Campbell Apartment

Far from being an apartment, this magnificent place was in fact an office, that of John W. Campbell, chairman of the Credit Clearing House. Back in 1923, Campbell rented this room, in the southwest corner of Grand Central Station, simply because it was "the biggest single room in New York." Teams of workmen laboured for months to transform the bare space into the galleried hall of a 13th century Florentine palace. In this splendid setting Campbell conducted his business, sat behind a massive Florentine desk.

The desk may have been replaced by a bar and easy chairs, but the room is no less impressive. Champagne and well made classic cocktails are rightly the drinks of choice in such a setting. On clement evenings the terrace comes into its own.
Call ahead before making a special journey to visit the apartment as it is often leased out for parties and music evenings. A bit of a tourist trap perhaps but certainly a must see.