As a Morgans Hotel Group regular, I was excited to check out the Mondrian SoHo which opened in February 2011. Located in the heart of SoHo on 9 Crosby Street, the Mondrian SoHo is a modern glass tower with 25 stories of fritted glass – a vision realized by architects H. Thomas O’Hara and Barry Rice. The 270-room hotel includes four sprawling suites and one grand penthouse, each with a terrace.
When my cab pulled up to the hotel, I wasn’t sure that I had actually arrived. The garden topiary façade at the entryway was deceiving. The dreamy and romantic enchanted garden entryway evoked an Alice In Wonderland-like feel. The interiors — including much of the furniture of the restaurant bar, hotel rooms and evening lounge — were designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, who revamped both the Scottsdale and LA Mondrians. The powder blue hue-themed interiors throughout feature large vintage mirrors, rose vine carpet and Astroturf terraces. The overall design of the hotel design was inspired by Jean Coucteau’s 1946 French fantasy film “La Belle et la Bête” (“The Beauty and The Beast”).
The Rooms
The jewel box-style lofts have 10-foot ceilings and are mirrored throughout. Large floor-to-ceiling windows offer amazing views of the city — even in the shower! These showers are perhaps not so great for the self-conscious.
The romantic roses and French blue theme is reinforced by the custom-designed Noriega-Ortiz furniture in the guest rooms. Cool tech amenities include an iPad for hotel concierge services and local information, as well as a flat-screen LCD HD TV.
The Restaurant Imperial No. Nine
The indoor-outdoor modern sustainable seafood restaurant features whitewashed oak floors, marble tables, and a cluster of crystal chandeliers. The tables and bar areas are surrounded by potted plants and natural Ficus trees that sit beneath the glass roof. More Noriega-Ortiz-designed furniture provides casual seating elegance in a dreamy garden glass house — double-sided cottage swing included. A hand-blown glass sculpture centerpiece designed by artist Beth Lipman further references “La Belle et la Bête.” Drinks by John Lermayer are labeled by easy-to-remember numbers. Try the signature No.9, which features 12-year-old Eldorado rum, Angostura Bitters, Demerara sugar and coconut water.
Chef Sam Talbot, of Top Chef fame (and still the executive chef of Surf Lodge in Montauk) offers a unique and delicious menu that features sustainable seafood medium plates. For starters, I recommend the cauliflower-ricotta fritters and organic beets. For a main, try the seared scallops and raw tuna infused with mustard seed and grapefruit.
For dessert, I tried both the Talbot Salty Carmel Popcorn ice cream (amazing) and the Banana Brioche Bread Pudding with rum and drizzled caramel (drunken delish).
Reservations are highly recommended. Imperial No. Nine is lively and therefore noisy. If you want a quiet restaurant this is not the place for you. Dishes are priced between $14-$32.
Overall, the hotel and restaurant service was great, the hotel ambiance was perfect. Luxury hotels should be dreamy and decadent but at the same time, functional. The Mondrian SoHo achieves that balance.
Next time? I still need to check out the nightspot Mister H. where I hear Chinatown chic meets a playful interpretation of the “Year Of The Rabbit.”
Here is the lowdown on the in-room amenities:
- High-Speed Internet access (for a fee)
- iPod Docking Station
- In-room spa services (and discounts at the nearest The Spa by Equinox)
- Room service
- Malin + Goetz toiletries
Hotel amenities include:
- Fitness Center
- On-site valet parking and limousine service (for a fee)
- Imperial No. Nine restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Bar inside the restaurant with cocktails by mixologist John Lermayer
- Gallery and Gallery Terrace (apparently a cool 2,500 square-foot meeting space)
Know before you go: even the superb service can’t bring cabs to this part of town easily, so give yourself time to get to your destination. Via subway: J, M, Q, R, W, Z at Canal Street.
Kia Tip: The Mondrian SoHo is a quick jaunt to the famed Balthazar Bistro and all the cool SoHo shops and boutiques.
I look forward to my return!
-Kia
The Mondrian SoHo
http://www.mondriansoho.com
9 Crosby Street
New York, NY
(212) 389-10013