Soho Grand Hotel

The Soho Grand, which pioneered the downtown hotel migration in 1996, is fresh from a revamp. The original designer, Bill Sofield, recently introduced new custom pieces to the elegant brown-and-beige guest rooms, including travel-trunk-inspired minibars and natty houndstooth tuxedo chairs. Bathrooms feature charming wallpaper by the late illustrator Saul Steinberg, whose work was a longtime staple of The New Yorker, and products by NYC's Malin+Goetz. The pet-friendly property welcomes cats and dogs of all sizes at no extra charge; endearingly, you can request a goldfish for the duration of your stay. Guests can also borrow vintage-inspired bicycles in the warmer months to explore the city; after your exertions, claim a lounger in the hotel's seasonal outdoor bar/eatery The Yard.