Kimpton Hotel Theta is a pop of cloud-like tranquillity in New York's Theatre District

Named for the Theta brain waves produced during deep relaxation, the latest Kimpton hotel to open in New York City is a welcome escape on the edge of the Theatre District.

It’s sister, Kimpton Hotel Eventi, is just a few blocks from Empire State Building and is often referenced as one of the best value stays in Manhattan. Kimpton Hotel Theta is slightly less expensive, but no less luxurious with a simple, soothing design that has already picked up a design award despite only opening towards the end of last year.

I recently spent two nights at the hotel. It’s the second Kimpton I’ve ever stayed at, and while I haven’t got much hands-on familiarity with the brand, I get the sense that it’s one of IHG’s most prized, slotting into the affordable, quiet luxury category that’s been so popular over the past few years. There are numerous Kimpton’s still opening in major cities around the world, and they all seem to place great emphasis on individuality.

Collection hotels from major companies are always much more appealing to luxury travellers because they promise a sense of individuality and style. Theta is clearly no exception, standing apart from the surrounding historic hotels with a beautifully contemporary, sculptural design best expressed by its rejuvenating lobby.

Step inside and it’s like a deconstructed cloud with its textured white archways, flecked with eye-catching art pieces and an abundance of smart designer furniture. The colour scheme places it amongst New York’s most beautiful hotels.

Location

First, let’s talk about the area. There’s nothing that matters more for a Manhattan hotel than where it’s located.

Smart travellers pick which neighbourhood they want to stay in first, and then choose the hotel. It’s rarely ever the other way around, and so I’d imagine Theta is the envy of plenty hotel operators across the city. The Theatre District is one of the most coveted locations in Manhattan, just a short walk to just about all the iconic beats but far enough away that you get that sense of rarified privacy.

The four-star hotel is positioned on the corner of W 49th & 8th, placing it nicely in between the impressive Hudson River Park (which I’ve grown to love every bit as much as Central Park) and Manhattan’s spread of Broadway theatres. That also means you’re close to Rockefeller Centre and a few blocks up from the rip-roaring chaos of Time’s Square.

Hell’s Kitchen is a few blocks away, so it’s a short walk to 24-7 gem Empanada Mama as well as the area’s plentiful LGBTQI nightclubs.

Design

Kimpton Hotel Theta isn’t as showy as you’d expect from a four-star in Manhattan. Simplicity sits at the brand’s core, and it should by no surprise that the interiors were handled by a Tokyo-based firm (Crème/Jun Aizaki Architecture & Design).

The well-dressed lobby is smart and contemporary, enhanced by a triptych, beautiful art and a large-scale mural of a Parisian garden. If Theta wants to stamp tranquility on its guests from the moment they walk in, this was a great, subtle way to do it.

Symmetry and texture count for a lot in the gallery-like lobby, which is at its most impressive when you’re looking to the far-end, opposite the reception desk, straight past the uniformed white archways to a single colourful art piece. It’s stunning.

Rooms

You wouldn’t call this a small hotel at 364 rooms, but the fine attention to detail and minimal aesthetic borrows plenty from boutique properties. My King room is generously sized and looks like a showroom – neat, comfortable and inviting. The windows don’t need that floor-to-ceiling showiness to pull in natural light, but they bring in just enough.

A couch and table lay next to the window for relaxation. Given the excessive design of a lot of modern New York hotels, it’s a breathe of fresh, old-school air to see a large room that does away with any visual distraction. A large king bed, colourful furniture, a few well-placed coffee table books and a big-enough en suite bathroom. What it lacks in drama, it makes up for in subtle ambient details.

Food & Drink

I stayed at the hotel in May earlier this year, just a few months before the hotel’s Italianate rooftop bar was due to open. Bar Sprezzatura is being described by the brand as a scene of “signature spritzes and elevated cicchetti,” with its reference destination being Positano.

Bringing a slice of the Amalfi to Hell’s Kitchen should go down well with both locals and tourists. Italian concepts work exceptionally well in this city, but rarely do they have a coastal lean. I hope to visit when I’m back in New York City next year, but for now just take the brand’s word for it. This will be a big deal for the area.

I did, however, get a nice impression from the little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop that’s located in the lobby. It’s the spot for a quick coffee (yes, good coffee) and a pastry before heading out to zig-zag around the city. From 5pm-6pm, there’s free wine tastings in the lobby, perfectly timed for when guests are heading on out to Broadway to grab a show. Everything is well-considered here.

Next to reception you’ll find a marketplace with various snacky foods you can grab-and-go. There’s no room service (I’m sure this will change when the rooftop restaurant and bar opens), but it’s a great inclusion for any late-night hunger pang. There’s also a bunch of other affordable items like reusable bottles, sunglasses, and even handbags.

Amenities

There’s no traditional hotel spa – the relaxing design is a pop of wellness itself – but there’s a 24-hour gym that’s small but well-stocked. Peloton bikes, cardio machines, ropes, bands, yoga mats and free weights. While it might not have the size and scale of nearby hotel gyms like the beast up at Peninsula or the InterContinental, it does just fine.

Other than that, the hotel is dog-friendly so you’ll likely spy some cute pups in the lobby before heading on out. That’s an amenity in itself. Dogs make everything better.

Service

Kimpton Hotel Theta is one of the newer, shinier properties in Manhattan and on my stay it seemed they’d already done away with any teething issues. Service is bright, efficient and helpful, from the well-dressed reception staff to the concierge team kindly reminding you they are here for any local tips.

Local tips in New York City count for me than in any other I’ve been to. No one trusts “best of” lists anymore, and New Yorkers are a proud bunch more than willing to help out. Use that to your advantage.

Value

You’re looking at around US$260 for a one night stay at Kimpton Hotel Theta. At the time of publishing, that’s around A$404, which is expensive but close to what you’d expect for Manhattan.

You are, however, getting a lot of bang for that buck. Once the hotel’s rooftop bar is in full operation, the value will no doubt step up. But the location and genuinely relaxing design is more than enough. A stay here is comfortable, convenient and feels appropriately upscale without being showy.

Tip: Take advantage of that evening wine tasting to save some money (make better choices and New York really isn’t too inaccessible). They actually serve some great, interesting drops and I had 2-3 complimentary glasses on my visit.

FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)