It’s been a decade since I last sashayed through the monochrome marbled foyer of Manhattan’s The Mark hotel. Located on New York’s Upper East Side, off Madison Avenue and less than one block from Central Park, I have only good memories from my last stay. From the rooms to the food, and more than anything, the intimate hospitality that can sometimes get forgotten in glossy, big-reputation hotels, it never failed to, well, make its all-important mark.

The Art Deco-inspired interiors are as timeless and elegant as ever; I’m quick to recapture an old, framed family photograph of my sister and I posing in the lobby, this time with my daughter. Our stunning Seventy-Seven King room welcomes us in with warm, fuzzy towels and sumptuous bed linen as we escape from the Nor’easter cyclone currently brewing outside. Soft, reassuring, neutral shades of velvety cream, straw yellow, and loft white create a cosy feel, despite the room’s impressive volume. But, as I’d remembered, it’s the bathroom that’s super special. With its stylish, signature black and white floor, jet-wash power grade shower (much discussed among those in the know), and a splendid bathtub big enough for two, it still delivers on both style and substance.

The concierge is bursting with knowledge and big smiles as we pass on our way to breakfast – warm pastries, poached eggs on avocado toast, and roast potatoes to die for (at 9am!) are quickly devoured – and later provide us with must-see stops, taking account of the storm outside. Although The Mark may not seem kid-centric at first glance, my 10-year-old is showered with gifts and giggles; from a plush toy dog to a gallery-worthy colouring book with pencils, as well as all manner of slippers, sleep masks, flowers and sweet treats. She couldn’t be made to feel more like a celebrity. In town for her birthday celebrations, she’s also left a personalised cake, and everyone around the hotel passes on a “Happy birthday Siena!” every time they pass.

Spending most of our days battling the rain, intent on fitting in as much shopping and sightseeing as possible, it’s a relief to make it back to the hotel for nourishment and rest. We spend two evenings in our fluffy robes, ordering room service with a movie (jet lag doesn’t lend itself to late-night dinners downtown with a 10-year-old) but everything from the cheeseburgers to the pizza, pasta and grilled fish is delicious, and delivered quickly.

We do venture down to the hotel’s new restaurant, Caviar Kaspia, on our last night, which brings the legendary flavours of Paris’s Caviar Kaspia to the Big Apple. At first, I’m nervous about exploring the caviar-centric menu with a child, but they don’t bat an eyelid at her fish egg-free request and whip up a smashing grilled beef tenderloin and chips. I enjoy the best steak tartare of my life (and I order it a lot): capers, shallots, chives, quail egg and Imperial Baeri caviar make for an unctuous, umami, stand-out dish. The hot salt and honey-laden potato bread rolls, pickles, and taramasalata-topped blinis are also still fresh on my tastebuds.

As well as Caviar Kaspia, The Mark offers an array of elevated dining options, from the fancy to the laidback. The Mark Clam Bar by Jean-Georges and Caviar Kaspia blends the breezy charm of a beachside seafood shack with the sophistication of uptown dining, and is propped up just outside the hotel. The Mark Restaurant by Jean-Georges and The Mark Bar are brimming from mid-afternoon until midnight with fashionable locals and hotel guests alike, with their respective cocktail and food menus in demand far beyond the tourist crowd.

We peek at The Mark Penthouse while in residence – the largest in North America – which, despite its eye-watering price tag of $100,000 a night, is rarely empty. Designed personally by the hotel’s famed interior designer, French visionary Jacques Grange, voluminous ceilings, an infinity bathtub that fills from the ceiling, a grand piano, and a private terrace that hosts an ice skating rink in winter and plunge pool in summer, are just some of the incredible aspects on offer. A favourite among royalty and A-listers (Anna Wintour is a regular), it still possesses the homely warmth unique to The Mark. And, of course, there’s more than one black and white bathroom.

Currently under renovation, a new private Technogym is currently being installed in the penthouse as we stand and gawp. In fact, the hotel is revamping its health and wellness offering from the ground up. A spa is on the way (hurray!) and the in-house Frédéric Fekkai Salon already has a loyal local following.

The hotel is also partnering with prestigious publishing house Assouline this winter on a custom coffee table book; a tribute to the timeless style, historic moments, and extraordinary individuals who help define the spirit of The Mark. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of its relaunch, the stunning tome, written by Derek Blasberg, will feature a curated selection of its most beloved guests and influential personalities.

What’s more, The Mark is also set to unveil an exclusive collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana and Fefé this year, reaffirming it as the ultimate luxurious, pet-friendly destination. The partnership will centre around a bespoke fragrance that embodies The Mark’s USP, celebrating its four-legged guests, which are honoured everywhere from its quaint, illustrative branding to in-room amenities.

Now a home-from-home in the city that never sleeps, there’s nowhere else I’d choose to rest and retreat than this privately-owned, boutique gem. While it prides itself on being ‘bold and lavish’, to me, it’s discreet. Its ‘answer yes first, hear the question second’ mentality means nothing is too much trouble. It’s the doorman lending me $20 when I get caught short exiting a taxi with no card machine. It’s always remembering to replace our ‘big mugs’ in the room for our first sip of English tea in the morning. It’s smiling good-naturedly when my daughter drops her milky spoon three times during her never-ending bowls of Frosties at breakfast. The Mark harmonises old-world comfort, avant-garde design, and an unprecedented level of personal service with aplomb.

In a city where money does most of the talking, this is a hotel where wealth whispers with purpose and poise. And it’s saying, “Please don’t let me wait another 10 years!”

Rooms from £935 per night, visit themarkhotel.com

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