This Newly Redesigned NYC Hot Spot Has a Hotel Within a Hotel and Incredible Central Park Views

Thompson Central Park has been steadily redesigning since 2021 — and now has three fantastic restaurants and a hotel-within-a-hotel concept.

With a superb location — three blocks from Central Park and a few hundred feet from the closest subway stop — Thompson Central Park guests are well-positioned to take on whatever New York City throws their way.

During the peak fall foliage season, that means frolicking under luminous-colored leaves adorning the park. Those leaves are visible, although slightly obstructed, from higher-floor guest rooms.

Thompson is a property that exemplifies the almost-hackneyed, but still very relevant phrase location, location, location. Beyond its Central Park proximity, the hotel is a short stroll from attractions like Carnegie Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and Radio City Music Hall.

But back inside, there’s a lot to be excited about, especially when it comes to design. Take Parker’s, the hotel’s newly opened lobby lounge. The space is draped in a canopy of cascading greenery, elevated by a flood of natural light from central skylights.

With dark walnut floors and thickly padded velvet custom seating, this is the place to sit back and listen to a soundtrack of jazz and Broadway originals, while sipping on a Jazz Festival, Thompson’s take on a Negroni with Sipsmith gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, and oak (smoked tableside for added flavor).

A Property Reborn

Following a massive, full-scale renovation, the former Parker New York hotel reopened in November 2021 as a Thompson-branded Hyatt property. Hyatt has massive global expansion plans, and Thompson is a key area of focus with 19 worldwide properties so far. Openings over the past year include hotels in Madrid, Denver, Los Angeles, and Austin.

Since late 2021, Thompson Central Park has continued to introduce public spaces and rooms in phases. In June 2022, the hotel unveiled a redesigned, dramatic atrium with 36-foot-high ceilings, featuring interior design elements by Thomas Juul Hansen. Not long after, in September, the hotel introduced Upper Stories, a collection of 174 luxurious guest rooms and suites on the highest floors in a separate wing of the property. Think of Upper Stories as a hotel-within-a-hotel concept. (Sorry, no upgrades here.)

Guests looking to redeem points at Thompson Central Park will need to shell out between 21,000 and 29,000 points per night for a base-level King Room, making this a Category 6 property in Hyatt’s lineup.

While the hotel amenities and rooms are now complete, condos are still being built above Upper Stories. Noise from this specific project wasn’t an issue during my stay, but bear in mind there is active construction on 57th St. across from the hotel, so light sleepers may want to pack a pair of earplugs.

Whether in a standard room or one located in Upper Stories, furnishings are similar and designed by Stonehill Taylor, with gorgeous dark oak cabinetry, walnut floors, and marble bathrooms and tables.

Rooms are spacious for New York City standards, with the sweet spot being the Studio King Suite, featuring a swiveling TV, breakfast bar that doubles as an excellent workspace, and a plush, distressed sectional with a lounger. While not a true suite with a separate bedroom, the 450-square-foot space has a distinct separation between the living and sleeping areas.

The norm for Thompsons, amenities are provided by fragrance brand D.S. & Durga, and the robes are plenty plush — to be expected for a property where many rooms are north of $700 per night.

The Hotel Within a Hotel

Located in a separate wing, Upper Stories is a hotel-within-a-hotel concept that offers guests some of Thompson’s most expansive views overlooking Central Park and Manhattan — as well as private access to the Upper Stories Lounge.

That lounge, on the third floor perched above the lobby atrium, doubles as an exclusive check-in and concierge area for Upper Stories guests. Dark tones, warm textures, and an array of comfortable lounge seating make for a relaxing space day or night. The only thing that feels missing is a fireplace.

For those familiar with the Hyatt brand, think of this Upper Stories Lounge as an elevated Hyatt club experience that one might find at a Grand Hyatt or Hyatt Regency. The lounge offers a mostly-continental breakfast spread as well as light bites and sips throughout the day, culminating in an evening reception with more substantial fare like skewers and soups. Alcoholic drinks are extra.

Besides the lounge, Upper Stories rooms feature Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryers and an elevated coffee experience courtesy of Nespresso Vertuo machines. In addition, shopping aficionados may appreciate access to Nordstrom perks, with a direct line to Nordstrom Flagship Ambassador, and in-room shopping with personal stylists.

Hyatt elite members can’t be upgraded to this room category, nor can you use points, so the only way to access to Upper Stories is through a cash booking. Compared to standard room rates, expect to pay between $100 to $200 more per night for these extra goodies.

Thompson Central Park also features three eclectic dining venues. First, there’s Parker’s which acts as the de facto lobby lounge and bar. Then, there’s Burger Joint, a speakeasy-style, burger-and-fries spot located behind a velvet curtain on the ground floor. Finally, there’s Indian Accent, chef Manish Mehrotra’s acclaimed eatery featuring contemporary specialities and elevated street food.

Nightly rates at Thompson Central Park start at $525, and you can book here.

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