Mercer Hotel

Housed in a landmark Soho building with history, the Mercer Hotel is where fashionistas hang out and cool kids flock. The six story Romanesque Revival building was designed in 1890 by William Schickel as family offices for John Jacob Astor II. Jump ahead about 100 years and the Mercer becomes André Balazs’ second hotel. He hired the late Christian Liaigre to design the interiors. All the furnishings are exclusive to the hotel. The result is cool and sophisticated. Loft inspired rooms have big windows, lots of natural light and exposed brick. The bathrooms are marble. It is a subtle stylish luxury with a killer location! It is also discreet. No photos are allowed in the public areas. Jean-Georges Vongerichten helms the Mercer Kitchen in the basement, famous for its industrial chic and communal table (one of the first in NYC). Lunch from the Kitchen is served outside in the summer… great food and great people watching. So New York! Since opening in 1997 the Mercer has played home to stars like Jay-Z, Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Timberlake. They like the privacy. Regular people will like the service. I arrived exhausted after an 11-hour flight from Cairo… was swept up to my room, given a healthy snack, some cookies and left to sleep on a wonderful bed. Seamless. No hassles. Perhaps the greatest luxury of all.