Downtown New York hotels: Find accommodation in NYC

Nine Orchard occupies the iconic Jarmulowsky Bank, a deeply historic building restored using its original 1912 blueprints. The Neo-Renaissance architecture has been brought back to life with care: vaulted ceilings, pink Tennessee marble floors and Botticino marble walls create a backdrop for bold artworks and patterned banquettes.  It’s a hotel that works just as well for coffee, dinner or drinks as it does for an overnight stay. It’s also a magnet for celebrities and tastemakers—on my way out, I clocked model Lucky Blue Smith and his social-media-star wife Nara Smith gliding in to check in—proof, if any were needed, that Nine Orchard is one heck of a swish place to stay.  Why should you stay at Nine Orchard? Let me count the reasons. Firstly, the location is spot on: just off the beaten path in the Lower East Side, with an indie edge and some of the city’s best boutiques on the doorstep. The design is genuinely swoon-worthy, and the dining options deliver, with the ground-floor Swan Room calling for a cocktail once evening rolls around.  What are the rooms like at Nine Orchard?  There are 113 rooms across six categories, starting with classic and studio spaces with queen or king-size beds. At the top end, there are two-bedroom suites ideal for families, plus a rooftop terrace suite and the aptly named Supreme View Suite, with skyline vistas.  While the public spaces lean into opulent maximalism, the bedrooms feel calm and relaxed, drawing on mid-century modern influences....

Staking its claim as New York City’s first-ever sleeper cabin hotel, Now Now is designed solely for solo travelers. So, if, like me, you’re experiencing the city for the first time, you’re getting your needs met with bare necessities (don’t worry, there’s no compromise on quality or cleanliness) in a setting that combines the coziness of European train cabins and the simplicity of a Japanese capsule hotel. Looking beyond the rooms, Now Now NoHo fosters a sense of camaraderie and, through communal wellness classes, pop-ups with local businesses and an ‘IRL connections board’, it offers guests the opportunity to meet and mingle at their own pace. Most importantly, the hotel itself is found on one of Manhattan’s most popular locations, on the historic Bowery, so you’re always just moments from the shops, restaurants and museums that are essential for the city’s newest visitors. Why stay at Now Now? Now Now is the seventh hotel from experiential real estate developers Dovetail + Co, whose mission is to build design-oriented properties, with the ethos of being ‘designed for curious minds and creative spirits’. The property itself was originally built as a lodging house in 1917, and has lived several lives since then, including time as a tavern and a dry goods store. Inside, you’re greeted by a selection of self-check-in machines and a cool, young, local concierge team. The reception is also the central hub for socializing, so it’s where you’d meet up with other visitors, should...

With its hulking concrete frame towering over NYC’s elevated park, The Standard, High Line is one hell of a building. And though it’s one I’ve walked past frequently, it wasn’t until my recent stay that I passed through the canary yellow revolving doors and could truly appreciate this iconic hotel.  Why stay at The Standard, High Line?  If you’re looking for sweeping city vistas, this hotel more than delivers. Every single one of its 338 rooms features a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Manhattan or the mighty Hudson River—sometimes both, as I was lucky enough to discover in my Studio Suite.  Nestled in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, steps away from Little Island, Chelsea Market and (of course) the High Line itself, this is a cool alternative to the saturated hotels of Midtown if you’re in New York for the first time. The Hotel debuted way back in 2009, and other than a couple of dings in the room’s furniture, it still feels pretty fresh.  What are the rooms like at The Standard, High Line?  The hotel offers a wide variety of room types, and whether you need a room with two double beds, a standard queen room, a deluxe king or a suite, there are plenty of options. However, no matter which you choose, you’ll be treated to floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows with sweeping city views.  Expect comfortable beds with Italian sheets, fluffy down pillows and cozy, moody lighting. Wood paneling around the bed area makes for an elevated and warm design...

