Continuing our occasional series on the hotels and resorts that attract the stars, Sarah Turner checks in to the Greenwich Hotel in New York. STAR QUALITY: Robert De Niro, Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt, Jude Law, Rhianna, Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper.
VITAL STATISTICS: Hollywood legend De Niro opened this hotel in his home city in 2008.
There's an eclectic feel inside - the bathrooms are inspired by Morocco, the beds come from Sweden, and on the ground floor the library and courtyard are a combination of Italian palazzo style and the feel of an old-fashioned English country house, with log fires, wing-back chairs and the occasional rustle of newspapers.
But when it comes to the hotel's restaurant, Locanda Verde, De Niro sticks to what he knows best. Chef Andrew Carmellini serves up Italian comfort food in a relaxed, airy restaurant that looks out on to the street. The menus are reasonably priced by Manhattan standards and the restaurant is usually packed.
The hotel's basement houses a sleek gym and the equipment includes a Power Plate, the vibrating machine favoured by Madonna for its ability to tone muscles.
However, the most indulgent part of the Greenwich is its lantern-lit swimming pool housed in a 250-year-old Japanese bamboo farmhouse reconstructed by specialist craftsmen.
LOCATION REPORT: Despite the name, the hotel is nowhere near Greenwich Village.
Instead, the Greenwich is located on the edge of De Niro's favourite neighbourhood, TriBeCa (the acronym stands for Triangle Below Canal Street). Close to the Hudson River and within walking distance from both Wall Street and SoHo, it's not exactly the most atmospheric district in New York.
There's more than a smattering of Seventies municipal architecture nearby but it's a short walk to nearly everything downtown, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Battery Park.
KEY ATTRACTION: Of all the rooms, the celebrity favourites are the N Moore and Greenwich (named after nearby streets), gloriously spacious suites that feature double-height ceilings, fireplaces and kitchens.
Stylish: The corner suite at The GreenwichCorner suites get a view of the Hudson but all 88 rooms share one attractive feature: minibar snacks and soft drinks are included in the cost - and replaced with a generous hand when needed.
When the weather is good, the enclosed courtyard ensures a paparazzi-free hangout for the famous. Briton Philip Truelove, the general manager who used to run the equally famous Mercer, ensures that everything runs smoothly.
IN THE NEWS: The Greenwich is a regular bolthole for Friends actress Jennifer Aniston when she's in New York. And Tamara Drewe stars Dominic Cooper and Bond Girl Gemma Arterton were spotted in the Greenwich's courtyard in September.
GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE REST OF US? Rooms start at $495 - about £310 - and breakfast at Locanda Verde is around £15pp.
GETTING THERE: Virgin Holidays (0844 573 2460, www.vhiphotels.co.uk) offers three nights on a room-only basis from £1,195pp including flights and private transfers.
source: dailymail
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