What an aptly named hotel. That was my first thought as we stepped into the warm, inviting lobby of the Sanctuary Hotel from the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan. My initial impression of the property as a peaceful sanctuary grew after we checked into our room. Although it faced W. 47th Street with constant foot and car traffic, our room was quiet and serene.
Other things I loved about the Sanctuary were the free breakfast, intriguing artwork throughout the property and its walkable location to major attractions and the theater. Plus, it had a rooftop bar and three sushi restaurants.
Accommodations at the Sanctuary Hotel
After staying in a series of rooms with tasteful décor that tended to the beige, grey and other neutral palettes, the brown, black, red and burnt orange in our room felt cozy and warm.
The biggest surprise was the shower that was visible from the bedroom rather than being housed in a separate room.
No worries if you’re traveling with a friend or prefer more privacy as you soap yourself up – there is a curtain you can draw around the shower to block the view. We had a tufted bench at the foot of the bed where I could put my suitcase, plus a coffeemaker, minibar and safe. Our queen room, one of 111 in the hotel, was fairly spacious, especially by New York standards where floor space can sometimes be at a premium.
Location of the Sanctuary Hotel
The Sanctuary is on West 47th Street, between 6th and 7th avenues. In less than 10 minutes you could be at Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Bryant Park or the Museum of Modern Art. It’s a prime location for exploring Midtown Manhattan with dozens of restaurants close by.
If you’re heading to a Broadway show, this a particularly prime location. We went to a matinee at the Samuel J Friedman Theatre, which was just a five-minute walk. The short distance was especially beneficial because we both agreed it was one of the worst plays we’d ever seen in our lives. “I couldn’t have hated it more,” Chris said in a low voice as we were leaving. We wanted to get back to our room quickly so we could then loudly declare our hatred for it. I won’t tell you the name of the play but will disclose that it has since closed.
Dining at the Sanctuary Hotel
Breakfast was included with our room and was served in a space enclosed for winter at Haven Rooftop, the rooftop bar that serves American cuisine. The buffet featured hot and cold items, plenty for a decent breakfast before heading out for the day.
We couldn’t get a full sense of the rooftop bar, as the temperature was in the single digits, but it looked like a really nice space to enjoy lunch, dinner, brunch or a drink before the theater.
What’s most notable about the Sanctuary Hotel is that it houses three sushi restaurants. Also located on the rooftop, Sushi Lab features an omakase experience with either 12 or 15 signature courses along with a traditional menu. Located by the hotel lobby, Sushi by Bou also offers omakase with 12 and 17 courses.
We dined one evening at Chemistry Room where you can opt to sit at a table or at the bar where you can watch two chefs expertly preparing the fresh sushi.
In addition to 12- and 15- omakase experiences, the restaurant has a one-hour pre-theatre omakase, $60 for 12 courses. Under no time limitations, we chose the 3-course prix fixe menu for $60.
We enjoyed spicy tuna crispy rice, washugyu gyoza, 8-course sushi omakase and New-York style cheesecake for dessert. The food was outstanding and beautifully presented. A surprise was the miso soup that was served in a beaker, taking me back to 10th-grade chemistry class.
Even if you aren’t staying at the Sanctuary, I recommend you head there for a fabulous sushi experience.
– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief