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The Concierge

Beatriz McGown
Concierge
Omni Berkshire Place
New York


What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?

We can arrange for private New York City tours at $195 hour. There is a four-hour minimum and that price is good for up to six people at one time. The price includes a knowledgeable tour guide who will tailor the tour route and sights along the way to the group’s specific areas of interest. Van or small bus transportation is included in the cost.

What are your group restaurant recommendations?
Elegant and sophisticated comfort food is what Hudson Cafeteria has to offer. The long dining-hall-style tables bring in the familiarity of college. Beacon Restaurant is the home of sophisticated open-fire cooking, inventive cocktails and an innovative wine list.

Gaze at the 120-foot mural of Venice by Paulin Paris while dining on authentic Italian cuisine at Remi. Experience a wealth of ancient Greek flavors in a modern Midtown fine dining establishment, Anthos.

What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
In a city whose bars are mostly dark and underground, the bright, open rooftop of the Cabana at The Maritime Hotel is the ultimate escape. Find yourself in the grace of comfy banquettes and shelves of books where the wine list is as extensive as the library collection at the Library Bar. A centerpiece of Manhattan nightlife for decades, Top of the Tower not only has a panoramic view of the city, but a sophisticated cocktail lounge as well. Bowery Ballroom is a popular music venue.

Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
Central Park and Battery Park are both filled with many attractions to fill an entire afternoon stroll. Gramercy Park is the centerpiece of a district of tree-shaded streets lined with a variety of 19th century residences, from 1840s row houses and brownstones to Victorian-era Queen Annes and neo-Gothics. Bryant Park plays hosts to many concerts and has a lush lawn for your enjoyment.

Are there any quirky places we should check out?
Employees Only boasts enthusiastic service, good cocktails and a toasty fireplace. The Campbell Apartment at Grand Central Terminal is formerly the office of tycoon John W. Campbell, and has been transformed into a sleek cocktail lounge.

If we only have an hour or two, what should we definitely check out nearby?
New York Historical Society is New York’s oldest museum. The American Folk Art Museum captures the diversity of heritage and shared national experience, individual creativity and community values of the American culture. The Morgan Library & Museum is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of artistic, literary, musical, and historical works.

What is an unusual request from a group?
We receive many unusual requests, but a few that stand out are requests for “history tellers,” translators, personal shoppers, and booking a last-minute cocktail party at a museum.

A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
Fresco by Scotto restaurant is a lovely dine-in or take-out Italian restaurant located at 34 East 52nd Street. Rothmann’s Steakhouse has a diverse menu, from steaks to seafood. Maloney & Porcelli boasts a divine menu of progressive American fare.

What’s a unique event that has taken place at your property?
Unique and exciting events take place at the Omni Berkshire Place all the time, including film and television shoots and secret sales by famous 5th Avenue designers. However, the one event that has likely contributed the most to our culture is the scoring of the musical Oklahoma by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein. They met in the spring of 1942 to write the score for the hit musical in the hotel’s largest suite, which now bears their name.