The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Carlyle is a storied Upper East Side landmark that remains a favorite for its historical charm and iconic Bemelmans Bar, though recent feedback suggests a divide between those who find the service top-tier and those who feel the property is declining. While some guests report "insane" suites and highly personal staff interactions, others describe rooms as "tired" and note a significant loss of long-time staff members.
Pros
- Iconic Upper East Side location with excellent people-watching.
- Home to the legendary Bemelmans Bar, frequently cited as a highlight.
- Historical architecture and charm that many find superior to modern luxury hotels.
- Generally regarded as family-friendly and able to accommodate specific family requests.
- Personalized service that can feel "top-tier" and highly attentive.
Cons
- Limited dining options for specific diets, particularly plant-based guests.
- Reports of "tired" rooms that some find unacceptable for the price point.
- Concerns regarding the loss of experienced, long-time staff members.
- The on-site spa is described by some as nothing special.
Caveats
- Service consistency is a point of contention; while some praise it, others believe the hotel's best service days may be in the past.
- Online sentiment on third-party review sites is reportedly trending downward according to some observers.
Best for
- Classic luxury enthusiasts
- Upper East Side stays
- Fans of live jazz and historic hotel bars
- Families seeking traditional high-end service
Avoid if
- You require modern, diverse plant-based dining options
- You are sensitive to older, potentially 'tired' room decor
- A world-class, modern spa is a primary requirement for your stay
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 18-month half-life. The evidence is based on 14 mentions from the r/FATTravel community, with a median source age of approximately 382 days.
Sentiment
9 positive (64%) · 1 mixed (7%) · 4 negative (29%)
Trust + time weighted score: +39% · raw score 36%
What redditors said (10 of 14)
Uptown - The Carlyle or the Surrey. Bemelmans at the Carlyle and Casa Tua at the Surrey are both fantastic, but totally different vibes.
I personally love The Greenwich downtown or the Carlyle uptown (which also has Bemelmans Bar and is epic).
The Carlyle, The Surrey and Waldorf are great with families and should be able to accommodate these requests!
I haven't been during Christmas but the Carlyle!
My absolute favorite hotel in NYC
The Carlyle lost a lot of their long time staff over the last 18 months. For me it was the only US hotel that had good service but that might be a thing of the past.
The Carlyle is one of my favorites in New York—iconic Upper East Side location and some of the best people watching in the city.
just got back from 4 nights at the carlyle in nyc—i stayed in the central park suite and honestly…it was amazing. like probably my favorite stay in new york so far. service was top-tier, the staff made everything feel really personal, and the room itself was insane. only thing is the food options sucked for me. i’m plant-based and it felt like they were kinda stuck in another era when it came to options.
And the Carlyle, which I think they did a great job with.
Everything online said the spa at the carlyle wasnt anyhting special
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