The Mark

There’s no doubt about it: The Mark is posh. A walk through the entrance donned with a simple black and white moniker leads to a wide lobby with highly polished, black and white striped marble floors, geometric art flanking walls and tables, and warm gilded sconces. What might be mistaken for the smell of pure wealth is actually the hotel’s signature scent, Jurassic Flower, created by master perfumer, Frederic Malle. The design for a five-pearl hotel in New York City is surprisingly colorful and geometric thanks to a 2008 redesign by famed French designer Jacques Grange, who opted for custom pieces like deeply saturated velvet armchairs, a cow print sofa, and sharp metallic accents in the lobby and bar. While no stranger to the occasional celebrity (Kate Moss and Jonny Depp famously trashed their room and were arrested for it in 1994), much of the clientele is in town on business, some bringing their families (and nannies) along to enjoy the city -- including the nearby Central Park -- during the day. Evenings make way for classic cocktails and expensive meals in the bar and restaurant -- helmed by celebrated chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten -- play host to plenty of business meetings, dinners, and after-work drinks . Keep your eyes peeled, guests have spotted famous patrons like Paul McCartney, Barbara Walters, and Mick Jagger at dinner. The annual Met Gala draws the likes of Selena Gomez and Anna Wintour, who use the suites as posh dressing rooms before the event. 

The Mark is located at the corner of 77th Street and Madison Avenue, in the heart of Manhattan's Upper East Side, a neighborhood known for world class shopping, fancy apartment buildings and homes, and wealthy residents. Think: au pairs, dog-walkers, nannies, and blacked out town cars, and you’ve got The Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. There aren’t many famed attractions in walking distance of the hotel besides Central park, only a two-minute walk away, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a seven-minute walk away. There is only one subway station nearby, offering one train line (the 4 or the 6), which is a four-minute walk from the hotel. - Two-minute walk to Central Park

• Three-minute walk to the Met Breuer 
• Seven-minute walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
• 16 minutes by subway to the Museum of Modern Art (or MoMA)
• 17 minutes by subway to the Empire State Building
• 20 minutes by subway to Times Square and the Theater District
• 20 minutes by subway to East Village
• 22 minutes by subway to SoHo neighborhood
• 25 minutes by subway to Wall Street and the Financial District
• 33 minutes by subway to Battery Park for the Statue of Liberty ferry
• 30-minute drive to LaGuardia Airport
• 45-minute drive to John F. Kennedy International Airport

In contrast to the bright, saturated colors in the lobby, the guest rooms in The Mark are more subtly decorated with softer colors. Rooms are washed in soft, neutral tones with pops of subdued yellows, greens, and purples in the drapes. Artwork includes photographs by Todd Eberle. Room options are vast. Guests have a choice between regular guest rooms, studios, or multi-room suites. Studios and suites range from a single room to expansive five-bedroom suites. The Mark Studio, Tower, and Terrace Suites have impressive foyers with guest bathrooms and sleek kitchens with full-sized appliances designed by Pierro Lissoni for Boffi. Suites feature large living rooms with plush velvet seating, Art Deco coffee tables, and wooden bookshelves. The details, however, make the rooms. A Crestron control (like an oversized remote) allows guests to control the lights, temperature, TV, and shades. The phone has a screen for checking the weather. Pull open what looks like a drawer, and you'll find it's actually a freezer with ice. Another drawer holds beverages, and yet a third drawer holds snacks and signature Jurassic Flower candles. Wi-Fi is free in all rooms.Even the smallest rooms have beautiful, bright, spa-like bathrooms, covered in shiny white marble, with deep soaking tubs, monogrammed towels, and separate showers. Embedded in the bathroom mirrors are TV screens powered by remote. All bathrooms have super soft robes hung by the bathtubs and heated towel racks. Slippers, umbrellas, and safes are provided in each closet. Views (or the lack of them) might be the one downside to the rooms. Some Superior Courtyard Rooms overlook the interior courtyard or the backyards of residential brownstones on East 78th Street. Evening turndown service is a luxe touch and includes a Ladurée macaron on the first night. 

The Mark is a bit limited on on-site features, but offers a plethora of luxe extras and partnerships that are finely curated for discerning guests. The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges hosts gourmet breakfast, brunch, lunch, late lunch, dinner, dessert, late night menus, and 24-hour room service -- with a connecting bar serving up classic and signature cocktails. The chef has become known for his world-class, inventive dishes, such as a peekytoe crab cake with pink grapefruit, avocado, and ginger, or sushi-style pizza. Guests can pre-order bespoke picnic baskets (complete with cutlery) to take to nearby Central Park. The extensive gym has all the modern cardio and strength-training equipment one would expect, as well as paid personal trainer sessions upon request. Beautifully designed Republic Bikes with monogrammed bells and baskets are available for guests to borrow. There's also an over-the-top, stylish pedicab to transport guests to the park and museums. Another standout feature is the world famous Frederic Fekkai Salon, which is attached to the hotel on the second story. Guests can get full service hairstyling and treatments, as well as manicures, pedicures, and massages.While you wouldn’t think it based on the overall vibe, The Mark does take children into consideration, offering free custom strollers for outings, tours of the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art, thoughtful yummy snacks, and slumber parties complete with fun tents provided by housekeeping. The same goes for pets. Cats and dogs up to 25 pounds can expect a free Woof Woof kit that includes a luxe doggy bed, water bowls, and branded collars. Shoppers should know that The Mark has a partnership with Bergdorf Goodman that grants access to personalized shopping and in-the-know fashion advice. Guests also get free laundry service, shoeshines on the second floor, and free Wi-Fi.