Bad start - dropped off by the airport shuttle but couldn't identify the hotel entrance! In my defence there were a lot of people milling around going to various functions. When I made my way into the reception area it was fairly deserted so didn't have any problems checking in.
The design of the public areas is achingly trendy but finding one's way through dark narrow corridors to the elevators isn't a good way to start! For some reason each evening the direct way to the elevator lobby, plus two of the four elevators were shut off.
The room was tiny - but the view magnificent - floor to ceiling windows looking out over the Hudson - surely the whole point of the place - which made the notice asking you to close the curtains so as not to embarass the neighbours rather a joke!
Odd layout - the lavatory was closed (fortunately - the seat wasn't fixed properly and made much noise when anyone stood up) but the bathroom open to the rest of the room. A huge bath seemed totally pointless - it took up space that could usefully been used for other things and filling takes ages - every time anyone in adjacent rooms filled theirs we were treated to thunderous plumbing noises for 15 minutes. I find it extraordinary in these times that anyone would install such water-wasting facilities in a new hotel. The worst thing about the bathroom, as others have noted, is that the drainage for the shower goes in totally the wrong direction - out towards the room and the fitted carpet. With each shower all the towels were needed to prevent flooding. I can't imagine that the bathroom furniture is removed every day to clean the residue of soapy water....
And no rubbish bin in a bathroom? Nice toiletries but useless hairdryer.
Another irritation - the minibar was ridiculously overstocked with unheard-of alcohols in what looked like perfume bottles (elderflower liqueur, ginger liqueur...) but no fruit juices and, for the first time ever in a US hotel - and I've stayed in hundreds! - no coffee-making facilities!
The room was OK for a single person but even a close couple would struggle - the queen-sized bed is pushed up in a corner against the wall and the space between the bottom of the bed and the window filled with the television. Nice design features but poor qualtiy finishes - the table top was very scratched.
Generally the sound-insulation was poor - apain addition to the plumbing, closing doors and people in the corrdiors were more than audible!
We found the staff friendly and the location was fine but overall I thought the hotel was pretentious and disappointing and $500+ is way too much to pay for a view.
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