What it is

A breath of contemporary air for the historic Met Life Tower.

What it isn't

What you probably think when you hear “Ian Schrager.” The EDITION is the disco impresario’s collab with Marriott, but the scene here is subdued.

What we think

The 1909 Metropolitan Life Building on Madison Square was modeled after the San Marco Campanile in Venice and was, in its day, the world's tallest building. Converting such a skyline staple to a hotel is never an easy undertaking, but EDITION, Marriott’s boutique brand run in conjunction with Ian Schrager, pulled it off with understated finesse and abundant grace. Rooms feature plasterwork triple-vault ceilings, a warm beige and brown palette, pale oak floors and mahogany headboards. The hotel’s big winners, however, are the public spaces. The horseshoe-shaped bar, gilt in 24-karat gold, shimmers amid mahogany walls and original herringbone floors, while the Clocktower restaurant offers Chef Jason Atherton’s updated classics and contemporary British fare in an elegant setting punctuated by golden-framed vintage photographs.

You're here because

You want to find a medium between the stuffy, corporate boxes of Midtown and downtown’s theme-y, scene-y boîtes.

The Moment

As evening simmers, the Lobby Bar begins to hum with socialites and suaves. You take your cocktail, served in an owl-shaped goblet, meander up the conch-shell staircase to the Clocktower, and take your seat under a portrait of Bob Dylan.

Restaurants & Bars

The Clocktower - Cuisine with contemporary, seasonally-inspired British favorites.

Lobby Bar - A billiards room and a lively bar made entirely of gold leaf.

Location

On Madison Avenue, bridging the Flatiron and NoMad neighborhoods, both chock-a-block with fashionable eateries, speakeasies and boutiques. Eataly sits directly across Madison Square Park.