Equinox Hotel New York — Hotel in New York

From the moment we arrived, the tone was clear: image is everything. The receptionist was dressed in an all-white suit (which summed up the whole vibe — performative, impractical, and deeply self-conscious). The staff are exclusively millennial, perfectly styled but hollow in energy.||||The rooftop pool? Less relaxation, more Mean Girls reunion. If you’re not part of a pre-approved clique, expect side-eyes and passive exclusion. Cold plunge and jacuzzi are the same — more social posturing than wellness. It’s not just bitchy; it’s borderline hostile if you’re not there to perform. Narcissism is the dominant energy here, and if you don’t worship at the altar of self-image, you’re simply not welcome.||||Inside pool was a health hazard. Used plasters (bandaids) on the sides, floors flooded, and zero supervision. A guest frisbee’d a flipper at me because he assumed I wanted his lane. I didn’t. Pool caps are mandatory — because hygiene — yet they apparently draw the line at biohazardous plasters.||||As for the spa, it’s not included in your (minimum) £1,000/night stay. We were told we couldn’t access anything and to use the “sauna on the gym floor instead.” Spoiler: there isn’t one. And for those wondering — yes, we checked twice.||||And unlike most luxury wellness hotels, the gym, spa, and rooftop areas are not reserved for hotel guests. They’re shared with Equinox Club members — so the overcrowding, queuing, and entitlement you experience? It’s not just seasonal — it’s structural.||||The gym is full of late 20-somethings who think wearing head-to-toe black Lululemon is a personality. They spend every weekend here and definitely call it “training”. The men’s locker room, meanwhile, felt more like a pseudo-sexual runway than a wellness facility. A strange, hyper-groomed tension lingers — and not in a good way.||||If you’re not there to look at others or be looked at, you’ll feel deeply out of place. And that’s by design.||||Everything runs on two lifts… for 30 floors. Want your room? First stop: Level 4. Switch lifts. Then wait again. This system would be irritating even if you weren’t tired, hot, or carrying luggage. Which we were. Good luck navigating it during peak check-in hours — unless, of course, you enjoy queue culture.||||The room is eye-wateringly overpriced. The bed? Not even a real bed. It was a sofa-bed mattress disguised as a double. Possibly the worst night’s sleep I’ve ever had — felt like sleeping on tile. The sheets were paper thin and scratchy, the kind you’d expect in a two-star airport layover hotel, not one charging four figures a night. You also get one duvet per person. Because nothing says romance like twin duvets. At least they didn’t forget the vibrator, condoms, and tip book for better sex. ||||The design is slick, but functional decisions were clearly an afterthought. Also: the room doubles as a shameless Equinox merchandise showroom. Open any drawer and you’ll find protein powders, tech gear, skin boosters — all at boutique-inflated prices. You’re paying a grand to be advertised to.||||We booked via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts — supposedly with perks like breakfast credit and upgrade eligibility. In practice, we had to beg to use our breakfast credit, and no room upgrade was offered. At every turn, we were treated like bargain-hunters rather than premium guests.||||On our final night, we arranged for our included breakfast to be delivered the evening before — since we had an early departure and would miss breakfast service. This was agreed by staff as the only viable solution. But at checkout? We were charged for it — even though it was clearly a substitution, not an extra meal. We’ll be pursuing a refund for that charge separately, but the fact it happened at all speaks volumes about the lack of care or common sense.||||We also ordered room service that evening after being socially iced out by rooftop groups. On top of a hefty service charge, they added gratuity too. For context, we stayed six nights before this stay at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park, and even they didn’t double up!||||Pros:|| • Water in the room and food at Electric Lemon was good.|| • iPad room controls worked well.|| • Shower was well-designed.|| • Clean enough room||||||We arrived at 6pm, gutted that traffic delayed us. After experiencing the hotel? We wished it had been ten times worse.||||My partner and I fit the exact demographic this hotel tries to court: young, well-paid, city-based. But unlike their ideal guest, we see through pretence. This place is all pout, posturing, and performativity — with none of the substance.||||What masquerades as “cutting-edge wellness” is actually just a content factory for narcissists. Wellness has become a costume here — it’s not something anyone’s genuinely doing.||||||Recommended nightly rate? £200, maybe £300 for NYC. But this is not a £1,000+/night experience.||||We’ve already recommended Amex reconsider Equinox’s place in the FDH program. Style over service isn’t luxury —...

