The Wythe may not be the first boutique hotel in Williamsburg, but it’s the first to capture the neighborhood’s elusive hip factor. A 1901 cooperage near the waterfront has been topped with a three-story glass-and-aluminum addition; on its facade, a 50-foot-tall "HOTEL" sign, created from salvaged tin signage by artist Tom Fruin (of Watertower fame), becomes a neon-lit beacon at night. In many of the guest rooms, floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panorama of the Manhattan skyline or face a cool Steve Powers graffiti mural that recreates vintage Brooklyn advertising. Heated concrete floors, exposed brick, reclaimed-timber beds and witty custom wallpaper (including the Wythe Toile, inspired by local street scenes) create a rustic-industrial vibe, offset by fully plugged-in technology: A cable by the bed turns your iPhone into a surround-sound music system. The utilitarian subway-tiled bathrooms are stocked with luxurious Turkish towels and eco-conscious Goldies products created by a former Diner staffer.
Neighborhood: The Wythe Hotel is nestled among plenty of hip Williamsburg hangouts including live music venues like Brooklyn Bowl, nightclubs like Output and vintage shops like Beacon’s Closet. The shops on Bedford Avenue are just a short walk away, as is McCarren Park.
Nearby:
Brooklyn Brewery: For local suds and behind-the-scenes brewery tours
Rough Trade NYC: For live music from rock and indie groups
Sweet Chick: For modern riffs on down-home Southern grub
Time Out tip: We’d be remiss not to mention one of the borough’s most popular theaters: Nitehawk Cinema, a dine-in cinema with a full bar that shows both new releases and retro favorites. Dinner and an indie film, anyone?