Whether it's a buzzy new boîte or an underground gallery, most New Yorkers have a “been there, done that” attitude which makes it hard to either impress or surprise them. But sometimes even the most jaded New Yorker will be dazzled by a hotel that's been hiding in plain sight. From a beacon of cool in an old warehouse in the Meatpacking District to a former United States Army post glampsite to a storied spot known for its creative spirit, plus a few more cool hot spots, check our our list below.
Ace Hotel New York
NoMad
There was a time when the Ace Hotels were strictly a Pacific Northwest phenomenon, and eyebrows were raised when they began work on a hotel in New York’s once-neglected NoMad neighborhood. But now the Ace Hotel New York feels like the flagship of this often-imitated hip hotel chain. Not only has it put this stretch of Broadway back on the map, it’s also got the kind of multi-purpose public space — co-working space by day, after-work drinking spot in the evening, and a full-fledged nightlife venue featuring DJs or live music as the hours tick by.
The Hotel Chelsea
Chelsea
There was never any question the legendary Hotel Chelsea would eventually face a significant update; it’s good for the Chelsea, and for New York, that it fell to Sean MacPherson to do it, along with partners Ira Drukier and Richard Born. MacPherson’s other hotels around town — the Marlton, the Bowery, the Maritime and more — help usher the romance of old New York into the modern era in a way that’s nostalgic but also authentic. And in the Chelsea, in particular, there’s much to be nostalgic about.
Collective Governors Island
Governors Island
Safe to say there’s nothing else quite like it in New York City. Governors Island, of course, isn’t exactly typical of New York neighborhoods — set between Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty, a short water-taxi ride from Pier 25 in Manhattan, it’s a city park that enjoys unparalleled views and an inimitable atmosphere, one that’s impressively pastoral given that you could swim to Brooklyn from here (in principle; don’t try it).
Soho House New York
Meatpacking District
The first Soho House outside of central London opened in the early years of the new millennium, when Manhattan’s nightlife-focused Meatpacking District still felt forbiddingly wild, and when the idea of a London-style members’ club felt intimidatingly Victorian. But New Yorkers are nothing if not social, and two decades later the Soho House New York is a bona fide downtown institution.
The William Vale
Williamsburg
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.
Hero Image: The Chelsea Hotel
