SAQ Transforms Hudson Hotel’s Restaurant

The Hudson Hotel has a new hotspot named—what else—Hudson Hall.

Occupying the former Hudson Cafeteria space of the Morgans Hotel Group’s quintessential circa-2000 boutique hotel that’s still going strong in Midtown Manhattan and designed by the Brussels-based architects at SAQ, the drinking and dining destination takes its cues from Ivy League mess halls.

Still not sure what that is? Think a long wood and marble bar looking out on the hotel’s spectacular outdoor Private Park area—the quad in this equation—and a custom video installation that spans the 360 degrees of the space’s periphery and is designed to adapt to mood and concept of any event but usually projects video clips of rotating academic imagery from a stable of international artists on its layered surface of wood, canvas, and paint.

Guests serve themselves; the menu ranges from undergrad staples like cans of beer and kamikaze shots to decidedly non-collegiate offerings like Peeky Toe crab rolls, dry-aged Waygu beef with Cabot cloth-bound cheddar, and a 21-day dry aged rib-eye with buttermilk Yukon Gold potato puree. You just grab a Harry Allen-designed tray and follow a wrap-around food window—just like freshman year!

Images courtesy of Morgans Hotel Group.