Aloft Harlem

Starwood Hotels' fast-expanding Aloft brand pitches to a young, design-conscious traveler whose budget might not stretch to fit a room at one of the company's W properties. Launched in December 2010, Aloft Harlem was the first hotel to open in the area since the early ’60s. The public spaces combine high-tech amenities (a pair of iMacs, in addition to free hotel-wide Wi-Fi) with colorful, contemporary decor (a scrolling news ticker above the elevators, a pool table in the lobby-lounge). The industrial-edged w xyz bar hosts DJs and karaoke nights, while a slick, open-plan convenience store, re:fuel, dispenses coffee, sandwiches and snacks around the clock. A minimalist approach mitigates tight space in the bedrooms—despite 275-square-foot dimensions, standard quarters are outfitted with king-size beds (dressed with deluxe cotton sheets and recycled-cork headboards) and 42-inch flat-screen TVs, while bathrooms feature oversize rainfall showerheads and products created by W collaborator Bliss Spa.