Luxe Beat Magazine AUGUST 2014 | Page 29

Travel Gaby Restaurant NY is the delightful signature restaurant at Sofitel NYC restaurant and is headed by French Master Chef Sylvain Harribey, who creates a delicious brasserie menu. Try his playful French riff on the American burger, including a baguette and truffle fries. His menu is inspired by the seasons and Gaby is a great pre-theater restaurant. With room service at Sofitel also overseen by this master chef, you could roll around in your suite all day with that special someone. But you won’t because you can walk to museums-- a fave is the Morgan with its impressive library and occasional jazz brunch, the spectacular New York Library, or Grand Central Station for an oyster pan fry. Return to your suite and enjoy a soak in your marble bath, with fluffy towels and Sofitel’s Hermes amenities before going out again. Mais oui! Trendy-somethings take note. The perfect patio for music and cocktails, quirky hotel-speak lingo, and a concept restaurant called “ The Dojo” with sumo wrestlers painted on the wall does exist to satisfy your quest for cool. What would you say to a huge robotic arm behind glass that stores your luggage? What about reporting to “mission control” to check in? How about the most efficient, and nearly the most compact hotel rooms in NYC? Yotel is the hotel for you. Well located on the Hell’s Kitchen side of Broadway, Yotel is popular with European and Asian travelers, and American hipsters with little luggage. Why the luggage comment? No closet but a few hooks to hang your clothes, so pack light. Really, does anyone wear those long scarves in summer anymore? The rooms are like a cabin in small boat. There is a really nice, simple bathroom with everything you need and mine had a view to the Hudson River. To craw into this room’s berth, you had to climb a ladder over a queen bed that was like an electric futon. Press a button and it scoots out from being a sofa to a comfortable bed. The NYC Yotel is from the same company that opened the successful Yotel in London Gatwick Airport for sky warriors to sleep off jet-lag between flights. True to the concept, this one delivers much bang for your buck. So select what appeals to you as a travel experience and book. And here is a tip for first timers: Don’t forget to pack your NYC City Pass available online. This pass is invaluable to avoid standing in lines at museums, attractions and yes even the iconic Empire State Building. At Sofitel the high floors have incredible views 28