Room check: The Quin, New York City

The Quin's lobby by night. Photo / Supplied

Winston Aldworth stays at New York's Quin, where style meets Central Park.

Location? At 101 West 57th Street and Sixth Avenue, The Quin hotel is handy to three underground stations. Crucially, it's one block south of the fabulous Central Park - pack your running or walking shoes.

Check-in experience? The elegant staff - immaculate in tailored kit - are a combination of chic style and military efficiency. As I'm checking in, a departing guest asks one of the staff to have their luggage brought out. The staff member murmurs into a microphone in her sleeve, nods to an answer in her earpiece and says the bags will be "out in a minute". Fifty-nine seconds later, the luggage appears.

The style? The Quin has a rich artistic legacy - back when it was known as the Buckingham Hotel, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Georgia O'Keeffe and Marc Chagall all rested their heads here. Today, there's an artist in residence programme that means distinctive, well-considered and often beautiful artworks are scattered throughout the place.

Room? A good size for this part of town. Inevitably, it's beautifully done.

Something to eat or drink? The hotel's bar and restaurant is a warm, low-light New York classic, with stylish lines, burnished wooden surfaces and cool metals. It's connected to the lobby by a doorway, but its shopfront opens on to the street and it passes the key test: Would you come here even if you weren't a guest? Absolutely. Across the road there's a health food shop that's open late selling good salads and the like. Horrifically, there are three Starbucks located within a stone's throw of the front door. The curse of Manhattan.

What's in the neighbourhood? You're at the heart of midtown Manhattan. So, aside from Central Park, you've got Carnegie Hall a few doors down, and the Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum, MoMA and the Museum of Arts & Design all within walking distance.

Exercise? There's a small, smart gym in the building, but anyone staying here who wants to work up a sweat has got to head for Central Park.

The bed? Super comfy.

A room with a view? I was looking down on to 57th, a heaving Gotham fairway with steam rising from underground vents and locals wrapped against the elements hustling past one another's lives.

Noise? New York's obligatory roadworks kicked off early during my stay.

Bathroom? Snug. Apparently the Fresh Spa brand toiletries do all sorts of hydrating, amino-acid-y stuff. Translation: They smelt nice.

Would I return? In a flash.

CHECKLIST

The Quin Hotel is at 101 West 57th Street at Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10019. Phone: +1 (212) 245-7846