This gorgeous new 141-room boutique may seem a bit out of place in the still-gritty Lower East Side neighborhood, which is known for its raucous late-night activity. But for well-heeled hipsters looking for downtown action, the cool design, attentive staff, fitness center, and pool combine to make this a very fine place to crash after a night out in skinny jeans.

The Hotel on Rivington is a secretive hot spot for well-heeled travelers who like their neighborhoods cool and their thread counts high. Sleek and stylish, the monied vibe doesn't exactly mesh with the Lower East Side's immigrant history, and the place is showing some serious wear and tear, but the luxurious rooms and amazing views just might merit the attitude.

The Wyndham Garden Chinatown is a modern mid-range chain hotel in the heart of bustling Chinatown. Though the hotel is a trek from traditional sights in midtown, it's within easy walking distance of trendy bars and restaurants in Chinatown and on the Lower East Side. Its 106 guest rooms are small but contemporary, and some come with outdoor terraces that look out onto the city.

Located well outside the conventional tourist zone in Chinatown -- close to Little Italy -- the 102 clean white guest rooms at the Best Western Bowery Hanbee Hotel are significantly more stylish than most hotels in its price range. And given its bright fitness center, free Wi-Fi, and free breakfast, it's an excellent pick.

Near bars and music venues in the Lower East Side (not SoHo), the 38 clean, stylish guest rooms at the Off-SoHo Suites have either shared or private access to a fully equipped kitchen. It's a fair pick, for the price, but it's rates often near those of fancier hotels on hipper blocks.

An affordable but still clean and comfortable option in the crowded-by-day, desolate-by-night, garbage-strewn heart of Chinatown (just outside the Lower East Side nightlife), this 70-room hotel doesn't have much beyond its cramped guest rooms -- no fitness center, restaurant, or Wi-Fi.

It's not in SoHo -- those swank lounges and fashion boutiques are about a 20- to 30-minute walk away. Rather, these 45 cramped but still comfortable guest rooms are on the border between the East Village and the Lower East Side, which have their own, albeit less swank, lounges and boutiques. It's OK, for the price, but consider Thompson LES.