"Put your thoughts to sleep, do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking." -- Rumi||The Equinox Sleep Experience Studio at Equinox Hotel New York epitomises the apotheosis of restorative repose, blending state-of-the-art sleep science with peerless luxury. In the city that never sleeps, this sanctuary becomes a temple of tranquility where each detail is intentionally curated to draw one gently into the arms of the night that covers all with its silent shade.||From the moment of arrival if you are a lucky enough guest to be personally greeted by Nathan Loga, the ethos of holistic high-performance wellness is evident. The understated elegance of the entrance and the discreet check-in from his amazing team evoke a sense of calm, reminiscent of the serenity one seeks at bedtime: Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. The environment feels more like a private wellness club, inviting guests to leave behind the cacophony of the city and embrace the invitation that "Sleep is the best meditation,” as Dalai Lama so soothingly reminds us.||Sleep Chamber Design: Where Science Meets Surrender|Each room in Equinox’s Sleep Studio is an object lesson in sleep optimisation. The ambiance is engineered for “dark, quiet, cool”—the mantra that resonates like a lullaby throughout the experience. Blackout blinds create “a velvet darkness,” soundproofing drenches out the city’s pulse, and all-natural, Coco-Mat mattresses cradle the body for a “sweet surrender to rest.” Guests luxuriate in custom Matouk linens and pillows, as the temperature glides into “the miracle of night’s cool hush,” and even the air is filtered for clinical-grade freshness.||Adaptive mattress technology, including temperature-regulating covers, biomedical sensors, and dual-zone controls, ensure the soul sleeps best in peace as one murmurs quietly in the the silent hour of the night. Blissful dreams may then arise, revealing to one's charmed sight, what may not bless one's waking eyes. The PM Soundscape ritual employs music psychology and neuroscience to “down-regulate the nervous system,” enveloping the guest in a guided passage to deep and undisturbed sleep. At every touchpoint, the room transforms to cocoon its guest, embracing the wisdom that the darker the night, the brighter the dreams.||Rituals and Recovery: A Modern Sanctuary|Equinox’s Spa, perched above the Hudson River, offers treatments like the magnesium-rich Sleep IV Drip, CBD Relief Massage, and the MLX i3Dome infrared sauna—all designed to recalibrate the body for “restorative sleep over the following days.” The in-room “Sleep Well” menu is stocked with magnesium patches, supplements, blackout masks, and Loop earplugs, perfect for those who understand that a good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.||Thirty minutes before bedtime, the room automatically dims the lights, drops the temperature, and draws the shades, orchestrating a symphony of automation that gently whispers you into the silence of stars. The Sleeptime Super Lattè, a blend of chicory, carob, vanilla, sleep herbs, adaptogens, and oat milk, further augments the transition, every sip grounding the spirit in preparation for slumber. Mahatma Gandhi said it best, “Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”||Awakening: The AM Ritual|The morning protocol is gentle, imitating the gradual crescendo of sunrise—light, warmth, and curated soundscape ease guests into wakefulness. A built-in steam shower with contrast therapy resets the senses, alternating ice-cold and steam, invigorating mind and body, advocating the notion that the best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep. Upon waking, a bedside device reveals nuanced sleep metrics, empowering each guest with self-knowledge for tomorrow’s new beginning.||Equinox’s Sleep Experience Studio elevates the concept of sleep tourism to unprecedented heights. There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep. Here, sleep is transformed from a biological necessity to an artful, scientific pursuit, where every element honours the sanctity of rest. From soundproof sanctuaries and circadian rituals to spa therapies and mindfulness, Equinox honours the imperative that sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.||For those seeking sublime repose, Equinox Hotel’s Sleep Studio is where the hush of night brings rest to weary souls, and the exquisitely curated rituals and environments ensure each guest can awaken truly renewed. Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure…...

I've only had 3 girlfriends in my life, of which only 1 really counts. I remember the 1st one basically giving me an out & I kind of just let her dump me. The 2nd one I just didn't really like. My brother still gets a kick out of our text message exchange. It was a Good Morning followed by a Goodnight until a few days would pass & she'd curse me off. So that ended badly. Fortunately, I have a fiancé now who has taken some self defense classes & swears to protect me from any possible knife wielding ex's.

So it stands to reason that I would need to treat my current gf, now fiancé, happy. The saying is a bit cliche, so I'm going to refrain from using it. Regardless, she's a catch in all the ways that matter. So I like to reciprocate whenever possible, even though she's not the type to indulge herself in the over the top manners I've grown accustomed to. I guess it's my love language.

Her birthday is mid-August. I decided I wanted to get her an amazing gift & told her we were going to have a Stay-cation in NYC. It helped my situation in that I could not afford to miss work, but it also allowed us to plan a weekend getaway. You can imagine her delight when I began to lay out the details. I explained that while I worked the first night, she could hang out with her besties & pamper themselves until I arrived the next night. Best case scenario, I walk in to a full fledged R rated pillow fight, worst case she's hungover from fancy champagne. Either way, happy wife...

My decision on the hotel was based on the view. I found one hotel that is located by a bridge. Don't ask me which one, I get lost walking down the street. It looked cool, & I was about to book it, but then I stumbled upon the Equinox Hotel. This place emanated luxury. I looked through the hotel rooms & it had the coolest design work I'd ever seen in a hotel. Then there was the view, I'd never stayed at a place overlooking NY & my decision was easily made.

The ladies had a great time their first night. They spent their time at the fancy bar called the Electric Lemon Rooftop Terrance. They took pictures & drank the night away. Unfortunately, it stayed PG & they kept it kosher. They had their sleepover & woke up early the next day to hit up their fancy spa. The cool part when it comes to the Spa is that the Equinox is tied to my Amex Platinum so it was essentially free due to the perks of being a cardholder.

As a Platinum member, my fiancé got free breakfast in bed, anything she & her friend wanted. The next night I got to experience it as well. I guess I'm not used to luxury hotel dining because I spent at least 10 minutes just trying to pry one of the trays open that the food came in to stay warm. My fiancé came out of the shower in their beautiful robe watching me try to pry the things open when a spoon. She casually just lifted it open & to this day I'm dumbfounded over the ordeal. Excellent food though, definitely stayed warm.

The room itself is essentially state of the art. You press a button and the blind rolls up. You press any number of other buttons to control specific areas of the room. The lighting was setup for whatever type of mood you insisted upon. Then there was the bed. After a long days work I barely jumped on it at all. I basically sank into it & passed out. I'd originally arrived to an empty room. The black out blinds & bed combined into the most comfort I've ever experienced & was like an instantaneous Ambien. I was down for the count.

The next day was spent in the pool. It was not very large so it got packed very quickly but it had a nice view of the surrounding area. They gave us smoothies & we relaxed poolside. On our way to the pool we had passed the workout facilities. They had very nice looking machines & seemed to be worth the price of admission. I thought about doing some arm curls or a little biking to work off the pancakes, but I gave my belly a smack & it didn't jiggle enough to warrant the effort.

Overall, I've stayed at a bunch of hotels over the years. If I had to pick one girl & 1 hotel it'd be my fiancé &...