Gansevoort Meatpacking District

A Meatpacking District pioneer, the Gansevoort is now known for its tri-level rooftop pool-lounge playgrounds at two NYC locations. The lobby features four 18-foot light boxes that change color throughout the evening, while the rooms have just received a glam makeover that brought fuchsia, plum and metallic accents and Studio 54-inspired photography that plays on the hotel’s reputation as a party hub. But the real draw is floor-to-ceiling windows offering incredible views of the Meatpacking District and beyond; unfortunately, the glass is not quite thick enough to keep out noise from the street (even on the eighth floor) and rooms can be drafty in winter. Still, the mini balconies, plush feather beds atop excellent mattresses and Cutler toiletries in the marble bathrooms counterbalance these minor gripes. Spending some time on the roof is a must in any season: The garden has a heated pool (with underwater music) that is enclosed in winter, a bar (Plunge) and, of course, a 360-degree panorama.