Aloft Brooklyn

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. Aloft Brooklyn—the chain's second NYC link—shares some facilities with a next-door Sheraton (another Starwood sibling), including an indoor pool. 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. While effort has been made to give the public spaces a dynamic, contemporary feel, with pod-shaped chairs, colored lights, a pool table and scrolling news ticker in the lobby-lounge area, some guests may find the round-the-clock nightclub vibe a little jarring. A sleek, open-plan convenience store, re:fuel, dispenses coffee, sandwiches and snacks 24 hours a day, while free, hotel-wide Wi-Fi completes the good-value package. Up on the roof, a terrace bar stages live music and DJ sets. Rooms: 176.