Headed to NYC soon? In August, the HipTravelMama gals jetsetted to NYC to attend BlogHer2010. We had a fabulous time and one thing that made our trip memorable and fun was our stay at the unique and hip hotel, Le Parker Meridien. Nestled just off of Central Park and on the same block as Carnegie Hall, The Parker casts an eclectic sense of style and fun personality. I would highly recommend it for families, or hip parents that are looking for a unique boutique style hotel in New York City.
Hip Room
While we didn’t stay with our kids this trip, the hotel was filled with families with kids of all ages, many of whom were visiting from Europe. The Hotel has a total of 725 guestrooms and suites and there are several options for families visiting, including adjoining rooms with King/Queen beds and oversize twins which were very comfortable. Our room had a beautiful view of Central Park and each morning the sun would rise orange over the park, awaking us to the vibrancy of the city.
Hip Property
Two of my all time favorite things about this property are the rooftop pool and sun deck overlooking the city and Central Park. There is also a small running track on the roof where you can take in the views and get some fresh air. Anyone who has young kids knows that a pool can win over your kids in a heartbeat and this rooftop pool is not to be missed!
Hip Food
This is another area where Le Parker Meridien shines. Onsite, the hotel has two restaurants, Norma’s, which has the most extraordinary breakfast, and what the staff calls the burger joint, a hole-in-the-wall style burger place that has a line out the door every evening. See our previous post of Norma’s at The Parker in Palm Springs for some to-die-for pics of one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had. Finally, you don’t get any hipper than Knave Cafe & Bar, an espresso bar by day, and cocktail bar at night. It is a cozy place with its big comfy red velvet couches, yummy espresso and handmade signature cookies. Hip Tip: Make sure you request one of Norma’s cookbooks so you can take the goodness to your kitchen.
More Hip Places to Eat and Play:
There is no shortage of fun things to do in NYC – the choices can be overwhelming. The Concierge staff at Le Parker is so helpful and picked out some very fun places for families to eat nearby. They also have a very helpful service called NYsmartaleck.com, where they will customize activities to suit your interests and family. Try it out – in the meantime, here are some recommendations for family friendly places they pulled together for HipTravelMama. Enjoy!
Alice’s Tea Cup, great for when visiting The American Museum of Natural History, located at 102 West 73rd Street
Café Lalo same area as Alice’s, 201 West 83rd Street
Two Boots, 30 Rock Center at Rockefeller Plaza, under Rock Ctr.
RockCenter Café at Rockefeller Center
Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center 19 West 49th Street
Sweetiepie 19 Greenwich Avenue, girly girl, cute in Greenwich Village
Bubby’s 120 Hudson Street
Chat ‘n Chew 10 East 16th Street
Clinton Street baking Company 4 Clinton Street
Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man 841 Broadway
Have you visited these with your family? Tell us what you think. Where are some of your favorite places to eat and play with your family in NYC?