Inside NYC’s glitzy new Virgin Hotel

It didn’t come quietly.

Finally, above the retail base of Sir Richard Branson’s new Virgin Hotel in NoMad – on the corner of Broadway and West 30th Street – is a giant ‘NYC OMG’ emblazoned in the brand’s signature red letters.

While the property quietly opened in February, a glamorous opening ceremony is planned for April 4th – and the property is fast becoming a hotspot for drinks, food, events and stays.

With architecture by Stantect and designs by Brooklyn-based MARKZEFF, a light and playful touch is evident at every turn. For example, the lobby mural “Where’s Richard” by Nigel Sussman is a reference to “Where’s Waldo?”.

Its 39 floors include nearly 19,000 square feet of event space as well as 460 “chambers” – all with virgin red doors.

There are a few 770-square-foot suites, as well as two “Sir Richard’s Flats” — 2,800-square-foot two-bedroom duplexes on the 35th and 36th floors. The two can also be combined for an even larger spread.

The walls here are adorned with some of Virgin CEO Branson’s own photos and artwork, commemorating everything from Virgin Records and Virgin Airlines to his own Virgin Galactic flight into space.

Though the 277-square-foot chambers may seem small to some, they have floor-to-ceiling windows and nearly all have iconic views of the Empire State Building, which towers over the city just four blocks away.

Opening rates per night are $595, but a web search found rooms for $400 and up and even a few scattered dates for $336. (New York State residents may receive a 25% discount on stays while other special offers are available on the hotel’s website.)

It’s not just for sleeping.

The glass-enclosed Sky Lounge event space on the 38th floor and the outdoor observation deck at the top of the tower have already been booked by designers for Fashion Week catwalk shows – and will certainly be a coveted location for weddings and corporate meetings.

Elsewhere, on the fourth floor is the hotel’s private outdoor oasis, with a heated pool — opening this summer — on a guest-only terrace.

But the crowd can sip drinks and nibble on food in the striking-looking sapphire-blue indoor bar.

Executive Chef Freddy Vargas – best known for Scarpetta and more recently the new Arva and Nama at Aman New York in the Crown Building – is now crafting the menus for Virgin’s forthcoming gourmet restaurant concept, which opens later and is inspired by modern Italian cuisine with global influences this spring on the fourth floor.

A giant red staircase leads to the third floor below, which is already open to the public and worth a look – drink or not drink.

This Everdene restaurant and bar meanders through 4,000 square feet and features large outdoor patios powered by the busy street directly below.

A luxurious area – the Shag Room – is bathed in deep virgin red with velvet benches. Touch, but don’t pull, the Soda Can wall sculpture, made up of thousands of metal pop-tops all linked together in long chains.

The library’s restaurant area at the opposite end of the floor has archways with books arranged by color – while arches with brass accents break up a large window and reinforce the Art Deco Lite theme.

To get the party started, Brooklyn’s House of Yes has hosted two Queen Supreme drag queen brunch extravaganzas on Sunday afternoons, featuring drag, cabaret and circus acts for $75.

This is recommended for adult audiences who may be filmed on camera, but attendees are expected to immerse themselves in the spirit of the experience with “glamour, glitter and fabulous vibes.”