Enjoyable Stay

Though we've visited NYC many times before while living in CT, this was a first time hotel experience in NYC. The Blakely is a small "botique hotel" tucked away in the middle of 55th St. If you are expecting a grand high ceilinged lobby, wide hallways and lots of top-hatted bellhops in red jackets, you'll be disappointed. But if you want to feel like a your a member of a small special club that only a select few know about (the bellhop and and desk clerks recognized me each time I entered), then you'll enjoy the Blakely.

I recommend reserving a suite. The extra room is really nice, though I suspect the regular room (king) is quite comfortable. I'll also say that the pictures on the website don't do the rooms justice. I thought the pictures made them look somewhat cold, but the opposite is true. Each time my wife and I entered our room, we felt like it was our own private place.

Down side: the hotel restaurant and fitness room are still not complete, so don't expect room service. Also, when we checked out, one of the bellhops (who was told of our departure) neglected to bring down our things (the problem was graciously and very quickly rectified).

Up side: the concierge was very helpful and made reservations for us at a local restaurant--and treated us to a champagne toast at the restaurant (it was our honeymoon). Also, there is a SUPERB florist two or three doors west. During the week they have fresh flower bouquets available.

All in all, we would stay there again. The rooms are relaxing and well-appointed. Location and staff were great.

Excellent hotel, staff and location

Starting staying at the Blakely when it was called the Gorham Hotel - close to 10 years ago. We have loved the location of the hotel. The convenience to NBC studies, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, buses and the subway are fantastic. My friends and family will stay in their suites as much as possible. Would recommend to anyone.

Suites are of good size, enjoy the kitchenette. We really enjoy the water controlled temperature gauge in the bathroom.

Nice NEW hotel in Midtown

Lovely room with great bed, wonderful shower, handy kitchenette, and nice location - Au Bon Pain is right across the street. Staff is friendly-but I didn't find them unusually helpful (I called about some very loud construction work on a garbage chute outside my window and never heard back).

A couple caveats: bring earplugs in case your room is on the back side of the hotel. The garbage at the Hilton (across the street) is emptied for an hour at night - usually around 10:30 pm. Elevators got backed up at times which meant a long wait in the lobby - nothing huge- just mildly annoying. Also, do your research about getting to the airport. I requested a towncar, but was talked into taking a taxi and I fear I might have overpaid.

Overall, a lovely hotel for midtown Manhattan.

Can't say enough good things about this place

Great stafff, rooms, location, towels and beds. They're even baby friendly. They brought up a crib, stored my car seat and helped me baby-proof the room.

The Place with Heart!

*****Five Stars! One of the oustanding world inns. Impeccable service, well-appointed rooms, and the location. A hidden gem. Be careful who you tell. We don't want it to be a McBradley's.

Awesome for the price!!

My wife, son and I stayed in a Deluxe 1BR Suite at the Blakely from 8/15/04 - 08/20/04 and loved it. We were able to book our room during the "End of Summer Sale " for $215 plus taxes. The room was so clean with carpet in the BR, wood floors in the sitting area and marble in the bath; we had a kitchenette with mini-fridge, dinnerware and utensils, microwave, sink and coffee pot with complimentary tea and coffee bags. The bathroom was huge and the mattress in the sitting area was like a twin bed where my son slept comfortably. Complimentary NY Times newspaper each morning.

The only problem we experienced was the fact that the A/C for the sitting room came from the bedroom and was difficult to keep cool unless the bedroom was kept quite cold but we adjusted after the 1st day.

The restaurant was not open yet so we received complimentary breakfast vouchers for use at the Park Cafe at the corner of 7th Ave and W. 55th (just down the street) which were good for up to $8 each. We all enjoyed a full breakfast each morning.

The hotel does not have any vending machines or ice machines located in the hotel. There was 1 mini ice tray in the freezer part of the mini-fridge (enough for 1 glass). Had to request ice to be brought to the room but was able to keep it in the freezer. The mini-fridge was stocked but pricey so we bought our own soft-drinks and snacks at a nearby store.

Our room was on the 9th floor facing W. 55th and could not hear any outside noise. The hotel staff was superb and professional (desk people wore classy professional business attire). The fitness center was supposed to be open by the time of our stay but was not. They had access to a fitness facility approximately 2 blocks away but my wife and son did not need it after each day of walking and sightseeing.

My son loved the 2 plasma TVs (1 w/DVD player).

Can't praise the hotel enough for what we spent.

The Best Choice in NY, hands down!!

I cant say enough as to how awesome this hotel is.

My wife and I had the pleasure of staying here

on 7/26. We just wish it was longer. This is basically a brand new hotel. It was just recently renovated and opened up in May '04. The rooms are so beautiful and clean. The bathroom was as nice as any I have seen, including 4-STAR hotels. The bed was so comfortable, we didnt want to get out and leave the room. The staff is so courteous and helpful and attentive. The location cant be beat.

This is the best hotel $$ can buy in NY.

Be smart and save your money if you are considering the Peninsula or the St Regis down the block. Stay here and see why this is soon to be the most talked about property in NY!!

The Blakely is great!

The Blakely hotel was our "home" for a one week visit July 20-27. The hotel (formerly the Gorham) has gone through a major redo. The rooms were huge by New York standards, all done in dark woods and plaids. Kind of an Olde English feel. We were upgraded to a studio suite,which had a pullout sofa bed and sitting area with chair and ottoman. All rooms have a wonderful kitchenette with granite counter, and a big marble bathroom. I peeked into one of the standard rooms and they were also a very good size. The hotel is walking distance to the theatre district,and even closer to Central Park. Staff was very nice. A winner!!

An excellent choice

We stayed at The Blakely June 12 to 17. We reserved a suite with two queen beds and a sitting area. At that time only 80 rooms were finished and at check-in we were given a room with two double beds instead because they were out of our bed configuration. However, our next four nights were in a suite with two queen beds. Everything was brand new because the hotel just reopened in May. The sitting area had two comfortable chairs and a flat screen TV. The bedroom also had a TV. We had a wonderful stay: the desk clerks and bell hops were helpful, the room was quiet, and we were close to everything. We went to three musicals and walked from 42nd street and 52nd street at night with no problem. We took the subway and it was close. We were given breakfast vouchers for a restaurant on the corner and we went twice. There are four in our family and we paid $265 a night for the suite with two queen beds. I'd stay at The Blakely again, it was perfect for us.

Great hotel, loved our stay

I was worried about going to this hotel since there were no reviews since it reopened as the Blakely but it was better than I had ever expected. The location is perfect.. It is right by the 57th St. subway stop, 1/2 block from 7th Ave. and the Carnegie Deli, not to mention lots of great restaurants and only a block or so from Radio City Music Hall. The rooms are wonderful. Great beds, two plasma TV's, nice bathrooms. Only feature that is a little deceiving is the "kitchenette", really just a microwave, sink, and a mini fridge that is full of minibar stuff. The staff was very friendly and helpful and I would stay here again whenever I could!