lower section of the Lucerne, New York, USA

The Lucerne, built in 1904 is a grand old building situated on the upper west side of New York. Bell Boys are waiting by the large doors to open and close them at the ready.  Recently renovated, it has an old world charm combined with the usual range of modern amenities such as complimentary WiFi, spa services and a fitness centre.  

Our room was on the 10th floor and from the window we could see the street and other buildings.  It was nothing spectacular.  Being old, it meant there were windows that could open which I love in order to add some fresh air to the room.  The beds looked beautiful with their crafted wood and decorated covers and pillows.  The curtains and wallpapered walls along with the furniture also complimented the room and added to it’s old world charm.

bedroom at The Lucerne Hotel, NYC

In the centre of the room’s high ceiling was a large ornate light and along with the bedside tables and lamps, there was a desk and chair and also a cabinet below the TV with lots of drawers.  Although the hotel doesn’t have a restaurant, it offers guests a 15% discount to the French restaurant next door called Nice Martin.

thoughtfully decorated room at The Lucerne

The room had a coffee machine and an ice bucket but sadly, no fridge.  Each day the hotel has complimentary wine tasting for its guests.  They have a concierge service but we found one of the ladies working there to be quite rude.  The staff at reception were lovely though.  A much loved piece of clothing accidentally got picked up with the dirty towels and thankfully on the day we checked out, it had been found so we were able to get it back.

marble and dark wooden furniture within the room

The bathroom looked new and the water pressure in the shower was good.  The shower was above the bath tub.  It always amazes me how much water sits inside an American toilet compared with what we’re used to in Australia.

bathroom at The Lucerne, NYC

The hotel is located in a great spot.  It is just across from Central Park and the Museum of Natural History and there are a number of subway stations close by.  There are also plenty of eateries around.

Pros:

Well priced

Great location

Lovely old hotel that must have been very grand in its day

Cons:

No fridge

Lifts were slow

In Summary: For those who like to step back in time, this grand old hotel offers a taste of yesteryear.  Well located close to subway stations, shops, museums and Central Park, it is at the quieter end of town where things are less hectic.