Living at the Continental: it's like a hotel, for better or worse (and yes, breakfast is included)
Each week, our intrepid Perk Check correspondent Polly Mosendz surveys those who live in New York's most amenity-laden buildings to find out which extras are actually useful and which ones barely get a try.
The building: The Continental, a rental at 885 Sixth Avenue at West 32nd Street
What you'll pay: Rentals available now start at $3,225 a month for a studio, while two-bedrooms start at $8,200 per month. The building rents many of their units directly, so you can score them without broker's fees.
Amenities: Lounge, doorman, concierge, game room, pool hall, private event space, private dining area, fireplace in the lounge, terrace, health club, spa, indoor pool, sun terrace, yoga studio, free continental breakfast served in the lounge seven days a week.
Which amenities do you swear by?
Amanda: Breakfast! It's easily the best thing they do.
Mark: Same here. That and the pool, terrace and yoga studio. Lots of people here use the fitness studios, they’re usually busy.
Ressie: It’s basically like living in a hotel, so I use the same things I use when I go out of town—a fancier lobby, nice staff, someone to carry my bag if I need it, and the gym.
Ley: I’m an amenities slacker. I haven’t checked anything out. I guess the doorman. But I like opening my own door too.
Rachel: I’ve given everything a shot, I use the concierge and gym most often.
Which do you rarely use?
Amanda: I don’t go into the game room.
Mark: I don’t really like the terrace.
Ressie: I’ve never used the event space, wasn’t familiar with that.
Ley: I guess all of them. I’m not opposed to trying them, I just don’t really care. My apartment is nice enough on the inside that all the outside amenities don’t phase me.
Rachel: I’ve never eaten the breakfast. Reminds me of family vacations and stale muffins.
Anything surprise you?
Amanda: I was surprised by the doormen, they really go out of their way to know everyone.
Mark: Usually the building staff don’t really care, but everyone here is awesome.
Ressie: Seriously, its hotel-style treatment. Every time the staff opens their mouths, it's delightful. It's like they’re worried they’ll never see you again, so they’re super kind, then they’re ten times as excited to see you the next time you’re back. We must have the best tipped staff in the city because they are that great to us.
Rachel: The views are shocking amazing. It’s not an amenity in the traditional sense but if you are willing to pony up for a higher floor, it's certainly worth it to have the best luxury right from inside your home. [Ed's note: A one-bedroom on the 10th floor was asking $4,000 a month earlier in May, while a one-bedroom on the 20th floor was asking $4,675 a month a few weeks ago, according to StreetEasy.]
Did you move here for the amenities?
Amanda: They really helped. I wanted somewhere that seemed glamorous. This place definitely does.
Mark: I needed somewhere by the PATH train, and this is one of the few buildings around here that isn’t gross. So I guess they did draw me in, in that they make the building nice.
Ressie: Definitely, I even compromised on location to live here. I gave up having nearby grocery stores and no awesome restaurants but I got a kick-ass building.
Ley: The amenities inside my apartment did--things like the fancy, sleek kitchen and the modern design, but not the gym, pool, things like that.
Rachel: I think they helped but weren’t the only factor.
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