The Hippest, Happiest Hotel in New YorkWashington Square HotelBy Madelyn Miller
From the moment I walked in, it seemed like I was in the midst of a joyous party, and all the guests were having a wonderful time. Their faces smiled, their conversations were punctuated with laughter, and their body language said, “I am glad I am here.”
Maybe these sad people have just picked the wrong hotel. I wonder if the people staying at Washington Square Hotel are innately happy, or they get that way upon check-in.? If you put the sad group into the Washington Square Hotel, would they enjoy their time in New York more?
How did I find this wonderful hotel?
Washington Square Hotel is a tiny jewel of a hotel that has been owned by the same family for over 30 years. The art work is done by the mother, Rita Paul (but this is really good artwork that could sell quickly in any of the nearby galleries)
I wanted to have dinner there the night I checked in, but the first opening they had was after 10pm and I was too hungry to wait. TIP: Reserve ahead to eat at this charming restaurant. So when I woke up the next morning, I went downstairs to North Square. Luckily it was late enough that was no wait, but thoughtfully they provide free coffee and fresh apples during their morning rush hour if tables are not available. And breakfast extends from 7am to 11am One of my lasting memories of a chilly week in New York will be the warm pumpkin pecan pancakes served with maple syrup and bananas and fresh strawberries. And the price was less than $6.00, so it is worth hightailing it down here just for breakfast. Will I be back? For breakfast, for dinner with a reservation, and certainly to stay in the cozy, comfy rooms. Washington Square Hotel MORE THINGS MADELYN LOVES IN NEW YORKInterested in New York Theatre? GREAT DEALSNew York City Pass www.citypass.com NEW YORK PASS is www.newyorkpass.com MOST UNUSUAL THING FOR WOMEN TO SEE IN NEW YORKTicklebomb’s Mantasia MADELYN’S FAVORITE CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCESFrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity Anything Chocolate by David Burke at DavidBurke and Donatelle MADELYN’S FAVORITE RESTAURANTSDavidBurke and Donatelle. Their prix-fixed lunch is a tremendous value L’ecole on Broadway. This is the cooking school of the Culinary Institute Great GuidebooksZAGAT Survey NATIVE’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK I love this book. I feel like a native when I read it. And this is a man who really understands shopping, my favorite sport in New York EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE NEW YORK MOON METRO Knopf City Guides NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK CITY New York from A to Z NEW YORK CITY OFFICIAL NYC GUIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY As you would expect, exceptional sections on restaurants and hotels. And I love any guidebook that has over 40 pages about shopping. No maps, no pictures, just pure information. Sleep Cheap in New York: High-Quality Lodgings at Rock-Bottom Rates by Lisa Mullenneaux, The Penington Press, 2002, $15.95 Manhattan New York with Kids
WHERE TO GOA guide to Manhattan’s Toilets IF YOU WANT TO VENTURE FURTHERLong Island Alive NEW YORK STATE THE THIRTEEN COLONIES TASTE OF NEW YORK at home COOKBOOKSThe New York Restaurant Cookbook BALTHAZAR COOKBOOK Lobster Rolls & Blueberry Pie Little Italy Cookbook Welcome to Juniors Second Helpings from Union Square HIGH HEAT |
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TM
I loved this hotel even before I had the pumpkin pecan pancakes with bananas and strawberries for breakfast.
Sometimes when I check into a large chain hotel, everyone looks like they are just dreading the next business meeting. They sit alone, reading their newspapers, silently studying their notes, with a bored, frustrated scowl on their face. 
What is not to love? A great location in the middle of Greenich Village, a free gym, a wonderful Zagat-rated restaurant with breakfast included, individually designed and decorated rooms, and a staff that takes even my crazy requests in stride. (I wanted to find an all women’s adult entertainment place that I incorrectly called Mantastic. They searched and searched and never gave up until I remembered the name was actually Mantasie.)
Big kudos go to Stephanie Teuwen, organizer of the New York Chocolate show. I figured that a girl who knows about chocolate, knows everything important. And she had been telling me about this hotel for quite awhile.
Now, back to the pumpkin pancakes. The hotel has a restaurant on the North West corner of Washington Square, aptly named NORTH SQUARE. They have the kind of trendy flavor combinations of homey ingredients that makes the food exciting but not too edgy.