Publishers Review: Manhattan Tower Fort Lauderdale
One of the good things about Fort Lauderdale, and there are a lot of good things, is the wide ranging mix of accommodations.
Ranging from luxury to budget hotel and suites (self-catering) the choice is vast. Out of that range there are some absolute gems and one that I was introduced to is the Manhattan Tower. Ideally, and I really mean ideally, located it sits adjacent to the famous intra-coastal waterway but in turn only a few hundred yards from the beach, parks, boardwalk bars and restaurants. There is even a museum and gardens two minutes away.
In quite a unique way it would be possible to have a vacation here at Manhattan Tower and walk to almost all of the amenities. To really enjoy all that the Fort Lauderdale area has to offer of course you do need a car but for trips to the beach flip flops are de rigueur.
Built in the 1950’s the Manhattan Tower was designed by Charles McKirahan for General Motors executives as a corporate retreat. McKirahan was a man who dedicated his adult life to Broward County, which Fort Lauderdale sits within, and his signature design at Manhattan Tower was very reflective of the MiMo style – Mid Century Modern which is popular within the area. As you approach the building the truly outstanding feature is the "Frigidaire" style logo/staircase which has been created with white iron tubing in a cylindrical fashion and soars 50 feet into the air. Not to everybody’s taste but unique, visually stunning and acts as a beacon for the property.
The original design for those hardworking car salesmen (I suspect there were not many sales women in the 50’s) lends itself to socializing and relaxation. The access to that all important waterway allows for many hours of water vehicle spotting from the patio. Given that we are in the area of some of the most expensive real estate in the world you can imagine that the variety of yachts, boats and even ships are mind boggling. The canal is also used for daily transport with taxis running regular trips up and down. One of the coolest things is to phone ahead and let them to pick you up directly from the Manhattan and whisk you away to one of the many eateries that back onto the intra-coastal.
The accommodation itself is excellent and provides everything you would need of a modern hotel complex. Good free Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen, air-conditioning, flat screen TV’s, laundry facilities and a heated outdoor pool. This however is only the half of it as the apartments are furnished with an eclectic mix of furniture, ornaments, paintings and other objet d’art. This is very reflective of the owners ‘retail antiques’ background but for me it was a pleasing surprise.
The Manhattan Tower is a unique property that offers very competitive rates, has easy access to all the attractions and gives you complete independence. Online reviews suggest a loyal client base with numerous repeat visits. It’s just got one more.
Hotel: www.manhattantowerfl.com
By Charles Kao
Charles Kao
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