The Mark Hotel review: A grand New York hotel with an intimate feel

The Mark is a single block from Central Park, even less distance to some of New York’s most prestigious stores, and right at the centre of the city’s most upscale and affluent neighborhood; the Upper East side is the spot to be in for low-key luxury while still being able to get anywhere worth going pretty quickly. Cabs and Ubers are going to get you to midtown in minutes, your legs will get you to the park in seconds.

An imposing building on the Upper East Side for almost 200 years, the entire place was renovated and re-imagined in 2009 by French designer Jacques Grange. You enter to black and white geometric decor slashed with bright orange accents and a grand staircase, yet for a hotel of its size the reception area feels surprisingly cosy and intimate.

It feels sexy and swish, but also bold and exciting. Hiding behind it all is a restaurant and bar, gently lit by warm, floor-to-ceiling red-orange lamps, that feels like an oasis of calm in the centre of one of the busiest cities on earth.

It’s a big hotel with a boutique feel - a bit like staying at your (very) rich best-friend’s mansion. It feels like the perfect spot for a weekend staycation for New Yorkers, or a really special base from which to explore the city for those visiting from further afield. You enter the hotel past well-dressed outdoor diners poised to see and be seen, alongside an eye-catching flower stand and boutique hot dog cart. Check-in was fast, polite, with plenty of helpful tips on how to get the most out of our stay.

In this era of Covid, The Mark felt on-the-ball, with a temperature check at the door, and boxes of tissues in the elevator with which to press the floor buttons, along with a trash can to instantly dispose of them.

We stayed in the Seventy Seven King room with views out over its namesake street to the city skyline beyond. The room takes up 500-square-feet with a long, wide foyer corridor, huge bedroom area, and spacious bathroom. Furnishings are a mix of ebony, nickel and sycamore with fine Italian linens and bedding. The TV is fairly easy to connect to a mobile device for custom viewing.

In the black and white marble bathroom, there’s a deep-soaking tub and separate shower with an immensely powerful, invigorating water jet, all with smart nickel fixtures and fittings. There’s a mirrored flat-screen television set which I was unable to figure out how to work, and Italian toiletries packaged under The Mark’s own branding.

The minibar was one of the best-stocked I’ve seen, with a vast array of snacks and drinks. Daily delivery of The New York Times is complimentary.

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s French-American Restaurant, The Mark, has the warm, dark, sumptuous, clubby vibe of one of those historic New York steakhouses, with refined touches like beautifully upholstered dining chairs, amber-hued lighting and slick, attentive waiters.

The tuna tartare - a speciality - was fresh, clean with an umami tang. Mrs Maclean had the sashimi. A strong start.

She then went for the New York strip steak special as a main; again - impressive. But it was here that I made a misstep. I went for the chef’s preparation of seabass for $50 - but it was just that, the piece of fish. To push it up to the level of a meal, I needed to order a $15 side dish of spinach and liberally steal fries from my dining partner’s plate.

We were back on track by the time dessert came, with a salted caramel sundae alongside a decadent butterscotch pudding. The drinks come with a kick - a thyme-infused vodka lemonade and a ginger margarita both hit the spot.

Room service breakfast was a particular highlight; rapid service which saw one plate of poached eggs, sausages, seasonal greens, buttered toast; another of pancakes and fruit, together with coffee and fruit juices and all the accoutrements, delivered within about 20 minutes. The room service cart converted into a table with a crisp white tablecloth, and the total cost including tip was $130. Very reasonable for this part of town.

There’s an array of luxury services on offer at The Mark, from hairstyling by Frédéric Fekkai to personal shoppers who’ll pick out outfits from Bergdorf Goodman.

There’s a fleet of custom bicycles available to guests, with striped chain cases and monogrammed bells. And if you don’t feel like using your own pedal power, Mark-branded pedicabs offer chauffeured rides to high-end stores, museums, and galleries.

We didn’t manage to check out the fitness center, but it’s a good size at 1,400-square-feet, and available to all guests.

Room count: 100 guest rooms, 53 suites

WiFi: Free but slow. A faster paid option is available.

Extra charges: Paid-for 24-hour valet parking

Disability access: ADA features include accessible eye holes for convenient security, grab bars by toilet, roll-in shower with grab bars, required clearances underneath bathroom vanities, and motorized press button shades. The Mark Accessible Guest Room’s entrance door is 35.5” wide. Bathroom entrance is 32” wide.

Pet policy: Very pet friendly, full policy available here

Best thing: Style and location. Midtown and downtown can be intense, but the Upper East Side is a refined world away from the hustle and bustle of New York, the Mark stands a mere two-minute stroll from Central Park - and the stylish, unique rooms feature views across the city skyline.

Worst thing: During dinner, the current Covid setup meant the door from the restaurant to the street stayed open all evening, and we were bundled up in three-layers trying to stay warm until requesting that the waitstaff move us. The precaution is understandable, but not ideal.

Perfect for: Couples after a romantic stay in New York’s premier upscale neighbourhood

Not right for: Glamour on a budget. (Or anyone on a budget, come to that.)

Instagram from: The lighting in Jean Georges restaurant is something else. Even I looked good in it.

Room rate: From around $800 per night

themarkhotel.com