow balcony which in suite #506 opens out onto Park Avenue South.  The floor to ceiling glass doors provide a view up and down Park Ave and washes the room with natural light.

The Hotel Giraffe provides a simple but well stocked breakfast daily.  It lets you get up and on your way quickly in the morning.  Mon-Fri 7 am-10:30am, Sat & Sun 7am-11am.

The lobby offers plenty of comfortable seating along with the morning New York papers.  Note: The hotel does not have a gym.  They do offer guests passes to a nearby gym.  A Subway stop is just a block away.  Details at MTA.info .  It is an easy walk to Grand Central Terminal.

The simple elegance found in the rooms is mirrored on the exterior of the Hotel Giraffe.  The hotel is an non-smoking facility.  You can smoke on the inviting rooftop patio if it is not being used for a private function.

Due to the nature of what I do.  I rarely stay at the same property more than once.  I'm always looking for additional options for my readers.  But New York's Hotel Giraffe is one of those spots that has me wanting to break the rules and return.