The Kitano may be inviting, but the Big Apple awaits. The Empire State Building is less than a 10-minute stroll. Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and the Theater District are all about a 10-minute cab ride from this Midtown hotel. (Ask the Kitano's concierge for help booking tours and show tickets.) Grand Central Station, 4 blocks away, offers not only in-city and out-of-town rail connections, but fascinating architecture, walking tours, and a slew of shops and restaurants. So browse a bit, or grab a "perfect cup" at the acclaimed Joe the Art of Coffee, before heading farther afield. If you prefer to travel in high style, you can arrange Town Car service through the hotel, which also offers complimentary limousine shuttle service to Wall Street weekday mornings.
Heading back to the Kitano just might tempt you all day. You'll be dreaming of specialty cocktails like the Ginger Martini, or of a certain rare sake at the mezzanine-level Bar Lounge, where live jazz plays 4 nights a week. Or about savoring delicate kaiseki dishes in a tatami room at Nadaman Hakubai, one of 2 onsite restaurants. The hotel also offers complimentary access to the New York Sports Club--one location is conveniently situated steps from the Kitano.
Your guestroom is an oasis of understated sophistication--soft caramel tones, Japanese art, and plush bedding. You'll want to brew yourself a cup of Japanese green tea and perhaps watch a late-night movie on the 37-inch plasma TV. You can order room service, too, from morning till late evening. Plan your next day's itinerary via wireless and wired high-speed Internet access (surcharge). The marble bathroom is a soothing retreat, with cozy robes, towel warmers, and Gilchrist & Soames amenities. Amid the excitement and business of Midtown, the quiet here is not to be taken for granted.
