A Home Away From Home: Q&A Hotel NYC
Before this recent trip into the city I did not know there was such a thing as a residential hotel. I have always stayed at a traditional hotel that gives you the bare necessities: a bed, bathroom and sometimes a complementary continental breakfast. Q&A Hotel was a completely different experience.
Upon entering the building which was built in 1932 I instantly noticed the classic Art Deco details throughout, reminding me of the history of the city. I loved that the building shared residential spaces with the hotel, making it feel like you are experiencing the city like a local. The hotel has 132 rooms and the average stay for a guest is about 4-5 days. Seeing as the building is located downtown the clientele more often than not stays during the week so the weekends are a less popular time.
Not only does this hotel have a rooftop lounge and dining area but it also boasts an incredibly spacious fitness center, which I was so excited about. There is also a great spot on the street level called Black Fox Coffee where I fueled up for the day with caffeine and a croissant. Another great amenity in the building was the City Acres Market which is also located on the street level. During my stay I bought everything I could possibly need (food wise) there and was able to cook some meals in my suite.
Every detail you could possibly think of was perfectly executed in the suite that I stayed in. From the homey details in the bedroom, to having a washer and dryer available with detergent (which I undoubtedly used during my stay), and having dishes, soap and paper towels for the kitchen.
Although New York is known for having good food everywhere, it a was nice change of pace being able to cook some meals for myself instead of having to eat out 3 times a day. (which can get pricey when traveling )Being able to wake up and walk into your kitchen and prep a meal in your jammies was something that made this experience so relaxing. The hotel immediately felt like home.
The first meal that I cooked was a traditional breakfast of eggs and pancakes.
I topped them with fresh bananas and strawberries and also bought a yogurt to drizzle on top of the pancakes for a little something extra.
The finished product was a traditional breakfast with a side of fresh pressed strawberry juice and a cup of hot coffee.
The second meal that I prepared during my stay was one of my favorite combos. I made a pasta salad with balsamic vinaigrette, fresh mozzarella, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil. To compliment that I picked out a couple of cheeses from the market and made a little cheese board. There were two types of cheese both goats milk but one was spicy and the other had a cherry jam compote it was marinated in. The cherry cheese tasted like a cheesecake and with the salty crackers they were a match made in heaven.
Throughout the duration of my stay at Q&A Hotel I felt as if I was getting to experience a city I love so much the way locals do. Having the space to spread out and spend time sleeping in the bedroom, cooking in the kitchen and working and relaxing in the living room was a very relaxing and liberating experience. The concept of the hotel provides a home away from home for travelers who intend on staying for a while or those just looking to spend a couple of nights in New York.
I can't wait to visit NYC again and stay here again. The experience was elevated by the fact that I felt like I was at home the whole time. For anyone who is visiting the city soon Q&A is offering a special right now: Book an Executive Studio, get 15% off our flexible rate plus an upgrade to a 1-Bedroom Suite on stays now through March 31, 2018. Use the code QASUITE at checkout!
Many thanks to Q&A in partnering with me on this experience.
