Tag Archives: The Whitby Hotel

Firmdale Hotels Whimsy at The Warren New York

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I’ll never forget my first stay at the vibrant Crosby Street Hotel in New York. In the 80’s and 90’s, SoHo enjoyed a definitive urban renewal phase, still a bit industrial gritty, but utterly charming and convenient for wandering the hip fashion boutiques and trendy restaurants, before chain stores and street vendors.

Crosby Street New York

SoHo is known for its elegant cast-iron-facades and wide cobblestone streets; the neighborhood is also an atmospheric locale for fashionable crowds clustering at high-end restaurants and nightlife hotspots. Crosby Street opened in 2009, the son of my NY friends was graduating from private school and after I had stayed with them so many times in NY, it was the perfect venue to host the family in the magnificent whimsical drawing room at Crosby Street. I felt so like a New Yorker!

The Kemp family has followed a playful pattern of successful ultra charming hotels. Oozing in bold colors and pattern heavy interior design by Kit Kemp, each hotel reflects a fresh, contemporary style. I’ve stayed in almost all of them, and we’ve reserved most as well!  Picture a Champagne sunset in New York from a wide terrace, brilliant glistening glass reflecting the sun as it drops between skyscrapers. Firmdale Groupies, yes, we certainly are of that Persuasion!

  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York
  • Firmdale New York

One repeated component of the imaginative hotels is floor to ceiling metal paned windows in the bedrooms, a trademark look, allowing tons of natural light and views of the neighborhood. Some bedrooms lead to small terraces, I’ve hosted Sunset champagne gatherings at The Whitby in New York! In the heart of midtown, what better location?

I’m known for taking months long sojourns performing site inspections, long wanderings around London and Scotland. Blurring time zones and cities. I awoke one morning, rolled over to look out the metal paned windows and thought I was at Crosby Street, but I was in London – the windows are exact – and the brick warehouse in the distance appeared to be SoHo…There is a Firmdale Hotel for every taste in London a Caribbean hideaway in St. James, Barbados and now a new property in Manhattan.

I’m looking forward to a stay at the newest Firmdale offering Warren Street in New York – enroute to Milano for a conference. Situated in the vibrant and creative Tribeca neighborhood,

Warren Stret Rooftop New York

Warren Street Hotel is a celebration of contemporary art and design, with every inch joyfully infused with Kit Kemp’s sense of fun and love of storytelling.

Each of the hotel’s 69 bedrooms, suites and residences are individually designed, some with beautifully landscaped private terrace gardens and spectacular skyscraper views of lower Manhattan and the Hudson River.

Since opening in February, the hotel has been awarded One Michelin Key, joining a small handful of hotels across the U.S. with this unique stamp of approval. Warren Street Hotel is in Tribeca, a vibrant neighborhood that’s a joy to explore. Head out from the hotel and you’ll find cobbled streets, restored red brick warehouses, artists’ studios, small galleries, independent shops and locally loved restaurants in New York’s Financial District.

My stay will be at the first days of another six-week sojourn, so there should be no confusion as to where I am when I wake up!

  • Firmdale
  • Firmdale

Firmdale Hotles offer delicious dining and cocktail bars, guest only screening rooms, and in London, a bowling alley at Ham Yard, the Croc. The Croc houses an original 1950’s bowling alley, stylish lounge, bar and dance floor. Back-lit bowling balls, vintage bowling shoes and bowling pin lamps sit alongside two large scale Howard Hodgkin artworks. The silver baby grand piano and South African made sofas give a lounge feel. Bowler’s bowl into a suspended brick wall with flickering lights and can choose to have UV pins and shoelaces.

Committed to the arts in each destination, enjoy a Private Art Walk in New York, with Willow Kemp in Spring 2025. Join Firmdale Hotels’ Art Ambassador & Design Director on a tour of the hotel’s impressive art collection and visit exciting local galleries, followed by afternoon tea in The Orangery.

Whimsy and colorful décor in bustling city locations, a collection of eleven five-star properties, we love them all. Personal service, stylish suites abound, luxury from a brand that doesn’t take itself too seriously!

Highly Recommend All Firmdale Hotels!

