Gild Hall Hotel Review — Golden Globalist

HYATT LOYALTY HIGHLIGHTS

Globalists receive free breakfast at the adjoining restaurant, Felice. A limited menu offering is included complimentary.
Suite Upgrade Awards (SUAs) accepted for the King Suite. However, they only have a handful of suites, so if the hotel is busy, you are likely to end up upgraded to a slightly larger standard room.
No welcome note, but Globalist status was recognized upon check in.

HOTEL BRAND OVERVIEW

Gild Hall is a Thompson Hotel, one of my favorite Hyatt brands. It has a sophisticated vibe and tends to attract adults, rather than families (although my sister has stayed here happily with an infant). As with many other Thompsons, the aesthetic has darker tones with pops of color incorporated.

BOOKING

This is a Hyatt category 5 (out of 8), meaning a stay here requires 20,000 Hyatt points per night at the standard rate. Cash rates are typically around $200 to $500 per night. I typically use cash here; if using points, I would likely redeem at The Beekman nearby.
If you plan to stay a week or more in NYC and booking with cash, Gild Hall can be your best Hyatt option in Manhattan, as they offer a "long-term stay" rate that starts at 7 nights.

LOCATION

Despite the Aspen-inspired aesthetic of Gild Hall, it is located in the heart of NYC’s Financial District. There are many sights to see within walking distance of the hotel, from Trinity Church to the 9/11 Museum.
While many NYC tourists would prefer to stay in Midtown, being in Lower Manhattan allows you to 1) avoid the madness of Times Square and 2) access multiple subway lines that can get you to Times Square in 15 minutes.

CHECK IN

When you step into Gild Hall, the lobby aesthetic makes you feel like you're entering a cozy lodge.
All guests receive a glass of sparkling wine upon check in—a nice touch.
If you are a Globalist, expect to be presented with paper certificates to exchange for free breakfast at Felice.
While I had booked the King Bed, I was upgraded to the King Bed Premium, which is two categories higher (with the Deluxe in between). The Premium has higher ceilings and a bit more space than the standard.

ROOM

The rooms run about average in size for NYC; comfortable for two people. If you are traveling as a family, I would recommend looking at their standard suite, which will offer a lot more space.
In general, the rooms are a bit dark in color and lighting, which can bother some guests. But I appreciate it as part of the chic Thompson hotel aesthetic. In that same vein, the beds have a beautiful brown leather headboard.
If you visit in the summer, note that the air conditioning is sourced from a unit in the wall, as opposed to centrally. These units can produce a white noise when on.

AMENITIES

Breakfast is served at Felice, the Italian restaurant connected to the hotel. If you are eligible for the Globalist breakfast, they will provide you with an abbreviated menu. I recommend the avocado toast! Aside from breakfast, you can also grab pasta for dinner or a drink at the bar, which can get lively during happy hour. It's a restaurant that locals—not just hotel guests—flock to. One potential downside is there is no room service, but you can of course pickup food from the restaurant or the lobby if using a delivery service like Doordash.
There are two, small gyms within the building on different floors. Nothing fancy but nice to have if you're looking for a simple indoor workout. Alternatively, you can run along the East River—just don't jump in unless you want to grow an extra limb :)

SERVICE

My family and I have had consistently great service when staying at Gild Hall. As an example, my mother ordered a drink and water at the bar once, then unexpectedly had to go back to her room. A member of the staff proactively went out of their way to help her carry her drinks up to her room. This felt reflective of the boutique-style of the hotel.

NEARBY ACTIVITIES

NYC has an endless list of activities, nearly all of which are easily accessible from Gild Hall either by walking or hopping on the subway.
Within walking distance, you can tour Trinity Church, spend a few hours at the 9/11 Museum, shop at the Oculus, or hop on a ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
There are many excellent restaurants and cocktail bars nearby, besides Felice at the hotel. You can walk a few minutes to the Tin Building at Seaport (east of the hotel). There are a number of sit-down and takeaway dining options here. If you’re a fan of vegan food, they have a new location for abcV. For any sweet tooths out there, grab ice cream nearby at Mister Dips!
In the opposite direction of the hotel (walking west), you can stop by the popular Eataly for Italian food.
For any fans of the wizarding world, The Cauldron is a 10 minute walk away from Gild Hall. Here, you can have fun doing an interactive cocktail experience mixing potions (non-alcoholic options are available) and pretending to be a wizard or witch for the evening.

SUMMARY

Gild Hall is often one of the best Hyatt options in Manhattan if you're looking to pay cash, especially if your stay is 7+ days. If your main focus is maximizing Hyatt Globalist benefits (e.g., having a great shot at a suite upgrade, receiving a robust complimentary breakfast), this is likely not at the top of your list for NYC. However, as a fan of hotels with personality and great service, I've stayed at Gild Hall a number of times and will undoubtedly return.

Gild Hall