Review / Nine Orchard Hotel: Tom Holland and Zendaya were recently at the luxury landmark property – housed in a neo-renaissance building in the heart of Chinatown
The hotel offers cosy vibes and the quintessential New York experience, with Holland and Zendaya recently on hand for the launch of Holland’s premium non-alcoholic beer brand, Bero
Named after its location (9 Orchard Street), the hotel is smack in the middle of the Lower East Side, the hip neighbourhood that is home to independent boutiques and happening restaurants. It is also around the corner from East Broadway, Chinatown’s main drag and the true heart of the multicultural enclave, unlike the tourist trap Canal Street.
The 12-floor structure that houses the hotel towers above the low-rise tenement housing in the area and stands out for its neo-renaissance architecture. Dating back to 1912, the former Jarmulowsky Bank Building was granted landmark status by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2009 and underwent an extensive decade-long renovation that transformed it into a modern-day luxury hotel while preserving its unique design.
Details such as the original ornamental ceilings, arched windows, cornice mouldings and wall clocks were painstakingly restored or replicated with the help of historians and artisans.
The retro vibe of the 113-room property extends to its interiors: rooms are decorated with vintage books, antique desks and custom-made speakers – with not an iPad in sight. It is quite refreshing to stay at a recently opened hotel with old-school but user-friendly light switches, in an environment that feels residential and cosy rather than forbidding and cookie-cutter.
The hotel’s dining offerings include the Swan Room, where you can enjoy drinks and small plates, and the popular Corner Bar, a lively bistro that is busy from breakfast to dinner.
