The Bryant Park Hotel

Between the black-clad doormen wearing earpieces, the padded red-leather walls, and red-lacquer counters, it's clear from the start that the Bryant Park Hotel is meant to be a hip place. The hotel's proximity to the Garment District makes it a popular choice for fashion industry jet-setters -- but not families. Its sexy, intimate feel within an iconic art deco building (it feels like Batman could swoop down at any second) makes the Bryant Park Hotel one of the most distinctive hotels in New York.

On the whole, service here is especially prompt. The concierge (known as an "Entertainment Director" in Bryant Park Hotel lingo) was super-friendly. When I asked about a spa, he recommended a nearby nail salon for cheap mani-pedis, knowing exactly when it opened and closed. He recommended a great place for breakfast, told me about the best bagels in the neighborhood, and was even able to specify that none were kosher. When I asked about a good club for dancing, he suggested a new club in Chelsea, and gave two concierge cards that would allow me to cut the line. "It's open till 6 a.m., so you can party all night."

The hotel offers a nightly turn-down service, which includes a gourmet valerian-and-orange chocolate left on each pillow.

The hotel is located in the center of Midtown at 40 W. 40th St., on the southeastern edge of Bryant Park. Bryant Park is home to the New York Public Library, and hosts a free outdoor movie series in the summer, as well as an outdoor ice-skating rink in the winter. The B, D, F, M, and 7 subway lines all stop right at the park, and nearly every other subway line in the city can be found within a few blocks in either direction on 42nd Street.

Rooms come with white walls, black trim, and eggplant carpeting and leather headboards, and provide a decent amount of space (300 square feet, compared with most rooms in nearby Times Square that are lucky to be 200!). There are two top-of-the-line, 700 square feet Raymond Hood suites, which face north and south with terraces and have fantastic views of Bryant Park and the Empire State Building, respectively.

The rooms are very clean and modern, and have completely bare walls, save for the 32-inch high-def LG flat-screen TV. Other electronics include a Bose wave radio and a iHome docking station with fantastic sound. Wi-Fi is free in every room.

In the south-facing rooms on the lower floors, there’s not much of a view, just a design studio across the way and a brick wall. With my window open I heard the constant drone of an HVAC in an apartment below. In the summertime this would definitely be a drag for anyone wanting fresh air.

Each room comes with a stylish platform bed, backed by a padded leather headboard and topped with an eggplant-colored decorative roll pillow. The sheets and thin, quilted down comforter felt high-quality, and everything was extremely clean.

Bathrooms are outfitted in a combination of white and tan marble, with a rectangular minimalist sink, a large tub and a wonderful rain showerhead. The hotel offers toiletries from the English luxury brand Molton Brown, as well as bathrobes and slippers.

There’s a fairly extensive minibar, and a 24-hour room-service menu available from Koi, but perhaps the most notable feature is the pleasure chest, which has sex toys for women, men, and couples.

The fitness center is on the fifth floor of the hotel. It’s a bit on the small side, but it's functional; with treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and plenty of free weights. There is no spa on site, though the concierge is happy to arrange for treatments at guests' convenience.

The hotel is very small, but there’s a screening room in the basement that is rented out for special events. For example, Allure magazine screened a Julia Roberts movie to celebrate her appearance on one of their covers.

The hotel rarely gets children, and doesn't really go out of its way to cater to them (for instance, cribs are not available in rooms). Given the hip scene in both Koi and Célon Lounge & Bar, the minimalist red leather décor, and the sex toys in every room, the hotel certainly isn’t ideal for families.

The hotel has just one restaurant, Koi, and one bar, Célon Lounge & Bar, but both are very popular in their own right. High-end sushi restaurant Koi, which opened in 2005, is the New York outpost of the original L.A. celebrity magnet. While some critics find it to be a bit over-hyped, what's undeniable is that the restaurant, just off the hotel's small lobby, is stunningly designed and due to popularity, loud at night.

New York City has three nearby airports: JFK, La Guardia, and Newark (in New Jersey). Flying into JFK or LaGuardia is typically easiest and the least time-consuming. From JFK, it's a (one-hour) $45 flat-rate taxi ride to anywhere in Manhattan. From LaGuardia, it's about a (30-minute) $40 metered cab ride to Midtown Manhattan. Rides from Newark cost at least $40 (plus tolls), and can take more than 90 minutes. Don't forget to tip your driver 15-25 percent.

To save some cash, try the group shuttles that are available at all three airports for about $14/person. For more information on the shuttles, go to Super Shuttle or New York Airport Service. You can also take public transit from any of the airports for as little as $7 per person, but travel can take up to two hours and involve a lot of lugging bags up and down stairs.