The Mark

Discreet on the outside, lively on the inside, The Mark, whose 16-story limestone-and-brick building has stood on the corner of Madison Avenue and East 77th Street since 1927, is decidedly “uptown New York.” Its restaurant, on the ground floor, is by Jean-Georges Vongerichten—long one of the most famous chefs in the world. Its hair salon, on the second floor, is an outpost of Frédéric Fekkai—arguably the most prestigious name in hairstyling in New York (and beyond) for the past four decades. Up top, its penthouse suite, with five bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and four fireplaces, is not just the largest hotel-penthouse suite in the city, but the largest in the United States. Like its patrons, who chat with friends and check their phones while sprawling on the Mark Bar’s copper-colored sofas—courtesy of designer Jacques Grange—this is a hotel that wears its status confidently and comfortably. It seems to say Congratulations! You’ve arrived.

**The Standout: **In winter, guests staying in the penthouse suite have the option to have part of their terrace turned into a small skating rink

**Don't Miss:**Dining, Jean-Georges-style: pistachio guacamole, caviar blinis and black truffle pizza

• The John Lobb shoe shine service
• Courtyard dining, available in good weather
• The “77s,” the generously sized king rooms on the East 77th Street side that are well-tailored in mostly neutral tones
• The hotel’s sidewalk hot dog cart in warmer months

Reopened as a Landmark building in 2009 after extensive renovations, the Mark, like its guests, is elegant, discreet and flawlessly put together.

The 152 rooms and 47 suites of the Upper East Side classic are spacious, ranging from 400–700 square feet, and are located throughout twelve floors. Parisian hotel designer Jacques Grange melded old-world Parisian elegance with modern accents in the design. The grand lobby’s bold and modern style continues even into guest bathrooms, which feature deep soaking tubs, separate showers and TVs built into the vanity mirror. The unique, black-and-white style of the bathrooms offsets the clean lines and softer color scheme of the rooms, which are airy and light-filled and boast plush bedding. Some of the larger suites boast full kitchens or kitchenettes for longer stay clients. Most of the rooms overlook 77th Street or the inner courtyard, while only the suites on the top floors offer glimpses of Central Park.

Amenities include the Fréderic Fekkai Salon, a top-notch fitness center just for guests and residents, a shoeshine service and The Mark branded pedicab, available to take guests on an exploration of the Upper East Side—though some may prefer to take advantage of the hotel’s bikes. Also available for guests to charter is the Mark Sailboat, a 70-foot Herreshoff-designed vessel which was inspired by the Mark’s lobby design. Guests embark on a three-hour excursion around the city, enjoying the cityscape and sunset views paired with small bites and drinks.

A staple at The Mark is the classic black-and-white-striped hot dog cart serving Jean-Georges’s chicken and beef hot dogs to guests and neighborhood residents. Other more traditional dining options include The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges, which serves the chef’s signatures and European classics alongside a curated wine list (the win is displayed in a beautiful case in the dining room). The Mark Restaurant serves breakfast lunch and dinner, plus a Sunday brunch. The adjoining Mark Bar is more French in design—imagined by French artist, Guy de Rougemont and furnished by Vladimir Kagan—serving coffee in the morning and cocktails the rest of the day. Continuing the French theme is Caviar Kaspia, an elegant Parisian restaurant with its own entrance on Madison and a boutique selling caviar alongside other gourmet items. For a more quintessential New York park experience, guests can try The Mark’s “Picnic in the Park”—the staff will pack a picnic basket with all the essentials and guests can enjoy the chef’s menu in nature.

Visitors who want to be in the thick of uptown’s museums, galleries, restaurants and shopping