The Bentley Hotel

The Bentley is situated in a former high-rise office building, now tastefully transformed with a subdued design scheme featuring modern furnishings in a moody New York color palette. The lobby's white marble floors contrast gray leather sofas and cowhide chaises, interspersed with pops of bright orange in rugs, curtains, and accent chairs. The lobby bar has an industrial-chic bohemian look, and features cement floors, exposed ductwork, and garage-style doors that roll up to reveal a spacious dining terrace with bridge views. A two-story top-floor restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows and dangling orb chandeliers offers glamorous views of the the bridge and East River. While somewhat trendy, the hotel is sophisticated and feels decidedly grown up. The property tends to draw couples and corporate guests who want a stylish place to stay and who don't mind walking or riding the subway to get around the city. 

The Bentley Hotel is situated in Manhattan's mostly residential Upper East Side, next close to FDR Drive and a couple of blocks north of
the Queensboro Bridge. The immediate area is pretty much filled with medical facilities, like Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and many guests staying here are visiting loved ones or the clinics. Otherwise, after dark, there's little to do right outside the hotel. Plenty of shopping and dining is available on Lexington Avenue, which is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and where options include Bloomingdale's. The 63rd Street/Lexington
Avenue subway station (the F line) is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Without traffic, LaGuardia Airport is a 12-minute drive and JFK International Airport is a 25-minute drive, though New York is never traffic-less and smart travelers will give themselves at least 45 minutes to reach either destination. Other travel times are as follows:- The Animal Medical Center -- a one-minute walk  

• Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center -- a six-minute walk 
• Rockefeller University -- a four-minute walk
• New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center -- an eight-minute walk
• Central Park Zoo -- a 20-minute walk
• Times Square -- 20 minutes by public transit
• Museum of Modern Art -- 20 minutes by public transit
• United Nations -- 25 minutes by public transit
• Empire State Building -- 25 minutes by public transit
• SoHo -- 30 minutes by public transit
• Meatpacking District -- 35 minutes by public transit

While there are a variety of room configurations for guests, the look is quite similar across the board, and consists of a stylish blend of classic and modern details. All are fairly spacious by New York standards, and decorated in a soothing neutral color palette of gray, black, and white. White upholstered headboards provide a little throwback flair, and caramel leather chairs play nicely against accents such as black-and-white houndstooth pillows. While it all looks stylish on the surface, it's worth noting that we did spot some furniture that looked a bit worn when we visited. Corner rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides are bright and feature river and bridge views. The 40-inch flat-screen TVs sit atop spacious wooden desks, which also have well-stocked minibars tucked inside. Digital music players sit bedside. There are coffeemakers, though coffee and tea come with fees, as does Wi-Fi. Marble bathrooms are on the small side, with pedestal sinks, C.O. Bigelow toiletries, and shower/tub combos with glass shower screens that tend to splash water on the floor. Closets hold bathrobes and safes. Noise can also be an issue from neighboring rooms and hotel interiors as well as traffic outside.

The two-floor restaurant, Prime, underwent major renovations in 2014 and now has a lovely [rooftop lounge space]() with panoramic views. Prime serves an eclectic American menu. There's also a lobby bar with Starbucks coffee, cafe food, and drinks that is open from early until late -- a thankful addition given the lack of nearby night-time dining and drinking options. Breakfasts of coffee, pastries, and fruit can be delivered to rooms only; there's no breakfast dining space and breakfast isn't included with room rates. Guests have free use of a small fitness room with a handful of modern cardio equipment, but no weights, and a there business center in the lobby with desktop computers and a printer. There's one meeting room available for up to 15 people. Internet access is available in some public areas for a fee. The Bentley is pet-friendly.