Arrival/Check-in: Heavy, wet snow was falling as I made my way by taxi from New York Penn Station to The Kimberly Hotel at East 50th Street and Lexington Avenue. A smiling bellman had my bag out of the trunk and an umbrella at the ready long before I had finished paying the driver. I entered a small but cozy lobby comprised of a small sitting area and the reception desk. The pleasant clerk processed my check-in as I perused a framed letter sent by President Jimmy Carter following an April 2001 stay at The Kimberly. (30/30)

Guest Quarters: My seventh-floor room opened to a small hallway with a bedroom to the left, a sitting room directly in front and a large bath to the right. The front hall closet and wet bar complete with a minibar stocked with soft drinks, a microwave, a coffeemaker and tea/coffee service made the room seem more like a small apartment. That impression was enhanced by the sitting room furnished with a wall-mounted flat-screen television, a desk with Internet access ($12.95 per day), a pull-out sofa, a coffee table and a table for two.

The separate bedroom featured a king-sized bed made up with Frette linens and an expansive closet outfitted with an ironing board, loads of shelves and plenty of hangers. A 42-inch flat-screen television was mounted over the antique-look bureau, and doors opened onto a small balcony — perfect for a spring day — but I did not venture out on this wintery afternoon. Across the hall, the smallish bathroom featured a double vanity, two hairdryers, a rainforest shower and Neutrogena products. (28/30)

Services/Amenities: My stay was short, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to take advantage of many of the property’s pluses, including guest access to the nearby New York Health & Racquet Club, certainly a great perk, but not quite convenient enough to convince me to leave the warm confines of the hotel on a snowy day to trudge two-and-a-half blocks to the nearest location. I also missed experiencing Upstairs, a rooftop bar with a retractable roof and heated floors slated to open this spring. (37/40)

The Experience: The Kimberly is a great hotel in a wonderful location. I hope to return during warmer weather when I can put the balcony to good use and take in the view from the rooftop bar.

Total Score: 95/100

The Kimberly
145 E. 50th St.
New York, NY 10022
tel 212 702 1600