Review: The Wall Street Hotel

Why book?

In a part of the city often overlooked by travelers—at least when it comes to choosing a home-base—The Wall Street Hotel is a unique boutique stay in downtown Manhattan whose interiors nod to the area’s history and beaux-arts buildings.

Set the scene

There are few boutique hotels that cater to leisure travelers in the area. For a long time, it’s been mainly business travelers down on Wall Street, and The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, has been the neighborhood go-to for those traveling on their own accord. The lobby crowd seems to provide evidence that The Wall Street Hotel will fall somewhere in the middle of business and pleasure. There are solo travelers with their laptops nearby at the Lounge on Pearl lobby bar, sure, but there are also sharply-dressed couples riding the elevators down to in-building restaurant La Marchande for dinner.

The backstory

The hotel comes from the Paspaley family, who made their mark in the world of commercial pearling in Australia. That backstory explains the pearl jewelry on display in the lobby, and the mother-of-pearl detail everywhere from guest bathrooms to the entire face of the raw bar in La Marchande. But the connections go deeper than decor: Wall Street is actually part of New York’s historic pearling district (it sits on the corner of Wall Street and Pearl Street, your first clue), and the beaux-arts building that now houses the Wall Street Hotel was acquired by the Paspaleys in a pearling business deal in the 80’s. It’s the first hotel for the group, but judging by the skill with which they’ve pulled it off, it may not be the last.

The rooms

The 180 guest rooms and suites have decor from Rose Ink Workshop. As the company’s founder Liubasha Rose describes it, her inspiration was “glamorous New York spaces through the last century,” tipping her hat to Bemelmans Bar and The Morgan Library. That timeless elegance comes to life with brass-and-mirror bar carts in the rooms, rich blue velvets, and large-scale oyster-inspired watercolors hanging over the beds. I stayed in a spacious Carnegie Suite, which included a writing desk and a deep soaking tub with a view over the river, for that perfect mix of work and rest—and because it was a corner room, I got double the vantage points and twice the natural light.

Food and drink

You’ll want to stop for drinks in the Lounge on Pearl for the decor alone—a playful clash of patterns and colors—though help yourself to an order of oysters and a cocktail while you’re there, and grab a seat near one of the massive velvet-draped windows. The bar emphasizes botanicals (creative gin-and-tonics are their focus), though they tend to be lighter and sweeter. If you’re itching for something stronger—like a martini—you can still take advantage of the fantastic gin selection. As for La Marchande, consider it the spot for an intimate meal you won’t have to go far for—the raw bar options are solid (like the vanilla-cured snapper), and the entrees are delicious (like the king salmon) though portions for mains are modest. I didn’t have a chance to try out the room service, though the menu seems to hit all the right notes for travelers with everything from oysters to burgers.

The spa

While there isn’t a spa, the Crossfit-inspired gym will resonate with travelers who spend many nights away from home (there’s also a Mirror for DIY workouts, and Pelotons can be made available on request).

The neighborhood/area

Every New York City tourist knows Wall Street—even those who don’t make a point to see the Charging Bull statue or the 9/11 Memorial know it as the gateway to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. (And that’s not to mention the many business travelers who have their own reasons for jetting in Monday and leaving by Friday.)

But the neighborhood has more to offer than marquee photo ops: It’s jam-packed with history dating back to the 17th century, and a little Googling or a great tour guide can pull stories out of the landmark buildings in the neighborhood (George Washington hung out at Fraunces Tavern, to give you an idea). And the fact that the streets are fairly quiet in the evenings, when most tourists and Wall Street employees leave, only to spring to life come morning? Not a bad deal for a weary traveler who wants a central location without 24/7 hubbub. The Wall Street Hotel is not only an exciting addition to the area’s hospitality landscape, but it also provides a great reason to reconsider the Financial District as your landing pad for a trip to the city.

The service

Helpful and attentive, and not only because the hotel is just starting to fill with guests (when I had trouble connecting to the in-room Wifi, it was all hands on deck to solve the issue; and they did).

For families

Ask about connecting rooms—there are a few setups for joining two or three guestrooms for families traveling together.

Eco effort

There are no giant solar panels or zero-waste kitchen initiatives here, but I love that they partner with the Billion Oyster Project, which is a local non-profit focused on rebuilding oyster populations in the New York Harbor (great for the oysters, yes, but they also keep the city’s waters clean). It brings that pearl tie-in full circle. Splurge on one of the Mau oyster bottle openers for sale in the room (all proceeds go to the Billion Oyster Project), or make a donation at checkout.

Accessibility

Elevators connect the lobby and rooms.

Anything left to mention?

I’ll be returning when the rooftop bar opens sometime later this year—the views (and harbor breeze) are going to be unmatched, and surely a draw for guests and non-guests alike.