Due for a Staycation? How the Ned Nomad is Bringing Resort Vibes to the Heart of NYC

Who knew a mindset reset could come in the form of a birthday stay in the heart of NYC? That’s exactly what I experienced spending two nights and three days at The Ned Nomad. Resort vibes are hidden away behind a demure exterior in Manhattan’s vibrant NoMad (North of Madison Square Park) district where the Ned NoMad is not just a place to stay but a destination unto itself. Housed in a beautifully restored Beaux-Arts building from the turn of the century, this architectural gem welcomes you with its warm atmosphere that pays homage to 1920s glamor. They offer modern amenities, including five dining locales, a coworking space that transforms into a lively club atmosphere at night and multiple live music spaces. Conveniently located right across from the 28th Street NQRW subway station, and about a 15 minute walk or ride from Penn Station, the location itself could be considered one of The Ned’s amenities. Take advantage of this location being an arts and culture hub by walking.

• Two minutes away to the Museum of Sex or Pergola

• Four-minute to Madison Square Park or 5th Avenue for shopping

• Five minutes to some Broadway mainstays like The Shubert Theatre, Minskoff Theatre, Jujamycyn theatre, Roundabout Theatre and Lyric Theatre.

• Eight minutes to Eataly or the The Flat Iron Building

• 10 min to Dover Street Market for shopping or Whole Foods

• 15 minute walk to The Morgan Library or Fotografiska, You’ll have plenty of places to explore. Still, you probably won’t want to leave.

Friday: I made it! And what a lovely surprise to be welcomed by chocolate-covered strawberries, a handwritten birthday note from the hotel staff and a bottle of Sorelle L’ovest Prosecco in my room. This trip signaled to me that I am who I think I am, and that I'm going in the right direction! First things first – The prix-fixe three-course lunch at Cecconi’s for $39 was a steal as their regular menu ranges from $28 to $90 for the main course alone. The wine and mocktails were equally exquisite. After dining, it was truly refreshing to shower before seeing a Broadway play, Hell’s Kitchen, at The Shubert Theatre. Luckily, the sink was equipped with everything I might need, including a few items I forgot like a razor, and a toothbrush. After the show, it was time to head back to the hotel for late dinner reservations. While I wish I would have gotten the house chopped salad instead of the steak tartare at Little Ned, the dill pickle gin-based cocktail, cheese board, calamari and onion rings stole the show. After wrapping up the meal, I punctuated the night at Ned’s downstairs to see their resident band, Rare Vintage, perform. They put on a great show and played well off the crowd, who couldn’t help but sing and dance along to medleys of hits by Lauryn Hill, Outkast, Beyonce and more! The perfect end to an excellent night.

Lazy Saturday: I woke up to The New York Times at my door while going to breakfast at The Cecconi’s bar. This is the first but not the last time, I might have ordered the entire menu thanks to Fora’s breakfast credit perk. The bartenders are very friendly in this sunny restaurant where people dine alone or in groups. After trying to decide if my outfit truly required a red tie or not resulted in a failed foray to an event at Lincoln Center, I chose to enjoy and experience what The Ned Upstairs has to offer. Umm… can you say sunset views of The Empire State Building five times fast? Luckily, The Ned Nomad has a partnership with Net-A-Porter and Mr. Porter which do same-day delivery if I needed something in a pinch, but my outfit looked pretty good without it. Hey, you can’t blame me, I mean this is a place where you want to dress to impress, and the guests were definitely dressed to the nines! The vibe was great and the server told me Ned’s club downstairs gets pretty jumpin’ by 11:30. Before I knew it, my egg nog, strawberry ice cream and salmon cake-induced nap turned into the best sleep of my life. No partying for me that night! The pillowtop king-size Hypnos mattress was worth the stay alone.

The perks of late checkout: Sunday was a continuation of a lazy Saturday with a twist. I ordered room service this time but went to their on-site gym for an hour while it was being prepared. I finally got to try the Peloton. It was actually cool, and this is from someone who skips the spin classes for Pilates.

Pro tip: If you're skipping the gym entirely during your stay, grab a table at Cecconi’s and pick up the sterling silver Peugeot salt and pepper mills (it counts, okay?).

It was so great to return from a good workout at the gym to my Americano latte with a couple shots of caramel, gluten-free toast, avocados, bacon, san Marzano tomatoes, coconut yoghurt fruit bowl and raw juicery beverage set up on the spider table that I put next to the window — in A Sentimental Mood by Ella Fitzgerald blared from my laptop speakers as the volcanic limestone soaking tub filled with concierge-provided bubble bath. What a perfect reminder that this is what life isundefinedabout!

Image: Kay Hop | A lovely birthday surprise provided by the hotel. Chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of white wine – Sorelle Bronca L’Ovest Prosecco.

Image: Kay Hop | A walk-in view of the 370 square foot room at The Ned Nomad.

Image: Kay Hop | Outside of The Shubert Theatre which is currently showing Hell’s Kitchen.

Image: Kay Hop | The Dill Pickle Cocktail is accompanied by a side of pickles at Little Ned.

Image: Kay Hop | The Ned’s house band, Rare Vintage, performs at Ned’s Club Downstairs.

Image: Kay Hop | Above view of breakfast at the Cecconi’s bar– coconut yoghurt, fresh fruit, and honeycomb is accompanied by a matcha latte.

Image: Kay Hop | Room service from Cecconi’s spans the entire length of the windowside spidertable. This scrumptious meal includes coconut yoghurt and fruit, gluten-free toast, bacon, tomatoes, avocados, jam, americano latte, raw juicery juice.

Image: Kay Hop | Caption: Window-side Victoria and Albert volcanic limestone soaking tub filling up with bubble bath

Ned Nomad is a great choice for business travel, solo travel or a romantic baecation. Mingle with the who’s who in the exclusive members-only areas and let them mingle with you! If you’ll be attending NYC mainstay events like Tribeca Film Festival, The Armory Show, Urbanworld Film Festival or Newfest, I’d consider The Ned! The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and delivered world-class personalized service! They do a great job of taking note of allergies and adjusting meals accordingly.

The 370 square-foot deluxe room was spacious compared to other NYC hotels. The full-size Cowshed spa products in the bathroom made my curls and skin look and feel amazing. It was a spa-like experience in the room between the products, the tub and the best combo of soft and firm in a mattress I’ve ever experienced. That pillow-top hypnos mattress has my heart and definitely made it onto my wishlist after this stay (hint, hint)!

I was pleased to see a Babyliss Pro hair dryer and Elinchron flat iron on the shelf in the closet. The TV had over 80 channels. I mostly stuck to MTV and CMT to see the latest music videos. The small fridge and essentials drawer were curated to my limits and my liking. The ginger ale, hard cider and CBD drinks quenched my thirst in a pinch. I also never heard of a vitamin patch before I saw it here, so curiosity made me try the Ned’s Akalo immunity patch while there for some extra Vitamin D.