Six of us needed to kill an hour before dinner on Columbus Circle, so we went up to the Mandarin Oriental for drinks. At the Lobby Lounge, the nice lady said the restaurant's full, but you can have drinks in the bar. So we went in there and found a booth back of the bar, with no view. (Incidentally, the views from this hotel aren't all that great: you're sort of back from the park with some other buildings in the way.) Anyway, the waiter brought the drinks menu and I read "Cocktails $ 18" and went into a kind of trance. To make a long story short, our one round of drinks, with tip, was $ 130. If you've got that kind of money to throw around, you can go up there and have a drink. Just one, that is. Incidentally, there was entertainment while we were there: two guys came out and put up a ladder next to us and tried to fix something in a hole in the ceiling. There was no charge for watching that.

Amazing environment, very special view, and the service is first class. The maître d' was particularly impressive in an "old school" way.

This hotel tries to be very private, and the bar, lounge, and restaurant clearly are designed for guests of the hotel. The lounge will not allow non-guests to take up all the tables, instead keeping several of them (especially the best ones by the windows) open in case a guest arrives. But if you're sweet to the staff and patient, (and they're not too busy - or you're the kind of people they want as a customer) you can still gain access and have a great time. I think this is exactly what happened to us: there were several available tables when we arrived, but we were asked to wait at the bar for 30 minutes. We had a great drink at the bar, and the maître d' collected us about 40 minutes later and seated us in the middle of the lounge.

Don't confuse this with a restaurant. It's a lobby lounge that also serves "light food". But frankly, the food is a full meal, and splendid. If you can't get in to their restaurant, this is a great way to enjoy food from the same kitchen. A wide range of Asian themed food - about 20 items to choose from. Each item is a bit smaller than a typical entree, but plenty for me. And the drinks are all just right.

Brace yourself for an expensive bill - this place caters to the wealthy. And if you're not staying in the hotel (and who could at $1k a night!) you'll feel a bit like a second-class guest, but point your nose up a bit more and live it up! It can be your (and your server's) little secret.

It was an outstanding experience just like evrything in New york. But this one in particular was classy, elegant with lovely views to both Columbus circle and Central Park. The food also is very tasty completing our experience. You must try the tuna tartar and the chicken lollipops and the sliders actually you have to try everything very tasty!!!

We heard the views were the best in NY for Central Park, this might be right if it wasn't for Trump in the way!!

We hadn't booked, although we hadn't expected to need to since it's a bar! Told to come back in 20 mins by rude waitress, came back after 30 mins, still no table, although about 5-6 were free and set up to take guests. About to leave when told table was ready, but couldn't have one next to a window...they were booked, despite us saying we were in a hurry and would only be having 1 drink.

My husband had a mediocre mojito, whilst I had a glass of champagne, and we were out of there in 30 mins.

The place is completely soul-less, the staff are stand-offish to the point of being plain rude.

A rubbish end to an otherwise perfect 40th birthday for my husband, we should've stayed in the bar of Nougatine at Trump and had another drink there instead