ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING ULTRA-LUXURY NAMEPLATES PUTS DOWN ROOTS IN THE BIG APPLE WITH THE LAUNCH OF AMAN’S FIFTH AVENUE FLAGSHIP, A LAVISH URBAN HIDEAWAY DRIPPING IN GLAMOUR AND GOLD
BY AMANDA MCCOY
Hand-carved wooden pavilions rising from the jungle of Southeastern Asia, cooling plunge pools etched into the foothills of Utah’s prodigious red rocks, pink sandstone and marble villas folded into the palms and flowering shrubs of the Aravalli Hills in India: Aman Resorts offers some of the most exclusive overnight experiences in the world. What was born as a small boutique hotel in Phuket, Thailand, in 1988 has since grown into a collective of more than 30 ultra-lavish resorts and residences across 20 countries, a nameplate-of-choice for privacy-seeking celebrities.
George Clooney, Bill Gates, and the Kardashian clan are all avid Aman fans. In addition to exotic locales, posh amenities and accommodations, and award-nabbing culinary programs, the brand is famed for its above-and-beyond concierge services. Kim Jones, Louis Vuitton’s men’s artistic director, said in a recent interview with Town & Country Magazine that upon arriving at Aman Tokyo at 4 a.m., the hotel staff visited the local fish market to satiate his sashimi cravings.
Though the typical Aman resort dwells in a far-flung setting, from a secluded isle in the Aegean Sea to the dramatic coastline of Indonesia, the hospitality legend recently took on the sleepless streets of the Big Apple with the summer 2022opening of Aman New York, its first urban residential property. Amid the myriad accolades, the flagship location nabbed the title of world’s most expensive city hotel according to World Record Academy (rooms begin at $3,900 per night here). Set in the former Warren & Wetmore–designed Crown Building on 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, Aman New York comprises 20 private residences resting atop 85 suites, each boasting a central functioning replace.
Japanese minimalism fueled the design aesthetic; guests are treated to soothing interiors featuring spacious open floor plans (rooms range from718 to 894 square feet) filled with natural textures and materials like softly hued wood, washi paper, and raw stone. Elegant reproductions of Hasegawa Tohaku’s Pine Tree murals add a kiss of the East, while contemporary luxuries like integrated mood lighting and guest-controlled smart tablet so er the latest in hotel tech. Lattice-style pivot panels open to reveal the decadent spa bathrooms, all outfitted with freestanding oval soaking tubs, walk-in rain showers, and double vanities. Bistro tables, dedicated entrance foyers with full-length mirrors, and king beds topped with ultra–plush linens round out the suites. Every stay includes personal butler service, 24-hour check in, in-room refreshments, and complimentary use of a house car. re are two signature restaurants onsite: Avra and Nama, joined by a pair of casual bar-plus-eateries and a lively jazz club. Avra, named for the Latin word for cultivated land, celebrates the rustic, homegrown flavors of Italy.
Dishes are fresh, uncomplicated, and meant to be shared, each pulling many of its ingredients from local niche farmers and purveyors, a love letter to Italian home kitchens. Ink scratch-made cappeletti with braised wild rabbit and taggiasca olives, veal chops dressed with rosemary and Meyer lemon, and salmon accompanied by spring peas, baby corn, and baby carrots. The eleganteatery is also open for breakfast, brunch, and lunch, and an impressive wine selection ensures each dish will be served with its ideal liquid counterpart. Nama, on the other hand, pays homage to Aman’s Asian roots, serving traditional washoku staples by chef Takuma Yonemaru. Grab a table in the romantic, dimly lit dining room or opt for a seat at the Japanese Hinoki wood counter for a lively omakase theater experience.
The menu features a parade of exquisite nigiri and sashimi selects, plus signature dishes like sweet miso black cod and premium Wagyu sirloin grilled over a tabletop charcoal brazier and served with Moshio mineral salt. While 57th Street remains a swirl of commotion and clamor, the 25,000-square-foot Aman Spa offers an oversized slice of R&R above the bustle. Spanning three doors, the wellness haven boasts two private spa houses alongside a slate of transformative experiences.
Don’t expect a generic massage and body wrap; each guest is offered a full functional and integrative medicine exam developed by Dr. Robert Graham, a Harvard-trained physician, that practitioners use to craft a tailored, multi-disciplinary plan. Inside the spa houses reside a traditional Hammam, marble steam room, wood clad sauna, and double treatment room with a large private outdoor terrace furnished with a hot bath and cold plunge pool. There’s also a light-drenched,3,000-square-foot exercise studio aunting the latest in fitness tech, including Technogym training equipment, an Infrared Zone featuring a VacuTherm Stepper, VacuTherm Treadmill, and Infrared Body Roll, plus a double capacity Cryotherapy Chamber.
Aman Resorts are famed for immersive experiences that celebrate the vibrancy, history, and dynamism of each locale. Its New York post offers a delicious menu of cultural fodder: take a culinary masterclass with one of the city’s most illustrious chefs, embark on a morning stroll through the iconic Union Square Greenmarket with a farm-to-table expert, or learn through the lens of a prominent photographer. e hotel can also arrange private workshops and studio sessions with established and emerging artists across a wide range of genres. Rooms begin at $3,900 per night.
Aman New York 730 5th Avenue, New York
212.970.2626 / aman.com/hotels/aman-new-york