Thirty-eight floors above the East River, Residence 38H is a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath corner home with northern and western exposures and a 27-foot private terrace running nearly the length of the living space.

The city arranges itself from here. The Queensboro Bridge to the north, the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings to the west, the river below. Sunrise and sunset both land in this apartment.

A foyer with a coat closet and powder room opens into a 34-foot great room, where floor-to-ceiling glass turns two walls into sky. The terrace runs its full width -- a table for two, morning coffee, a garden if you want one. Anchoring the room is a chef's kitchen with a waterfall island, Calacatta Lincoln marble, custom Italian lacquer cabinetry, Dornbracht fixtures, and integrated Gaggenau appliances including wall ovens and a wine refrigerator.

The bedrooms sit on opposite wings. The primary takes a king comfortably, with a fitted walk-in closet and a marble-slab bath: floating double vanity, wall-mounted faucets, walk-in rain shower, separate soaking tub. The second bedroom has its own marble en-suite. A proper laundry room with a utility sink handles the unglamorous part. Wide-plank white oak throughout, and Crestron control for lighting, climate, and motorized shades.

Designed by Meier Partners Architects, One United Nations Park is a full-service condominium whose black glass facade reads as a landmark along the river. Amenities run to a 70-foot indoor lap pool, spa with steam and sauna, fitness center, screening room, billiards room, catering kitchen, and children's playroom, alongside an atrium lobby, full-time door attendants, and concierge service. Pets are welcome.

The on-site garage with valet is the detail buyers underestimate until they live with it: a discreet arrival home, and a straight shot east when the weekend calls for the Hamptons. Grand Central, the Morgan Library, Bryant Park, and the East River Esplanade are all close by, with the 4, 5, 6, and 7 within reach.