While we were in New York recently we stayed right on Times Square at Marriott's Renaissance Times Square hotel
and we were delighted with our stay.
The hotel could not have a more
perfect location. But, beyond that, the staff is friendly and helpful,
our room was spacious (with a king size bed and large bath) and
beautifully appointed and the hotel's extraordinary R Lounge at Two
Times Square boasts panoramic views of Times Square and the theatre
district.
Rising 26 stories above Times Square (we stayed on the 20th floor) this
full-service hotel has the soul of a boutique hotel with beautifully
crafted interiors by renowned designer Jordan Mozer. Distinct among
hotels in New York, it features completely redesigned guest rooms with
hardwood furniture, luxurious bathrooms and state-of-the-art
technology.
Only steps away from midtown's famed entertainment, attractions and
Fortune 500 headquarters, guests can enjoy cocktails or a snack at R
Lounge, before venturing out to Rockefeller Center or the theater
district. With a AAA Four-Diamond rating and a prime location on
Broadway and Seventh, we have to agree that this luxury hotel is the
epitome of an urban oasis.
We dined a couple of blocks away from the hotel at a restaurant we've
often passed by but never tried: Cafe Un Deux Trois, a spacious French
bistro that attracts a big crowd.
What attracted us was the $30, three-course, pre theatre dinner menu.
Here is one our entrees (talapia) shown exactly as it was presented to
us:
The service was prompt but the entrees (the other one was chicken cordon
bleau) were only lukewarm and the food service staff seemed to have
little time to indulge any comments, requests or chit chat. The place
has been at the same location for decades and was very crowded on Friday
night, so it does have a following. But, in the end we're afraid this
was a case of "you get what you pay for, sorta."
For breakfast the next morning we ventured over to T45, the bright, sleek American diner inside the brand new Hyatt Times Square on 45th St. near Broadway.
Thank goodness Hyatt has finally come to the Times Square area. This
was long overdue. The 54-story hotel is a new generation of Hyatt. Each
floor contains only 11 larger-than-usual rooms (averaging 364
square-feet), all featuring floor to ceiling windows. Guests are greeted
and comfortably checked in via iPad, as a wave-like undulation of
bronze and walnut draws your eyes around the sleek, oasis-like lobby.
The George Wong designed T45 Midtown Diner
on the ground floor serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks,
including takeout service so whenever the mood strikes, you can order
ready-to-go meals and snacks – either on the hotel's app or by phone--
and (if your a guest of the hotel) have your food delivered straight to
your room.
Of course, there's plenty of space to dine-in (with big, comfortable
booths and soft tones throughout) and that's what we decided to do.
Hyatt says the diner is designed to "reflect the energy of Broadway,
complete with a theatrical back wall of moving lights." Cool! The young
and eager-to-please staff is friendly and very accommodating.
We must warn you, however: A very nice American breakfast for two here
will set you back $50 or more. We did check the lunch menu though and
found it to be quite reasonable and much more price competitive.
Anyway, our breakfast was wonderful: Fresh hot coffee, two eggs with
bacon, home fries and toast exactly as we ordered them and a huge bowl
of delicious, steel-cut oatmeal perfectly cooked. Below, the photos of
the diner itself and our entrees:
Suffice it to say we definitely will be returning to T45, especially for lunch.
BTW: Hyatt's new Bar54
at the top of the hotel will open on February 14 and it promises not
only spectacular views but specialty cocktails, fine wines and gourmet
small plates where guests can mingle around cozy fireplaces, indoors and
out. We're told this hot new nightlife destination is already being
acclaimed as an exciting addition to Times Square’s bar scene.
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