The Alex

Midtown Manhattan

The area from Union Square to Central Park South is known as midtown Manhattan. It’s home to many businesses, chic boutiques and department stores including the legendary Macy’s. It’s also the quarter of Grand Central Station, New York’s immense central railway station, as well as some of the city’s tallest buildings. The 381-meter high Empire State Building, built in 1931 by General Motors is the tallest and the most majestic of New York’s skyscrapers.

A bit further north, we find Rockefeller Center, the seat of a huge number of media and culturally oriented companies. Built by the oil magnate, John D. Rockefeller in order to create a second financial center after Wall Street, it consists of 19 art deco style buildings including the General Electric building, a stunning skyscraper with a flat roof. Classified as an historic monument, it’s an important modern art site.

Finally, further east, there’s the emblematic Chrysler building, built in 1930 with the intention of being New York’s highest building. Its famous 58-meter high spire enabled it to fulfill its intention for just eleven months, after which the record was beaten by the Empire State building. The building is completely inspired by elements of Chrysler automobiles. Its crown resembles a car radiator grill. The steel eagles on the 61^st floor are copies of those that once decorated car hoods, and the 31^st floor décor depicts the famous Chrysler radiator caps. Midtown Manhattan is representative of the idyllic image one has of New York with its lively day and night atmosphere, making it a must stop for visitors to the Big Apple.

So terribly New York!

The Alex is a sophisticated oasis in the heart of Manhattan and the type of hotel one expects in New York. Just two streets from Park Avenue and the United Nations, it was designed by architect Costas Kondylis, a well-known creator of New York skyscrapers, and decorated by David Rockwell, a renowned designer.

The hall is divided into two distinct parts by immense turquoise colored glass panels, like a monochrome Mondrian painting. On one side, there’s a fitted gas fireplace highlighted by an ecru colored bench, a few light colored low wood tables, red leather armchairs and a chocolate colored day bed which serves as a salon. On the other side, we find the reception area. The fireplace is lit on each side by a glass wall in rainbow colors.

The elegantly designed rooms are warm and spacious with pure lines. Bamboo floors, chocolate color velvet curtains, a white leather bench, ecru cushions, white lamps and orchids in small vases make up the décor. All rooms have made to measure furniture and original works of art. The suites are veritable apartments, very rare in the center of the city with magnificent views of Manhattan.

The Riingo restaurant, whose name means apple in Japanese is known for its innovative design with red walls, sober lamps hanging from the ceiling and, once again, orchids in small alcoves. The creative Japanese-American cuisine is famous and includes dishes like braised spare ribs in a beer sauce, muscles with coconuts, a traditional miso soup or more simply, an upscale cheeseburger.

Walter Chrysler wanted his Chrysler Building to be the tallest skyscraper in the world. However, eleven months after its construction, it was surpassed by the Empire State. Legend has it that Walter Chrysler refused to pay the architect who he felt had failed in his mission.