Review of Carlyle, by The TI Review Team

For much of the 20th-century, The Carlyle has been a symbol of, and a home to, Old New York. It's as relevant - and elegant - as ever in the 21st-century, thanks to the keen attentions of a gallery of marquis-name designers, among them Thierry Despont, Renzo Mongiardino, and Alexandra Champalimaud, and the continued appeal of Bemelmans Bar (where every Manhattan-born socialite worth her 10021 zip code sips her first cocktail - probably a Gin-Gin Mule, one of the bar's signature drinks).

Besides Bemelmans, guests can dine and drink in either The Carlyle Restaurant (very trad, very frequented by the sleek, monied tribe of residents who share The Carlyle's exclusive Upper East Side digs) and The Gallery (a cooler, Mongiardino-designed two-story dining room, done in opulent wall silks and velvets, which serves a knockout afternoon tea). Cafe Carlyle is a famous entertainment venue, with the likes of Bobby Short and Eartha Kitt around to croon on any given evening.

Rosewood, the Carlyle's management as of 2007, has added a fantastically swank SENSE Spa to the premises, with six massage/facial suites and a slew of top notch products, including the coveted Sisley line, with which to be slathered. There's a fitness centre, the Yves Durif salon (known for their top-notch blow-dry), and an arcade of shops, including a handful of blue-chip antiques dealers.

A long tradition of inviting the world's top decorators to indulge their whims at The Carlyle means that among the 187 rooms and suites there are wide ranges of palettes and styles, from staunchly Art Deco to strict interpretations of English Country to David Hicks-ian mid century glamour. Standards measure a generous 350 square feet; deluxe rooms clock in at 400 square feet; and suites take off from there (guests benefit from spacious floor plans that originally accommodated long-term tenants). Everywhere, custom fabrics, elegant area rugs, and quality original artwork abound.