Why book?
For a stay at one of Manhattan's greenest hotels, where 40,000 living ivy plants breathe life into a luxurious and thoughtfully conceived refuge. This is a Michelin Key property where reclaimed water tower wood warms the walls, James Beard–award-winning cuisine anchors evenings, and Central Park unfolds just beyond those sculptural wooden doors.
Set the scene
New Yorkers and return visitors will instantly recognize the nearly 40,000 plants cascading down the 18-story facade, breathing oxygen into the Midtown air. Those imposing wooden doors open onto a lobby where stress evaporates. I was met with a soaring reclaimed oak ceiling, antique barn wood grounding my feet, and draping greenery that made me forget I was in the heart of Manhattan.
The juxtaposition is what makes it work. Rooms feel like a cozy meditative retreat precisely because the communal spaces pulse with vibrant NYC energy. As for the crowd, I found international travelers lounging in the lobby, executives in cashmere loungewear abandoning their power suits, and creative types lingering over locally sourced fare.
The backstory
Part of the 1 Hotels collection, this Central Park flagship opened with a clear mission: create the greenest luxury hotel experience possible while maintaining five-star service standards. The building's LEED Silver Certification is woven into energy-efficient systems ranging from water filtration in every faucet to those 5,000 strategically placed interior plants that evoke the feeling of being in the park itself. This 18-story property just earned a Michelin Key, reserved for the world's most outstanding hotels.
The rooms
The 229 guest rooms and suites are sophisticated urban sanctuaries, finished in earth tones with reclaimed wood from local water towers, painted bricks, and windows that flood the space with light. In-room yoga mats and foam rollers were a pleasant surprise, as were the glass-enclosed Napa-style walk-in showers that felt more spa than hotel bathroom.
My window-nook daybed jutted out over the city streets, the perfect perch for watching Manhattan unfold below while wrapped in the most impossibly cozy bathrobe (sustainably sourced, of course). That extended window bench became my happy place for morning meditation or simply watching yellow cabs circle Central Park, and a languid read while basking like a cat in the afternoon sunlight.
The Elm House Suite—a 894-square-foot domain on the 19th floor with a private wraparound terrace overlooking Central Park—takes it all a step further. A stay here comes with VIP Guru concierge service, access to a HigherDose sauna blanket or PEMF mat, and that intangible feeling that you've arrived.
The details echo the 1 Hotels mission: eco-conscious mattresses and 100% sustainably sourced bedding, filtered water in all sinks and showers, custom Bamford bath amenities (a Certified B Corporation collaboration), and plush cotton robes that feel like being wrapped in a cloud. Even the five-minute hourglass shower timer—crafted from reclaimed water tower wood and salvaged Bald Cypress from the Florida Wetland—acts as a gentle nudge toward mindfulness.
Food and drink
Jams, helmed by restaurateur icon Chef Jonathan Waxman, carries the same relaxed spirit seen throughout the property. Waxman originally brought his Californian sensibilities to the formal New York dining scene when he opened the first Jams on East 79th Street in 1984. This revival celebrates that legacy. The menu is ingredient-focused, serving refreshingly unpretentious, elevated comfort food.
The expansive space features stone and wood finishes that, when combined with the hotel's signature greenery cascading from the walls and ceiling, creates a warm ambiance. The open kitchen and bar, situated next to lush, plant-laden seating, adds to that indoor-outdoor feeling that’s rare in Manhattan. The menu leans into farm-to-table freshness: lemon and rosemary roasted chicken with foraged mushrooms, sunburst squash, arugula, and pancetta; California halibut paired with sweet yellow corn, baby fennel, and fingerling potatoes. The energy is unfussy and warm, and one of my happiest memories here is snacking on four cheese arancini with black truffle aioli, while sipping on the most delicious margaritas.
The wide selection of shared plates encourages leisurely, communal dining. An impressive wine list pays tribute to the late Melvyn Master, Waxman's esteemed sommelier and former partner (the restaurant’s name comes from Jonathan and Melvyn). Staff are knowledgeable and eager to share stories behind both dishes and the sustainable practices that define the restaurant.
For breakfast, the Lobby Farmstand offers fresh seasonal fruit alongside grab-and-go options that make perfect accompaniments to a picnic in Central Park: housemade chocolate croissants, apple turnovers, gluten-free bread, all with a selection of coffee and tea.
The neighborhood
Location is everything here. Columbus Circle is steps away. Broadway theaters are within walking distance. MoMA, Carnegie Hall, Fifth Avenue shopping—all minutes from your door. But it's Central Park, quite literally on your doorstep, that defines the experience. It’s an excellent location for travelers who want to be in the thick of Manhattan's cultural offerings while maintaining easy access to the park's natural respite.
The service
The staff are professional and approachable, friendly and easy in a way that feels warm, casual, and unpretentious. They'll arrange dinner reservations, tickets, and transportation with warm competence. The overall approach leans toward helping you enjoy the city rather than orchestrating every moment.
For Retreat Collection guests in the Elm House Suite, the VIP Guru service takes personalization to another level—these dedicated concierges handle everything from priority restaurant reservations to customized wellness itineraries.
Eco effort
The environmental commitment here is structural. Those 40,000 ivy plants adorning the exterior each live in a recycled pot and work to produce oxygen, absorb greenhouse gases, cool the building in summer, and insulate it in winter. Inside, 5,000 living plants evoke the feeling of being in a tranquil garden.
The LEED Certification reflects the hotel’s energy-efficient systems and thoughtful design: antique barn wood flooring, reclaimed oak ceilings, water tower wood throughout, all of which have been salvaged and repurposed.
What's even more impressive is how seamlessly these sustainable practices integrate into the luxury experience—you're never made to feel like you're sacrificing comfort for conscience, proving green hospitality and five-star service can coexist beautifully.
Accessibility
The hotel meets ADA standards with appropriate accessibility features, ramps, and elevators throughout the property.
Anything else left to mention?
1 Hotel Central Park has cracked the code on conscious luxury. It’s where sustainability and sophistication are complementary visions. where you can sink into plush cotton robes knowing the bedding is 100% sustainably sourced, where James Beard–level cuisine meets farm-to-table consciousness, where that window-nook daybed overlooking Manhattan becomes a meditation perch. What surprised me most was how the plants, the filtered air, the relaxed energy, and the earthen touches all conspired to create a cocooned feeling I hadn't expected in the heart of New York City. The elements made for just the kind of deep, restorative sleep I needed.
1414 6th Ave., New York, New York 10019
United States
http://1hotels.com/en/central-park
(212) 703-2001