PHOTO: Magda Biemat

Arrival/Check-in: The hotel’s Park Avenue address can be a bit deceiving. I pulled up to what I thought was the main entrance, but there wasn’t a hotel-affiliated soul in sight. I clicked on my hazard lights and dashed inside to find a bellman. That’s when I learned the main entrance is actually around the corner on E. 29th Street. With logistics clear, I circled the block, dropped my car with the valet, handed my bags over to the bellman and entered the smallish lobby, with a cozy sitting area and fireplace, for a quick check-in. (28/30)

Guest Quarters: I was assigned room 1116, an expansive two-bath suite with a full living area to the left, bath and minibar directly in front of me and a spacious bedroom to the right. The living area featured a table for four adjacent to a sideboard (with an espresso machine); a sofa (pullout style for extra sleeping space) and two chairs centered on a square coffee table/ottoman; a large, flat-screen television; an iPod docking station complete with a pre-programmed iPod; and an ample desk with plenty of easy-access electric outlets. I was surprised to discover there was no telephone on the desk or anywhere in the living area. Not a big deal, as I used my cellphone for calls outside the hotel, but a bit inconvenient when I had to run to the bedroom to answer an inside call or order room service. The best part, though, was the small balcony overlooking Park Avenue. The bedroom, with a king-sized bed made up with Egyptian cotton sheets, goose down pillows and a duvet, featured a comfortable sitting area, plenty of drawer space and a large closet. Décor throughout the suite was a comforting blend of cream, dark brown and beige with bright accents. (29/30)

Services/Amenities: The hotel features a 24-hour fitness center, a full-service spa and a hair salon. Ristorante Asellina, the on-site Italian tavern, was buzzing with activity throughout my stay. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try it myself, but the warm décor and fireplaced “living room” looked inviting. My favorite amenity, though, was the rooftop pool — heated for year-round swimming. Available exclusively to hotel guests during the day, the pool deck and adjacent lounge opens to the public each evening. (40/40)

The Experience: Every now and then I discover a hotel where I wish I could stay longer. Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC is one of those hotels.

Total Score: 97/100

Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC

420 Park Ave., S.
New York, NY 10016
tel 212 317 9889
http://gansevoortpark.com