New York's Top Hotels for design lovers
From minimalist urban-chic boltholes to opulent art-deco and edgy post-industrial hideaways.
There is something magical about New York City. The city positively vibrates with creative energy and frenetic activity at every hour of the day and night.
Apart from being home to some of the best shopping, food and cocktails in the world, New York also offers a spectacular array of unique, avant-garde and quirky accommodation options – from the minimalist urban-chic boltholes to opulent art-deco retreats and edgy post-industrial hideaways.
There is something for every design taste in New York, stretching from the Upper East Side to Brooklyn, and everything in between:
Here are some of our favorites:
Old-world opulence
The Lowell Hotel
Situated on the ultra-elegant Upper East Side, The Lowell is one of New York’s chicest boutique hotels. Designed by renowned interior designer Michael Smith, the space is stylish and luxurious, packed with bespoke artworks and massive displays of fresh flowers. The Lowell is a great choice for guests who value the impeccable service and discretion of a top five-star hotel. Rooms are individually decorated with sumptuous furnishings, while common areas boast an eclectic collection of works by a notable artists – from 18th-century prints, to 19th-century sculptures and 20th-century photography. Last but certainly not least, chic Marjorelle restaurant serves up some of the finest Moroccan-inspired French cuisine money can buy.
Contemporary art and comfort
The Whitby Hotel
Designed and owned by British husband-wife duo Tim and Kit Kemp of Firmdale Hotels, The Whitby describes itself as “a celebration of contemporary art and design”, featuring 86 individually designed bedrooms and suites, a leafy terrace, a book-lined drawing room and a gorgeous orangery. The elegant property is full of fun, quirky pieces of modern art including a colorful piece by Joe Tilson called Proof and 40 illuminated porcelain pots by Martha Freud, each etched with a New York landmark.
Sophisticated minimalism
The New York EDITION
EDITION hotels are known for delivering outstanding comfort, unpretentious and unobtrusive service, and understated, but sophisticated, design. The New York EDITION is no exception. Situated on Madison Square Park, steps away from the Flatiron building, it invites guests to explore New York at their own pace. Design is characteristically minimalist, punctuated with some standout pieces: furniture by the likes of Christian Liaigre and Alvaro Aalto, the spiral staircase for which EDITION hotels are famous. Throughout the hotel, a series of striking black-and-white photographs adorn the walls – some depict classic New York City scenes, while others are from Melvin Sokolsky’s iconic 1963 “Bubble” series.
Post-industrial flair
Soho House Manhattan
One of the world’s most elite private members’ clubs is renowned not only for its extensive roster of celebrity guests, but also for its era-defining design. The 23 houses around the world all reflect the unique characteristics of their location, while sharing certain common features: lavish textiles, meticulously curated furniture and art, and some of the most stunning rooftop terraces known to man. Located in a former warehouse in the Meatpacking District, Soho House Manhattan is the epitome of contemporary post-industrial chic, with 30 uniquely decorated rooms featuring hardwood floors, exposed brickwork and carved-wood beds, combined with 300 thread count cotton sheets, rainfall showers and plush velvet armchairs.
Compact practicality
citizenM New York Bowery
Compact hotels are all the rage in New York, a city where the square-meter cost of accommodation can be daunting for the average traveler. A compact hotel does exactly what it says on the tin – delivering no-frills functionality and comfort in a condensed format. citizenM New York Bowery has got the concept down to a tee – combining vibrant common spaces, including a cool 24-hour café and buzzy rooftop bar, with clean, colorful and marvelously practical rooms with barely enough room to swing a cat. The hotel is also a street art museum, featuring local graffiti artists on every floor of its interior stairwell.
Rustic industrialism
Wythe Hotel
Gentrification – or the progress of transforming a neighborhood to make it less edgy and more middle class – is a word that gets bandied about a lot these days. No New York neighborhood characterizes it more profoundly than Williamsburg, a former gritty, crime-heavy industrial district turned hipster haven. Experience this evolution first hand at the Wythe Hotel – a disused factory from 1901 converted into an ultra-trendy, industrial-chic boutique hotel. The hotel takes its legacy seriously - working hard to support and highlight the local creative community: common spaces are packed with specially commissioned street art and bespoke design pieces, while every room features original artwork from a local Brooklyn artist.
Contemporary elegance
The Williamsburg
You can’t throw a stone on Williamburg’s Wythe Avenue these days without hitting a luxury hotel but, of all the upscale properties on this now-fashionable strip, none can rival The Williamsburg in the chic stakes. Designed by Michaelis Boyd, the London-based architects behind Soho House Berlin and London’s Groucho Club, the design combines hardwood floor and exposed brickwork with textured velvet armchairs and bursts of color to create a distinctly contemporary vibe. The crowning glory is the achingly hip rooftop terrace and pool, which is undoubtedly the place to see and be seen on New York summer afternoons.
Text by Isabelle Kliger