The Kit Kemp boutique hotel a stone’s throw from MoMA, where contemporary British art dialogues with Midtown.
The Whitby Hotel
From
1,554.365 €
“118 rooms designed by Kit Kemp, each unique, with original works and Firmdale fabrics in signature patterns.”
The Whitby Hotel occupies a red sandstone building on 56th Street, between Fifth Avenue and the MoMA. We recognise the Firmdale touch from the lobby: plum velvet armchairs, painted ceramic lamps, contemporary works hung without symmetry. The rooms blend blond wood, king beds in off-white linen, bathrooms in veined grey marble. The Whitby Bar & Restaurant serves revamped American cuisine, with cognac leather banquettes and a glass roof overlooking the street. Service remains discreet, efficient, never stuffy. From 1 554 € a night, we pay as much for the address as the signature design. A safe bet for those seeking a design pied-à-terre in Midtown, without the anonymity of big chains ✨
Who is it for?
Who we recommend it to
We recommend the Whitby to travellers seeking a design statement in Midtown without falling into the precious boutique-hotel trap. It's a hotel for thirty-something and forty-something couples, Fifth Avenue shopping weekends, MoMA outings, Carnegie Hall dinners. Families find their place here (connecting rooms, no dress code), but the clientele remains mostly adult, often British or European.
The building
Architecture and interiors
The Whitby occupies a red sandstone building on West 56th Street, built in the 1920s, entirely redesigned by Kit Kemp in 2017. Signature Firmdale interiors: Scandinavian blond wood, plum and mustard velvet, painted ceramics, contemporary works hung without symmetry. The 118 rooms blend king beds in off-white linen, bathrooms in veined grey marble, fabrics in exclusive geometric patterns. Generous volumes for Midtown, between 28 and 65 m² depending on category.
At the table
Restaurants, bar, service
The Whitby Bar & Restaurant serves revamped American cuisine all day, cognac leather banquettes, glass roof on 56th Street. Continental breakfast or eggs Benedict, light lunch (salads, sandwiches), more ambitious dinner (grilled fish, local meats). The bar offers classic cocktails and a short wine list. Service efficient, never stuffy, mixed hotel and neighbourhood clientele.
Highlights
- 118 rooms designed by Kit Kemp, all different, with exclusive Firmdale fabrics
- 56th Street address, 2 minutes’ walk from MoMA and 5 from Central Park
- Whitby Bar & Restaurant: contemporary American cuisine, leather banquettes, glass roof on street
- Collection of original British and American works in public spaces
- Technogym-equipped gym, open 24/7, with coaching on request
Location & access
Where the hotel sits in New York
The Whitby stands on West 56th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas, two minutes’ walk from the MoMA. Carnegie Hall three streets north, Central Park ten minutes away. 57th Street station (N, Q, R, W lines) two blocks away, Penn Station twenty minutes by metro. Dense, noisy Midtown by day, calm after 10pm.
Good to know
Before you book
- Pets
- Dogs and cats accepted without supplement, basket and bowls provided.
- Children
- Family rooms available, free rollaway beds up to age 12.
- Wi-Fi
- Free connection throughout the hotel, streaming-compatible speeds.
- Parking
- Valet on site, 75 $ / night, limited spaces.
- Accessibility
- PMR-adapted rooms available, wide lifts, access ramps.
Facilities
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness centre
Free Wi-Fi
Facilities for disabled guests
Room service
Restaurant
Wi-Fi available throughout
Pets allowed
Family rooms
Location
Where The Whitby Hotel is located
Exact address
The Whitby Hotel
Address
18 West 56th Street
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