Stay & Play
Casablanca Hotel, NYC
by Randy Mink
An oasis of calm just steps from the madness of Times Square and lights of Broadway, the Casablanca Hotel sets itself apart from any other hotel in America by subtly capturing the flavor of North Africa. Moroccan motifs, clearly evident but not overdone, evoke visions of a bygone era and a faraway place.
Inspired by the romance of the classic 1942 movie “Casablanca,” the 48-room boutique hotel lies tucked away on West 43rd Street in the tourist heart of New York City. Filigree brass lanterns hang from the ceiling in the lobby and in Rick’s Cafe, a spacious second-floor lounge named after the iconic bar in the film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. A large mural of whitewashed buildings in a 19th century Moroccan seaside city decorates the stairwell connecting the lobby to the lounge.
Rick’s Cafe, accented with fresh orchids, potted palms, lampshade sconces, cane chairs with Moroccan-print cushions and a painting of a vintage Moroccan scene, is the hotel’s gathering spot. Guests come to this inviting club room for continental breakfast and for snacks, fresh fruit, coffee and tea available 24 hours a day. The fireplace, bordered by glazed mosaic tiles in geometric designs, lends a cozy touch.
Guest rooms, done in warm, earthy tones and mostly on the small side, sport a ceiling fan, wooden blinds and a bathroom with Moroccan-style tilework. I loved the Sicilian blood orange bath products by Tarocco. Framed swatches of Moroccan fabrics adorn the stucco-like hallways.
The Casablanca Hotel is part of the Library Hotel Collection, which includes three other Manhattan properties—Library Hotel, Hotel Elysée and Hotel Giraffe.
