New York's latest influx continues: On November 5, Capella Hotels and Resorts marked the official opening of its first New York property, the Setai Fifth Avenue. The venue, another of the condo-hotel hybrids flooding the city, brings a contemporary European aesthetic to a relatively quiet stretch of Midtown and sits just two blocks north of the Empire State Building. Furnished with 157 guest rooms, 54 apartment suites, and three penthouse apartments, the sleek limestone-clad tower also houses an 11,500-square-foot spa and flexible meeting space. Ai Fiori, the Italian and French restaurant from chef Michael White occupying the second floor, is expected to open later this month.
Developed as an upscale property—operator Capella is led by former Ritz-Carlton Group president and C.O.O. Horst Schulze—the hotel comes equipped with plush rooms, most of which measure more than 700 square feet and are appointed with walnut paneling, expansive windows, and sizable bathrooms. The lobby itself is embellished with backlit white onyx panels and a striking elliptical staircase that leads to the second-floor restaurant.
Dominated by neutral tones, comfy banquettes, an illuminated bar at the front, and lounge seating, the dining room is where White will serve his mix of French Riviera-influenced Italian Mediterranean cuisine. Ai Fiori will offer 185 seats and a separate room for private groups.
Other functions and meetings can use the dedicated event space on the third floor, which is rigged with audiovisual technology for presentations. The main part of this section is the 2,394-square-foot salon, which seats 180 or holds 300 for receptions and can be divided into three smaller rooms. A 405-square-foot boardroom accommodates 12 and comes with an adjacent foyer.
