Essex House

When Dubai Holding acquired the Essex House in New York two years ago and handed over the management of the hotel to Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel group, it seemed that only the city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, was optimistic. Locals grumbled, fearing the erosion of another icon, but after the completion of a US$90m renovation of the property, the Jumeirah Essex House has emerged as the new leader for luxurious offerings in a city replete with opulence.

Anyone who has visited a Jumeirah property expects (and receives) the best, and the Essex House is no different. Although it is much older than the paeans to modernity that comprise Jumeirah's portfolio in the UAE, the newly renovated rooms and public spaces maintain the historic style and design of the 1930s while incorporating the latest technologies. Every room has easy-to-use LCD panels that control all the room's features such as lighting, mood, and temperature settings, and motion sensors ensure that travelers are not caught in the dark in an unfamiliar environment. But automation is only one facility on offer - the concierge can accommodate the toughest request and book the hottest plays and restaurants, and butlers on each floor take care of pressing concerns.

The property is fantastic, and the Jumeirah service exceeds all expectations, but the most attractive feature of Essex House is the location. New York City is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and deciding where to stay is always a subject of debate. By choosing the Essex House, Jumeirah went for the sure thing.

Located on Central Park South, the hotel overlooks the 843-acre Central Park. Waking up in the morning with a view of the park is one of the great pleasures of a New Yorker, and can be realised by living (or staying) in a select number of buildings that adorn the park.

Within walking distance of the hotel guests can head to the theatre district on Broadway, the top shopping on Fifth Avenue, and to Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall where the world's top musicians perform all year round.

Museum Mile, a stretch along Central Park, is home to some of the world's top cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney, and the Guggenheim. As the city that never sleeps, New Yorkers need to be nourished. The Jumeirah Essex House of course has an excellent restaurant (with really great art on the walls), and a quick trip in any direction has countless offers of cuisine from around the world. The Time Warner Centre, a few blocks west of the hotel, has a number of restaurants that complement the discerning tastes of a Jumeirah guest.

Masa, the smallest restaurant in the complex with 39 seats, is perhaps one of the best sushi experiences in the world and should not be missed. Reservations are difficult, and the US$400 per person is steep, but worth it. For more traditional American fare, Porter House is an up and coming steak house that will not disappoint.

Verdict: Jumeirah Essex House is taking luxury to the next level, and with its ideal location overlooking Central Park, it should be a top choice for leisure and business travellers to the Big Apple.

Price: The average nightly rate for a room overlooking the park is US$800. For a suite with park views the rate is US$1500.