Exposed brick walls covered in local artwork, 13-foot ceilings sporting original wood beams, floor-to-ceiling factory windows offering panoramic skyline views—the Wythe Hotel is a Brooklyn real estate wet dream. Alas, unless you’re one of the tech bros who have transformed the Williamsburg waterfront into one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, you likely can’t afford those kind of industrial-chic digs full-time, but the Wythe allows you to at least pretend that this is your not-so-humble abode for a few days.
Directly across the street from Brooklyn Brewery, all of that quintessentially North Brooklyn cool is housed inside a former early-20th-century cooperage, which was turned into a 69-room boutique hotel in 2012. Though the factory feel is still evident, what with the cast-iron pipework and poured concrete floors in the guest rooms—that flooring is heated, FYI, but could use a few area rugs not only for comfort but also sound absorption—it’s been glammed up for the gentrified ‘hood.
Cheery Chateau Toile wallpaper custom-designed by artist Dan Funderburgh cover the walls, the reclaimed-timber beds are piled with plush Downlite pillows, and buttery leather sectionals are set beneath large glass chandeliers in the North 7th Loft that I stayed in, a spacious corner suite with a generous minibar area (stocked with BonBon’s viral Swedish candies and bottles of No. 80 Whiskey, the hotel’s exclusive batch with neighbor NY Distilling Co.) and a double-vanity bathroom with Davines toiletries and a deep pedestal tub. That kind of casual luxury is what made Wythe one of only three Brooklyn-based hotels awarded a coveted Michelin Key in 2024, alongside the Ace Hotel Brooklyn and the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.
Beyond your guest room, the rest of the hotel continues that easygoing elegance. The recently redesigned main lobby now features a series of mid-century booths, which sees both hotel guests and neighborhood locals pop in to take work calls or unwind with a glass of Bordeaux ushered over from the on-property restaurant, Le Crocodile.
Speaking of, that glowing, ground-level brasserie serves up fine French standards—such as steak frites, trout “almondine” and a stand-out roast chicken—from chefs Jake Leiber and Aidan O'Neal, the team behind nearby brunch favorite Chez Ma Tante as well as Bar Blondeau, the hotel bar located up on the sixth floor. Pop up during “Sunset Hour” from 5pm to 7pm for $11 cocktails like the Martini Blonde; otherwise, you can, of course, find a spread of natural wines and small plates—this is Williamsburg, after all.
Neighborhood
The Wythe Hotel is nestled among plenty of Williamsburg’s relic “hipster” hangouts—including live music venues like National Sawdust and Brooklyn Bowl, the vintage shops lining Bedford Avenue and that picnic favorite McCarren Park—as well as retail markers of its ongoing urban renewal, from Nike to Chanel.
Nearby
- Smorgasburg: For open-air eats from Dough Doughnuts, Federoff’s Roast Pork and more.
- The Second City: For fresh improv and sketches from a legendary comedy institution
- Olfactory: For fully customized fragrances just around the corner from the hotel
Time Out tip
The Wythe doesn’t have a gym, but if you need to get a bench session in during your stay, guests are entitled to free access to Brooklyn Athletic Club, a five-minute walk away.