Why The Ritz-Carlton NYC NoMad Is Worth the Extra Splurge — Especially for Its 36th Floor Club Lounge

There are certain hotel names that have become almost synonymous with luxury, and The Ritz-Carlton is undoubtedly one of them.

From properties across Europe and Asia to tropical resorts and some of America's biggest cities, the brand has spent decades perfecting a style of hospitality where impeccable service, beautiful surroundings and attention to the smallest details are all simply part of the experience.

So when OK! recently checked into The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, there was one big question: Can a hotel brand known around the world still create something that feels distinctly New York?

The answer, we quickly discovered, is absolutely yes.

Sitting on West 28th Street in the heart of NoMad, the hotel manages to deliver everything you'd expect from a Ritz-Carlton while embracing a neighborhood that has become one of Manhattan's most exciting places to stay.

Madison Square Park, the Flatiron District and the Empire State Building are all nearby, while some of the city's best restaurants, bars and shopping are within easy walking distance.

It's a location that gives visitors the best of both worlds. You're close enough to Midtown to easily tick off the New York classics, but far enough downtown to experience a side of Manhattan that feels much more like the city locals actually live in.Step inside, however, and the energy changes immediately.

The busy streets outside give way to the kind of calm, polished luxury Ritz-Carlton regulars will instantly recognize. The hotel rises high above the surrounding neighborhood, making the Manhattan skyline a constant part of the experience, particularly from its higher-floor rooms and suites.

Rooms feel contemporary rather than overly traditional, with sophisticated interiors, floor-to-ceiling windows and those incredible views doing much of the talking. It's glamorous without feeling like the hotel is trying too hard to remind you that you're staying somewhere expensive.

And while the surroundings are undeniably impressive, it's the service that really makes the experience feel like a Ritz-Carlton. From check-in to the restaurants and everything in between, there's an attention to detail that makes the stay feel effortless — exactly what you want when you're checking into one of New York's most luxurious hotels.

if you're going to stay here, there's one upgrade that really transforms the experience: The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge.

Located on the 36th floor, the Club Lounge feels almost like a private hotel within the hotel, complete with sweeping views across Manhattan and dedicated service throughout the day.

Guests with Club access can drop in from morning until evening for five daily culinary presentations created by Chef José Andrés, moving from breakfast and midday offerings through afternoon treats and evening bites.

And unlike the continental breakfast and a few snacks that pass for an executive lounge at plenty of hotels, this is somewhere you genuinely want to spend time.

Starting your morning with breakfast overlooking Manhattan before heading out into the city feels quintessentially New York, while returning in the afternoon for a drink and something to eat creates a welcome break from a day spent walking the streets below.

There's also something especially luxurious about having a beautiful space available throughout your stay where you can escape the crowds, grab a coffee, catch up on work or simply sit by the windows and watch New York happening 36 floors beneath you.

For guests who have experienced Ritz-Carlton Club Level at properties elsewhere in the world, the NoMad version delivers exactly what you'd hope for — while those experiencing it for the first time will quickly understand why it has become such a defining part of the Ritz-Carlton experience.

Club access isn't automatically included through Marriott Bonvoy elite status, so guests need to book an eligible Club Level room or another accommodation that includes access. If you're deciding where to splurge during a stay, however, this is the upgrade we'd make.

Food is another area where The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad takes the experience far beyond what you'd typically expect from a hotel.

Rather than treating its restaurants as amenities for guests who don't feel like venturing outside, the hotel has partnered with Michelin-starred chef José Andrés to create venues that have become destinations in their own right.

On the ground floor, Zaytinya serves an all-day menu inspired by the cuisines of Turkey, Greece and Lebanon. The focus is on mezze and dishes designed to be shared, making it equally suited to a long dinner with friends or breakfast before heading out to explore Manhattan.

Then there's Bazaar Meat by José Andrés, which brings the chef's creative approach and Spanish influences to a sophisticated dining experience inside the hotel. Even the accompanying bar feels like a destination of its own, providing an intimate place for a pre-dinner cocktail or late-night drink.

And then you go up. Way up.

Perched high above Manhattan, Nubeluz may be one of the hotel's biggest showstoppers.

The rooftop bar from Andrés offers 270-degree views across New York, pairing the skyline with creative cocktails and elevated small bites. Arrive while it's still light and watch Manhattan transition from day to night, and you'll be reminded why even people who live here never really get tired of seeing this city from above.

Having Zaytinya, The Bazaar and Nubeluz under the same roof also changes the way you experience the hotel. You could quite easily check in on a Friday evening and have one of New York's best luxury weekends without needing to leave the building. Although, of course, you should.

The NoMad location is a huge part of what makes this particular Ritz-Carlton work so well.

Walk a few blocks south and you're in the Flatiron District. Madison Square Park is nearby, Koreatown is minutes away, and Fifth Avenue and the Empire State Building are within easy reach. Head a little farther downtown and Chelsea, Union Square and Greenwich Village open up in front of you.

It's an ideal position for someone who has visited New York before and wants something different from the traditional Times Square or Central Park hotel experience, but it's equally convenient for a first-time visitor who still wants easy access to the city's biggest sights.

NoMad itself has also become a destination, packed with restaurants, cocktail bars, cafés and shopping that make simply stepping outside and exploring on foot part of the experience.

Back at the hotel, there's The Ritz-Carlton Spa, a 6,800-square-foot wellness space with eight treatment rooms, saunas and steam rooms, while the fitness center is open 24 hours — particularly welcome after a night spent working your way through José Andrés' restaurants.

Ultimately, what impressed us most about The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad is how successfully it balances two identities. This is unmistakably a Ritz-Carlton. The polished service, beautiful rooms, exceptional Club Lounge and attention to detail deliver the kind of high-end experience that has made the name recognizable around the world.

But it also feels unmistakably New York.

The skyline is visible everywhere, some of the city's most exciting dining and cocktails are happening inside the building, and the location puts you in the middle of a neighborhood that perfectly captures modern Manhattan.

In a city overflowing with luxury hotels, that's harder to achieve than it sounds.

Plenty of properties can give you an expensive room and a great view. The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad turns the entire stay into an experience — from breakfast 36 floors above Manhattan to cocktails at Nubeluz as the city lights come on.

So while The Ritz-Carlton experience may be famous around the world, after spending time at its NoMad address, it's clear that it feels particularly at home in New York City.