The Marlton Hotel in NYC

Most people traveling to New York City gravitate to certain neighborhoods because location is everything when it comes to getting around the city. But, the really big decision is where to stay. Chain hotel or boutique? Chain hotels have their perks, especially for guests that have reached gold or platinum levels but where they excel in predictability (which can bring a certain sense of comfort) they often lag in style.

If your preferences lean more towards Greenwich Village and boutique accommodations, check out the Marlton Hotel  (also referred to as “The Marlton” – located at 5 West 8th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues near Washington Square. A 9-story landmarked building (built in 1900), The Marlton operated as a hotel for decades (and was often called the Marlton House) before being leased to The New School from 1987 – 2012 when it was used as a dormitory for students. In 2012, the building was purchased by a developer with the intention of restoring the historic property to its original use – a hotel with reasonable prices.

After extensive renovations that included remodeling 107 hotel rooms complete with herringbone wood floors, crown moldings and marble bathrooms with brass fixtures, the Marlton Hotel opened to the public in September, 2013. The rooms are small – 100 – 125 square feet for most rooms with a full or queen sized bed – but that’s the price you pay for location and a piece of history. Everything looks like its been there since 1900 but without the wear and tear. You can go south and stay at the Ritz Carlton in Battery Park and get a 425 square foot room for about the same price but there is a trade-off.

The Marlton Hotel feels like it’s been plucked out of Paris and placed in the middle of the Big Apple. Walk in the front door and step into a lobby with dark oak paneling, a roaring fireplace, a bustling bar and 98-seat restaurant (appropriately named Margaux) serving seasonal French and Mediterranean fare.

The perfect counterpart to Ladureé  in Soho where the tea-sipping crowd gravitates for macaroons and exquisite french pastries, The Marlton is the place to be come nightfall when the bar and lobby are filled with both guests and locals who are there to see and be seen.

Warm and comfortable, the lobby, bar, and restaurant of the Marlton Hotel is the perfect place to hang out with a newspaper (New York Times or the NY Post with nary a WSJ in sight), friends, or enjoy a drink, snack, or meal.

The espresso bar in the lobby serves the perfect cup of coffee using Ferndell coffee (free to guests of the hotel) – either to go or enjoy at one of the many small tables or booths.

Each of the nine floors has narrow carpeted hallways with narrow doors guiding guests to clusters of rooms that are clearly marked.

Inside each guest room, the walls are cream-colored walls with elaborate molding from floor to ceiling (think Versailles) and yet a modern tripod lamp that comes from the ceiling like spider legs does not look out-of-place. The beds are covered in teal with a faux animal fur blanket as the perfect throw when the room feels chilly.

The bathrooms have tile and showers with lots of brass. Kleenex tissue dispensers are non-existent but soft absorbent towels are abundant as are the Cote Bastide shower products, along with shower caps, cotton balls, Q-tips, and a sewing kit.

Room prices range from about $300 – $400 per night, with a continental breakfast included. There is no room service or coffee maker in the room but with an espresso bar and restaurant in the lobby area, a steamy delicious cup of coffee is just an elevator ride away. And, although the elevator is a bit small and slow, it’s part of the charm of the hotel.  Of course, you can walk up and down the stairs but do so with a little side leaning walk because these steps were made for people graced with petite feet of generations back.

The front desk is old-fashioned with the mail slots from another era to hold the big round heavy brass key ring (that has a modern black chip key attached) that encourages guests to drop the key off at the front desk instead of carrying it around all day.  The staff is warm, courteous, and very patient which is refreshing in New York City.

To read more about the The Marlton, go to their website:  www.marltonhotel.com.