The Bernic, a new hotel located at 145 East 47th Street, is coming to the heart of Midtown Manhattan East. The hotel, set to open in September, will focus on keeping its guests connected to the world through art and technology, while simultaneously offering an authentic New York neighbourhood experience. Urban exploration and global inspiration will come together in this chic, smart hotel, where connectivity for every guest is of utmost importance.
The 21-story boutique hotel will be home to 96 guestrooms, virtually all of which will be outfitted with private balconies. Floor-to-ceiling windows will offer a view so vivid guests will almost be able to touch the city’s iconic skyline. The building’s dual-level façade gives the illusion that each of the upper level floors and balconies is soaring freely in the sky, almost as its own distinctly separate building. From their artfully appointed rooms, urban explorers will be invited to take in the energy of historic Turtle Bay, while enjoying the hotel’s elegant, authentic service and attention to detail. A stay at The Bernic promises to be filled with delightful surprises.
The property is just steps away from the United Nations Headquarters, the shops of Fifth Avenue, the centre of Corporate Headquarters, such as Avon, IPG, Colgate, Grant Thornton and HSBC, and the Chrysler Building, as well as the leisure attractions of Rockefeller Center and Times’ Square Theater District. Nearby Grand Central Terminal offers easy access to every subway line, making trips to downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn destinations fast and easy.
The property is poised to open just steps away from where Andy Warhol’s Factory once stood in historic Midtown Manhattan’s Turtle Bay neighbourhood, famous for its colony of visual artists and independent shops that has counted everyone from Bob Dylan to Jacqueline Onassis and Stephen Sondheim as its habitués. Drawing inspiration from the prominent creative figures of the past and its neighbour, the United Nations Headquarters, The Bernic has commissioned Ian Sklarsky as mixed media artist-in-residence. Sklarsky will produce murals that depict a worldview of iconic cityscapes using his signature blind contour technique. The metropolises – New York, Dubai, London, Paris, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo – featured in the “eight cities of the world” motif adorning the guestrooms, hallways and lobby represent the forefront of global travel and accessibility, two aspects The Bernic embodies.
“We hope that the opening sets off a full-blown renaissance of Turtle Bay, and reclaims the culture of yore, but with a modern touch,” said David Lopez, General Manager. “The Bernic will become a home away from home for the urban explorer that, at once, wants to be in the centre of the action with all of the comforts — while still enjoying the authenticity and culture of a real New York neighbourhood.”
From the house-made signature lavender lemonade served daily and complimentary wine hour to the exquisite scent of white tea and thyme wafting through the halls, it’s the luxe touches that will make The Bernic an inherently chic yet conveniently casual stay. Each guestroom will feature decadent bath amenities by Beekman 1802, luxury linens and terry, Sealy luxury pillow top mattresses, iron and ironing boards, in-room safes, an in-room refreshment bar, in-room delivery service. Guests will have access to local fitness centres, laundry service, business stations and coffee machines and valet parking, nightly turndown service, and pre-arrival concierge are available as well. The Bernic will also offer complimentary ultra-high speed wireless connectivity in-room and throughout public spaces, accelerated cellular service through a Distributed Antenna System, in-room cordless phones and 43” flat screens with Apple TV technology, allowing guests to be fully accessible no matter the nature of their stay.
The property will also be home to Allora, a 72-seat restaurant from Elio & Sons. Outfitted with a carrera marble bar and herringbone floors, Allora will transport diners to the spirit of old New York with a well-heeled twist. Allora’s menu will be rooted in Northern Italian-American specialties and will offer a wide selection of homemade pasta, as well superior grass-fed steaks aged in house for 28 days and classic seafood favourites like clams oreganata. Other specialties include tableside preparations of old-school favourites like a traditional caesar salad, the “Godfather” grilled branzino, flambées, zabaglione, and more. In addition, over 30 off-menu seasonal specials like pork chop etna and kobe beef ravioli, will be offered nightly. With a focus on traditional hospitality that emphasises the diner’s experience above all, Allora will offer a taste of Gotham as it once was.
The interior and exterior designs, brought to life by Hersha Purchasing and Design and CD3 Architecture, are a mix of neo-modernism and deconstructed luxury that provide futuristic contrast to the classic brownstones of Tudor City. The glass and gunmetal façade is divided into two distinct volumes – the base follows street line while the upper portion of the building has a different feel, freely soaring into the sky. Outdoor balcony terraces bring another dimension, visually enlarging the footprint of the hotel. Upstairs, the Bernic boasts a luxury-level Penthouse, with 360 degree panoramic views of the city, as well as a rooftop sky lounge.
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