Decided to splurge and got the package complete with ballet tickets, personal shopper and stunning central park views (love the telescope by the window). Wonderful friendly service. Probably would say it was overpriced, but it is the New York Ritz Carlton after all, expect nothing short of old world opulence.

We stay here every time we visit New York. The rooms are spacious and very well kept. The club lounge facilities are also great, with complimentary soft drinks and snacks available all day and alcoholic ones in the evening. The staff are so friendly and attentive, it makes for a really nice atmosphere. All this with the great added view over Central Park.

We often stay at this hotel when we visit New York, and it has been our favorite. The views of the park are amazing from the room and the service is great. I must say that our last visit surprisingly did not meet our expectations. They must have some new staff in the reception/ entrance area that they did not go out of their way to make us feel special, especially since we were celebrating my birthday. Unlike other reviewers, I happen to like the decor and I'll be disappointed if they renovate. We went to have a drink to the beautiful lounge before dinner and we were asked to move to another table because they had reserved our table for others. This would be fine if there was a "reserved" sign on the table but there was none. Then the waitress could not make eye contact, or a conversation. Too shy? The newly renovated restaurant lacks in service and food quality but not in prices. There some great restaurants close to the hotel (Marea, Benoit), so I would avoid the hotel restaurant. If this level of service and attitude continues, I'll start looking for other hotels with a view of the park.

The Ritz in Central Park is not for the weak of wallet. The normal price ranges from $800 - $2,000 per night, depending on whether one books in advance and chooses a suite vs a normal king size room. Of the poor reviews I read, I was a bit worried about the hotel, but found none of these issues. The place smelled and looked lovely. Our afternoon tea was exceptional, including a variety of tea sandwiches, champagne and earl gray tea. No it was not cheap, but anyone concerned about price tags needs to skip this hotel altogether. Breakfast for two was $80;it's a 5 star hotel with a 5 star price tag. With the view of Central Park, and proximity to all in central and uptown Manhattan, I found it worth it. The only better woulld be the Pierre or the Carlyse, both of which will run up a $1,000 per night bill very quickly. The hotel staff and concierge arranged everything for us from transportation to theater. they were very kind to my daughter, and proactively sought to make us more comofrtable. I was able to host my friends in our roomy room, and catch up over room service drinks in leisure. The public spaces are understandably conservative, and largely cater to an international business class group. German bankers, Swiss businessmen, that kind of thing. We loved this hotel, and will definitely return.