When you choose to stay in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, you’re putting yourself in a great location for exploring prime examples of NYC architecture. From some of the city’s signature skyscrapers to striking interiors, these are some of the most stylish spaces to add to your “must see” list when building your own architecture tour of NYC.
Iconic Architecture
The Empire State Building—which you can see from many of the rooms at Arlo NoMad—hardly needs an introduction. It’s one of NYC’s most popular landmarks and tourist destinations, and it remains one of the city’s most enduring symbols of architectural brilliance. The building was completed in 1931, after a record-breaking 1 year and 45 days of construction. One of the world’s best examples of Art Deco architecture, the Empire State Building stands 102 stories and 1,454 feet at its pinnacle—a 200-foot crowning spire. The building’s atrium has been revitalized to preserve the signature Art Deco details, which include starbursts and metallic details on halls, ceilings, and the elevators. Whether you go to savor these elements, or simply the panoramic views from the top, no visit to New York City is complete without a visit to the Empire State Building.
The Flatiron Building is the crown jewel of NoMad architecture. This 22-story Beaux-Arts building was designed by Daniel Burnham and Frederick P. Dinkelberg, and opened in 1902. Today, the building which sits on the triangular block bound by Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and East 22nd Street, is a collection of private residences, with interiors designed by Studio Sofield. But to many New Yorkers and visitors alike, the building remains an iconic symbol of the city. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark in 1989. One of the best vantage points for photographing the Flatiron Building is from the southern end of Flatiron Plaza.
The New York Life Building is another notable piece of architecture on the NoMad skyline. The headquarters of the New York Life Insurance Company occupies an entire block bordered by Madison Avenue, Park Avenue South, 26th and 27th Streets. The striking Gothic Revival building with a gilded, pyramid-shaped roof was designed by Cass Gilbert, who also designed NYC’s Woolworth Building.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower also takes up a city block in the Flatiron/NoMad neighborhood, with one section at Madison Avenue and 24th Street, and another at Madison, Park Avenue South, 23rd and 24th Streets. The tower was designed by architects at Napoleon LeBrun & Sons, and was completed in 1909, when it became the tallest building in the world, but only until 1913. The building was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and a city landmark in 1989.
Madison Square Park, located just north of the Flatiron Building, is also an architectural attraction. Overseen by the Madison Square Park Conservancy, the 6.2-acre public green space is a popular spot for daytime strolls or moments of reflection seated on a bench. It’s also home to a busy dog run and the very first outpost of Shake Shack, whose kiosk was designed by SITE Architecture & Design (Sculpture in the Environment). Points of interest inside the park include the bronze statue of William Henry Seward by sculptor Randloph Rogers, the Admiral Farragut Monument, the Roscoe Conkling Monument, and the granite Reflecting Pool. The park is bordered by Fifth Avenue & Madison Avenue and 23rd Street & 26th Street, and is open from 6am–12am in the summer through October 31.
Shop NYC’s Design District
In addition to its historic landmarks, the NoMad neighborhood has become a hub for interior design, with a slew of design showrooms located on the streets surrounding Madison Square Park. Just some of the notable brands and vendors with NoMad showrooms include Marimekko, Herman Miller, Kohler, Ligne Roset, B&B Italia, Poliform, and Poltrona Frau. If you’re planning a home renovation, or simply need some design inspiration, checking out the showrooms of some of these design heavyweights will give you what you need.
Restaurant Interiors
While we can’t peek inside the stylish homes of New Yorkers who live in NoMad, we can satisfy our desire for beautiful interiors by frequenting some of the area’s notable restaurants.
Apotheke, a basement-level speakeasy, can be found on 26th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue. The intimate-feeling space was designed by Christopher Tierney and features a 20-foot rosa aurora marble bar, plush seating options, and low vaulted ceilings.
At Lola’s, on West 28th Street, the menu is inspired by Chef Suzanne Cupps’ Asian-American background and upbringing in South Carolina. The design, by Ben Krone of Gradient Architecture, takes similar cues. The restaurant’s dining room features globe pendant lighting, green-and-pink banquette seating, and jade green tiles in the open kitchen.
Dreaming of Italy? At Serra by Birreria, you can channel Amalfi Coast vibes thanks to the lush rooftop design by Less Than 3 Studio. This seasonal restaurant on the 14th floor of Eataly Flatiron was designed to reflect the lush Italian countryside, with evergreen botanicals and bright pops of color.
Whether you’re devising your own walking tour of NoMad’s architectural gem, or shopping for home design inspo, staying in the Flatiron District will put you in the heart of NYC’s architectural and design heart. Arlo NoMad is conveniently located near all these landmarks, on East 31st Street. Ask the friendly staff for directions to your must-see landmarks, and they might just surprise you with recommendations for even more NYC design gems.
