As promised, here are my impressions from my short stay last Thurs. Overall, it was outstanding. I was slightly worried that my high expectations were setting me up for disappointment, but I'll happily admit they were met in every regard. This is one of the most pleasant, enjoyable, and efficiently seamless hotel stays I've had anywhere recently.
Arrival/ Check-in: We arrived about 8pm, and yes, I'm glad I read the FT info on how to find the entrance, it is definitely subdued. However, we were very warmly welcomed by Sol - and it felt genuine, as opposed to the "obligatory friendliness" you sometimes encounter. Sol first offered us a drink, then checked us in and clearly explained all the Andaz features and Diamond benefits, plus answered our questions about the area (accurately!). She also invited us to come back down for a wine "refill" if we were so inclined. The entire process took at most 2 minutes. Due to her accent, we asked her if she was from Argentina - she was, and we enjoyed a bit of fun chit-chat about Buenos Aires. It was a warm, personable, yet professional welcome, and I certainly felt like a valued customer.
Room: Sixth Floor, facing 41st St, & I think it was an Andaz Large King. In any case, it was certainly spacious enough for us. Some might find the decorating scheme 'cold', but I appreciated the minimalist look, and loved the glass closet area (on a practical note, harder to leave things behind...). Bed was perfect - firm, but not too much so. Didn't watch TV. Having snacks/ drinks included was awesome (same selection as previously noted, and yummy). I am a light sleeper and was a bit worried about noise based on 1. middle of NYC, and 2. previous comments here. However, with the fan on medium, I wasn't bothered by noise at all, either in or outside the hotel.
Bathroom: Stunning, as previously described, and I loved it - with one exception, the lighting is great for 'mood' but awfully dim for 'practical' (like putting in contacts). Besides the lighting, I'd have liked to take it home.
Adore the toiletries, also. (Even more than the W's Bliss, which til now were my favourites).
Morning: We got up relatively early to go for a run (5 to 10 min or so to Central Park). Stepping out of the elevator into the lobby, we were again warmly greeted with a smile, and we asked for a coffee. The host brewed us one in the alcove to the right of the desk, and also offered us directions while we waited. It didn't take long (perhaps 5 min max?) to prepare the coffee, but he was quite apologetic about the "delay". We took our coffee and headed out.
Breakfast - Breakfast hours that day were 0630-1000, and it was comp as Diamond, as previously mentioned. I was both starving and indecisive, so had the muesli AND the greek yoghurt (based on the reviews here). O-M-G...seriously, I adore breakfast, and am picky (selective!) about what I eat...and this was completely fantastic. Honestly, the best quality breakfast I've been served outside my own kitchen, I think. I'd go back, just for that breakfast. (My S.O. had a poached egg dish which he also loved.) Good, rapid, well-informed service. Oh, and we had lattes, which didn't take long to arrive, so maybe the coffee service issue has been rectified.
Check-out - Swift, friendly, efficient, yet again, with accurate billing. We were each offered a departure gift, which I thought was a particularly nice touch - no arguing!
I was sorry to leave Andaz 5th Ave...we were in NYC for a course, and moving to W Union Sq as it was closer for us, but we knew Andaz was going to be pretty much an impossible act to follow. There was nothing wrong with the W, but it just didn't have that same warmth & welcome combined with great design and amenities.
(For those interested, the Andaz 5th Ave fitness center is better equipped & laid out than the W Union Sq, particularly for weights, but both are well above average for a 'stand-alone' hotel gym)
In summary, Andaz 5th Ave is wonderful, and joins the Hyatt Santiago at the top of my list of favourite hotels (though I've never traveled in Asia, so don't have that comparative experience). I look forward to returning.