Hotel Review • North America • United States • New York • New York City • NoMad

The Fifth Avenue Hotel: A NoMad Gem Where Historic Grandeur Meets Modern Glamour

Step inside The Fifth Avenue Hotel in NoMad, NYC. Discover Martin Brudnizki’s bold design, butler service, Café Carmellini, and five-star luxury.

Courtesy of The Fifth Avenue Hotel, Credit Douglas Friedman

The Gilded Age goes modern

BY LINDSAY COHN

Why it works

Hotel Snapshot

New York City isn’t lacking in luxury boutique stays, but since The Fifth Avenue Hotel opened, many devotees of the Uptown scene have made their way down to NoMad with increasing regularity. Tucked inside a restored Gilded Age brick and limestone mansion dating back to 1907 (later reborn as the stately Second National Bank by architectural firm McKim, Mead & White) and a 24-story glass tower on 28th Street, between Broadway and Fifth Avenue, the luxurious property captured a void in the hospitality landscape that it seems no one (save perhaps proprietor Alex Ohebshalom) knew existed.

Design & Character

Interior designer Martin Brudnizki puts his fanciful fingerprints all over the neoclassical landmark, transforming it from period piece to modern design-led destination with a mix of playful patterns, saturated colors, and sumptuous textures. Even in his most theatrical, the restraint is a reminder that no one does it better than the master of muted maximalism. From the moment guests step through the large gilded doors, the bygone richness and glamour of the original 1907 mansion presents itself, elevated by a modern theatricality and hint of Parisian sophistication. The double-height lobby is accented with faceted antique wall mirrors, marble floors, arched windows, and a hand-woven tapestry by Pae White, part of the 700-piece art collection.

The Rooms

The rooms and suites are as sumptuous as you’d expect. A palette of lush greens, peony pinks, berry reds, and golden yellows lays the fanciful foundation for decadent details like stucco walls, pagoda-style table lamps, and Murano glass chandeliers. Everything has a purpose and presence. The marble bathrooms feature separate soaking tubs and showers, along with deliciously scented bespoke bath products created exclusively for the hotel. The minibars are complimentary and restocked daily—or upon request, if you go through the drinks and snacks a little quicker.

Food & Drink

Café Carmellini, helmed by James Beard-winning chef Andrew Carmellini, puts on a decadent French-meets-Italian show for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The weekend Champagne brunch is a bougie fan favorite, welcoming hotel guests and native New Yorkers who get dressed up for the occasion.

The Portrait Bar, an intimate art-filled drinking destination, acts as a guests' only workspace from 8am to 5pm. But once the laptops slam shut, the energy changes and there’s a palpable buzz as well-dropped patrons pour in to sip martinis and snack on sesame-dusted popcorn and tuna tartare surrounded by old books and (you guessed it) portraits.

Amenities

One of the things The Fifth Avenue Hotel does incredibly well—gold star, teach-a-course level—is hospitality. The property offers personal butler service, making every guest feel like a VIP. The Portrait Bar functions as a guest-only lounge for remote work and reading during the day. The privileged perks keep coming: there’s a house car to ferry guests around Manhattan (on a first-come, first-served basis), along with complimentary shoe-shining and pressing services.

Spa & Wellness Scoop

If it’s a workout you’re after, there’s a 24-hour fitness center that’s impossibly well decorated, and kitted with the cardio machines and strength-training equipment needed to sweat it out. Guests also enjoy complimentary day passes to Life Time Fitness, located at 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue. While The Fifth Avenue Hotel doesn’t have a spa, it’s within walking distance of some standout beauty and wellness spaces—including Bathhouse Flatiron for thermal pools and saunas, WTHN for acupuncture and cupping, and sundays for nontoxic manis and pedis—and the dedicated butlers are more than happy to make appointments.

Location & Neighborhood Recs

The Fifth Avenue Hotel is exceedingly well located, just steps from Borgo (order the warm olives and lasagna), KazuNori, and Ambassadors Clubhouse. NoMad is also a great base for exploring other neighborhoods, with Flatiron, Gramercy, and Chelsea all a few blocks away. If you're interested in visiting the Union Square Greenmarket, it's about a 15-minute walk. It's also easy to zip down to the West Village and SoHo.

Fast Facts

Location: NoMad, New York City, New York

Vibe: The Gilded Age goes modern

Rating: Five-star

Room Count: 149, including 45 suites

Pricing: Starting at $995 nightly

Our Favorite Thing About the Hotel: It’s a tie between the audacious design and the personal butler service.

Dining: Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch at Café Carmellini. The Portrait Bar doubles as a low-key, guests-only workspace during the day and a buzzy yet discreet drinking den after 5 p.m.

Amenities: butler service; concierge; guest lounge access; house car service (available daily from 8am - 3pm); complimentary in-room minibar; twice-daily housekeeping; shoeshine service; garment pressing; 24-hour in-room dining

Nearby Attractions: Madison Square Park; Union Square; Flatiron Building; Empire State Building

Airport: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or LaGuardia (LGA)

Gallery

A closer look

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, Credit William Abranowicz

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, Credit William Abranowicz

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, Credit William Abranowicz

The Fifth Avenue Hotel, Credit Douglas Friedman

Credit Andrew Rugge

Hotels Above Par

Boutique luxury travel expertise for travelers who care where they wake up, not just where they land.

Partnership Disclosure

Hotels Above Par may receive compensation, promotional fees, hosted-stay consideration, affiliate commissions, or other benefits from hotel, travel, or brand partners mentioned in this email. These relationships do not determine our editorial judgment. We choose what to feature based on relevance, taste, usefulness, and fit for our readers. Purchases, bookings, or inquiries made through partner links may result in compensation to Hotels Above Par at no additional cost to you.