Timeless Elegance in the Heart of Manhattan: My Stay at The Beekman

From the moment we walked into The Beekman, it felt like stepping back in time. The soaring nine-story atrium, with its intricate ironwork and glowing skylight, was absolutely breathtaking. Riding up in the old-fashioned elevators — complete with brass details and vintage charm — made even getting to our room feel special. The hotel does a great job of preserving its historic atmosphere while still offering many modern conveniences.

However, when it comes to accessibility, we ran into some challenges. We stayed in an Accessible Studio Suite, which was generally spacious, but there were a few design choices that could make the stay difficult for many wheelchair users. For starters, the elevator key card readers were mounted quite high — too high for most people who can't stand to reach comfortably. In our room, the bed was a nice height at about 23 inches from the floor, which worked well for transferring. But the shower door was only 25 inches wide, which would be too narrow for many standard wheelchairs to pass through. The thermostat was mounted 55 inches from the ground, which made it hard to reach and adjust from a sitting position, and the manual drapes were located behind furniture, making them difficult to access without assistance.

While the hotel has multiple accessible room options, the overall accessibility of the property could be improved. If accessibility is important to you, it will be important to plan ahead and work with a travel advisor to make sure this hotel will meet your specific needs.

That said, there’s no denying the atmosphere at The Beekman is something special. One of my favorite moments was sitting next to the bar in the atrium, surrounded by soft light and old-world elegance and watching the world go by outside. Even just taking the elevator or walking down the halls felt like being part of a bygone era. The space is rich with character, and it has this quiet energy that makes you want to slow down and soak it all in.

The dining was another huge highlight. We had incredible meals at both Daniel Boulud’s Le Gratin and Tom Colicchio’s Temple Court. Each offered a totally different experience, but both were beautifully done — thoughtful dishes, warm service and settings that made every meal feel memorable. The location was also fantastic. We walked to the Brooklyn Bridge, One World Trade Center and through the Seaport and Tribeca neighborhoods. Just steps from the hotel are local gems like Da Claudio (a cozy Italian spot) and Kesté Pizza & Vino, which served some of the best pizza we’ve had in the city. All in all, The Beekman is a stunning hotel in a great part of Manhattan — but for travelers with mobility needs, contact us so we can determine if this hotel is the best fit for your needs.

Some rooms have views of the downtown skyline or the Brooklyn Bridge area — it’s worth asking about when booking. Also, the Beekman is associated with the Gild Hall hotel (another Thompson property nearby), and sometimes guests are welcome to visit their rooftop.

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