Aman New York is redefining the luxury hotel scene in Manhattan. In a city as storied as New York, luxury, for better or worse, is often synonymous with historic. Or, in less romantic terms, old. Places like The Plaza, St. Regis, or Algonquin have long dominated when it comes to lavish accommodations and, naturally, the look of these hotels—Gilded Age glamour with hints of neoclassical grace—has prevailed as the aesthetic of high-end hospitality. Aman New York, decked out in a modern organic style, wants to change that narrative.
As the newest addition to the hospitality brand’s extensive property list, Aman New York is the brand’s first location on the East Coast and only the third in the United States. First established in 1988 in Phuket, Thailand, Aman was imagined as a collection of intimate retreats and has carved out a niche as a power player in remote luxury. “The Aman DNA, which has remained the same since the brand’s conception in 1988 with Amanpuri, is standout locations, exceptional architecture and interior design, peace, privacy, and unparalleled service,” Vlad Doronin, owner, chairman and CEO of Aman Group tells AD. The company classifies Aman New York as America’s first urban Aman and hopes to establish the serene upscale composure it’s known for in the middle of the concrete jungle.
Sitting on Fifth Avenue just below Central Park, Aman New York is located in the historic Warren & Wetmore–designed Crown Building (The firm’s most notable project was Grand Central Terminal). Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects oversaw the transformation of the building that once housed the Museum of Modern Art into the exclusive accommodations.
At the nexus of two histories—the building’s in New York high society and Aman’s in Asia—instead of avoiding this perceived dichotomy, the hotel chose to lean into the contradiction. Small gold details honor the structure’s roots from the Gilded Age, while wood and stone floors resembling a rattan basket and straw marquetry on fireplaces pull from the Asian design vernacular. An organic, dark palate is reminiscent of the brand’s force as a tranquil oasis in remote areas, while large public spaces reflect the building’s palatial proportions and New York’s status as a highly public urban melting pot.
For the New Yorker or tourist still looking for the calm they would easily find in one of Aman’s more secluded locations, the Big Apple hotel has another trick up its sleeve. Spanning three floors and 25,000 square feet, Aman New York contains the brand’s flagship urban spa. “Aman Spa New York represents the culmination of all we have learnt so far, and we are proud to offer transformative wellness and longevity experiences through functional and integrated medical services, specialist therapies, and cutting-edge culinary, aesthetic, and performance science, in a setting like no other,” Aman’s global head of Wellness and Spa, Yuki Kiyono, said in a statement. Inside, the facilities offer seven treatment rooms with a long list of high-tech beauty technologies including an infrared detox sauna and full-body cryotherapy.
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Despite bringing a new flair to the look of luxury, the high price tag of opulence is one stereotype the brand isn’t breaking. Of the 83 suites in the hotel, the cheapest of them start at $3,200 a night, with the corner suites starting at $15,000. In addition to the bedrooms and spa, guests can also find two signature restaurants, a fitness center, a 65-foot reflective pool, a hair and nail salon, a garden terrace, a jazz club, and a lounge bar.
“I think of our design aesthetic as Asian chic—we have a focus on simplicity and refined elegance to create a sense of peacefulness,” Doronin explains, adding, “We have one clear design language, which creates a feeling of harmony and serenity, reflective of the Aman ethos and feeling.” Instead of looking to replicate the New York of the past, Aman looks to the future—one where a sliver of Fifth Avenue can be both a quiet respite and one of the busiest blocks in the world.