THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF THE LUXURY HOTEL SERIES: A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TRAVEL WOMEN

The sound of the piano welcomed me to Hotel Giraffe. The pianist, sitting in the center of the lobby, played gracefully as guest’s enjoyed complimentary wine and cheese hour (a daily occurrence at this hotel). In many ways, Hotel Giraffe is an urban oasis in the heart of New York. Its décor is inspired by the gentle power, grace and beauty of one of nature’s most beloved animals, with a modern twist. It is easily one of the cities most uniquely themed hotels.

The friendly front desk employee handed me my key with a wink – “This is my favorite room in the whole hotel. You’re going to love it!” Instantly I’m intrigued – Why is this room his favorite? Do I get my own balcony? Or better yet – is there a present waiting in the room for me? My mind tends to jump to elaborate conclusions and wishful thinking.  

Yet, Hotel Giraffe did not let me down.

Soon I answered my own questions:

Why is this room his favorite? It may not be the largest room, but it does have the best view from its – wait for it – BALCONY!

Yes, that answers question number 2! I thrust open the doors and peered down 14 floors; witnessing the hustle and bustle of the NYC streets below. I could have watched the cars pass by for hours, but alas, I had to get ready for dinner at Bread and Tulips; the hotel’s rustic Italian restaurant.

My room had 10ft ceilings, antique-rose velveteen upholstered chairs and ottomans, and black and white original photographs from the ’20s and ’30s. Chic and contemporary linens, chocolate leather headboards and pearlized platinum wall coverings. The modern artistic décor added a touch of glamour to the room.

The next question I had asked myself – with little hope that it would come true – was: Is there a present waiting for me? To my surprise, there was! The hotel had an adorable little box tied with red ribbon and filled with artisanal chocolate – every girl’s dream!

But was the location ideal for someone visiting the city? As a New Yorker, I would say “absolutely”. The hotel is in an artsy neighborhood that has many of the best restaurants in NYC. It is fantastic for visitors that enjoy more “off-the-beaten-track” type of travel – this is my preference when exploring.

Hotel Giraffe is near several NYC attractions worth visiting, including: the Sex Museum, Empire State Building, the SoHo area (great brunch spots here), and Herald Square (wonderful shopping).

It’s close to several fantastic restaurants, including it’s own dining spot Bread & Tulips. This neighborhood Italian restaurant has a cozy, rustic vibe. The menu is inspired by the regional diversity of Italy and features handmade pastas and pizzas, in addition to traditional antipasti and crostini.

I had the pleasure of having dinner at Bread & Tulips while staying at the hotel. My favorite dish was their pizza. New York City is known for having the best pizza in the world (sorry Italy!) and this was top notch. A few months earlier I went on a pizza tour of NY and visited the “best” spots in the city. After having pizza at Bread & Tulips I think it should be part of the tour. It was simply that delicious.

After a lovely meal, I headed to bed. The next morning, I enjoyed the continental breakfast on their trendy rooftop. The breakfast selection at Hotel Giraffe is diverse, including: oatmeal with berries, yogurts, fresh fruit salad, boiled eggs, assorted croissants, mini-muffins, scones, Danishes, bagels with cream cheese, fresh juice, assorted cereals, coffee, hot chocolate, and assorted teas. It was a treat to sip on hot chocolate while dining on the rooftop of a skyscraper. What a lovely experience!

As I headed back to my room I took once last look at New York from the balcony. It’s interesting watching the city from a bird’s view; to see little people running about and yellow cabs driving by. It seems like an urban fairytale. I wasn’t ready to rejoin the story, yet it was time to check out. I closed my balcony doors and walked out of the room – hoping to be back one day and gaze down at the view again.

We were guests of Hotel Giraffe, however, the opinions are our own. To learn more about Hotel Giraffe visit hotelgiraffe.com. To learn more about Bread & Tulips visit breadandtulipsnyc.com.

Our first episode of The Luxury Hotel Series click was about The Library Hotel; a book themed hotel in the heart of Manhattan. Click here to see our video and read our article about it.