Cambria Hotel New York - Chelsea

Cambria makes a stylish first impression. Its lobby is a mix of wood, industrial-style lighting, leather furniture, and a big piece of art that pays homage to the Flower Market that it towers over. The polished concrete walls and floors give it an industrial ambience, but the ultra-modern, designer-quality furniture and rustic wood accents warm it up nicely. Floor-to-ceiling windows and bright white fabric covering overhead lighting illuminate the space. A large flat-screen TV is mounted on one wall next to the two corner PCs that serve as the business center. It’s a space that invites lingering, but guests are typically on the move attending to business or on sightseeing ventures. Later, they're more likely to be seen taking in the views from the rooftop bar and lounge, or in the cozy ground-floor bistro and bar, with its high-back chairs, wood-panel walls, and small lights suspended from the ceiling.

The Cambria Hotel is located in the heart of Chelsea’s Flower District, a safe and convenient area for both business travelers and tourists. There are several other hotels on the street, and while there are no super-trendy clubs or upscale restaurants in the immediate area, there are several small eateries and coffee spots, including a Starbuck’s, and a 24-hour McDonald’s nearby. Korea Town, which is packed with excellent Korean restaurants, is a seven-minute walk north. The nearest subway station is a four-minute walk from the hotel. Penn Station is a seven-minute walk from the hotel. Many popular attractions are within a seven- to 10-minute walk, including Madison Square Garden, the Empire State Building, Macy’s, and the Flatiron Building at Madison Square Park. By subway, Times Square is a 10-minute ride, and Central Park is about a 20-minute ride. The Javits Convention Center is a 10- to 15-minute taxi ride. JFK International Airport is approximately 55 minutes by subway or 45 to 60 minutes by taxi or shuttle depending on traffic. Travel times to LaGuardia International Airport are about 50 to 60 minutes by subway and 40 to 50 minutes by taxi or airport bus.

The 135 fairly spacious rooms at Cambria Hotel & Suites New York-Chelsea are tastefully decorated in an urbane style, with glossy dark-wood furniture that includes wardrobes, desks, platform beds, dressers, and nightstands. Padded white leather headboards, mirrors, and wall-mounted flat screen TVs are also framed in wood. White is a used throughout the decor -- seen in the bright-white bedding and duvets, white walls, and the glass tops on the desks, dressers, side tables, and nightstands. Some rooms have beige-upholstered sleeper sofas fronting gray accent walls. Floors are a lighter shade of laminate wood, and the black-out drapes are solid gray. Ottomans are gray leather and desk chairs are black leather. Colorful artwork adds splashes of brightness on some walls. Standard Rooms come in king or double queen bed options. Bathrooms are nicely decorated but fairly small, even by New York City standards. Small, square white ceramic vanities have adjacent, wall-mounted glass shelves to place toiletries. Some rooms have shower/tub combos, but the Standard King we saw had a spacious walk-in shower with clear glass doors and distinctive white tile walls framing it. Floors are dark grayish brown tile. All rooms come with electronic safes, room service, voice mail, microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Views of the city skyline vary by floor and room location. While generally quiet, room-to-room noise can be heard at times, especially in adjoining rooms.

This modern, 18-story hotel packs in a lot for a mid-range property in the heart of New York City. The bistro-style restaurant serves an a la carte breakfast (not included in room rates) and dinner. It houses a bar, and bar service also is available at the rooftop terrace that has several tables and chairs and offers sweeping views of the city, all the way to the Freedom Tower. Guests can use the rooftop even when the bar is closed. A few tables and chairs also are on the street level just outside the hotel entrance. The fitness center has a few cardio and weight-training machines, and free weights. Two meeting rooms for up to 25 people are available, and the 24-hour business center has two PCs with Internet access. