To mark the month when the United States elects a new “Leader of the Free World,” we round up the most presidential of all suites in the land of the Stars and Stripes
The Jefferson, Washington D.C.
Photo courtesy of The Jefferson
What better place for a president to enjoy a staycation than a hotel that has original Thomas Jefferson-signed documents on display and a library filled with leather-bound volumes on the founding father’s favourite subjects? The balconies of the 2,000-square-foot Thomas Jefferson Presidential Suite provide views over the Washington Monument and the White House. The suite’s grand salon gives way to a dining room that seats eight. And for visiting dignitaries, there’s a small receiving area connected to a private pantry—perfect for pre-inaugural address gin and tonics. Obama has visited the hotel so many times through the back entrance that they renamed it the Ba-rack entrance.
Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
Photo courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air
Long a favourite hideaway of the rich and famous—Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe have all been guests—thanks to its secluded location in the canyons of Los Angeles, the Hotel Bel-Air, which opened in 1946, was recently refurbished. The new Presidential Bungalow offers 6,775 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space, making it the largest suite in Los Angeles. There’s private dining for 10, a professional chef’s kitchen, a study, a wet bar and even a grand piano. Step out into your very own Spanish courtyard to find a private pool, Jacuzzi and outdoor lounge and dining areas. A separate hotel entrance allows for exceptional privacy—you can just picture Marilyn sneaking in to see John F. Kennedy.
The Mark, New York
Photo courtesy of The Mark
At US$75,000 a night, The Mark’s magnificent Presidential Suite, which opened in December last year, stands proud as the most expensive suite in the world. At 12,000 square feet, it is also the largest penthouse suite in the US. There’s a 2,500-square-foot rooftop terrace with views over the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park, custom-made furniture from legendary designer Jacques Grange, a private conservatory and five bedrooms. The dining room can seat 24, there are two wet bars, and the living room can be transformed into a full-sized grand ballroom. And it is all accessed via a private lift—handy for those celebrity attendees wishing to slip incognito up to your post-election victory bash.
The Liberty Hotel, Boston
Photo courtesy of The Liberty Hotel
Fancy restoring some law and order to your presidential campaign? Check in at the Liberty Hotel in downtown Boston—a historic building that was once the Charles Street Jail (18 of the rooms are located in the original jail itself). For those who don’t fancy a night in a cell, the fabulous 2,200-square-foot Ebersol Suite sits atop the 16th floor of the hotel and comprises a master bedroom and two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room with butler pantry, a library, and dressing and powder rooms. What really sets this suite apart, however, is the 300-square-foot terrace with panoramic 270-degree views of Boston, from the State House in the east right around to Charlestown in the north. The outdoor space can be used all year round, is wired for sound, and has a dining table and several chaise lounges. As well as the inmates of yesteryear, Bruce Willis, Mick Jagger and Cameron Diaz have all been guests.
This article was originally published in the November 2016 issue of Hong Kong Tatler