I didn’t expect to fall in love with a hotel. I mean, sure, I’ve had flings with plush pillows and flirted with fancy lobby chandeliers. But when I checked into 1 Hotel Central Park, something deeper stirred – like a secret garden blooming in the middle of a city that never stops to smell the roses.
Let me back up.
First Impressions: Welcome to the Urban Jungle
I arrived flustered and frazzled, just another travel-weary Londoner. But the moment I stepped up to the leafy green façade – yes, the building is actually wrapped in ivy and climbing plants – I felt something shift. It was like the building whispered, “Take a breath, you’re safe here.”
Inside, the air smelled faintly of cedar and citrus, and the doorman greeted me not with corporate stiffness, but with the warmth of someone who actually loves where they work. The lobby was a forest fantasy come to life: reclaimed wood, stone walls, hanging terrariums, and cosy nooks lit by natural light. I’d barely checked in before I started plotting how I could move in permanently.
The Room: Like Waking Up in a Treehouse
My room was a dream – a minimalist, wood-and-glass cocoon that somehow made me feel grounded and spoiled. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a sliver of Central Park, while soft, neutral tones and organic textures made it feel more like a modern treehouse than a hotel suite.
Here’s the kicker: Everything had a purpose. The mattress was a plush hemp-blend, the filtered water was served in glass carafes (no plastic bottles in sight), and the hangers were made from recycled paper. Even the “Do Not Disturb” sign had a twist – it was a smooth stone etched with “Not Now.” I mean, come on. Adorable.
Dining at Jams: Farm-to-Fabulous
Dinner that night was at Jams, the hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant. It’s helmed by the legendary chef Jonathan Waxman, but it doesn’t have the snooty vibe you might expect from a place with culinary clout. It’s cosy, vibey, and smells like roasted rosemary and garlic.
I ordered the roasted chicken with seasonal vegetables and a glass of biodynamic wine – because of course they serve biodynamic wine – and it was sublime. Comfort food elevated to art, with ingredients so fresh they probably knew their farmer by name.
Wellness & Whimsy
When travelling, I’m not usually a “fitness centre” person (more of a “walk to brunch” kind of gal), but 1 Hotel’s wellness offerings were impossible to resist. I tried their Infrared Sauna Blanket – which sounds like a sci-fi sleeping bag but felt like being hugged by a sunbeam – and emerged feeling like I had just spent a week at a spa retreat.
I also did the Peloton ride in their sleek gym – only for the lox and cream cheese bagel afterwards.
The Location: Green in the City
Being literally a block from Central Park meant I could go for morning walks among the trees, then swing by Fifth Avenue to window shop among the fashion elite. Carnegie Hall, MoMA, the Theater District – they’re all right there. But every time I returned to the hotel, it felt like crossing into another world. A quieter, greener, kinder world.
The Ethos: Luxury Without the Guilt
What struck me most was that 1 Hotel doesn’t preach sustainability – it lives it. You feel good staying there because they feel good doing things right. From in-room recycling bins to locally sourced everything, to the hotel-wide composting system (yes, really), it’s eco-luxury without the greenwashing.
Let’s Hear it for New York
If Central Park is the lungs of Manhattan, 1 Hotel Central Park is its beating green heart. It’s where design meets intention, where city noise melts into birdsong, and where you can sleep like a queen knowing you’re not trashing the planet in the process.
I left with a full heart, a calmer mind – and a firm belief that nature and luxury can absolutely share the same room.
1414 6th Ave, New York, NY 10019, United States