The Whitby – Brits Bridge New York

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Good design keeps a city on the go – Hotel briefing New York City. If you are a fan, and who isn’t, of the quirky yet tasteful Firmdale properties, then you will love this new iteration in midtown New York. What you say, a quirky midtown hotel, among the respected old world and very proper and posh midtown business hotels – yes, it is true! With that infamous TTower lined with protestors at all hours of the day, Midtown needs a dash of fun, spicy and quirky! The Whitby is it, a smashing colorful iconic property with spectacular skyscraper views from the private terraces!

Whitby Hotel New York Lobby

Firmdale now has two iconic properties in New York, I frequently recommend and stay at their Crosby Street Hotel set back off the Soho cobblestone streets and I always recommend it to my client families…teens can wander and shop, plus endless dining nearby. Firmdale Hotel Group is owned by Kit and Tim Kemp, their roster of properties includes eight stylish hotels in London. An interior designer, Kit Kemp creates all the interiors for their properties.

The latest baby is The Whitby situated in the heart of upper midtown Manhattan on West 56th Street near 5th Avenue. Passing through the doors, you enter the cozy lobby, oozing English hospitality. Charm is a touchstone Firmdale characteristic and they have it down to a science, a charming idiosyncratic science. The rooms are similar in style to their other properties in the sense that Kit Kemp is a master of pattern mixing with a myriad of colors, yet it looks sensational. They also installed the trademarked steel Crittall windows, enormous floor to ceiling windows unlike any other hotel windows, allowing brilliant light to flood the room.

My comfy Suite Whitby Hotel New York. I did mention kicking off my shoes the moment I arrive!

Whitby Hotel New York Bath

My first impulse in a Firmdale property, is to kick off my shoes and plop into one of the plush chairs or hop atop the extremely comfy sleep inducing Beautyrest bed, layered in colorful multiple patterns, sensory overload perhaps, but eclectic design with immense style. The rooms envelope you, blissful fun, distinctive style combined with luxury and excellent amenities, a gallery in a sense. The bathrooms are quite large; and most have massive stand-alone silver soaking tubs and oversize double sinks. Small well-lit walk in closets eliminate your travel detritus and contain a well stocked mini bar.

Whitby Hotel New York Suite

Whitby Hotel New York, my corner terrace with Spectacular Skyscraper Views!

The Whitby Hotel is a celebration of contemporary art and design. There are 86 individually designed bedrooms and suites, each with floor to ceiling windows, many with a private terrace and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. My June stay was blessed by gorgeous weather allowing me to utilize my terrace – yes, a lovely corner terrace! I had promised dinner to the grown daughter of a dear high school friend, we were to meet uptown after my meeting – a quick text to her with an invitation to join me on my terrace for dinner, we would pop open that lovely bottle of Champagne and toast success to the Whitby. One of my most brilliant evenings in New York, delicious dinner delivered, Champagne bubbles and the moon rose above the skyline, we chatted until the wee hours on the corner terrace.

The Whitby is just two blocks from Central Park and on the doorstep of some of New York’s leading restaurants, galleries and museums, including MoMA, two blocks away. It is surrounded by world-class shopping, luxury designer boutiques and Broadway is just a short walk away.

Whitby Hotel Tea Room New York

There is also The Whitby Bar and Restaurant, an Orangery, which is light-filled and has more of a formal restaurant atmosphere, the book-lined Drawing Room, private outdoor terrace as well as three beautifully designed private event rooms, a 130 seat state-of-the-art cinema and a fully equipped gym.

Traditionally, Firmdale properties are designed in the style of a stately English country home, I realize those are opposite terms; the sitting rooms and libraries for guests are designed in the style of ‘to the manner born’, however, the décor is cozy and comfy and very inviting. Imagine a private guest space i.e the drawing room with an honor bar, merely write down on the pad that you were the one who quaffed the Perrier chilling in the ice-bucket…Brits who appreciate common courtesy and expect honor.

The Whitby – another regal gem in the crown of the Firmdale Properties, distinctly British in the midst of midtown Manhattan. Character and Charm are integral to the Five Star Service

Love The Whitby!