PUBLIC Hotel

Ian Schrager is at it again. The boutique-hotel innovator has always been ahead of the curve, and with his PUBLIC brand it’s apparent he’s caught on to something the world’s luxury hoteliers have failed to notice: inclusive is the new exclusive. There’s a little hint there in the name, of course, but it’s apparent that from bottom to top, a place like New York’s PUBLIC is meant to be warm, open, and welcoming — without sacrificing style or excitement. There’s no front desk, but fear not: when you arrive, one of the hotel’s “PUBLIC Advisors” will find you and check you in.

Your room will be suitably Schrageresque, and attractive in its quietly elegant minimalism. It’s all about contrast; these tranquil rooms, with their triple-glazed soundproof windows, are just what you need after a night out on the Lower East Side — or a night out inside the hotel, for that matter.

PUBLIC’s public spaces are numerous and compelling, from the lobby and gardens to the restaurants, which include Popular, by the fêted Peruvian chef Diego Muñoz, as well as the Cantina & Pisco Bar and Louis, a café, bakery, and “gourmet food bazaar.” Meanwhile The Roof is just what it sounds like: a rooftop bar and lounge with a panoramic city view; Two Fifteen is a dark and romantic cocktail bar with occasional live performances, and Artspace is a dance club and full-scale performance venue.