Last week, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts opened the Andaz 5th Avenue, the second New York outpost of its rapidly expanding collection of boutique properties. Opposite the New York Public Library, this 184-room hotel was designed by Tony Chi and follows the ideas laid out by its Wall Street sibling, with residential-style rooms, a farm-to-table restaurant, and flexible studios for corporate functions. Marked by a neutral palette of black- and white-washed poplar paneling and grey basalt floors, the Midtown venue also offers views and plenty of natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Although the Wall Street location has more rooms, the Andaz 5th Avenue offers a slightly larger space for meetings and events. Configured into several rooms with an open, communal kitchen as the central gathering point, the second-floor area, dubbed Apartment 2E, has three studios—the largest of which measures 1,478 square feet and can be split into three sections—two open-plan galleries, a landscaped courtyard, and a 60-person bar and den. At 6,500 square feet, the entire floor can be used for receptions for as many as 400 people.
For entertaining, the hotel offers a ground-level restaurant known as the Shop and a bar in the cellar. In keeping with the residential aesthetic of the property, both establishments have open kitchens and an unfussy, comfortable design. The 38-seat eatery serves food sourced from local purveyors like Katz's Delicatessen, Sullivan Street Bakery, and the Pickle Guys, and sells coffee, chocolates, soaps, and other products in the front. In the 80-seat subterranean bar, small plates complement the selection of wine and cocktails.
