Le Méridien Fifth Avenue, New York: Very good, but the rooms are really small

As part of a networking event organized by the French executives’ club of which I am a member, I headed to New York for an afterwork gathering.

For this occasion, I stayed at Le Méridien Fifth Avenue, located near Penn Station in Manhattan.

Booking

I booked this property through the Marriott Bonvoy app the day before my arrival.

I had initially booked the St. Regis, where I had stayed previously, at a rate of $680 per night. However, after my Suite Night Award was denied, I looked for a cheaper alternative, and this Le Méridien appeared at $403 per night, as the rate had dropped in the meantime.

On the morning of my arrival, I noticed that I had been upgraded to a Le Baine King, the highest category available.

Arrival

I arrived at the hotel shortly after 3 p.m., after a ten-minute walk from Penn Station.

A very pleasant doorman welcomed guests from the street and escorted them to the check-in counters located just inside the entrance.

They were completely empty, and I was quickly assisted by a very courteous front desk agent. Check-in formalities were handled efficiently, my status was acknowledged, and my upgrade confirmed. The late check-out I had requested was also confirmed for 2 p.m. as requested in the app, and I was handed a breakfast coupon.

Room

My room was located on the 13th floor of the property. The hallways leading to it were carefully decorated.

What I can say is that, despite this room being in the highest category, it was very small, even by New York or European standards.

The entrance features a full-length mirror and a few hooks for coats and scarves. Facing the entrance is the very comfortable king-size bed. The bedding is of good quality.

The décor is tasteful, and the bed is flanked by two bedside tables equipped with the necessary outlets for charging electronic devices.

Facing the bed is a wardrobe, which houses the safe, as well as a high table that serves as a desk. It is slightly cluttered by the coffee machine and its somewhat oversized stand, which limit the available workspace. The empty minibar and the large connected television are also located in this area.

Next to this desk is a small banquette and a coffee table.

The room offers a pleasant view over Fifth Avenue.

Finally, a sliding door conceals the bathroom, which is surprisingly spacious given the size of the room, and includes a bathtub, a large shower, a slightly narrow sink, and a toilet separated by a sliding door.

Overall, it is a very nice room, but with one area for improvement: soundproofing, both from outside noise and from neighboring rooms.

To conclude, here is the video tour:

Hotel Amenities

The hotel is equipped with a fitness room located in the basement.

My preferred machine was available when I visited, but the gym was fairly busy.

Food & Beverage

The property has a single dining outlet: Allora, adjacent to the lobby.

Bar – Allora

Before heading to dinner, I had a drink at the bar of Allora, the hotel’s restaurant.

The bartender was very pleasant, and I ordered a neat whisky. I asked for a few nuts to accompany my drink, and the bartender kindly offered me, free of charge, some of the antipasti normally served to restaurant guests. And they were delicious!

An excellent experience.

Breakfast service – Allora

On the morning of my departure, I had breakfast at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Allora.

The menu is fairly comprehensive, and Platinum members and above receive a $19 credit, enough to order a full continental breakfast or any other item on the menu.