JeffreyChodorow

NYC's Glamorous New Empire Hotel

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

All phases of Manhattan's glamorous, newly-restored Empire Hotel are now complete with the opening of Jeffrey Chodorow's chic new Center Cut restaurant. The red brick structure adjacent to Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side originally opened on December 5th, 1923 and was a hotspot from the Roaring '20s through the Swinging '60s. One of the highlights of the redesigned Empire is the luxe rooftoop pool and deck where the huge Hotel Empire neon sign, one of the oldest in the U.S., casts a warm red glow over everything.

The warm, glowing lobby and lobby bar have a retro Old Hollywood feel; it and the rooms and suites are designed with a nod to the hotel's history, but are thoroughly modern and luxurious. Center Cut features restored woods, the space's original terrazzo floors and sweeping curtains, while the menu is an eco-friendly take on steakhouse classics. See the gallery for more.

Gallery: The Empire Hotel

Tags: Center Cut, CenterCut, Empire Hotel, EmpireHotel, Jeffrey Chodorow, JeffreyChodorow, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, Upper West Side, UpperWestSide

Luxury Lands in Ft. Lauderdale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing

The name Ft. Lauderdale may be inexorably linked with the phrase "Spring Break," but that could be about to change now that the dingy Marina Marriot is getting a $60 million glamour injection. Full renovations on the newly-christened Ft. Lauderdale Grande Hotel & Yacht Club will be completed next month. The interiors are refreshing, stylish and modern, not to mention well-insulated from the frat boy set.

Meanwhile, a branch of Manhattan restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow's chic China Grill has already started serving guests lucky enough to snag one of the soft-opening suites. This is Chodorow's first outdoor waterside space; he'll also run the hotel's in-room dining operation. The restaurant overlooks the 33-slip inlet marina for yachting and diving enthusiasts, and a beautifully-redesigned pool area with cabanas and an outdoor fire pit. Check out the Photo Gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Ft. Lauderdale Grande