Journeys with Aman
New landscapes unfold through Aman’s multi-destination journeys.
Midtown Manhattan by Aman New York
A curated guide to cultural exploration
In a place where architectural grandeur, artistic innovation and musical mastery converge, Aman New York finds home: a Midtown Manhattan sanctuary defined by the cultural richness of its surrounds. Rising from the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, the storied Crown Building serves both as the hotel’s setting and inspiration – its history, legacy and design providing a characterful base from which to discover the city’s finest landmarks.
From this singular location, Aman’s New York culture guide presents a curated collection of museums, galleries and performance spaces, all within easy reach, making way for boundless exploration.
Carnegie Hall: Architecture in Sound
At the heart of Manhattan’s music scene is Carnegie Hall. A world-renowned music venue, its celebrated acoustics and Renaissance-style interiors provide a platform for performances spanning jazz to comedy, all imbued with an unparalleled feeling of intimacy. Since opening in 1891, the stage has played host to global music legends, spanning Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (the venue’s inaugural guest conductor) to The Beatles. Less than a ten-minute stroll from Aman New York, experience their daily programme of music, drama and dance events, in a grand setting that has served as Midtown culture catalyst for over a century.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Modern Art & Film
A short walk from Aman New York, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) offers an insightful exploration of twentieth- and twenty-first-century creativity. Pioneered in 1929 by three women, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss and Mary Quinn Sullivan, - its collection – featuring works from Van Gogh to Warhol has been curated to challenge common perceptions of modernity. In fact, MoMa was first housed within the Crown Building, moving to several temporary locations thereafter, before settling at its permanent location where it remains today. MoMA also offers world-class research facilities, with over 300,000 books, files on 90,000+ artists, a conservation lab and 2,500+ publications in 35 languages – more resources than any other art museum. Through its exhibitions, programme of public talks and installations, guests are invited to contemplate and discover, establishing MoMA as a cornerstone for anyone embarking on a New York museum tour.
In contrast, the legendary Paris Theater provides a more intimate, cultural experience rooted in cinema. Specialising in independent, international and art-house styles, it presents film as a true art form, making it a distinctive complement to museum and gallery visits. In its 535-seat screen (Paris Theater is the last remaining single screen venue in Manhattan) guests can enjoy films in their first language or watch a new release.
Metropolitan Museum of Art & American Museum of Natural History: Evolution & Expression
Uptown from Aman New York await two institutions of human evolution and expression. From ancient artefacts to modern masterpieces, The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art under one roof, making it the largest art museum in the Americas. Aside from its exhibitions, visitors should also look out for the floral arrangements that adorn the entranceway crafted by Remco van Vliet, the museum’s very own in-house florist whose arrangements have graced the Great Hall for over 20 years.
Equally as impressive is the American Museum of Natural History, a quintessential New York landmark where scientific advances and design prowess converge. Formerly located in Central Park, the museum moved to its current site in 1877 and has since created a legacy of exceptional employees including Franz Boas, known as The Father of American Anthropology, and Margaret Mead, a prominent American anthropologist known for her groundbreaking work on gender roles and adolescence in diverse cultures. Together, the museum’s alumni have helped shape an experience that is both informative and visually inspiring, with exhibits spanning mammoth skeletons to meteorites.
Beyond Midtown
For those seeking exploration further afield, a host of contemporary art galleries can be found in some of the city’s most dynamic boroughs. Brooklyn, for example, is home to one of the largest artist communities in the world. From Bushwick’s Clearing Gallery, Williamsburg’s Boiler and Pierogi Gallery to the Brooklyn Art Space, opportunities to explore abound.
Founded in 1823, the Brooklyn Museum is perhaps the most renowned reflection of the neighbourhood’s diversity, merging contemporary and historical perspectives in a 500,000-piece strong collection that resonates across several disciplines. The third floor, for example, is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Egyptian art, dating back to 3500 BC. The museum’s setting, a magnificent Beaux-Arts building designed by McKim, Mead & White, is equally inspiring, surrounded by landscaped plaza that serves as contrast to Brooklyn’s industrial aesthetic.
A little closer to Manhattan, Chelsea’s art district also offers deeper immersion into the city’s contemporary art scene. Here, days can be spent strolling through galleries, including names such as Pace, Gagosian and Hauser & Wirth, that showcase work from established and emerging artists alike. Other renowned attractions such as the High Line – a walkway and park built on an abandoned freight rail line – and Chelsea Flea Market also offer cultural immersion nearby, allowing multi-faceted exploration across the neighbourhood.
Elsewhere, the gallery district of the Lower East Side, anchored by the New Museum, caters to those who enjoy exploring edgier or emerging art with dynamic spaces housed in old shop fronts, attics and warehouses. From Aman New York, a knowledgeable art historian can curate full- or half-day tours across a choice of one or more of these boroughs, showcasing celebrated art galleries while sourcing pieces according to individual preferences.
Then, after a day immersed in the city’s artistic soul, Aman New York presents a tranquil retreat from the city’s kinetic energy. At its heart yet far removed, it offers an entry point to Midtown’s cultural scene, where days take the form of local exploration, and evenings are spent retreating to the comfort of the three-storey wellness facility or continuing the journey of discovery in serenely private surrounds.
Plan your experience
No request is too great and no detail too small. To begin planning your adventure, contact Aman New York's team.