"HEAR THAT?" asked Simon Kopec.
"No," I said.
"Exactly," he replied.
I'm not one for gimmicks, but Kopec, the marketing director at the Aman New York (aman.com; doubles from $3,400), had a point. He was inviting me to listen for the rush-hour traffic, which had apparently started to pick up on the streets of Manhattan 10 stories below. But at $15,000 per night, the Corner Suite we were touring was impervious to the auditory intrusions of midtown. This is something management is quite proud of; hence the sound test.
Cultivating a sense of serenity is something the brand is known for-aman means "peace" in Sanskrit-but until fairly recently, almost all of its 34 properties had achieved this by being located as far as possible from a place like midtown, in destinations such as Greece's Peloponnese peninsula or the Philippines' Palawan archipelago (where the resort is only accessible by private plane). Aman has just one other property that's styled like a true urban hotel: a Tokyo outpost opened in 2014.
"I discovered there was not enough focus on tranquility in urban settings," explains CEO and chairman Vlad Doronin, who took over from hotelier Adrian Zecha after acquiring the brand in 2014. "Particularly in New York." As he further expands the portfolio, Doronin is looking for similar gaps in other markets (three more city hotels are planned over the next four years, in Bangkok, Miami Beach, and Beverly Hills).
After entering the Crown Building at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue and taking the elevator to the 14th-floor reception, the thrum of N.Y.C. completely fell away. This tower has not always been so quiet: it began life as a three-story office complex on a stretch once dominated by Vanderbilt- and Astor-funded mansions that's now known as Billionaire's Row.
Esta historia es de la edición November 2022 de Travel+Leisure US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición November 2022 de Travel+Leisure US.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
OUR PORTUGUESE ADVENTURE
Small plates in Lisbon, fancy soaps in Porto, sandcastles on the beaches of the Algarve... Jessamine Chan and her family fall for a country with something for everyone.
Note Perfect
For centuries, the Italian town of Cremona has been home to the great instrument makers, and its streets continue to ring with music. For Julie Orringer, a family trip becomes a master class in the power of travel.
CREST of the WAVE
On France's rugged Basque Coast, old-school glamour meets shaggy surf culture-and creates an irresistible mix.
Turkish Delight
A major waterfront revitalization project in Istanbul is giving visitors-and locals-a reason to stroll and stay awhile.
Out of the Box
How an Austrian ski and spa town landed on the European art circuit.
Breaking Away
Finding solitude on a peaceful island in the Pacific Northwest.
Wrocław Reborn
After being decimated in World War II, this Polish city has risen from the ashes. On a quest for family roots, Laura Moser discovers a vital cultural crossroads.
It Takes a Village
In the canyons of northern Greece, the people of the Zagorohoria are cementing their home as a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Eleni N. Gage shares their story.
Explore One of Europe's Coolest Capitals: Tallinn
AFTER EMERGING FROM the intense heat of the sauna, I ran across a wooden deck and plunged into the brisk Baltic Sea. The cold pierced my skin from the soles of my feet upward, like ice water blanching a steamed vegetable. When I surfaced, my travel companions, who'd just done the same, were laughing so hard they could barely stay afloat.
Restore Your Body and Mind in Kyoto
WHEN VICKY TSAI visited Kyoto for the first time in 2008, she booked what she thought would be a simple facial.