Kit Kemp strikes again. Along with partner Tim, the enigmatic designer and co-founder of Firmdale Hotels has designed New York City’s second taste of the group’s unapologetically British style: The Whitby.
Featuring 86 bedrooms and suites scattered across 16 floors of a purpose built building, the new property is based in Manhattan’s upper midtown; an area that recalls New York in its full postcard glory, with central Park nearby and retail giants like Henri Bendel and Bergdorf’s just blocks away. Design-wise, The Whitby bears similarities to the group’s previous opening, London’s Ham Yard hotel, with a more mature take on Firmdale’s trademark bold colour schemes. Floor-to-ceiling windows are framed by patterned curtains and the now signature headboards mark focal points in each room with a joyful yet measured exploration of colour, texture and pattern.
If the drama of nearby Broadway is not enough (or, realistically, too much) the show-stopping Whitby Bar offers an exciting alternative. Amongst expansive warehouse-style windows and patterned banquettes, the elegant room hosts guests and locals alike for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, while cocktails are served from an impressive 30-foot pewter bar that would make even the most seasoned Manhattan bar hopper nod in approval. It’s all presented underneath vaulted ceilings and a dramatic arrangement of hanging baskets from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland — a cheeky wink to hotel’s British roots.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
18 West 56th Street
-
Eight designers to know from Rossana Orlandi Gallery’s Milan Design Week 2025 exhibitionWallpaper’s highlights from the mega-exhibition at Rossana Orlandi Gallery include some of the most compelling names in design today
-
Nikos Koulis brings a cool wearability to high jewelleryNikos Koulis experiments with unusual diamond cuts and modern materials in a new collection, ‘Wish’
-
A Xingfa cement factory’s reimagining breathes new life into an abandoned industrial siteWe tour the Xingfa cement factory in China, where a redesign by landscape specialist SWA Group completely transforms an old industrial site into a lush park
-
At Linden Los Angeles, classic New York comfort food gets its dueThe restaurant, inspired by a stretch of boulevard bridging Brooklyn and Queens, honors legacy, community and pleasure
-
This atmospheric New York restaurant was designed to be a ‘beautiful ruin’At Leon’s, classic Italian fare comes with a North African accent and with a side of family history
-
Is a tiny tattoo the best holiday souvenir? Kimpton Hotels think soIn partnership with Tiny Zaps, Kimpton Hotels is bringing city-inspired tattoo pop-ups to five U.S. locations
-
Alba Los Angeles is an Italian vacation disguised as a restaurantThis buzzy NYC import brings a slice of la dolce vita to West Hollywood
-
At Bar Etoile, Scandi-chic meets leisurely Los AngelesThis new Melrose Park joint mixes art-world references, French bistro vibes and an out-of-this-world martini
-
The world's most heavenly destinations for astrotourism in 2025We're in for a big year for celestial events. These are the world's best hotels to see the cosmos as you've never seen it before
-
Printemps' New York outpost blooms with possibility – and enchanting designThanks to designer Laura Gonzalez, this new retail mecca blooms colour, atmosphere and narrative
-
At Bar Siesta in Los Angeles, meals linger and moods perk upThis new Silver Lake hotspot showcases Spain's design, culture, and delectable tinned fish
