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New York

Discreet Upper East Side design digs

On your marks: Here’s the thing about The Mark, it’s like a sophisticated old friend – a worldly sort; the kind whose invitations you always RSVP ‘yes’ to post-haste. The plum address (Madison Avenue at East 77th Street, no less) says much about its slant. This is one upscale affair, a place where art, design and gourmet glory align against the effortlessly warm backdrop of modern hospitality. Set in a landmark 1920s building tucked away from Manhattan’s brouhaha, to step within is to succumb to The Mark’s embrace. 

Design notes: Think old money meets modern predilections. Like most Upper East Side abodes, The Mark proffers cultural refinement and discreet escapism from gritty city life, just as it has done since 2009. The neoclassical façade – lifted by Warren Neidich’s neon, very MoMA, ‘No Vacancy’ sign – yields to reveal a vision of monochromatic striped marble and soft greys that let vivid artwork and sculptural lighting shine. It’s the brainchild of French designer Jacques Grange who’s channelled avant garde accents into the scene. Neutrals, pale peachy pinks and deco touches like sycamore wood and nickel are emblematic across the 152 rooms and suites; Grange’s iconic stripes offset spearmint lacquered units to dramatic effect the bathrooms. Then there’s the sweeping penthouse – America’s largest – with a wraparound terrace for summer aprication and an ice-skating rink (yes, you read that correctly) in winter. Take note of the scent that punctuates the space, a bespoke olfactory concoction with magnolia inflections by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle. 

And the food? You can rest easy in the knowledge that super-star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is at the helm of the culinary offering which includes a flagship farm-to-table restaurant with a menu honing European stalwarts with global edge. There’s the New York outpost of Parisian hotspot Caviar Kaspia, with a riff on Russian expressionism design and a low-key luxe double-baked potato and caviar signature. Come summer, Jean-Georges’ elevated hot dog cart does a mean line in the city’s staple and streetside Clam Bar brings beachy New England vibes. 

Why it’s a cult classic: The Mark is part of the very fabric of the neighbourhood, drawing a fashionable crowd of locals and immersing guests in Manhattan’s quotidian life. Curvaceous Mark’s Bar is an icon in its own right – a place where New York’s cognoscenti rubs shoulders with trust funders over a concise but well-considered cocktail list. Come May, the click-clack of Louboutins across the marble lobby is The Mark’s calling card as the glitterati gather for Vogue’s Met Gala, with many – including she of super-bob fame, Anna Wintour – getting ready at the hotel.

Anything else? The team can organise anything from plush park picnics to sailings on the Hudson aboard their rare 70-foot Herreschoff boat – with the Jean-Georges’ team catering both. There’s an Assouline store on the ground floor for bibliophiles, a top-notch hair salon and wellness offering of in-room massages, IV drips and treatments from aesthetician Barbara Sturm. There’s also a John Lobb certified shoeshine service – a sure-fire mark of excellence. 

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