Inside the New Kimpton Ashbel New York-Park Avenue

Stepping from the Manhattan concrete onto Kimpton Ashbel New York-Park Avenue’s light-colored ceramic tile and hardwood floors was like taking a big breath of fresh air. 

Outside, it was a typical bustling weekday morning, but in here, it felt like I’d traded all that for a cozy Sunday afternoon. With its bright and airy foyer, living room, and family room – spacious areas with plenty of seating and table space – the new Kimpton in New York City intentionally and immediately feels homey. 

Kimpton Ashbel New York-Park Avenue just fully opened in March in a prime location at 70 Park Ave. Built in 1928, the Beaux-Arts landmark was originally the Doral Park Avenue Hotel and has gone through many iterations over the past near century.  

Most recently, the property was an Iberostar-branded hotel with a darker, dated vibe that IHG Hotels & Resorts knew it wanted to change when flipping it to a Kimpton. 

The transformation was “night and day,” Lucy Shulman, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, told Travel Market Report. We toured the hotel and spoke with Shulman about how the property’s location, atmosphere, and amenities serve a range of guests. 

Prime NYC Location 

This is the fourth Kimpton location in New York City, and planting roots at this new address was important for the brand. The property is right down the street from Grand Central Station and only a few blocks from Bryant Park.  

“The location is everything,” Shulman said. “I mean, it doesn’t get any more prime than Park Avenue right in New York City. This is iconic.” 

Each Kimpton embodies its local neighborhood vibe. Unlike the other New York Kimptons – there’s also Kimpton Era Midtown New York, Kimpton Hotel Eventi, and Kimpton Theta New York-Times Square, which has a busier and livelier atmosphere – Kimpton Ashbel embraces the art of slowing down. 

The hotel’s lobby is set back from the foyer, suggesting no rush to check in or out, but rather an invitation to stay a while. When you walk in, there are large wood portals on either side framing the living and family rooms on the left and right. Modern books and an artwork collection from Soho Art Gallery adorn the spaces. It all reflects this specific location, showcasing the sophistication of New York alongside the calm respite of Park Avenue, set away from the noise of Times Square. 

Residential-Like Guest Rooms 

The breezy residential aesthetic breathes up into the corridors and guest rooms of Kimpton Ashbel as well. The hotel features 205 guestrooms, including 14 connecting rooms, each with soft color tones and a good amount of space for hotel rooms on the East Side. 

“It’s really important that everybody feels comfortable, and honestly, as if they’re visiting a friend in town,” Shulman said. 

We saw the King Room and Premium King Rooms, and though these are the smallest accommodations, they still felt spacious for this city. The hardwood floors are a nice touch; so are the warm wood furnishings, soft palettes, and – Shulman’s favorite – the curated gold accents. 

With double-paned windows, guests “see Park Avenue but don’t hear Park Avenue,” she added, and enjoy some peace in quiet in their home away from home. Furnishings throughout the hotel were custom-made to embody that same serene, house-like feel.

The hotel offers a variety of room category options because “there are so many different types of travelers, and everyone is here for a different reason,” Shulman noted. The Premium King Rooms connect to Queen Rooms, which she says are suited for bachelorette parties and larger families. 

Kimpton Ashbel also offers a Penthouse Suite that occupies the front of the building that could serve as a perfect bridal suite with multiple rooms. 

Comforting Amenities 

The hotel’s standout amenity is the Park & Bel café window, a natural addition to the living room area. It’s open in the mornings serving artisanal baked goods, seasonal fruit, and sandwiches; closes in the afternoons; then reopens in the evenings for small plates complemented by a bar cart serving beer, wine, and cocktails.  

This is where the hotels hosts Kimpton’s signature social programs: Kimpton Kickstart with coffee and tea, and Kimpton Social, a nightly gathering of guests. 

Also in keeping with Kimpton tradition, the hotel is pet-friendly and does not charge pet fees. 

We saw the modernized gym inside the hotel, which is a decent size for a small property and well equipped for active travelers, as well as quiet nooks and crannies with desks and chairs, ideal for business travelers stealing some time away to work.  

Overall, in the city that never sleeps, Kimpton Ashbel is a top hotel to duck into and take a beat to rest, recharge, regroup, and reconnect – in whatever way fits each unique traveler.