On New York’s money-obsessed street, this Aussie-owned hotel is a pearl

The place

The Wall Street Hotel, New York City

Check-in

Housed in a handsome 14-storey beaux arts building on Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, The Wall Street Hotel opened in 2022 as the hospitality debut for the Paspaley family, the Australian pearling pioneers who own a string of pearl farms along the Kimberley coastline. While the 180-room property offers the opulence and trappings of a five-star hotel, room rates are a comparative bargain, starting at about $US350 ($533).

The look

There’s a subtle nautical theme throughout the property, from the rooms’ oyster-net-inspired carpets and pearl-patterned curtains to the black-and-white Paspaley family photos in the hallways. While the intimate, marble-tiled lobby has a refined, residential feel, the other public spaces are gorgeously characterful, from the hand-painted murals and gem-toned furnishings in the ground-floor Lounge on Pearl, to the colourful explosion of fake blooms in the 15th-floor Bar Tontine.

The room

Rooms start at a usable 27 square metres (capacious by New York standards) and soar to 74 square metres for the top-level suites, which have separate lounges and deep-soaking baths. Once again, the vibe is elegant residential, with a calming ocean-themed palette of blues, greens and greys matched with top-notch amenities, including Frette towels and linens, Bang & Olufsen speakers and refillable Le Labo amenities in the marble-clad bathrooms. There are subtle nods to home, from the pearl-shell design on the headboards to the custom prints by the APY Art Centre Collective, a group of Indigenous art studios in Central Australia. A cute, freestanding bar cart offers unusually affordable refreshments ($US2 soft drinks, $US3 beers and $US10 spirits), and if you splurge on the $US75 shell-shaped bronze bottle opener, you’ll be helping to fund the Billion Oyster Project, a non-profit working to restore New York Harbour’s oyster reefs.

Food + drink

The property has three dining venues, starting with the impressive two-storey Lounge on Pearl, which morphs from an elegant cafe and afternoon tea spot to a sophisticated martini-focused bar at night. Open Wednesday to Saturday, Bar Tontine specialises in margaritas and Mexican bites with al fresco river views, while ground floor La Marchande offers all-day French-themed dining by Michelin-starred chef John Fraser. Be warned: prices in all three are punchy, with a rib-eye steak costing $US105 without sides. For those on a budget, take advantage of La Marchande’s $US28 three-course express lunch, Tuesday’s $US35 burger deal and the daily $US15 martini happy hour from 3pm to 6pm.

Out + about

Perennially overlooked by tourists, Lower Manhattan offers a unique combination of historical landmarks, such as Federal Hall and Fraunces Tavern, audacious contemporary buildings such as the Oculus transport hub and poignant attractions including the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Serviced by Manhattan’s best subway connections, it also has regular ferries to Brooklyn, Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty. Once devoid of nightlife, it’s now home to award-winning bars Overstory and The Dead Rabbit, Michelin-starred eateries Saga and Crown Shy, plus a new flagship store by French fashion house Printemps. Missing home? Check out Old Mates Pub, an authentic recreation of an Aussie boozer in nearby John Street.

The verdict

In a city famous for its budget-withering room rates, The Wall Street Hotel offers an unusually affordable slice of homegrown glamour.

Essentials

Rooms from $US599 (cheaper prices can often be found online). Ten accessible rooms. 88 Wall Street, New York City. See thewallsthotel.com

Our score out of five

★★★★

Highlight

Free bikes and scooters are ideal for exploring this less-crowded part of Manhattan.

Lowlight

Lounge on Pearl’s signature “caviar” martini (straight gin or vodka served with three spoonfuls of flavoured caviar-like spheres) feels more gimmicky than gourmet.

The writer was a guest of The Wall Street Hotel.