The best hotels in Brooklyn

The brainchild of London-based design firm Michaelis Boyd Studio, each brick-, glass- and Corten steel-encased room boasts double-height ceilings and soaring windows for maximum cityscape exposure. Explore Williamsburg via neighborhood Tuk Tuk tour or get some exercise with a complimentary bike rental. There’s plenty of R&R back at the hotel, where you’ve got a rooftop pool, restaurant Harvey and three distinct bars to choose from. At the hotel, you can make use of a sleek bar and lounge, plus a kitchen headed up by five-time Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient Melissa O'Donnell. 

Nestled under the Brooklyn Bridge, this 10-story eco-luxury hotel offers retreat-worthy rooms outfitted with native greenery, reclaimed materials and sweeping waterfront views. Be sure to step out for a sunset beverage or two. I mean, If you're not making use of the hotel’s 4,000-square-foot rooftop, killer cocktails, and panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty, what are you doing? Exploring Brooklyn? Well, yeah okay, fair enough. We wouldn't blame you for not leaving the hotel, though. 

Buzzing with creative energy and a vibrant atmosphere, 42 Hotel is a fave for its rustic yet modern style. With 60 spacious guestrooms, each room offers elegance and first-class comfort. Within each room, you'll find a flat-screen TV, a seating area, and a coffee machine, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows so you can watch the world go by. Gorgeous and sophisticated, the hotel is perfect for romantic trips away to explore the city. Located in the trendy town of Williamsburg, you'll be on the doorstep of boutiques, trendy restaurants, and cute cafes. 

Stylish and only one train stop away from the best of Brooklyn - Little Italy, Soho, and Chinatown - the Sheraton Brooklyn hotel is in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn. It's the perfect location for a trip to explore the area. Each room has a 42 inch flat-screen TV and a coffee machine, you know, the essentials, and there's also a Starbucks in the hotel lobby, in case you don't fancy leaving the building. The rooms look a little dated, but the great location makes up for it, especially if all you're after is a place to rest your head. 

There’s a fresh face on the streets of Brooklyn and it goes by the name of Penny Williamsburg. Only opened in the summer of 2022, the Penny is fast becoming one of the coolest hotels in the neighborhood, with lush foliage designed by Brooklyn-based landscapers Verdant—including a terrace meadow—art books in every room curated by The Strand, and an in-house gallery that champions local artists. Oh, and if you’re wondering why there’s a chihuahua on the flag at the entrance—that’s the hotel’s namesake. Naturally.

This industrial-chic spot in the rapidly hipsterfying Greenpoint neighborhood is cozy and cool, with apartment-style rooms so you can live like a local. There's also, however, a sauna and a fitness center to burn off all those ramen burgers and artisanal popsicles you’ll scarf at Smorgasburg, and ample space to store the treasures you’ll snag at Brooklyn Flea. So it's like being a local, just a very luxe one. The best of both worlds. 

This former door factory is now home to 130 apartment-style rooms, each bigger than most NYC homes. So there's still a lot of doors knocking about. Designed by Brooklynite Kip Jacobs, the place is full of bright colors and quirky antiques (see: vintage cameras and binoculars adorn the coffee tables) that give you a sense of Brooklyn-living from a local. The Box House sits tucked away in northernmost-Brooklyn by the Pulaski Bridge, making for a mellow spot ideal for exploring Greenpoint and nearby Long Island City. There's a subway nearby should you want to venture elsewhere. You might be tempted, as there's views of Midtown Manhattan from certain rooms. 

Between charm-filled Boerum Hill, buzzing Downtown Brooklyn and plenty of subways, the Nu Hotel scores major points for convenience. Colors are bright and rooms are comfy and simple, with recycled hardwood floors and organic sheets. High rollers staying in the Urban Suites can kick back in their own in-room hammocks. Enjoy a free breakfast before walking across the Brooklyn Bridge or exploring the tree-lined neighborhood. If you've brought your gains on holiday with you, you can also make use of their 24-hour gym. We might take a bike ride instead (the hotel has free bike rental). 

New York’s premier modular hotel opened in Brooklyn back in October 2017. Pod Brooklyn features 249 pod-style rooms equipped with private bathrooms, high-tech amenities and oversize windows overlooking verdant courtyards and rooftops connected by glass walkways and living walls spanning the length of the property. Just a short walk from Bedford Avenue, neighborhood favorites like Parm, Fette Sau and St. Anselm are easily accessible. You're also basically on the doorstep of Williamsburg, and the East River State Park – making this an ideal spot whether you want to explore or just chill the heck out. 

A calming respite from its downtown Brooklyn surrounds, Even Hotel is located walking distance to some of the area's best neighborhoods, including Park Slope and Fort Greene. Designed for travelers’ wellness in mind, the hotel boasts a state-of-the-art, two-level fitness studio with a living green wall, in addition to fitness classes like yoga and spin. The Cork and Kale restaurant offers up fresh food items, like flatbreads, juices and healthy salads. The space has a contemporary, natural aesthetic with light flooding into the rooms and accommodations bathed in natural wood and a calming color palette of blues and beiges. Each room adheres to the Even ethos and includes an in-room fitness zone, spa showers and adjustable LED lights.

Check out views of the Statue of Liberty from the terrace, swim in the rooftop pool or play a game of pool at the billiards table. The Aloft has a very in-vogue-Brooklyn feel without Manhattan sticker shock. It's a great spot to unwind and enjoy after a day (or night) of hitting the city. When you're ready to head out though, you'll be blessed to know it’s a small walk to the subway, so Manhattan or elsewhere in Brooklyn are easily accessed. 

In the shadow of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Hotel Le Jolie lacks frills but makes up for it with great value, comfy rooms and gorgeous city views. It’s a short walk to hear music at the Knitting Factory, take a tour of Brooklyn Winery or get your bowling and fried chicken on at Brooklyn Bowl. If that's not enough, you've got the MoMA a small stroll away, along with endless great restaurants. 

There’s a taxi depot and a U-Haul shop near the Hotel Le Bleu, where Gowanus meets Park Slope. But walk just a few blocks and you’re in prime exploring territory—Prospect Park, the picturesque brownstones of Park Slope and cute restaurants and shops galore. While lacking the bells and whistles of other more centrally located Brooklyn hotels, the rooms here are stylish, spacious and—you guessed it—decorated in shades of blue. The views are stunning and the simplicity is very welcome in such a bustling city. It's a tranquil space within your adventures.