Hotel Empire

By Father Tony

We thought we should see the view from the rooftop outdoor deck/lounge/pool space at the reopened Hotel Empire across from Lincoln Center. The sign above that rooftop space is huge. Each letter is eight feet high.

A brief tour in photos, after the jump.

The lobby was creepy. Sort of deco/jungle/bungalow brassy.

The rooftop had pods and cabanas for the lounging.

Here is what we really wanted to see, the view of the intersection of Broadway and Columbus, wherein one finds our bench.

And here is a bonus view looking south beyond the other sign down to Columbus Circle.

The hotel had been closed in anticipation of its conversion to condos. When real estate got diseased, plans changed. Operating the building as a hotel suddenly seemed to make more sense. Great location.

(PS: This hotel is not to be confused with the Empire Hotel in Saskatchewan referenced by Joni Mitchell in "Raised on Robbery".)