If you prefer the view from the corner office, stay at the Trump Soho.
Trump SoHo
246 Spring St.; 212-842-5500; 391 rooms from $339 ($639 for suites); trumpsohohotel.com. Green Mountain Energy, a renewable wind-energy provider, provides 100 per cent of the hotel's needs.
While Greenwich Village historical groups sought to prevent the Donald's march into the previously glitz-free downtown, Trump SoHo has managed to find its feet among the sturdy old warehouses and cast-iron frontages of its neighbours. Since its unveiling, the 46-storey glass tower has become a landmark, attracting the city's smart set to its quietly luxurious interior and glamorous bar. You'd be hard-pressed to find more spectacular views of Manhattan than you get from the corner suites, which offer unobstructed views of the Hudson River, a direct view up Sixth Avenue to Midtown skyscrapers, the rapidly rising financial district, or the East Village - your choice, depending on which direction you face. Looking at the skyline out of the oversized windows, it's a wonder no one thought to build a tower here before.
Its location amid SoHo's art galleries and boutiques, close to the nocturnal charms of TriBeCa and not far from Wall Street, makes it a prime choice for both leisure and business travellers. It's especially ideal for one of those mix-business-with-leisure trips with the spouse or family.
Catering to this well-heeled market, Trump Kids packs in a lot of extras for the tiny but tony set. Mini-tycoons can have business cards printed, order kiddie cocktails and meals from their own room-service menu, and order up a DVD or two from the carefully chosen library - anyone for watching Night at the Museum before visiting the Natural History Museum, where the film takes place?
DESIGN
Conceived by the Rockwell Group - the New York design firm behind several W Hotels and Nobu restaurants - the soaring lobby never feels empty or cold. Grand opalescent columns divide the space into two - a quiet seating area on the right, and an entranceway lined with sumptuous bronze leather armchairs leading to reception. Handcrafted wooden panels rotate vertically to let in light, while the warm glow of backlit onyx illuminates the lobby in the evenings. Wait staff appear and discreetly offer drinks and a light menu to guests pondering their next move.
ROOMS
Spacious by New York standards, enormous floor-to-ceiling windows keep the Manhattan skyline centre stage. A palette of rich earth tones creates a warm atmosphere perfect for cocooning, and a baby-blue cashmere throw encourages it. Fendi leather headboards and velvety pony-hair settees bookend ridiculously comfortable beds. Decadent bathrooms feature elegant Turkish stripe marble, hand-hammered bronze sinks and fixtures, a deep soaker tub with a dazzling view, and a stand-alone rain shower from which you can watch television or incoming weather systems over the Atlantic. A well-stocked wet bar includes a hidden microwave, Nespresso machine and gourmet snack tray. A pair of LCD TVs and a DVD player allow for movie nights, and hi-tech controls dim lights and lower window shades with a single stroke. So why charge for wireless Internet, which is as essential as hot water to travellers these days?
AMENITIES
Ivanka Trump designed the 11,000-square-foot Spa at Trump which features a hammam offering traditional services of heat, scrub and relaxation, and multiple private treatment rooms. The spa shares the seventh floor with Bar d'Eau, a chic indoor/outdoor bar that spills onto the 6,000-square-foot pool deck, where a bocce court and three private cabanas round out the city's latest en plein air perch.
SERVICE
Trump staff are well-trained and unfailingly courteous, helping guests plan daily outings. During our check-in, the bellman took time to point out all the Manhattan landmarks arrayed outside the windows, and demonstrated the room's high-tech controls.
FOOD
Chef-owners Fabrizio and Nicola Carro have brought their famed Miami hot spot Quattro to town, and New Yorkers, though spoiled with Italian restaurants, quickly adopted it as one of their own. Known for their northern Piedmontese cooking, the Carros turn out authentic handmade pastas, trademark dishes like Agnolotti Piemontesi Allo Stufato and Vitello Tonnato, all made with artisanal ingredients imported from the old country. Kastel is Quattro's sleek lounge, perfect for posh cocktails and post-dinner canoodling. Suspended above the lobby, the beautifully appointed Library is a tranquil spot for a drink, or for browsing the large collection of Taschen books while contemplating one's next meal or purchase.
VERDICT
With the best views in Manhattan and a coveted downtown location, the newest Trump hotel has landed squarely in coolsville, adding a splash of luxury to its bohemian surroundings.
Special to The Globe and Mail