Eventi, A Kimpton Hotel

851 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY | Tel: (212)-564-4567

The lobby of Kimpton's Eventi, in New York City. Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

Picking a great hotel in Manhattan can be an exercise in futility.  After all, there’s hundreds to choose from, each promising an experience better than the other.  The risk comes in terms of price: even a simple, no-frills hotel can run up to $400 per night in the high season, something that travelers from other cities are likely to balk at.

When we stayed there in July 2010, the Eventi had only been open for a little over a month.  We took a gamble booking it: after all, no one reviews a hotel that hasn’t opened yet. What we found was one of the best hotel experiences we’ve had in the United States.

While the Eventi isn’t priced much differently from its competitors, it delivers an extraordinary value missing from many Manhattan properties.

HISTORY

Taking up an entire city block along the Avenue of the Americas (6^th Ave) between 29^th and 30^th Streets in Manhattan, the Eventi first opened in June 2010.  It is San Francisco-based Kimpton’s fourth hotel in the city, after 70 Park Avenue, Ink48, and The Muse Hotel.

The company refers frequently to the hotel being “LIVE”, a term they coined to represent the ever-evolving nature of the hotel and their dedication to exceeding guest expectations through unexpected touches and inspired experiences.  Before staying there, I had the sneaking suspicion that was all PR fluff.

It’s not.

Eventi was the closest I’ve come to a cruise-like experience on land.  Service was kind, thoughtful and on-par with what you’d expect on a major cruise ship, and no staff member passed without a “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon.”

ROOMS

The wonderful beds at the Eventi. Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

The Eventi has 292 rooms, 53 of which are suites.  Our 7^th-floor room featured beautiful views of the Empire state building, along with dark wood accents, an incredible bed adorned with thoughtful reading lights, a comfortable sitting area, and an enormous, European-style bathroom clad in marble.

The European-themed bathrooms at the Eventi. Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

All rooms feature beds with Frette linens, Etro bath amenities, LCD flat-panel televisions, wireless in-room phones, an iHome Sound System (bring your iPod!), complimentary high-speed internet access, complimentary morning newspaper, and 24-hour room service.

Almost everything here is custom-made for the hotel, from the door handles to the unique lighting, all thoughtfully incorporated by designer Colum McCartan.

Sound proofing is also excellent: we never heard a peep, either next to us or out on the Avenue of the Americas just outside our window.

AMENITIES

• The Lobby offers up coffee and juices in the morning, and is a great place to meet friends and relax.  Be sure to check out the interesting painting mounted on the ceiling near the Reception desk!
• A Fitness Center provides guests with 24-hour access to exercise equipment.  Complimentary yoga accessories are also available upon request.
• Dining This was still under construction during our July 2010, but expect food quality and service to be on-par with the rest of the property.

HIDDEN GEMS

Enjoy a complimentary evening glass of wine on the beautiful 5th Floor patio. Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

• Uncommon Design: in a city littered with uninspired hotels featuring cramped rooms, the Eventi is a standout.  Rooms are European-influenced in terms of their spacious marble bathrooms and comfortable living areas, all of which have full-window views.
• Coffee and Wine Hour: In the morning, complimentary coffee and juices are served up in the lobby or on the terrace of the 5^th Floor lounge.  At 5pm, a complimentary wine hour is offered, allowing guests to mingle amongst themselves and the staff, or simply enjoy the incredible views from the outdoor terrace – another rarity in NYC.  It’s a little touch designed to make the hotel property as much of a destination as the city, and it works beautifully.
• Helpful Staff: If you need anything, the front desk staff will do their best to help you.  Need directions?  Ask the doorman: no one knows Manhattan better.
• Cruise-Friendly: need to store your luggage for a while before heading to the pier?  No problem: it’s complimentary.
• Unique Mini-bars: OK, maybe it’s not a hidden gem per se, but Eventi gets points for being creative and forward-thinking with their mini-bar selection, offering up a high-end selection of drinks and snacks at reasonable prices.  Oh, and there’s also the ‘Love Kit’ containing exactly what you think it would.
• The Beds: Photographs don’t do them justice.  The beds are incredible.

WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE…

The Empire State Building is just blocks away. Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

• Café au bon Gout: if you’re looking for an incredibly convenient dining experience, walk two blocks up 30^th to 5^th Avenue and hang a right to visit Café au bon Gout.  This delicatessen-style restaurant has just about every kind of food you could possibly imagine, from pizza and sandwiches to Asian specialties and full-fledged dinners.  Their breakfasts are particularly amazing, and best of all, it’s affordable.
• Times Square: an easy 10-minute walk has you at one of the most iconic sights in Manhattan.
• Central Park: yes, you can walk here, but it’s a hike.  We did it, and while there’s nothing difficult about this pleasant 30-minute stroll, in the heat of July it can be an exhausting experience.
• Empire State Building: You can see its trademark spire easily from most suites in the hotel, and walking to it is a pleasant 10-minute stroll.
• Broadway Theatre District: just an enjoyable 12-minute walk away.
• Subway: New York City is incredibly accessible via the subway, and in minutes you can be in Central Park, the South Street Seaport, or even Brooklyn.

AIRPORTS AND CRUISE PORTS

• From JFK & LaGuardia: roughly 50 minutes; 45 from Newark EWR.
• To Manhattan Piers: 10 minutes.
• To Brooklyn Cruise Terminal: 30 approx. 30 minutes.
• To Cape Liberty Terminal; Bayonne, NJ: approximately 45 minutes.

New York's Times Square is just minutes away. Photo © 2010 Aaron Saunders

USEFUL LINKS

• Eventi New York Website