Prior to 2023, a cursory Google search for the phrase “FiDi hotel” would bring up plentiful options, from luxury outfits (The Beekman, The Wall Street) to your standard hotel-chain fare (Radissons, Holiday Inns and the like). But it wasn’t until March of that year that a singular hotel took on that SEO search as its official name, with the 131-room FiDi Hotel aiming to be “a welcome harbor for business travelers and holidaymakers in New York City’s Financial District.”  And welcome it is: Though similarly priced, the FiDi Hotel is immediately substantially cooler than the DoubleTree by Hilton rooted right across the street, with friendly, recommendation-ready staffers at the concierge desk and some rogue disco balls pepping up the industrial rawness of the lobby space. (Though there’s little in the way of seating downstairs, but more on that in a bit.) Designed by the New York-based firm Kroesser + Strat Design, the Stone Street building itself features a multi-colored, Piet Mondrian-inspired glass façade, hinting at the modern sleekness highlighted within.  Ranging from 151-square-foot Superior Queen accommodations to 283-square-foot Executive King suites, each guest room is edgily dressed with wood-motif wallpaper, brass light fixtures and bold black-and-white artwork, along with thoughtfully luxe touches like SMEG mini-fridges, high-fashion art books and sumptuous white linens. Though clean and spacious, the bathrooms are slightly less than tranquil with their dizzying,...

Is the role of a hotel to shield its guests from the outside world or render them participants to the goings-on of the city they get to temporarily call home? If you’re leaning towards the former, then the Greenwich Hotel, the eight-story luxury abode near Tribeca that's partly owned by actor Robert De Niro, is where you’ll want to stay while in town.  Nestled on the corner of North Moore Street and Greenwich Street right by the West Side Highway, the building boasts 73 rooms, some of which overlook an interior courtyard, 11 suites and two duplex penthouses that are aptly named The Greenwich and The North Moore.  On a recent visit while staying in a luxurious suite on the second floor, I was struck by one aspect of the experience: I forgot I was in New York. When looking out the window and into the courtyard, I noticed the absence of the very things that make the city what it is on a visual level. There were no buildings, no people rushing down the street and all was… quiet?  Despite the disconnect from its surroundings, the hotel offers a premium experience when it comes to your actual stay: the beautiful bathroom, complete with a shower and a bath, was stocked with Red Flower products developed specifically for the hotel and the bed, by British company Savoir, was particularly comfortable.  But there’s more: guests receive a complimentary newspaper every morning and the mini bar is filled with non-alcoholic drinks and snacks to be enjoyed completely gratis (keep in mind...

Walking out of your room at the Beekman to see its nine-story Victorian pyramidal atrium immediately places you back to the time of authors Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain and Ralph Waldo Emerson—who frequented the space when it was an annex for the New York Mercantile Library in the mid 1800s—and newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst, who once had an office in the building.  This architectural gem with eight tiered galleries served as the atrium to one of Manhattan’s very first skyscrapers—Temple Court—when it was built in 1881. Today, you can still see its original cast iron railings and balustrades, gorgeous millwork around its doorways and encaustic tiles featuring reds, browns and golds thanks to its successful restoration in 2016 by Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects. Finally in 2024, the gorgeous atrium was made an interior NYC landmark. The atrium sure is the star of the show at the Beekman, but it’s not the only one. The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel as of 2022, offers a cozy but stylish stay with 287 rooms to book out (from studios to Queen, Deluxe and King suites with and without terraces as well as two turret penthouses), a 24-hour gym and an incredibly comfortable lobby that greets you with its own luxurious branded scent, Beekman 1802! Fresh Air. It boasts two highly-rated restaurants—Le Gratin by Chef Daniel Boulud and Temple Court by Tom Collichio—and the stunning Bar Room under the atrium. On the ninth floor, my studio suite faced an inner courtyard so the...

Michelin recently started awarding hotels with Michelin Keys, awarding one Key to this East Village spot. Just south of busy Houston Street, The Ludlow Hotel, is a trendy spot to spend a night (or a few.)  During my stay, I was greeted by the friendly doorman and walked into the large lobby, which boasts a fireplace and plenty of spots to sit and a small bar and an outdoor terrace that is perfect for enjoying a meal, sipping on a drink or relaxing.  My room had a balcony and sweeping views of Lower Manhattan as well as a loveseat sofa, coffee table, TV, desk and king-size bed. The room was on the smaller side, which made it feel a bit cramped at times, but that’s to be expected in most New York City hotels. That being said, the large floor-to-ceiling windows next to the bed let in lots of natural light.  The location of the hotel was the real selling point for me. No matter what direction you walk in, you’ll find an iconic NYC restaurant or bar—making it pretty easy to find somewhere good to eat whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  The Ludlow Hotel is a great stay for visitors to the city who want to experience downtown Manhattan and explore areas rich in food and shopping.  Neighborhood: Right off of Houston Street, The Ludlow Hotel is near tons of shops, restaurants and bars in East Village. It’s also a short walk from Soho. Nearby: Prince Street Pizza, Rubirosa, Katz’s Delicatessen and Russ & Daughters: For iconic NYC food.  Tompkins Square Park: For a glimpse...

