There’s nothing quite like a little weekend (or mid-week, because why not) getaway to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life — and luckily, we Montclairians only have to travel a couple of minutes to find the perfect retreat.
Standing boldly on the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Orange Road is The MC Hotel, which is a part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels. This upscale boutique hotel boasts two restaurants (both with bars), a rooftop with views of NYC, and over 150 rooms. The Montclair Girl team recently visited for a festive holiday dinner + fun overnight at the local spot and had an excellent time. Read on to learn all about our stay at The MC Hotel.
(Photo Credit: @themchotel)
What to Expect
Located at 690 Bloomfield Avenue, The MC Hotel is pretty hard to miss. The flatiron-esque structure fits nicely into Montclair’s cityscape, with the rooftop visible from the street. If you decide to drive, the parking entrance is on Orange Street (which, unlike the building, is a little easier to miss). We were greeted by friendly valets who helped set us up with the hotel’s valet parking app. Now that’s fancy.
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The interior of the space lives up to its curb appeal — it’s modern, chic, and clean. A self-described gallery and gathering place, according to its website, much of the hotel is inspired by the culture and community of Montclair.
On the first floor is the hotel’s primary restaurant, The Allegory Restaurant, which serves up an array of unique, Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The restaurant is headed by new Chef Joe Tartamella, who studied at the French Culinary Institute. The Allegory is open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, with menus turning over throughout the day. More on the eats later.
In the lobby is also a full bar and The Allegory Market, a grab-and-go setup with snacks and beverages. There are plenty of tables and chairs to take advantage of — whether you want to sip on a cocktail, catch up on some work, or just enjoy the spacious area.
There are 159 rooms throughout this multi-level hotel, with various suites available, too. Our team stayed in beautiful king rooms with the most amazing pillows (we take our pillows very seriously), and the loveliest hand-written notes from The MC Hotel team. It’s little details like this that make a staycation so much more special.
Upstairs is Alto, the hotel’s rooftop lounge and restaurant. Alto has an inside bar with dining tables, as well as a lounging area outside populated by comfy couches and fireplaces. It serves up smaller bites like guacamole + chips, flatbreads, etc., perfect for a group to share. One of the restaurant’s biggest bragging rights, though, is its views of NYC — which, we can confidently say are some of the best in the area (even on a rainy night).
Our Visit
On top of its artsy design, The MC Hotel was decked out for the holiday season. St. Nick himself even paid the hotel a visit for a special tree lighting and holiday happy hour. With festive-themed sugar cookies, a DIY hot chocolate bar with candy cane stirrers and marshmallows galore, and roasted chestnuts (literally), the team went all out to celebrate the holiday season with hotel guests and the local community.
We dined at The Allegory for dinner and spent much of dinner discussing how good the food was. First, we snacked on some appetizers, which included Brussels Sprouts, burrata, meatballs, tuna tartare, and more. For entrees, there were a host of different items ordered — Spaghetti al Pomodoro, Cavatelli, and Thyme roasted branzino, are a few worth mentioning.
Although the rooftop is closed on Tuesdays, we were lucky enough to get a private tour of the top floor and check out Alto. The views of the Manhattan skyline from Alto are pretty amazing and we can’t wait to go back and visit for cocktails by the firepits. The inside decor of the restaurant shouldn’t be overlooked, either. It has floor-to-ceiling windows and a funky, modern aesthetic that’s just as Instagram-worthy as the rooftop.
With full bellies, we headed upstairs to our hotel rooms, which were clean and spacious, so much so that our whole group was able to hang out together in one room. MG Pro tip: play the Netflix fireplace stream on your TV. It crackles and everything.
But perhaps the most noteworthy thing in them was… the pillows. Collectively as a team, we agreed that these pillows had to have been taken from the sky itself. If you hadn’t already been convinced to stay at The MC Hotel, you must go for the pillows (kidding… sort of).
In the morning, we dined at The Allegory a second time for some breakfast, which included a range of classic options like Eggs Benedict and avocado toast with an elevated twist. Baked goods and coffees are also on the menu — which of course, we took advantage of.
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In the morning, we dined at The Allegory a second time for some breakfast, which included a range of classic options like Eggs Benedict and avocado toast with an elevated twist (and yes, you could even get it gluten-free). Baked goods and coffees are also on the menu — which of course, we took advantage of. Matcha lattes and cappuccinos, yes please!
The Consensus
Overall, The MC Hotel is the perfect getaway without getting away — it incorporates so much of what we love about Montclair, while simultaneously offering the feeling that you’ve stepped out of town. Even if you don’t want to stay over, the bars and restaurants are certainly worth a visit, both for fancy dinners or weekend plans.
A huge thanks to The MC Hotel for having us — we’ll definitely be back (very soon)!
