I stopped staying at the Benjamin some years back because their prices were poor value. They say they've remodeled since but even at its best, it was never a luxury hotel. And I doubt if the remodel changed the postage stamp sized bathrooms into decent sized ones because the rooms themselves were pretty small to begin with. I'd be surprised if a "deluxe studio" was even 35sqmt in size.

No experience with the Essex House, unfortunately, but for US$900 a night plus tax, I'd say you can do a LOT better than the Benjamin.