The William Vale

In Williamsburg, whose rare high-rise buildings tend towards the nondescript, the William Vale is an immediate eye-catcher. The building, by Albo Liberis, is unmistakable, and with an exterior like that, you expect big things from what’s inside. And, in what has to be considered a leap forward for the Brooklyn hotel scene, the William Vale delivers — Williamsburg’s finally got the modern-luxe boutique hotel it was always destined to have.

Towering as it does 22 floors above North 12th Street, the William Vale is all about the views. Floor-to-ceiling windows are universal, as are balconies, and the rooms’ monochrome backdrop and colorful accents make the most of the plentiful sunlight. Queen rooms are by no means small, suites are downright spacious, and the addition of usable outdoor space is a rare luxury for New York.

Also a rare luxury, at least for Williamsburg: the rooftop bar, with its own outdoor terrace, offering dizzying views over the streets of Brooklyn and a picturesque sunset panorama of the Manhattan skyline. The bar, Westlight, serves food by Andrew Carmellini, whose Italian restaurant, Leuca, breathes new life into wood-fired concept cuisine. And in all of the William Vale’s public spaces, locals are welcome to mix with hotel guests — that includes, season permitting, the fourth-floor terrace with its sixty-foot outdoor pool. (It’s a hot ticket; reservations are required, and earn you a three-hour time slot.)