Designed to Travel: An Inside Look at The Greenwich Hotel
Interior design maven Christine Gachot and her fellow designer husband John open up their travel diaries
It’s September, and everyone is back—though full disclosure, I barely left. I’m thrilled to feel the city buzzing again. There’s nothing like New York in the fall: a hint of chill in the morning air, the return of sweater weather, and an energy that feels infectious. My days are packed with design charrettes, client meetings, nights out with friends—it’s nonstop. With Fashion Week, Salon Art + Design, and a packed calendar of design events on the horizon, my home city is filled with excitement.
Work has been busy this summer, which I’m grateful for, and I can already sense we’ll be due for a reset soon. I love getting to work alongside my husband every day, but we make a point of carving out time together outside of the office. Our favorite escape in the city? A night at The Greenwich Hotel—our true home away from home.
Birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, or just a random Friday for whatever occasion, John and I will surprise one another with a day at the Shibui Spa and a night at the hotel. I’m ready! We’ll be escaping to the hotel in a couple weeks and I can already picture how great our experience will be…
Making an entrance…
From the moment we are in a car headed downtown, I begin to relax. We make it to Tribeca, and the kind doormen welcome us to The Greenwich. We are greeted by the fabulous general manager, our dear friend Philip Truelove. Standing on the terracotta and marble tiled floors, surrounded by reclaimed wood detailing and soft, glowing light, I feel immediately at ease in the warm interior. At the front desk we are surprised with keys to the penthouse suite. Unbelievable! (This might not happen again, but we experienced it once and it is truly incredible.)
We pass by the lobby and the Drawing Room, the cozy seating beckoning me. I know I’ll be eating breakfast in the courtyard there tomorrow or perhaps stopping in for a fireside spicy margarita after our massages and before dinner. Into the elevator, where the darling terracotta tile floor continues. At the top, the doors open and we are wide-eyed, in awe. Axel Vervoordt’s masterpiece that is the TriBeCa Penthouse never fails to amaze me.
It is the definition of wabi sabi. Though a different style than the rest of the hotel, the penthouse feels just as warm and residential. Before changing into our robes for the spa, we walk through the suite to take it all in. Richly textured plaster walls and ceilings, complemented by concrete and wood flooring lead us from the kitchen to the living room, the primary bedroom and bathroom to the media room, a second bedroom, and another living room, not to mention the incredible wrap-around terrace and rooftop. Early afternoon light seeps in through the expansive windows, washing the natural-toned palette of the suite’s cozy furnishings. From the soft to the hard materials of textured stones, wood, and brick, everything blends so authentically. And in late September, the terrace pergolas are still covered in lush greenery.
Rest your head…
From the penthouse to the subterranean spa, we head down well in advance of our treatments. The Shibui Spa is another incredible oasis at the hotel that also features Japanese design influence. Low lighting from lanterns, sconces, floor lamps, and uplights reflects off plaster walls, dark wood, and a glowing heated pool. Below an intricate bamboo ceiling, hanging paper panels and sliding wood screens provide privacy without losing a sense of place. We ease ourselves into side-by-side chaises and sip hot tea. Tranquility found.
John and I both like to venture down to the spa an hour or two before our treatments to enjoy the space, take a dip in the pool, and get into the mindset. I already feel rejuvenated by the time my masseur comes to welcome me to my treatment room. And after my 120-minute Omakase massage, I’m a new person. The combination of hot stones and deep pressure is unparalleled. The treatment rooms are dead quiet and as soothing as the rest of the spa. At the end of the treatment, I need to remind myself where I am. To say we are well-rested and rejuvenated would be an understatement. If it wasn’t still early, I’d probably tuck myself into bed—but dinner is another thing that can’t be missed at the Greenwich.
Come hungry…
Chef Andrew Carmellini is another dear friend of ours and his Locanda Verde is exceptional. The space, just off the hotel lobby, on the corner of Greenwich Street and North Moore, is always lively! As you’d expect, it feels like an extension of the hotel, another inviting place for people to congregate—guests and local New Yorkers alike. Of course, the homemade pasta is incredible, the focaccia fresh, and the Carmellini team is a hospitality dream! Tonight, we decide to continue relaxing in our robes and order dinner to our suite. I debated the flaky branzino with fennel relish but ultimately picked the goat cheese capelletti with a sungold tomato sauce. John went with the lamb chops scottadito which were tender and perfectly complemented by a calabrian chili yogurt. We share a bottle of Barolo as we eat at the outdoor dining table and catch the final moments of sunset.
Make yourself at home…
After dinner we take our wine to the private terrace hot tub. And that’s where the evening ends, living like rock-stars! We wake up slowly, the morning softly lighting the primary bedroom through the sheer roman shades. After a warm shower of epic proportions, we go downstairs for coffee and breakfast in the courtyard off the Drawing Room. The birds are chirping, I’ve kicked off my shoes, and I’ve got a smile on my face. It’s Saturday. Perhaps we’ll stop at The Whitney on our way back uptown, maybe we’ll walk there. John suggests grabbing lunch with our son as we’re close to his neck of the woods. The Greenwich Hotel escape was remarkably perfect. I am invigorated, grateful for the quality time with my husband, and still incredibly inspired by the design of a hotel I’ve known and loved for so long.
That extra mile…
The staff is as warm as the interiors. Our bags are unpacked before I realize they’re not with me in the elevator. Whether we’re staying in the penthouse suite or another beautiful guest room, we feel welcome and special. The team accommodates us, whether we want to eat a meal in our room, at the restaurant, or in the Drawing Room in front of the magnificent fireplace. From the thoughtful use of materials in the design to The Greenwich branded box with stationary and a local guidebook, even the smallest details are considered.
The takeaway…
Never doubt the power of a staycation. The Greenwich will always be our first choice when it comes to a night away for me and John. Ideally, I like to plan it at a time when we can really enjoy it. Friday afternoon to Saturday morning is our preference.
Don’t miss…
A drink or a meal in the Drawing Room always makes me feel even more at home. When a hotel lobby feels like my own living room, that’s when I’m happiest. Even if you get lucky and stay in the most incredible suite, don’t forget to enjoy the other spaces of the hotel, too!
Next time…
Just as I picture it, I can anticipate another perfect stay at The Greenwich. It’s always a treat. I’m envisioning all of the above, plus an Augustinus Bader facial, please!