MO Lounge Reviews

Fantastic lounge with absolutely breathtaking views! Great drinks, great service! An overall wonderful experience!

I had high hopes for afternoon tea at MO Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental NY—it was meant to be a special surprise for our 36th wedding anniversary. I made the reservation a month in advance and clearly noted that we are vegetarian (no fish, no chicken). The tea itself was lovely, but then they served us a sandwich with ham. When we questioned it, the hostess told us we hadn’t specified “no pork.” Seriously? We’re vegetarians—why would pork even be considered an option? We've traveled the world and have never once had to explain that “vegetarian” includes no pork. After that, service vanished. Our waiter disappeared and no one checked on us again. It felt like we were completely forgotten. A manager did eventually come by to apologize, but by then, the damage was done. We spent nearly $350 on this experience, and I left feeling disappointed, unheard, and incredibly let down on what was supposed to be a meaningful day. I cannot recommend MO Lounge—especially not for anyone with dietary restrictions or planning something special.

Went there for breakfast and the location is amazing. The views are incredible. However, the staff were completely distracted. I guess they had some kind of a VIP customer there and they were all so busy kissing that person‘s butt they completely ignored the rest of the customers in the restaurant anyway the food came out all cold completely wrong. Even the coffee was cold. We had to send it back just to get warm coffee after waiting an hour.

The MO Lounge was actually is the reason we will likely never stay again at the hotel. The host staff was very personable and attentive, servers were average. The drinks were good and the view was stellar. The food is absolutely atrocious. the pasta was underwhelming, the crispy chicken sandwich was inedible. It was comprised of all dark meat and I literally had to spit my first bite in the napkin. We ordered the handmade potato chips as a starter and they were good, but the server never brought (despite several requests) malt vinegar as was touted on the menu. The redeeming factor was that we were able to find a table on short notice at Rosa Mexicano (a local restaurant not affiliated with the hotel across from Lincoln Center) that had far superior food at about 25% of the price and much happier servers. Go there instead.

Lovely location for an elevated breakfast experience. Situated on the 35th floor with views of the park and Central Park South, it is a lovely location. We were surprised that neither butter nor jam was provided with toast -- it was quickly remedied (by two requests). Overall attention at breakfast seemed lacking.

Thank you to Daniel for delivering truly above-and-beyond service—genuine 5-star hospitality. He is truly a star ⭐️ of the MO Lounge. A heartfelt thank-you as well to the amazing team, especially Allysia, Elisha, and Nathan. This outstanding team directly impacts guests with their uplifting and welcoming energy, creating a memorable experience that truly stands out—perfectly complemented by delicious food and beautiful view of Columbus Circle. Exceptional teamwork!

We went for the high tea. It’s a rather expensive treat. The scones are quite authentic, the sweet pastries were divine. There are a few little sandwiches on the bottom tier for a savory addition. The tea was also great and they do let you try a couple of different ones. You can also take anything you can’t eat to go. The disappointments were that while the 35th floor offers a wonderful view of Manhattan, you are not in a special room just for the tea. You are in the lounge with people having their lunch. And while the wait staff did a great job, we felt they could have come by more often to see if we needed more tea. Overall we enjoyed it, but if I were to do it again I would probably try to find something that’s a little more special feeling in atmosphere but you can’t beat that view!!

Wonderful time here before Lincoln Center performances. Great views, great cocktails, and good food. Burger and fries expensive but tasty, and the wedge salad was a highlight. Recommend!

The main restaurant has not reopened, so all meals are in the MO Lounge. We ate breakfast there twice. The first day was okay. The second day, I had to send my omelette back twicec because it was under-cooked the first two times. Any local diner can get an omelette right for about $10, so one would expect a $35 omelette to be prepared to perfection. That was not the case. Admittedly, I wasn't charged for it, but it would have been nice for me to eat my breakfast with my wife, instead of watching her eat and then her watching me eat.

The MO Lounge is a must do and see restaurant in NYC. Its exceptional location makes it a unique experience for the discerning traveller. During our last visit we experienced the high level of service that one would expect at a Mandarin Oriental hotel. Our visit was arranged with much love and care by Jocelyn and John. Jocelyn got us in at a very busy time and worked with our schedule. When we got there we had John with his happy, bubbly personality taking care of us. The food was exceptional, the view to die for and John’s service made it memorable. We will be back!!!

We ate at the MO Lounge every day for breakfast and lunch. Dined there 2 nights. Terrific service and wonderful food. You will not be disappointed.

We had breakfast and drinks in the MO Lounge. The space is refined, intimate, and with a fantastic view on Central Park.

Good menu, but don’t expect something striking: regular positions, everything is tasty. Very good cocktail card: it’s not big, but every position is interesting. Unfortunately staff is average: no water refill, no smiles.

I had breakfast and lunch at MO. The food is delicious and the service is great. Amazing views of Columbus Circle and Manhattan from the 36th floor. It is pricey but totally worth it. One warning though: they add an 18% mandatory tip to your bill! So, if you are not paying attention, you will be leaving a DOUBLE tip, as the check leaves a blank space for a tip. That’s why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.

We were searching for a restaurant with nice views of NYC. A quick google search led us to the MO Lounge. It did not disappoint. Fabulous sweeping views of Central Park. The food and service were good as well. Would come back at night for a drink to enjoy the views of the city glittering.

