Simply Abu Dhabi XXVI

1 1 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I TheCoreofthe BigApple Iconic in stature and always rising to the occasion, the St. Regis New York sits at the heart of the hotel brand’s global empire. by Julia Zaltzman T he St. Regis New York, an 18-storey Beaux Arts beauty built in 1904 by John Jacob Astor and renovated in 2015, is a grand New York landmark. Located just steps away from Fifth Avenue shopping, world-class restaurants and award-winning theatres, it is elegant and luxurious, with flawless personalised service. The hotel has long been an oasis of refinement for visitors and New Yorkers alike, and it has built an undeniably impressive list of celebrity clientele including politicians, fashion designers, entertainers and royalty. Since its opening over a century ago – the first of now 30 establishments around the world – the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests. The aesthetic plays to the strengths of Manhattan: New York-inspired art work, large-scale windows with sweeping views of Fifth Avenue and Central Park, and an imperious marble lobby. Waterford Crystal chandeliers, antique furnishings and a handsome library all add to the gilded age sophistication. The hotel’s famous King Cole Bar remains one of the city's most stately lounges, nightly drawing the elite through its doors, and it is home to the famous Old King Cole Mural. In its own unique Manhattan fashion, and in celebration of heritage, there are three designer suites – Bentley, Dior and Tiffany – which provide guests with their own bespoke style, luxury and craftsmanship associated with all four renowned international brands. The Bentley Suite marks the first design collaboration between Britain’s leading luxury car maker and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. On entering, guests are greeted by the defining characteristics of the luxury automobile brand: a blend of cream and neutral tones, set against the rich wood finishes of the handcrafted furnishings found throughout the space. The black leather tile floor pairs perfectly with a linen coloured, perforated diamond leather wall, stitched with one of the 42 custom Bentley leathers. A metallic silver mirror, inspired by a carbon fibre wheel rim, sits above an accent table evocative of the dashboard of a Bentley.