Staying in the best hotels near the Bowery means positioning yourself on New York’s own Skid Row—aka a thoroughfare that has gracefully transitioned from gritty into Manhattan’s premier destination for top art shows, shopping in NYC, and concerts in NYC. Perched in a prime location bordering Chinatown, Little Italy, and SoHo, the Bowery mutates and changes daily; you never know what you may find while exploring or out for a drink at one of the best Lower East Side bars. Just make sure you’re returning to one of these haute hotels at the end of the night.
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Steps from all of the uber-trendy Bowery hotspots, The Ludlow maintains such an effortless Lower East Side cool, the trendy-set crave it as a distinctive, quirky place to land. For those traveling alone, the hotel offers small but plush single-person occupancy studio rooms. Larger groups can take up temporary residency in one of the terrace rooms, lofts, or the luxe 17th floor penthouse. Whatever the room, make sure to head downstairs to sceney, modern eatery Dirty French.
Sixty LES bills itself as “luxury amid haute minimalism,” and the description fits. The Lower East Side hotel has a sharp, modern aesthetic, but adds cutting-edge flare like glowing headboard and pool adorned in Andy Warhol’s face. Don’t miss Blue Ribbon Sushi for some of the best Japanese izakaya in the city.
The Bowery’s namesake hotel embodies the ethos of the neighborhood: classic, stylish, and a little bit cooler than you.Swathed in rich velvets, crisp white linens, with complimentary bicycles and bellboys in topcoats, the Bowery Hotel offers an atmosphere that rivals the old stalwart hotels of uptown, but in a much younger, trendier hood. Steps from New York’s hottest restaurants like The Smile, Momofuku Ko, and Bar Primi, the Bowery epitomizes a classic locale with a youthful spirit.
The Standard East Village is the sometimes forgotten about sister hotel to its West Side counterpart, the Standard High Line. But this arty Cooper Square spot shouldn’t be overlooked. Located in a glass and steel 21 story tower breaking through an original tenement-style storefront, most guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows for sprawling views of neighborhood, wedged between Washington Square Park and Tompkins Square Park.
This funky hotel is located on a quiet street, tucked away from SoHo’s shops and cafes, but still just steps from all the action. The stylish common areas are festooned with sculptures and paintings as well as rich velvet fabrics and stark white walls. But the crown jewel is perhaps the 99-seat screening room that hosts a film club (independent flicks, dinner and cocktails) on Sunday nights for its guests.
The Mercer might very well be New York City’s crown jewel of boutique hotels -- the lobby alone is like a living room for the famous and well-dressed. Sister to Hollywood’s fabled Chateau Marmont, the Mercer holds within its own legends and reputation. Both stylish and relaxed, its well-appointed main lobby acts as a living room for SoHo’s chicest frequenters, and guests are welcome to sit back with an espresso or snack to read, relax, and take everything in.
The Roxy Hotel announces itself to the neighborhood with a bright lit marquis emblazoned with its name, evoking the nostalgia for the famed theatre and 90s club. In 2015, this newcomer hotel opened with a distinct point of view, keeping the Art Deco vibe alive within the dramatic old New York atrium. Mission accomplished. Equipped with the hip Blackstones Salon, Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee, and a complimentary pet goldfish for every guest, travelers might be content to never leave this temporary Tribeca homebase.
NoMo SoHo is another resident of the cobbled Crosby Street, but this time, with a twist: The hotel’s design is based on the 1946 Jean Cocteau French film “La Belle et la Bete.” Off scren this translates to bold graphics, murals, stark blue accents, and dramatic views of the city.
A wacky former lodging house for WWII veterans, this affordable hotel is imbued with old Bowery history. But don’t worry, thanks to a major restoration, everything else is new. Communal bathrooms are lined with Italian marble sinks and showers as well as heated floors, and complimentary toiletries. This kooky hotel has a haunting vibe, but prime for the budget traveler. Pearl & Ash, a popular oyster spot, lives in the kitchen space downstairs.
As far as lower Manhattan’s micro-neighborhoods go, Nolita is one of the most charming and least pretentious; the mid-century Nolitan Hotel captures the laid back vibe. Guest rooms of all shapes and sizes have plenty of light and views of the Williamsburg Bridge. Communal spaces have deep leather couches to sink into with a book or to rest your feet with a cocktail after a day of exploring the restaurant and boutique-filled hood.
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