The most awful service myself and parter have ever received. Please note this review is only for the MO Bar/Restaurant in the hotel. I have never met such miserable and condescending staff in all my life. I don't know if it's because we were tourists or a same sex couple but we were spoken down to and made to feel very unwelcome, unwanted and just an overall hassle. We did kindly ask to move table at start just to try and get a better view and the server was very dismissive baring in mind there was probably only 3-4 tables in there. In the end we was able to move but still placed out the way and away from the gorgeous Central Park view. It was a while before we were seen to and we were asked for drinks but we were never given a menu when we sat down. We then had to wait a quite a bit before ordering again. It seemed as if the staff were all hiding in the kitchen at the back and talking to each other. The only good thing about this visit was the food which was really good and fresh but after leaving we felt victimised and upset from the service, tainting a day of our holiday. I hope this was a one off and not something same sex couples experience on a regular. A smile goes a long way too.

Deplorable and condescending welcome. We waited standing for several minutes with an elderly person to be seated to supposedly “check” if there was any room left even though the room was three-quarters empty. Despite our request, we were not placed on a table near the window with a view of Central Park even though several of them were free and remained free throughout our snack. Disdainful tone and attitude of the room manager. If you want to be treated casually and rudely for an exorbitant price, this is the ideal address.

Delicious drinks & food, amazing views, great staff & bartender, and an awesome management team, including Cristina. A hidden gem!

The Mandarin is one of my favourite hotel names which is why I always stay here when I’m in NY. This lounge however is a disappointment. I stayed at the MO for over a month this summer and popped into the lounge a number of times, mostly out of the convenience of it after the first visit. Unfortunately the only thing going for it is the view over Central Park, which is gorgeous admittedly (but I get that from my room!). The service, menu selection and overall ambience are very average (service in particular is a weak point, the staff seemed bemused or completely lost each time I visited). This impression is made all the more stark when I compare to the bar/lounge at eg the Mandarin Tokyo, which I make a point of visiting whenever I’m in Tokyo regardless of where I’m staying.

Sorry for being so critical but I believe that venues like this, charging the prices that they do for a simple martini, should be held to a higher standard. The current MO a lounge in the Mandarin Oriental is just average based on what you would expect from the Mandarin Oriental. It’s clear and obvious that they are trying to hold on to the former aviary vibe, even still using the same bar ware and The cocktails have the same bells and whistle’s. I’m not sure which was more bland my carrot cocktail or the uninterested service. The main draw as of late is definitely the views and the allure of the Mandarin Oriental name more than the service or the cocktails. With all the high-end cocktail bars in the area I might try elsewhere next time

It doesn't reflect the luxury it should. It also seems quite "off." The service was slow and careless. I had to ask several times for the courses included in the afternoon tea before receiving them.

Booked afternoon tea for teen daughter’s birthday . View absolutely amazing , but otherwise disappointing - couple at table next to us dressed in sweats , on their phone and intermittently making out , another patron at the window table in shorts on his laptop . Perhaps I should have asked for more information when booking, but Mandarin Oriental was listed as top choice for afternoon tea in NYC by several sites. Food was ok - sandwiches a bit soggy (perhaps because booked late in afternoon on a Monday ) and sweets super sweet . Definitely not the special experience I was expecting .

My brother took me out for my birthday, General Manager Sam and the entire staff made my birthday experience sublime! The ambiance was swanky, elegant and mellow. Furthermore, the lounge located on 35th floor had the most incredible and panoramic views of Central Park and Columbus Circle. My personal favorite touch were the fresh orchids on each table. We had champagne to start the celebration! Afterwards, we started with two cocktails suggested by the amazingly friendly server. Also, the food was superb! Additionally, for our appetizers, we had the octopus carpaccio, the roasted red pepper hummus with warm char-grilled pita bread and the fresh burrata salad with arugula. Next, for our entrees we enjoyed the Wonton Soup and the hangar steak. All cooked to perfection! To finish off the night, we had a personalized cake just for me (my birthday). All in all, staff made us feel so welcomed from the moment we walked in til the moment we left. I have never felt more grateful for an incredibly memorable birthday experience! Thank you to the entire FOH and BOH staff for going up and beyond to make me feel the love! Would definitely be back soon!

We had a reservation for afternoon tea for my daughter’s birthday. During the reservation process they ask for a picture to identify you and if it’s a special occasion, I provided both but neither was acknowledged when we arrived for our reservation. After we were sat, our server came over and seemed super friendly. She asked if we wanted water or champagne. We asked for water but she never brought it. We ordered our tea which came right away but it took a tremendously long time for our sandwiches, scones, etc to arrive. Our server never came back to check on us. We had to keep stopping other servers walking by to check on our food, to get water, and even to get our bill at the end. We were completely ignored. I certainly expected a much higher level of service. Our experience was not worth our time or money.

The view of the city is beautiful, especially if you can get a table by the window. Portions are small, and plates are expensive, but pretty standard for nice restaurants in New York. We enjoyed the food and view, however the service was very slow. They were not very busy, so it almost seems like they are slow on purpose to give you time to enjoy the view. Just be warned dinner takes awhile. The free dessert for our anniversary was a nice touch.