Entering the Hotel Giraffe is like stepping back in time. With its floor-to-ceiling windows pouring in light by day and night, a charming piano man tickling the ivories during cocktail hour, and the sumptuous settings, the ideally situated Gramercy Park gem will have you humming “Take Five”, “At Last”, and “Fly Me to the Moon” long before you’ve reached your well-appointed suite. The distinctive art deco influences instantly amp up the cool cachet quotient with interiors that are understated, refined, and elegant. The property evokes a feeling that great jazz legends may have once stayed there. My suite had a terrace overlooking Manhattan’s tony Park Avenue. Upon arrival, I was welcomed by a lovely fruit basket and refreshing sparkling waters!

The architecture and floor plan enhance this sense of luxury with a quality that is especially rare in New York—spaciousness! There are only seven guest rooms to each floor. The accommodations include 10ft ceilings, antique-rose velveteen upholstered chairs, and ottomans as well as black and white original photographs from the ’20s and ’30s. Chic and contemporary linens, chocolate leather headboards and pearlized platinum wall coverings offering a touch of regency glamour to each guest room. The hotel offers smoke-free accommodations in two categories, superior and deluxe; the deluxe rooms feature French Doors that open onto private European style balconies adorned with fresh flowers.

Each of the 12-story hotel’s 72 guestrooms, including 21 suites, features a residential style ambiance surrounded by lavish colors and plush fabrics to soothe your senses. The hotel boasts architectural and interior design accents such as Juliet balconies, adjoining terraces, 10 ft. ceilings, and granite desks. Technological enhancements include: dual-line cordless speaker phones, modem hookups, wireless internet access, stereo systems, flat screen televisions, iHome MP3 Dock /Alarm Clocks, and DVD players. Luxurious New York City lodging amenities in each bathroom include aromatherapy bath products, plush bathrobes and waffle weave slippers, and lighted mirrors. The king-size guestrooms also house an iron, full-size board and honor bar.

Hotel Giraffe’s 1,300-square foot retro-glamorous Penthouse Piano Suite provides the ultimate setting for inspiring meetings and unique social events. Spacious and airy, the salon of the Piano Suite features a 26ft vaulted barrel ceiling, panoramic views of Manhattan, a working stone fireplace, ebony baby grand piano, private terrace and exquisite landscaped roof-top garden. The Piano Suite with Park Avenue Terrace and the Roof Garden may each be rented separately for smaller events, or together for larger events.  This 12th floor Penthouse also features a deluxe guestroom with king bed and private balcony as well as a 385sq ft one-bedroom suite with separate living room. Additionally, they are pleased to introduce a new event space, the Park Avenue Den. With over 1,672 sq ft. of versatile event space, the Hotel Giraffe provides its clients with the confidence that comes from knowing that no detail or opportunity to “WOW” guests will be overlooked. ”At Hotel Giraffe, whether the event involves 40 or 80 attendees, we are here to assist, anticipate and ultimately, exceed expectations,” says Jennifer Maas, Director of Sales & Marketing.

The hotel offers a variety of dining and entertainment choices from the Park Avenue Bistro to the hotel’s Grand Lobby. Located just two doors down from the hotel, Park Avenue Bistro has been creating gastronomic delights since 1989. The restaurant also serves as an art gallery, thus pairing the expression of its food with contemporary artists. Options abound from lunch in the Grande Lobby, dinner at Park Avenue Bistro, or a private event in the Penthouse Piano Suite. Each experience yields a unique sensation, making Park Avenue Bistro and Hotel Giraffe an important addition to this dynamic and trendsetting neighborhood and a popular destination for locals and travelers alike.

Each of the HK Hotels is built around a unique concept. The Giraffe Hotel conjures up images of a swanky 30’s supper club with its lofty ceilings and posh Gramercy Park address. This property is an ideal option for those travelers who would prefer to stay in a proper neighborhood, away from the bedlam and mayhem, yet conveniently situated, nearly equidistant between Soho and midtown. The Library Hotel is so much more than a booklover’s paradise with its Bookmark Lounge, American Bistro, and International Wine Bar. The Casablanca Hotel pays tribute to an unforgettable cinematic experience with its mystically Moroccan design accents. The wartime period references provide a fantastic setting and a wide array of classic and current DVD releases, alike, are available for visiting film buffs. The Hotel Elysée is reminiscent of a countryside manor with its Anglo-Franco décor; toile upholstered settees, overstuffed sitting chairs, and elegant European sconces lend an air of weekend estate. These accommodations feel more like a weekend estate, except for the fact that the property is walking distance to MOMA, Central Park, and New York City’s shopping mecca along Madison and Fifth Avenues.

Hotel Giraffe is walking distance to many major New York City attractions: from the Empire State Building and Morgan Library to Herald Square, and the iconic Flatiron buildings. The Hotel Giraffe guest can fully experience a bonafide NYC neighborhood, away from the trendy, touristy, densely populated enclaves of midtown. Only a few paces from Gramercy Park, a landmark you actually need a key to enter, now that’s pretty posh…

A special note of thanks to the courteous and attentive staff at Hotel Giraffe and HK Hotels, in particular Jennifer Villanueva and Adele Gutman.