This charming boutique hotel is what you'd expect from the quiet Upper East Side neighborhood it resides in: a bit posh yet inviting, with elegant interiors that hint at history (the building is over 100 years old). Cream, beige, and rich brown hues cloak the lobby, which pairs handsome leather armchairs and dark wood furnishings with cream-colored wainscoting and floral wallpaper in milky coffee shades. A fireplace adds both grandeur and a sense of coziness to the space. The hotel has two popular restaurants, both airy, elegant spaces that are filled with natural light thanks to large windows overlooking the street outside. The dining spaces draw locals and hotel guests, making for a nice atmosphere. Overall, it's a great base for leisure and business travelers alike, while the larger suites with kitchenettes draw families and guests on extended stays. 

The hotel occupies a walkable and quiet location in Manhattan's Upper East Side, a posh residential neighborhood. Madison Avenue, the street the hotel is on, is lined with shops, boutiques, and some dining options, while Central Park and the Museum Mile stretch of Fifth Avenue are just a block away. Several of the city's top museums, like the Guggenheim, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Neue Galerie, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, are within a five- to 10-minute walk. The nearest subway station on 96th Street (for the 6 and 4 lines) is a seven-minute walk away and gives easy access to top attractions like the Museum of Modern Art (20 minutes away), the Empire State Building (25 minutes away), Times Square (30 minutes away), the High Line (40 minutes away), and One World Trade Center (45 minutes away). LaGuardia Airport is about a 25-minute drive or 50 minutes by public transit. JFK Airport is a 30- to 50-minute drive, depending on traffic, or an hour-and-a-half via public transportation.

Rooms are tastefully appointed in an elegant contemporary style that pairs neutral color schemes with dark wood furnishings. The spaces are a typical New York size, which might feel a bit small to those who aren't accustomed to the city's tight quarters. Framed sepia photographs adorn the gray walls, and all rooms have  desks as well as additional seating like armchairs. Suites feature living rooms with sleeper sofas, and some have kitchenettes with two-burner stoves, microwaves, mini-fridges, and sinks. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, iHome docks, electronic safes, irons/ironing boards, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms lack coffee/tea-making facilities and minibars/mini-fridges (except for those with kitchenettes). Bathrooms are small, but modern and stylish, decked out in chic subway tiling and walk-in rainfall showers or shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided.

The highlights here are the hotel's dining options. The ground-floor Sarabeth's East is a popular breakfast and brunch destination for locals and tourists alike, and it also serves lunch and dinner as well as offering room service. There's also Paolo's NYC, an Italian restaurant that's open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

The hotel has a pleasant rooftop peppered with potted plants and umbrella-shaded tables that offers panoramic views over the cityscape. It's a nice spot to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea from the free dispensers in the lounge, another lovely space to while away some time. The space is tastefully furnished with comfy sofas and tables and chairs.

The fitness room is small and equipped with just a handful of dated exercise machines. Other amenities include a meeting room and a business center with three Mac computers, plus Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.