Coming off of the 1 train at Canal Street, there isn’t much to see at first. Most of the area is enveloped in green construction walls flanked by the busy highway entryway to I-78. But a statuesque building rises above the fray, here to elevate your sights inside and out. Welcome to the Modernhaus SoHo. Located on the southwest corner of Soho, ModernHaus SoHo is a boutique hotel that blends art and design. Formerly The James New York - Soho, the 114-room property underwent an extensive year-and-a-half renovation in 2020, before reopening with a new name and new look. The result is a work of art, inside and out. Called a “tribute to Bauhaus,” the hotel houses a staggering amount of modern and contemporary art pulled from the collection of Thor Equities Group founder and owner of Modernhaus SoHo, Jack J. Sitt. The concrete and golden lobby greets guests with three color-splashed portraits from Harland Miller. A towering statue from Kaws titled “Good Intentions” observes the outdoor terrace of the hotel's restaurant, Twenty Three Grand. A-larger-than-life figure of a cartoonish boy from Javier Calleja stands by the elevator. With bulging eyes and a cheeky smile, the character holds a sign that reads “No Art Here.” Staying in the Skyline King Studio, the rooms mirror the sophistication of Soho with an edge. Elements of dark wood, concrete and tan leather detail the interior, giving the room a modernist feel. But the crown jewel of the room goes to the views themselves. Two...

If you're looking to spend a night at an East Village location with sweeping views, The Standard delivers. Reflecting its neighborhood, the hotel doubles down on quirky and artsy decor, from a trippy carpet installation in the lobby to an infinity mirror in the elevator to the abstract lip pillow on each bed. Despite the bustling Cooper Square area, the hotel rooms are quiet for a refreshing night of sleep; there's a set of earplugs in each room just in case you need a little more silence. Thanks to huge windows, you'll be able to fall asleep gazing at the city's glittering lights, then wake up to sunrise from the east. The transfixing city skyline will likely provide enough entertainment, but if you need more, you'll find a large TV in the room, too. The Standard took over the East Village property in 2011 and redesigned its guestrooms in 2023, refreshing carpets, lighting, and furniture. A second-floor library where guests can relax and work is currently closed as it undergoes renovation. Neighborhood Located steps away from St. Marks Place, this hotel provides easy access to The Cooper Union, New York University, Parsons School of Design, and the New School. It's not just a college town, though. You're steps from the East Village (Kolkata Chai Co. is a must-drink), close to The Strand where you can spend hours browsing books, and not far from all the shops of Soho. Nearby 1. McSorley’s Old Ale House: For a pint or two at one of NYC’s oldest bars. 2. Public Theater: For...

The Meatpacking District has managed to achieve the New York impossible: It’s stayed consistently cool for decades, ever since the west-side neighborhood traded slaughterhouses for stylish designer boutiques. And arguably no MePa destination is as indicative of that trendy  makeover as The Gansevoort, an area centerpiece since 2004. The Gansevoort hasn’t lost its cool since the days Carrie B. and co. were stopping across cobblestones in Manolos, but the downtown property did give things a sleek top-to-bottom spiff-up last year, a four-year-long $40 million renovation well-timed to celebrate the hotel’s big 20th anniversary. And though it still harbors its Cosmopolitan-loving, party-girl ways, it’s looking like the Gansevoort is finally growing up: The 186 guest rooms have been given a refined refresh, with the loft-like interiors (some with 20-foot-high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling fireplaces, dramatically large bookcases and double balconies overlooking the Hudson), contemporary-art touches (Banksy coffee-table books, Mick Rock photography) and tech-y amenities — Google Nest Hubs, Mirror home gyms and the like — of the ideal New York apartment none of us can actually afford. (Rooms range from a very comfortable 250 square feet to two-bedroom suits and the duplex penthouse, an elegantly minimalist 1,700-square-foot sprawl of of brushed concrete walls, slate floors and panoramic views.) Outside of your main dwellings, the property’s public areas have also been glamorously...