A very sad decline.
I have stayed at the Alex for years. I discovered this lovely hotel long before I was transferred to NYC a few years ago. This hotel was a gem. Perfect location,lovely bar, spacious rooms that are completely self sufficient and beautifully appointed. A beige, white and charcoal colour palette is elegant and if not well designed can make a room look frumpy and boring. None of this was an issue at the Alex. The rooms had a fresh, clean and very Manhattan chic vibe. I liked coming here. It was my hotel of choice. The toiletries were Fredrick Fekkai and the towels and robes were as good as Frette. The staff and this hotel were managed by a lovely manager; Mary. She knew every regular guest by name; she knew exactly what we expected from a hotel of this standard and no details were spared. Ever. To my horror I ended up staying at the alex this November for a couple of nights. Upon realizing that we needed a hotel in NY for a few nights because our home was inaccessible for a few days; I obviously chose to go back to the Alex because I remember it was fabulous. And the hotel never felt like a hotel. It makes me so sad to report that nothing is the same. The hotel is a faded relic of it's former glory; and i am not even being dramatic here. The rooms are shabby. The carpets are stained. The pillows are lumpy. The sofas appear dirty. When beige looks dirty, it looks awful. That is a surprise to many people who love this colour. But I am in the design industry and I can tell you with confidence that dirty beige is revolting. The toiletries are cheap, the towels are worn out, and so is the staff. It is a dull, dull place with a tired and uninteresting look. The service is average. So is the bar. This is Manhattan and every bar knows how to make a proper New York martini. The martinis at the Alex were great. Not any more. The breakfast was always elegant yet unfussy. Not anymore. In the midst of this sad decline, one thing hasn't changed. The Alex still charges you a small fortune. It's normal for New York, but this is also a city where we expect the best when you pay for it. There is a lot of competition here and New Yorkers are not ones to put up with poor service esp if they have to pay alot for it. I always say that things have to be worth more than what they cost. That's why beautiful things and experiences are worth every cent. The Alex used to be a place that was worth every cent. Now it's a rip off. Seriously, save your money and stay at another hotel in NYC. If you want to stay midtown, stay at the London, or the St. Giles, or the Kitano or even 70 Park for that matter. If the Alex gives you a room for 150 bucks a night, stay there. Because that's what the rooms are worth in their current state. The new management has failed in my opinion.