We were going on a Viking Cruise to Iceland that embarked from New York City – and so we stayed at the cruise line’s hotel of choice – the Marriott Marquis in the heart of Manhattan’s Times Square. It’s a great hotel right in the center of all the action at Broadway and 46th Street, making it a fine place to watch the festivities on New Year’s Eve, or just people and Jumbotron watch, as I did while working out on the 23rd floor in the Fitness Center. (We were, after all, having a lovely dinner in the rooftop restaurant, The View, later.)
Location, location, location: The hotel is also a quick walk from Penn Station and a five-minute drive to the pier from which we were departing for our Icelandic adventure.
If you do stay at the Marriott Marquis, especially before a cruise, make sure to arrive well in advance, so you can see several Broadway shows. Looking just to chill before the big vacay? Our room with its Marriott Bed was extremely comfortable, and we also opted for access to M Club, a terrific “Club Floor” executive lounge that served beautiful breakfasts chock-a-block with every croissant, bread, cereal, milk and egg imaginable – and that’s just the tip of the ice bucket. (It is complimentary to Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Elite members.)
We were also impressed with Marriott’s Sustainability programs, including mobile check-in and key access; smart thermostats; LED lighting; water-saving fixtures; refillable bath amenities; towel and linen reuse programs In-room; public area recycling bins; and bulk cleaning product dispensers.
While at the Marriott Marquis, make sure to book a reservation at The View, New York City’s only revolving-rooftop restaurant, for an excellent meal. Offering sweeping 360-degree views, this storied space has been transformed by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. You can enjoy everything from jumbo blue crab cakes and fried artichokes for appetizers to poached salmon, grilled swordfish and filet mignon for dinner. For dessert, we recommend the chocolate devil’s food cake and this – the “Trip To The Moon,” a spectacular $75 trio of just one ounce of the world’s best dessert wines – Chateau D’Yquem (often hailed as “liquid gold”), Takaji from Hungary and Vin de Paille. We do not drink alcohol, but we have always loved a sweet dessert wine now and then – and these are among the world’s most luxurious libations.
Paging Catherine Deneuve
The next day, Bill and I were scheduled to celebrate his birthday at nearby Oceana, one of the best seafood restaurants in New York, but first I got my hair done at the posh salon of Jerome Lordet.
Jerome trained in France under Bruno Pittini at the salon of Jacques Dessange, one of the all-time greats of French hair, who also brought Frederic Fekkai with them when they moved operations to New York. Since his early years, Jerome has been a go-to stylist for fashion magazines and generations of fashion and beauty icons, from Raquel Welch and Bianca Jagger to Jessica Simpson and Sandra Bullock, while also working such events as New York Fashion Week. Jerome spent 25 years of his career in the United States at the iconic Pierre Michel Salon, eventually becoming director.
I asked to have my blond roots touched-up, which was done to perfection, and then I received an outstanding blowout. (I was seeking the sleek, classic appearance of Catherine Deneuve’s hair in “Belle du Jour” and – voilà – I got it.)
The salon was busy and bustling, but it was a joyful experience that I recommend, along with the hair-care line Love is in the Hair by Jerome Lordet, which is sulfate-, paraben- and chloride-free. Packed with keratin protein, nutrients, marula oil, argan oil and provitamin B5, this product line is sure to put you on the “Best Tressed” list.
On to Oceana
Just a five-minute walk from the Marriott Marquis, Oceana is a Michelin-recognized restaurant that caters to theatergoers. It’s part of the Livanos Restaurant Group, which also includes Molyvos in Hell’s Kitchen, Moderne Barn in Armonk and City Limits Diner in White Plains. Each is different in style and cuisine, but they all share the same foundation – warm service, high quality ingredients, and the feeling that you’re in good hands – a foundation that began with Greek immigrant John Livanos’ Manhattan luncheonette more than 40 years ago.
Now the second generation — led by John’s children Nick, Bill and Corina Livanos – continues to build on John’s vision, combining modern culinary ideas with the values that have been the Livanos family’s guiding star since day one.
As the name implies, Oceana is all about seafood. The oysters are from Fishers Island, New York; Sloop Point, New Jersey; and Pebble Beach, Washington. You might opt for the $325 Oceana, featuring a wealth of oysters as well as clams, shrimp, main lobster, Osetra caviar and more. We instead had a delightful meal of Scottish salmon with lentils and wild rice, spinach, shitake and cream sauce. Our sommelier was an encyclopedia of culinary knowledge – and an amazing oenophile. His name is Matthew Harper, and he wowed us teetotalers. For our readers, we asked him about which wine would complement our Scottish salmon. He said, “It has a bite – it’s oily and acidic – and it needs a wine to bite it back.” The whole night went just like that, with lots of energy and laughter and Harper suggesting the red dessert wine of Bodega Pablo Fallabrino — “decadence in a glass” and great with the cherry-chocolate semifreddo/brownie.
Yep, it all got brownie points from us.
Follow Debbi on Instagram at @DebbiKickham.
