The Lexington Hotel

New York City is one of the cities that I travel to most often for work and for pleasure. Therefore, having a go-to hotel in NYC is very important to me.

Whenever I travel to NYC, I try to book a stay at The Lexington Hotel. One reason is that the hotel is located in Midtown East (on Lexington Ave. and 48^th Street). As such, it is about a 10-15minute walk to many NYC attractions, such as Fifth Avenue, Times Square, the Theater District, and Grand Central (many subway options). Another reason I love staying at this hotel is that I typically find a great room for a good price. Booking a hotel in the City can get pricey. I found that The Lexington Hotel tends to have the best value for their rooms compared to other hotels in the area.

Marriott Status

I am a Platinum Elite member with Marriott, therefore, I try to book at Marriott hotels due to certain benefits that I receive with my status. Some of the benefits include:

Free breakfast
Free drink coupons
Elite status happy hours
Access to the concierge lounge, if available
Upgrade opportunities

During my most recent stay at The Lexington Hotel, I was lucky to get an upgrade to one of the hotel’s specialty suites, The Conservatory. The Lexington Hotel updated some of its rooms not long ago to create these new upscale and stylish “specialty suites”. When I heard about my upgrade, I was very excited to see what I would call “home” for the next few days!

A Specialty Suite – The Conservatory

When I walked into The Conservatory, I felt like a little kid in a candy store. It was absolutely gorgeous! The layout and decor of the suite were stunning. The suite included a bedroom and a separate glass-walled conservatory, or a “secret garden”.

As I explored the room, I noticed that it included interesting and sometimes hidden little details. Staying in this suite turned into a treasure hunt. Some of the items I noticed during my stay included a set of antique books from the late 1800s, a beautiful hanging chandelier with candles and moss, and a plan of Central Park from 1860.

There was also custom artwork in glass, a vintage brass music holder, and sheet music books from 1929. These are just some of the items I noticed, for all I know, there were many more I had yet to find.

The Atmosphere

Staying in The Conservatory was truly a unique experience. The glass walls of the secret garden immersed me into the iconic New York City skyline. It also created the perfect setting for sipping my coffee, while reading the morning paper as the sun rose.

In the afternoon, The Conservatory lends itself to invite a few friends for a couple of drinks while enjoying the surrounding NYC views and the mesmerizing sunsets. There is also a couch on one end of the glassed enclosure, where you can get some shuteye while being surrounded by the gleaming NYC night sky.

The Conservatory was one of the most unique NYC experiences I’ve had while staying at a hotel. As noted earlier, it was my first time staying in one of the specialty suites at The Lexington Hotel and it was one of the most memorable stays I’ve ever had in NYC.

After staying in The Conservatory, and learning a little about the history behind it, I was eager to find out more about the hotel and its history.

The Lexington Hotel and Its Unique History

While doing some research, I learned that The Lexington Hotel was built in 1929. When you visit the hotel, you can tell that its architecture and style reflect that iconic period.

Famous Guests and More

You know what else I learned? The Lexington Hotel was once home to Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio. This was during the couple’s brief marriage in the 1950s. How cool is that! The hotel also prides itself in having many famous guests over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Godfrey and Dorothy Lamour.

The Lexington Hotel also housed what was called the “Hawaiian Room”. The Hawaiian Room was an entertainment venue at The Lexington Hotel from 1937-1966. It was a tropical escape in the heart of New York City. Though for a short period, the Hawaiian Room was the longest lasting commercial venue for Hawaiian entertainment on the continent.

Another interesting fact? The Lexington Hotel’s bar is called the Stayton Room. It commends former U.S Navy Captain William Stayton, who founded the Association Against the Prohibition Amendment. Who knew there was so much history in one hotel!

Specialty Suites at The Lexington Hotel

As mentioned earlier, that the hotel remodeled some of its rooms to create these “specialty suites”, such as the one I stayed in, The Conservatory. There are actually six of these specialty suites at The Lexington:

The Norma Jeane Suite: Inspired by the hotel’s most famous resident, Marilyn Monroe. It is a one-bedroom suite which Marilyn shared with Joe DiMaggio during the couple’s brief marriage in the 1950s.
The Lady Ella Suite: The Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, inspired the glam, soulful design of the Ella Suite.
The Conservatory: The Conservatory Suite observes the hotel’s historic architectural heritage by celebrating the style of living space popular during its inception. Glass-walled conservatories were originally used as greenhouses but soon their atmospheric surroundings lent themselves to social gatherings. Watch the sun set over the Manhattan skyline from within your own secret garden.
The Hawaiian Room: The Hawaiian Room, an entertainment venue at The Lexington Hotel from 1937-1966, was a tropical escape in the heart of New York City.
The Hemingway Suite: The Hemingway Suite was inspired by Ernest Hemingway, the Nobel & Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist with a propensity for adventure.
The Arthur Godfrey Suite: The famed Arthur Godfrey, a legendary American radio & television broadcaster, inspired the design of this luxurious entertainer’s suite.

I guess for me, that means: one down, five more to go!… I sure hope I get to experience more of these specialty suites during my futures stays!

Verdict: Why Stay at The Lexington Hotel

In my opinion, The Lexington Hotel is one of the best hotels in NYC. I’ve stayed at the hotel for the last 10 years while visiting NYC. The most recent stay definitely felt like the “cherry on top” of my stays!

The Lexington Hotel is the perfect hotel for anyone looking for proximity to many famous NYC attractions, comfortable – and at times exciting- accommodations, and an overall historic hotel experience.

Even if you don’t book or get upgraded to one of the specialty suites, The Lexington Hotel should be on top of your list when planning an NYC trip.

Below are my top reasons for book a stay at The Lexington:

Great Value
Location
Impeccable Service
Comfortable and Elaborate Accommodations
History of the Hotel
Elite/Happy Hours at The Stayton Bar
Adjoining Starbucks (if you enjoy your AM Starbucks, you don’t have to leave the hotel to grab that latte!)