Ace Hotel New York

Walking into Ace Hotel New York feels like strolling into a Seattle coffee shop: Everyone treats you like a regular, and informality is the norm. Ace Hotel New York was established as the fourth outpost of this funky, Seattle-based mini-chain started in 1999 by a group of Emerald City natives. The landmarked 1904 building, formerly the Hotel Breslin, has been completely renovated and is now furnished with meticulously curated objects, some actually found at flea markets and others vintage reproductions. Many of the building's original details, including mosaic-tiled floors and coffered ceilings in the lobby, have been preserved. Along with the vintage-inspired furnishings, the hotel commissioned more than 70 artists to create unique artwork for the rooms and public spaces, including graffiti sticker art by Michael Anderson in the lobby. The giant lobby, with the Breslin Bar tucked in the back, is filled with cozy leather couches, plaid upholstered chairs, and fur throws. By day the atmosphere is Seattle coffee shop, with rows of bespectacled faces peeking over Apple laptops at the long, library-style tables. By night it's a hip neighborhood bar, with clusters of guests and New Yorkers chilling out and sipping cocktails into the wee hours.Some may be put off by the aesthetic, or think it's too contrived. But unlike many downtown boutique hotels, the overall vibe never feels too-cool-for-school exclusionary. Guests are a mix of tourists, locals on staycations, and dedicated brand enthusiasts. 

The somewhat gritty Flatiron location on 29th and Broadway isn't half as stylish as the hotel itself, but that may be the point. "Ace is in the center of Manhattan," says the Ace Survival Guide which guests will find in each room. That's only sort of accurate. Broadway and 29th Street is one of the northwestern blocks of Flatiron, a distinctly commercial area. Counterfeit watch, jewelry, and fragrance emporiums crowd this stretch of Broadway. To some critics, the gritty location is a head-scratcher: despite having solid restaurant options in all directions, and although Madison Square Park is just a few blocks away, this is certainly not among the most picturesque parts of town. Even if the immediate surroundings are lackluster, it is true that the hotel is central to loads of other great spots -- though guests will generally want to hop in a cab or on the subway to get to them. Taxis are easy to find outside the front door, and one block away (under a minute’s walk) is the 28th Street station on the R/W subway line, which travel up and down town. Walkable highlights include Madison Square Park (seven minutes), Eataly (seven minutes) the Empire State Building (six minutes), The Flatiron Building (eight minutes), Madison Square Garden (eight minutes) Bryant Park (13 minutes), and Times Square which can be reached in under 20 minutes. Depending on traffic, it's about a 50-minute drive to J.F.K. International Airport or 27 minutes to LaGuardia Airport. 

The Ace's rooms are heavy on design. The effect is an unimaginably cool and cozy college dorm room. The aesthetic mixes vintage with modern, honoring the historic building and its New York surroundings while injecting an appropriate dose of Northwest flavor. The walls feature custom art by contemporary artists, making each room different. The brainy design takes a cue from the building's industrial surroundings; accents like garment racks for example, are made of repurposed plumbing pipes fitted with black metal shelves. Dark, industrial notes aside, funky elements like turntables, Gibson guitars, and cozy Pendleton wool bed covers made in Portland, Oregon, nod to the hotel's roots and the grunge music that originated in that region. All rooms include a flat-screen TV with cable channels, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning. Mini Rooms have just enough space for the bed, while Bunk Bed Rooms are a better choice for two people on a budget. The bigger the room, the higher price. For ecological reasons, the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are in large pump dispensers, like at a health club -- but it's high-quality stuff from Rudy’s Barbershop. Most rooms have showers, but a few have shower/tub combos or soaking tubs. Most rooms overlook the city streets, but some have smaller windows and feel dark. 

The Ace's features appeal to both guests and locals. The meat-centric Breslin Bar & Dining Room happens to be a favorite (especially amongst NY carnivores), with a cozy English pub-like vibe and hearty dishes. The second on-site dining spot, John Dory Oyster Bar, is equally as popular, with a classy, coastal-influenced bistro feel. Two huge globe aquariums dedicated to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans flank the bar, and the menu is driven by English-influenced seafood and, of course, oysters. Located on the Broadway side of the hotel, No. 7 serves classic submarine sandwiches for on-the-go snacks. Twenty-four hour room service is available. The expansive library-style lobby doubles as a popular laptop-friendly workspace that’s open to the public, and hosts DJs on the weekends. It shares the space with an active, cozy lobby bar hidden up the back. Stumptown Coffee Roasters cafe, serving good espresso coffee, is located off the lobby. There’s an in-house underground gym. A curated shop off of the lobby sells high end and hip clothes, jewelry, and toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout.