The latest Trump card in New York City

Rosemary Behan checks into the Trump SoHo in New York.

A suite at Trump SoHo New York. Courtesy: Trump Hotel Collection

The welcome

The grey-and-black-suited, top-hatted doormen, smart entranceway and the hulking, shiny black Cadillac Escalade (the hotel’s “house car”) outside this sleek new 46-storey tower mark the hotel out from its grittier surroundings. The lobby has soaring pillars and light cubes set into hanging metal cradles to represent printing presses (the area is still a manufacturing one). Design is by the Rockwell Group, with leather chairs, raw wood furniture and marble floors.­ Check-in is fast and smooth.

The neighbourhood

A five-minute walk along Spring Street takes you to SoHo proper, a newly trendy section of colourful cobblestone streets filled with big-name designer shops, independent boutiques and restaurants such as Balthazar and Boqueria. TriBeCa, NYU and Lower Manhattan are within walking distance.

The room

I’m staying in one of the suites, which, because of their high floors, have the best views. All the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and light and comfortable Fendi interiors, so the difference is in size and views. My view encompasses all of Lower Manhattan and the Hudson River and is probably the best view I’ve ever seen from a hotel room. Each of the 391 rooms is owned or for sale as a condominium, but owners can stay for a maximum of 120 days a year, and the rest of the time, the room functions as a normal hotel room.

The service

Assured, but not super-fast.

The scene

I’m staying at the hotel during the week, and the other guests in the lobby and mezzanine library seem to be on business. The hotel’s only restaurant, a branch of Koi, is located on the ground floor and open to the public, so the atmosphere in here is much more mixed. These are the only public areas in the hotel (apart from the seasonal poolside bar and a nightclub open on weekends), so it’s not as much of a social hub as I’d expected. The vertical design of the hotel means that there are only a few rooms on each floor, which lends a pleasant air of exclusivity.

The food

Koi SoHo is the contemporary Japanese group’s second New York outlet, and although the menu seems quite limited, the food is beautifully presented. We try omakase (US$35; Dh130) – a chef’s selection of sushi and sashimi; the fluke is my favourite – and the miso black cod ($28; Dh107). With ponzu greens ($9; Dh33) it’s the ideal dinner after a long trip. From room service (the in-room dining has an exhaustive range of food, much of it healthy and salad-based) I try the herb-crusted macaroni cheese ($18; Dh66) – good; and stir-fried vegetables with tofu ($28; Dh103) – substantial but too salty.

Loved

The view from my room and the half-hour back and shoulder massage at the spa ($100; Dh367), which seemed to pull me back from the brink of illness and exhaustion.

Hated

The breakfast menu was mostly egg-based, and I don’t like eggs. The steam room wasn’t hot enough.

The verdict

A slick place to stay, this feels more like your fantasy home in New York than a hotel.

The bottom line

Double rooms at the Trump SoHo, 246 Spring Street, New York, cost from $491 (Dh1,803) per night, including taxes and Wi-Fi (www.trumphotelcollection.com/soho; 001 212 842 5500). Until September 19, the hotel will offer complimentary breakfast for two, a welcome amenity, and early check-in and late check-out (based upon availability) for travellers from the UAE. This is available on premier king, Trump executive king and all suites. To book, contact George Petkovic: [e-mail]. Prayer mats and Qurans can be set up on request.

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