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As iconic Parisian brasseries go, Fouquet’s, which opened on the Champs-Elysee in 1899 and has since served everyone from Chaplin to Churchill to, is up there with the greats. In 2006, the Barriere- family owned business sprouted the adjacent Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet's, with interiors designed by Jacques Garcia. It is against this backdrop that one should consider the group’s first US outpost, Fouquet’s New York, which opened in Tribeca at the end of 2022. Great lengths have been gone to in an effort to create the same rich atmosphere of the European mothership. This is no mean feat considering it is a brand new building on a site which was once a parking lot. The result is a hotel that, on the inside, is ‘tres French’, indeed, including staff who have been encouraged to ‘bonsoir’ and ‘merci’ during any encounter with guests. Some people will love this; others might prefer a hotel that represents or gives a taste of its actual location.
Design note
Hiring Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, whose commercial projects include the recently opened restaurant Bacchanalia in London, was a master stroke. Brudnizki is known for his confectionary approach to decoration (his spaces are always delightful and highly detailed) and stepping into one of the rooms is a little like taking residence in a box of Ladurée macarons.
Why stay here
There is a really good energy to this hotel which seems to be a hit with locals. That’s always a good sign. If you enjoy people watching, the reception cum lounge and Brasserie will provide you with endless distraction, whether it's earwigging on very intense New York conversations about vitamin injections or spotting someone trying very hard not to look like Meg Ryan.
What’s around
There’s plenty to see in and around this former warehouse district, and no shortage of chi chic shops and restaurants. What’s best though is the ease with which you can reach neighbouring SoHo to the east, Greenwich Village to the north, and wander up the Hudson River Greenway to the new Thomas Heatherwick-designed Little Island. A tip: simple, unpretentious and inexpensive food is hard to come by in this part of town. If that's what you’re after, head to nearby Bubby’s for exceptional comfort food. Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches all round!
Rooms and facilities
There are 97 guest rooms and suites, including 65 standard King Rooms, 29 Corner and Terrace Suites, and a duplex penthouse suite called “Le Grand Appartement Terrasse.” The guest rooms and suites feature Art Deco-inspired furniture, chandeliers, and Fouquet’s own toile de Jouy wallpaper.
Food and drink
Make it a priority to book dinner in Fouquet’s Brasserie where executive chef Bradley Stellings serves up a menu of classic with a twist dishes, and an art deco influenced interior of wood panelling, red leather, chandeliers and brass trim. It’s buzzy and cool and delicious. Outstanding dishes include a salad of crab with lime avocado puree with cirrus and the grilled Elysian Fields lamb chops with herbs tabbouleh and lamb jus. There’s also the jewellery-box cute Titsou Bar, which takes inspiration from French speakeasy Le Marta Paris. Although not yet open at the time of this reviewer’s visit, there is also a vegetarian cafe called Par Ici.
Spa and wellness credentials
It’s not the main reason to stay at Fouquet’s but the Spa Diane Barriere is what you’d expect from a hotel of this standard: five treatment rooms run in association with Biologique Recherche and a plunge pool. There’s also a fitness centre run by Dogpound Gyms who will also provide professional trainers upon request.
Family-friendly and accessibility
It probably wouldn’t be the first place a family with young children would look at booking (there are no cots available), but there are adjoining rooms to allow families to spread out.
Booking essentials
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York, 456 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013, United States. Double rooms including breakfast, from $1050
