AKA NoMad, New York City
Japandi Calm at the Edge of Midtown
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● Piero Lissoni’s first hotel project in the United States, bringing his disciplined, residential approach to the centre of Manhattan.
● A warm Japandi-inspired interior where stone, timber, woven textures, and muted colours soften the energy of the city outside.
● Soundproofed rooms, understated service, and a discreet lobby bar create a genuine sense of retreat without losing connection to New York.
A Quieter Vision of Manhattan
AKA NoMad offers a different interpretation of the Midtown hotel. Set at the corner of Madison Avenue and 31st Street, the former Roger Hotel has been reworked by Piero Lissoni and Lissoni New York as a calm, residential base in one of Manhattan’s busiest districts. The design does not attempt to compete with the city’s energy. It filters it. The result feels composed, private, and deliberately removed from the noise beyond the entrance.
Lissoni’s Language of Restraint
The interiors bring together Japanese simplicity, Scandinavian warmth, and subtle references to New York’s architectural character. A bronze spiral staircase anchors the double-height lobby, while herringbone stone floors, exposed brick, bespoke furniture, natural timber, and softly layered lighting create a sense of quiet depth. Neutral shades are punctuated by muted gold, blue, and green, preventing the spaces from becoming austere. Everything feels precisely edited. Nothing feels cold. Behind a shoji-style screen, the lobby bar introduces a more intimate mood, its illuminated bottle display functioning almost like an artwork.
Rooms Designed as Retreats
The guestrooms and suites are soft, tactile, and deliberately uncluttered. Oversized upholstered headboards, textured wallcoverings, deep carpeting, custom furniture, and carefully controlled lighting create an atmosphere closer to a private apartment than a conventional hotel room. Soundproofed windows are particularly important here, turning a busy Madison Avenue address into an unexpectedly quiet place to sleep. Bathrooms shift to a darker palette of stone, ceramic tile, limestone, and sculptural Fantini fittings. Calm above. Weight and texture below. Larger suites add kitchenettes, separate living areas, terraces, and direct views of the Empire State Building.
Residential Comfort, Hotel Precision
AKA brings its long-stay experience into a full-service hotel format. Nespresso machines, kettles, well-considered storage, flexible living spaces, and discreet service support both short visits and longer stays. The approach is practical but never utilitarian, with each detail intended to make the room feel easy to inhabit. Hospitality remains unobtrusive. The comfort is always present.
NoMad Within Easy Reach
The location sits between several distinct versions of Manhattan. The Empire State Building, Madison Square Park, Koreatown, Flatiron, Herald Square, and some of the city’s strongest restaurants and design showrooms are all within walking distance. Midtown’s intensity is close, but the hotel’s position at the edge of NoMad gives it a slightly calmer rhythm. New York remains outside the door. Inside, the pace changes.
Why It Works
AKA NoMad succeeds because it offers serenity without losing urban relevance. Piero Lissoni’s restrained interiors, residential comfort, muted material palette, and exceptional acoustic calm create a hotel that feels genuinely restorative. It is not trying to become another scene-driven New York address. Its strength lies in knowing exactly when to step back.
