Hilton Garden Inn

This historic hotel was built in 1926 and has seen everyone from Tallulah Bankhead to Joe DiMaggio pass through its doors. After World War II, it was redesigned to allow each room to be unique, and suites were named after their famous occupants. Marlon Brando called Sayonara Suite home; Tennessee Williams lived - and died - in the infamous Sunset Suite. Today, customers can enjoy the lavish rooms and eclectic history of the hotel, and dine at the Monkey Bar, located just next door.

Pod 51 offers an experience unlike most New York hotels. Rather than merely serving a necessary function, the hotel is a destination in itself thanks to its conceptually fresh architecture, stylish decor, and excellent dining options. The philosophy behind the hotel's design - small is beautiful - finds its roots in the Japanese tradition of capsule hotels. The Pod (and its sibling, the Pod 39) offers lodging that ranges from the "bunk pod, " a tiny but appealing room equipped with bunk beds, to the "studio pod, " a more expansive space, all for relatively affordable prices. Despite the low square footage, the rooms never feel cramped, thanks to bright colors, creative furniture (a hanging chair, window side counters instead of a table), and an economical use of space. The hotel offers a beautiful rooftop, replete with candy-colored deck chairs and a bar. Their cafe has outdoor seating in a lovely, unexpected bamboo garden. Finally, Pop@Pod, the result of collaboration between the hotel and Pop Burger, sits adjacent to the hotel.

In 2015, New York Palace Hotel was bought by the Lotte Group and has been rebranded as the Lotte New York Palace. What has become an iconic symbol of East Side elegance began as a row of townhouses. In 1882, Henry Villard, a successful German businessman, appointed the McKim, Mead, and White architectural firm to construct six private brownstones around a courtyard. The houses were modeled after the sixteenth century Palazzo della Cancelleria, thought to be the oldest Renaissance palace in Rome. Move forward almost one hundred years to the spring of 1974 when Harry Helmsley – a top real estate investor and broker – built a fifty-five-story hotel on the site of the Villard Houses. The Helmsley Palace Hotel opened in 1981 and was run by Helmsley's wife, Leona. Dubbed the "Hotel Queen" (or, alternatively, the "Queen of Mean") Leona was known for her quick temper and, later, for her criminal activity. In a massive scandal, the couple was indicted for evading more than $4 million in income taxes and for the misappropriation of hotel funds. Yet, through all this controversy, the Palace has remained a New York City icon. With a stunning exterior that is brightly illuminated at night, the 899-room hotel is just as beautiful on the inside. The palatial lobby boasts the famed Grand Staircase, a decadent chandelier, high ceilings, and intricate columns.

Fig & Olive is Mediterranean-inspired dining in its most exquisite form. On my first visit to this location, I was drawn in by the collection of wine and olive oil bottles lining the walls and the chic rustic decor that feels reminiscent of eating in the Italian countryside. Never has there been a time when I have dined at one of the several Fig & Olives in Manhattan, that I did not have an excellent experience. I have feasted on fresh ingredients assembled into delectable creations. I was thrilled to take the Manhattan Sideways team here for lunch one day where they raved over the selection of crostini and devoured the mouthfuls of perfectly paired ingredients – goat cheese and caramelized onion, for example – heaped onto small squares of fresh bread. Another favorite that I introduced them to was the zucchini carpaccio served with lemon and olive oil. We accompanied the meal with a beautifully presented Cucumber Cosmos and Rossellinis, selected from the extensive cocktail menu.

After a lawsuit, renovation, and rebranding, Sesamo has officially taken the place of Crispin’s at W52nd Street and 10th Avenue. Sesamo co-founders Nikita Levitan and Sabrina Gao filed the lawsuit against their previous partner, Crispin Mejia. They accused him of a series of problematic behaviors, including sexual harassment, repeatedly showing up to work drunk, and serving expired food. Taking a sharp turn away from Crispin's, the new Sesamo features an entirely different menu. “The new brand launches with an Asian-influenced Italian menu with many old Crispin’s favorites but with fresh and new Asian twists, " Gao said. She added that Sesamo also offers a unique drinks menu, including a brand new Asian fusion cocktail program with some first in NYC offerings, such as boba tea cocktails. Another beautiful feature of Sesemo is its 80-foot mural created by Selwyn Senatori back in 2018. The Dutch artist created the artwork depicting a champagne celebration with a “Feed Me Love” bubble to celebrate the opening of Decimo Ristobar. Though some of the mural has been painted over, the rest that remains adds an air of festivity to Sesamo's exterior. This story was adapted from the W42ST articles, "Crispin’s Becomes Sesamo as Partners Sue Hell’s Kitchen Chef" and "Hell’s Kitchen has Lost an Outdoor Dining Shed — but Regained a Mural. "

McKinney Welding Supply has been a fixture in Hell’s Kitchen since 1943. This long-running business is family-owned and employs about thirty-five people, ten of them being family members. Allen Dickon, branch manager of the West 52nd Street store, told us "We are the only place in Manhattan where you can find all of your welding and compressed gas products under one roof. ”