24 Hours at Sofitel New York

Morning
We pass through the living room-esque lobby to the check-in desk tucked quietly off to the left. Before heading up to room 2422, one of the hotel’s four suites with a private terrace complete with outdoor seating, bamboo privacy wall, and views of the Chrysler Building, we stop in at Gaby restaurant for one of Executive Chef Sylvain Harribey’s De-Light breakfasts—a calorie conscious meal designed in conjunction with Thalassa Sea & Spa, a leading French nutrition and wellness destination. “When I eat I want to enjoy the true taste of the ingredients,” says Harribey, a past winner on Food Network’s Chopped, who prepares everything from a De-Light egg white omelet with green asparagus, sundried tomatoes, wild mushrooms, and tomato coulis to more hearty egg dishes served with sautéed baby fingerling potatoes, asparagus, onions, and peppers. “I like to keep the menu classic, with a twist.” A French press of Lavazza coffee and we’re off to face the day.

Midday
Before heading out to explore the neighborhood, we take time to appreciate the lobby art, which starting on March 8 will feature the photography of Gilles Bensimon. On display will be famous shots of Carla Bruni, Gisele Bündchen, Catherine Deneuve, and Zooey Deschanel, amongst others. Back at Gaby, the morning guests have been replaced with power players from publishing, finance, and media who come to the restaurant for Harribey’s 30-minute lunches. Available in the Paris, De-Light, or New York selection, the soup, appetizer, entrée, and dessert come served on one plate to ensure the next big deal is not interrupted by the comings and goings of wait staff. Other brasserie staples include croque monsieur, steak frites, and a daily special ranging from coq au vin blanc to sole meunière, but since we’re dining at the establishment of a Bordeaux native, we chose the 30 Minute Paris—a selection of onion soup, tuna niçoise, petit filet mignon, and crème brulée, which is heaven at every bite.

Evening
Following a pre-dinner cocktail on our terrace, it’s back downstairs to Gaby, which has taken on a sultry ambience for dusk. The dark wood bar and the portrait of the wistful society lady offered a warm welcome. Come summer, the restaurant will offer terrace seating but on this chilly spring evening, our party of four opts for a quiet table by the windows. Chef Harribey changes the menu three or four times each year to reflect the best seasonal ingredients, such as spring mackerel roasted with mustard, which most epicureans don’t often get to taste. Tonight, our party samples an array of appetizers, from melt-in-your-mouth avocado and Maine lobster salad to a New York-meets-Paris slider of Hudson Valley foie gras on toasted brioche with fig purée. For dinner, the men eat hearty winter dishes such as a confit de canard—oven roasted duck leg served with potato forestiere and Roquefort sauce (not a morsel remained) and a grilled ribeye—while the ladies opt a seafood risotto of grilled shrimp and scallops with red pepper coulis (truly the best risotto this writer has ever tasted), and pepper bacon wrapped salmon served over spinach and quinoa. We dabble in both the white and red wine lists that are grouped by experience more so than region. For example, we select a “Light & Fresh” La Source Sauvignon Blanc then move on to a “Powerful & Sophisticated” Chilean Carmenière. Dessert is a cornucopia of sweets including passion fruit panna cotta, crème brûlée, a mini cheesecake topped with berry compote, and a rich chocolate mousse—the table favorite. Sated beyond reason, we retire to our suite for one last indulgence: A candlelight soak in the bottomless tub, complemented with an array of Hermès sundries. It’s the ultimate way to say adieu to a peaceful New York staycation. Rooms start at $295 per night; 45 W. 44th St., 212-354-8844