Although its industrial surroundings are somewhat desolate, Ravel, a complete rebuild of an exisiting motel, occupies a prime spot on the waterfront beside the Queensboro Bridge. Perhaps in keeping with its former incarnation, owner Ravi Patel has given it a vaguely 1960s feel—the lobby is decked out with cream leatherette seating and silver-bubble ceiling lights. It's also equipped with a ‘virtual’ wine bar: buy a card at the front desk and use it at a self-serve bank of more than 18 wines. An 8,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant-bar has dazzling views of Midtown and hosts New York-themed film screenings, DJ nights and other events. The majority of the rooms, many of which have private balconies, also face the river— although a Con-Edison training facility below is less than picturesque. While the room decor isn’t anything special (touches such as orange faux-ostrich headboards and spacious limestone and granite bathrooms announce it as boutique), like any rental in New York, you get more bang for your buck in the outer boroughs—the open-plan superior rooms are a whopping 550 square feet. Rooms 63.
Neighborhood cultural institutions like MoMA PS1, a growing collection of restaurants and bars and reasonable rates have made Long Island City a more attractive base for visitors. Long Island City hotels offer one thing you can’t get in Manhattan: a view of the skyline from the other side of the river. In fact, the neighborhood boasts some of the best rooms with a view in the city.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Long Island City, Queens, New York
