Property Tour Review: Thompson New York Central Park

Background:

I had the pleasure of visiting the new Thompson Central Park New York for a property tour and happy hour. The Thompson was formerly the Le Parker Meridien Hotel, but underwent a brand change and renovation in 2020.

The Thompson Central Park New York is the 3^rd Thompson hotel in New York City, after the Beekman and Gild Hall Downtown. Ironically, a new Le Meridien popped up in the former Viceroy, and is right next door to the Thompson Central Park.

The Thompson Central Park is the largest Thompson in the portfolio with 587 rooms, as Thompson’s are normally boutique-style hotels. Additionally, this property is the only Thompson with a club lounge called the “Upper Stories Lounge”. You can get access to this club lounge by staying in an Upper Stories room. The lounge offers a selection light bites and sips throughout the day including coffee, tea, and soft drinks. An honor bar is also available.

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Location:

As a “new” New Yorker who has lived in the city for about half a year, I find the location quite good for tourists coming into the city. The Thompson Central Park is just a few blocks from Central Park South, shopping on 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, and Broadway theaters.

The Thompson Central Park New York is in the heart of midtown, with the main entrance to the lobby on 56th Street between 6^th and 7^th Ave. There’s another entrance to the restaurant/bar Parker on 57th Street. In terms of the Subway, you can quickly walk to the 57th Street subway stations, to catch the F or the N, Q, R, and W.

Booking:

The Thompson currently offers standard room rates that start at around $400 per night before taxes and fees. For those who have World of Hyatt points, it’s a Category 6, so it costs 25,000 points as a standard award or 21,000 points off-peak and 29,000 peak.

FORA TRAVEL BENEFITS:

I work with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays. Fora is partnered with a program called Hyatt Prive, which the Thompson Central Park is part of. With Fora’s partnership, you can get special perks when booking with me. This specific property features:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Daily complimentary full breakfast at the hotel restaurant
• $100 USD Property Credit
• Early check-in

If you are interested in getting these perks and want to stay at the Thompson Central Park New York, feel free to email me at takeofftotravel@fora.travel and I would be happy to help you plan your trip.

Arrival:

The lobby feels quite large and open, and the dark color palate gives off a modern-sophisticated vibe. Certainly on the higher-end of four star properties.

Rooms:

I toured many types of rooms, from the standard 2 Doubles, Upper Stories 2 Doubles, Deluxe King, and Studio Suite King.

Standard 2 Doubles:

First, the standard 2 Doubles room was a solid size for New York City standards, at 300 square feet. There are rooms with Central Park Views available as well. I really liked the full sized-sofa near the window, but I believe configurations may vary as I have seen some photos with a loveseat near the center of the room and no window sofa. The beds did seem a bit small for a family, but perhaps for younger families it will suffice. The bathroom was adequate with modern finishes, and D.S. & Durga bath amenities. A Nespresso machine was also provided in the room.

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Upper Stores King:

The Upper Stories King gets access to the Upper Stories Lounge, and on top of the standard rooms, these rooms also feature a Dyson hairdryer in the bathroom. Additionally, the decor was a bit different than the standard rooms. The room I toured also had Central Park Views, but since it was nighttime during my tour, it was hard to see.

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One King Bed Deluxe:

Personally, my favorite room in the hotel was the Deluxe. At 400 square feet, the room features a king bed and nice living area with large sofa. I think it was a great use of space, and feels like a mini-suite to me. If I were to stay here, I would love one of these rooms.

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Studio Suite King:

A category above the Deluxe King, is the Studio Suite King. This room features a king, larger living room area with a large table, and sleeper sofa. This could be a great room for families. While I like the room a lot, I wish there were double sinks in the restroom.

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Dining:

One outlet hasn’t changed from the hotel’s time as the Parker Meridien. The no-frills hamburger spot Burger Joint was kept in the hotel. While it detracts from the overall modern upscale hotel, it gives the property some unique-ness that I liked.

The main restaurant is Parker’s, which seems to be a nice place to have a meal, or have drinks and catch up with colleagues after work.

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I generally don’t like martinis, but I had the best one here! And, live music is always a plus.

There is also an Indian restaurant called Indian Accent, and the property also offers in-room dining.

Amenities:

While I didn’t have a chance to check it out during my visit, the Thompson features a fitness center, Drybar Salon and other wellness shops one level below the lobby.

The Verdict:

The Thompson Central Park can be a solid choice if you want a new upscale hotel in the heart of Midtown. The new furnishings and boutique-style vibe are definite pluses. I’m intrigued by the club lounge addition with the Upper Stories, which gives a more upscale lounge experience.

Have you stayed at the Thompson Central Park New York before? What were your thoughts? Comment below!

Happy Travels,

Ty

Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!