Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links below. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
W Hotels, has officially unveiled the impressive renovation of the W New York – Union Square. This transformation cost $100 million and will serve as a template for the design in other W Hotels. The historic 256-room landmark needed a change and its renovation sets it up for a new wave of travelers to enjoy. This was one of the first W Hotels I ever stayed at and I remember thinking I wasn’t cool enough to be there at the time.
Located in the former Beaux-Arts-style Guardian Life Building that was built in 1911, the reimagined hotel reflects the dynamic spirit of Union Square and its role as a cultural hub of New York City. From its impressive rooftop to its redesigned guest rooms, W New York – Union Square celebrates the brand’s roots in the city where W Hotels was born more than two decades ago.
W Hotels returned to its origins and enlisted the Rockwell Group (the visionary design firm behind the hotel’s original debut in 2001). Drawing inspiration from Union Square Park and the neighborhood’s ever-changing energy, the interiors embrace “clean maximalism” and blend historic architectural details with modern, artistic flair.
The grand staircase now features a cascading abstract carpet and lush botanical accents. This creates a striking welcome balanced by bold black-and-white houndstooth reception desks and a vibrant mural by artist Shantell Martin. The Living Room, W’s signature hotel lobby, space evokes the grandeur of Grand Central Station with soaring ceilings, original marble columns, and dramatic Corinthian capitals. Designed as a magnetic gathering place for locals and travelers, it transitions seamlessly from a serene daytime café serving Devoción coffee to an evening cocktail lounge with live music, DJ sets, and pop-up performances.
The 256 guest rooms and suites mirror the seasonal changes of Union Square Park through botanical-inspired carpets, ombre wallpaper, and velvet headboards in earthy greens and burnt oranges. These were the “it” colors last year at the Hospitality Design Expo and I knew we’d be seeing them pop up more. Subtle nods to New York’s heritage appear throughout. These include nightstands inspired by the Union Square Metronome installation, subway lamp-style light fixtures, and taxicab-yellow faucet handles.
The crown jewel of the hotel is the 1,215-square-foot Penthouse Suite. It offers panoramic Manhattan views, separate living and dining spaces, a private bar, and custom furniture.
Seahorse will be a modern seafood brasserie by John McDonald and Mercer Street Hospitality that will open this fall. Menu highlights include tuna crudo with crispy caper parsley oil, Skull Island prawns with burnt lemon and Calabrian chili, wood oven–roasted Shinnecock littlenecks in nduja butter, and signature seafood toasts (like chilled lobster on Old Bay-buttered bread and sea urchin topped with caviar).
Seventeen stories above Union Square, the hotel’s exclusive rooftop bar debuts with sweeping skyline views and a design by AvroKO (the studio behind W Prague and W Florence). The intimate indoor/outdoor venue channels the neighborhood’s artistic past, with nods to legendary nightlife spots like Andy Warhol’s Factory and Max’ Kansas City.
The hotel’s FIT wellness center redefines the modern hotel gym. The space now features the first in-hotel Peloton Studio for W Hotels (yay!), hydro-massage chairs for post-workout recovery, and design elements inspired by the 14th Street-Union Square subway station
For events, the property offers 2,587 square feet of meeting space across four Studio rooms. These feature Herman Miller furnishings and offer menus sourced directly from the Union Square Greenmarket.
Anthony’s Take: I have always loved this hotel and it looks better than ever. I can’t wait to check it out.
(Image Credits: Marriott.)
User Generated Content Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat encourages constructive discussions, comments, and questions. Responses are not provided by or commissioned by any bank advertisers. These responses have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the responsibility of the bank advertiser to respond to comments.
Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
1 comment
W hotel…what is it 1998? that’s a brand that was a little too cute to the point of being a parody of itself.