Will Aman Be Crowned Best of all New York Luxury Hotels?

Legendary luxury hospitality company Aman is coming to Manhattan! Aman junkies of the world, you’ll soon have a new destination to explore. And Trump Tower, you’ll soon have a new neighbor! Here at Dandelion Chandelier, we’ve already shared our experiences at our first Aman resort – Amangani, located high on a bluff in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Aman resorts have long been an inside secret among the global elites. It’s been notable that in our ongoing series of interviews with various Luminaries, several have mentioned their love for Aman’s incredible collection of properties and its exquisite service. It really is A Thing. And now it’s coming to New York City.

The company’s press release notes that the new 83-room Aman will be “situated in the heart of Manhattan at the crossroads of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, overlooking Central Park,” in the glamorous Crown Building.  It goes on to proclaim that “embodying the splendor of the Gilded Age and dynamism of Fifth Avenue, the Crown Building is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Manhattan.” The plan is for the building to be fully renovated and restored. Each of the sizable guest rooms will have its own working fireplace.

As with many other Aman properties, the new Aman New York will comprise not just guest rooms and suites, but also Aman Residences. In this instance, there will be a collection of 20 private homes as part of the complex. The show-stopper among them will be the $100 million, 14,000 square foot, 5-story Penthouse, which will be equipped with two swimming pools (indoors and out), a terrace and “an activated cupola.”

We confess, we’re not sure what an active cupola is. It must be something good, though.

The positioning of the property to potential guests and owners focuses on wellness, serenity and pampering. The marketing materials emphasize that this will be “a new urban sanctuary,” bringing “the serenity of Aman to the center of the western world.” The on-site Aman Spa will be three stories tall, with a dramatic 25 meter indoor swimming pool surrounded by fire pits and daybeds. Two Spa Houses will be furnished with a double treatment room, sauna and steam rooms, and an outdoor terrace with cabana, daybed and fireplace.

In terms of food and entertainment, Aman is planning a subterranean Jazz Bar and a wraparound Garden Terrace overlooking Central Park. There will be two restaurants: Arva, serving Italian food, and Nama – Aman’s interpretation of Japan’s washoku dining tradition. There will also be a Piano Bar, Cigar Bar, and Wine Library.

Well played, Aman. This could actually work.

Hyperbole aside, the Crown is a splendid building, in a perfect location. The 26-story site was the first home of the Museum of Modern Art, and it sits at the crossroads of great shopping, the entrance to Central Park, and the new location of the MoMA. It’s also directly across the street from Trump Tower. Serenity at the intersection of Fifth and 57^th would absolutely be welcome.

There’s definitely an opening in the Midtown central market for a new luxury property. The absence of the Plaza from the luxury hotel scene after it was turned into a primarily residential building has left a void only partially filled by the Four Seasons, the Peninsula and the St. Regis. With the iconic Waldorf Astoria closed for three years for renovations, the midtown luxury hotel market could use more life.

Of course, the new Aman is not scheduled to open until 2020. At which time, the Waldorf will probably be back online.  Like the luxury department store war underway in Manhattan, with Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus coming soon, and Saks, Bergdorfs and Barneys maneuvering for an edge, the luxury hotel space in Midtown has suddenly become much more competitive. Good for New York, good for visitors – maybe not so great for the proprietors of the other hotels nearby. Watch this space for updates.

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