New York - Morgan's Hotel
Autumn 2009
Frank's view 
what a pity
The hype was seductive.
French design guru, Andrée Putman has "unveiled a new image for Morgan's" and the hotel is receiving rave reviews.
The stay didn't get off to the best start when the bellboy left one of our bags in the trunk of the taxi, which we thankfully noticed just as the cabbie was about to drive away.
The lobby is small and the reception desk a hatch in the wall, more in keeping with a seedy motel than a posh midtown hotel. Not wishing to fall into the New York small room trap I had booked a loft suite at a hefty $600 a night. The allocated suite was room 1703 on the 17th floor directly opposite the elevator.
Promoted as a 43.2sqm suite, the use of space was extraordinarily appalling with the 0.2sqm presumably being the bathroom. Swing a cat? You couldn't swing a gnat.
The ridiculous layout included a kitchenette (larger than the bathroom) with a sink, cupboard and large fridge under a work surface, but absolutley no utensils - not even a kettle. This led into a lounge with a raised dining area, which in the absence of any catering conveniences begged the question - why? The space however would have made a fabulous bathroom leaving the Harry Potter cupboard as a respectable sized loo. What about that one Ms Putman?
The double private terrace was 1703's one saving grace. Morgan's Hotel is close to the Empire State Building and the terrace offered a royal box view of King Kong's lovenest. Such a pity he wasn't around. I did wonder what the magnificent misunderstood mammal would have made of the light show which changes nightly illuminating his dancing pole.
Morgan's does commit the cardinal sin of luxury hotels by charging for Internet access - $10 per device per day, therefore two laptops and an iPhone costs $30 a day. Outrageous!
Dining is courtesy of Asia de Cuba next door. The 'Living Room' on the 4th Floor was grey, dour, bland, like a drab office where workers would clock watch for breaktime or lunch to escape to a more appealing environment.
The hotel is located on the corner of Madison Avenue and 37th Street. Being in the heart of midtown isn't a particularly convenient position for getting the best out of New York. It may be close to the Empire State Building and Grand Central Station but Morgan's is a brisk walk from the park and a taxi or subway ride to Soho.
Morgan's is part of the same group as London's The Sanderson and Miami's Delano, but don't judge an offspring by its sibling.
New York has many great hotels, old and new, The Greenwich, The Standard, The Carlyle and even the Peninsula, but Morgan's is not one of them.
Morgan's Hotel
237 Madison Avenue
New York
+1 212 686 0300
http://www.morganshotel.com/
King Kong's love nest from 1703's terrace
French design guru, Andrée Putman has "unveiled a new image for Morgan's" and the hotel is receiving rave reviews.
The stay didn't get off to the best start when the bellboy left one of our bags in the trunk of the taxi, which we thankfully noticed just as the cabbie was about to drive away.
The lobby is small and the reception desk a hatch in the wall, more in keeping with a seedy motel than a posh midtown hotel. Not wishing to fall into the New York small room trap I had booked a loft suite at a hefty $600 a night. The allocated suite was room 1703 on the 17th floor directly opposite the elevator.
Promoted as a 43.2sqm suite, the use of space was extraordinarily appalling with the 0.2sqm presumably being the bathroom. Swing a cat? You couldn't swing a gnat.
The ridiculous layout included a kitchenette (larger than the bathroom) with a sink, cupboard and large fridge under a work surface, but absolutley no utensils - not even a kettle. This led into a lounge with a raised dining area, which in the absence of any catering conveniences begged the question - why? The space however would have made a fabulous bathroom leaving the Harry Potter cupboard as a respectable sized loo. What about that one Ms Putman?
The double private terrace was 1703's one saving grace. Morgan's Hotel is close to the Empire State Building and the terrace offered a royal box view of King Kong's lovenest. Such a pity he wasn't around. I did wonder what the magnificent misunderstood mammal would have made of the light show which changes nightly illuminating his dancing pole.
Morgan's does commit the cardinal sin of luxury hotels by charging for Internet access - $10 per device per day, therefore two laptops and an iPhone costs $30 a day. Outrageous!
Dining is courtesy of Asia de Cuba next door. The 'Living Room' on the 4th Floor was grey, dour, bland, like a drab office where workers would clock watch for breaktime or lunch to escape to a more appealing environment.
The hotel is located on the corner of Madison Avenue and 37th Street. Being in the heart of midtown isn't a particularly convenient position for getting the best out of New York. It may be close to the Empire State Building and Grand Central Station but Morgan's is a brisk walk from the park and a taxi or subway ride to Soho.
Morgan's is part of the same group as London's The Sanderson and Miami's Delano, but don't judge an offspring by its sibling.
New York has many great hotels, old and new, The Greenwich, The Standard, The Carlyle and even the Peninsula, but Morgan's is not one of them.
Morgan's Hotel
237 Madison Avenue
New York
+1 212 686 0300
http://www.morganshotel.com/
King Kong's love nest from 1703's terrace
Be Frank: agree or disagree? What do you think?
