Where to Find the Women’s Room

The best ones are in New York’s finer hotels…Here are 16 of them – keep the list so you won’t ever have to ask where they are when you need them. By Wesley Davidson

It’s 9 A.M.: You’re in town for a day of shopping but the department stores aren’t open yet. Where do you “powder your nose”?

11:30 A.M.: Your child has to go to the bathroom right now! Because train-station and park bathrooms are unsightly, unsafe, and unsanitary, where do you go?

3 P.M.: You’re on Madison Avenue window shopping before your 6 P.M. dinner date. In the interim, where do you “wash up”?

5 P.M.: After a day on the town, you want to change your shoes and makeup.  Where do you “freshen up”?

If all this sounds familiar, where DO you find a clean, safe, and well-appointed
rest room? In one of the Big Apple’s finer hotels, of course. Here are 16 of the best of them, conveniently located in mid to upper Manhattan.

EAST SIDE

1. DORAL PARK HOTEL, 70 Park Avenue, between 38th and 39th Streets. Go through revolving doors, past reception desk on right, up a few steps, and down staircase straight ahead. Turn right at bottom of stairs. Rest room is second door on left with 3 toilets, 3 sinks. Noteworthy: 2 coat hooks per stall door; sanitary napkin/tampon dispenser.

2. GRAND HYATT, Park Avenue at Grand Central. Enter through door on 42nd Street. Go up on escalator near waterfall. Turn right and walk through lounge, along hall toward H. Stern. Turn right. Rest room is second door on left with 6 toilets, 5 sinks. Noteworthy: Large marble shelf in lounge is ideal for changing baby; sanitary napkin/tampon dispenser.

3. THE WALDORF-ASTORIA, 301 Park Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets.
Enter through revolving doors. Go up steps past Hilton Room on the right. Keep to right along hallway. Rest room is second brass door on the right with 8 toilets, 8 sinks. Noteworthy: The ultimate in luxury: Each stall has it own sink, toilet, and mirror. Lounge has 4 full-length mirrors; fireplace with seating nearby; attendant.
Average tip is still 25 cents.

4. FOUR SEASONS, 99 East 52nd Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues.
Enter building and turn left at hatcheck room. Rest room is at end of hall on the left, with 4 toilets, 4 sinks. Noteworthy: Toilet seat covers; each stall has its own lamp and ashtray. Lounge has 4 individual dressing tables.

5. TRUMP TOWER, 725 Fifth Avenue, between 56th and 57th Streets. Go through revolving brass door. Take escalator to lower level. Turn left after you pass the magazine store, then right, then left. Rest room is the first door on your left, with 5 toilets including one for the handicapped, 5 sinks. Noteworthy: Modern, elegant, mauve marble-and-brass decor. Attendant; sanitary napkin/tampon dispenser.

6. THE PIERRE HOTEL, 795 Fifth Avenue, between 60th and 61st Streets. Go through the entrance. Turn left into the circular room (restaurant). In center, turn right. Walk down two steps and up two steps. Turn left for rest room with 3 toilets, 2 sinks. Noteworthy: Immaculate; shell-rimmed pedestal skinks, faucets with porcelain and gold handles; gold mirrors.

7. PLAZA ATHENEE HOTEL, 37 East 64th Street. Enter hotel, turn left. At wall, turn right to rest room with 2 toilets, 2 sinks. Noteworthy: Facecloths stacked on sinks; individual makeup mirrors.

8. WESTBURY HOTEL, 15 East 69th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues. Enter through revolving doors. Walk through reception area to double-glass door, the entrance to Polo Bar. Turn left to rest room with 2 toilets, 2 sinks. Noteworthy: Handsome decor; electric outlet.

9. CARLYLE HOTEL, 35 East 76th Street, between Madison and Park Avenues.
Enter on Madison Avenue. Bear left, down steps, take left upstairs, and rest room is on right.