It’s hard to imagine the spirit of Upper Midtown’s grandeur in the warmth of a home-away-from-home; but that’s exactly where award-winning interior designer Kim Kemp MBE steps in. Crafting the ethos that ‘hotels are a living thing’ into every room that tells a unique story, The Whitby Hotel is reminiscent of the Museum of Modern Art on its doorstep with a modern-British twist.
Carefree, colourful and filled with character; it’s the playful approach to living among some of the city’s most sought-after sites that will create a breath of fresh air for even the most familiar visitors to these parts.
The Whitby Bar & Restaurant
Junior Suite bed
Drawing Room at The Whitby Hotel
The Whitby Hotel didn’t take its namesake from the North Yorkshire seaside resort without good reason; for here, everything is quintessentially British with a vibrantly imaginative twist.
Grandfather clock times are redrawn by the minute by a shadowy figure behind the clock face, while 52 wicker baskets hang above the buzzing bar (loved by locals too) telling stories of everything from a Northumbrian fish wife’s creel to a London flower-seller’s basket. Tradition collides with creativity, creating a truly visual feast for the eyes at every turn.
Sparks of joy are found in the grand display of artwork on offer, but it’s the familiar settings that make them harder to forget. Take a relaxing step back from the fast pace of the streets to a moment by the fire in the snug reading room, where little artefacts dotted around become new characters joining your story. Or, tuck away in the solitude of the private cinema, for a magical movie moment followed by an afternoon tea without all the fuss.
If it wasn’t for Martha Freud’s 40 delicate ceramics lining the walls of The Orangery restaurant, each etched with a New York landmark, it’d be easy to mistake a meal here for one experienced in a country retreat. Tables are decorated with the finest, colourfully embroidered chairs and delicate fingers pick up tasty treats of traditional cucumber-sandwiches. The menu contains an upscale offering of all the British classics, that’ll surely be enjoyed over the memories of the nearby Broadway shows and luxurious shopping spots.
There are so many hidden gems of artwork dotted around, it’d be a mistake to think you’re starting the Big Apple ‘small’. Just ask behind the reception desk, and a brochure of all the stories behind each piece will be at your fingertips so all budding curiosities can be quickly satisfied.
We especially love Hermione Skye’s kaleidoscopic loom artwork and the seventies Pop Artist Joe Tilson’s piece that demonstrates his love for mythology, ecology and symbolism.
While an invitation to this prestigious address once indicated your attendance to the exclusive Goodridge parties in the Gilded Age – today’s sojourns contrast the legacy of old-and-young New York for a re-imagining of its enduring grandeur.
There’s no such thing as playing pretend at this iconic New York address; with its glam-girl personality, enchanting history, and enviable location for living-it-up like a midtowner.
Internationally acclaimed designer Kit Kemp is behind the luscious interiors that grace this prime urban retreat, standing on a quiet cobbled street in the heart of vibrant SoHo.
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