Upper East Side Story
By Kristy Alpert
An A-lister fave, The Mark boasts a one-of-a-kind hotel experience. Moreover, guests are chauffeured to the city’s top shopping spots, museums and galleries via the hotel’s black-and-white striped pedicabs, should a day of sight- seeing be on the agenda.
There’s a distinct hush that takes place the moment guests arrive at The Mark Hotel in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It lasts only as long as a deep inhale, but it’s that observable breath of silence that sets the stage for every experience within this New York City icon. The modestly sized lobby — intentionally designed to deter paparazzi and onlookers — is far from demure, where bold black-and-white stripes stretch the length of the polished marble floor beneath a golden spiralized globe chandelier from artist Ron Arad.
The same “Jurassic Flower” fragrance from master perfumer Frédéric Malle that perfumes the hallways was the same scent that wafted in the background during a celebrity-filled baby shower for the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who flew in on a private jet with her friend, Amal Clooney, for the penthouse event. The hotel has become the favorite stag- ing ground for celebrities preparing for the red carpets at New York’s Met Gala in recent years, but on any given day it’s just as likely to run into a budding Hollywood starlet as it is to cross paths in the lobby with a rising politician.
Regardless of celebrity status, the front desk staff welcomes each guest with the same warmth and discretion used for those countless heads of state, celebrities and billionaires that frequent the hotel. The hotel first opened in 2009 inside a 1920s-era landmark building just steps from Central Park, where a cast of brilliant minds reimagined the space into what would soon become one of the city’s most iconic hotels. It was French designer Jacques Grange who brought a blend of French elegance and whimsy to the interiors with his avant-garde selections and designs — including furnishings from Vladimir Kagan and pieces from Paul Mathieu and Mattia Bonetti — where his tasteful touches of grandeur extend to the spacious bathrooms in each room.
Each of the 106 rooms, 46 suites, and even the penthouse (the largest hotel penthouse in the U.S.) are outfitted with creamy white Bellino linens and creamy white linen manufactured by Revival; 100 percent Egyptian cotton. Despite the warm and tranquil touches — like the wooden sycamore desks and gold- en floor-to-ceiling drapes — each room also features the latest technology. In addition, large-scale contemporary photography leads the way to the marbled flooring in the five fixture bathrooms, where products from La Bottega enhance moments spent in the deep soaking tubs or detached showers.
From the luxurious pet-friendly amenities left bedside for furry companions to the Jean-Philippe Delhomme artwork on the in-suite shampoo bottles, everything at The Mark is pure indulgence. It’s for that reason that the hotel’s “Haute Dog Cart” by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten makes perfect sense. This celebrated three-Michelin starred chef is the man responsible for the hotel’s culinary offerings, and it was his vision that an iconic New York City hotel should have the city’s most iconic meal (which also happens to be Vongerichten’s favorite NYC street food) as well. In true Mark fashion, the cart is outfitted in black-and-white stripes and serves their dogs with an upscale twist — offerings include grass-fed beef hot dogs with kimchi relish or organic chicken hot dogs with yuzu pickles and squiggles of Sriracha mayo.
Inside the hotel, chef Vongerichten focuses back on the style he’s better known for with a fresh-from-the-market approach to his French technique with dishes like seared sea scallops with a soy yuzu broth, grilled beef tenderloin with a miso-mustard sauce, and a Grand Marnier and chocolate chip soufflé. His menu also features a few fun twists, where hand-tossed pizzas are topped with black truffles and fontina cheese and the now-famous The Mark Cheeseburger comes with classic French fries despite its lavish melted brie and black truffle dressing condiments.
Guests are chauffeured to the city’s hottest shopping spots, museums and galleries via the hotel’s black-and-white striped pedicabs, while an illustrated cu- rated map guides guests through Central Park while exploring on one of the hotel’s custom Republic Bike bicycles. Shoeshines are complimentary (courtesy of the resident John Lobb-certified shoe polishers, of course), and locks receive star treatment at the Frédéric Fekkai Hair Salon on the second floor, where the hotel’s state-of- the-art fitness center also resides and offers exclusive personal training opportunities with renowned fitness expert Dan Flores.
The Mark is located within easy walking distance to some of the city’s top sights to visit. This includes The Met, The Guggenheim, The Frick Collection and even the Neue Galerie New York, where it’s earned its spot along this iconic Museum Mile with its own share curated collections and exquisite artistic details throughout this impressive property.
The Mark, 25 E 77th St, New York, NY 10075,
212-744-4300, themarkhotel.com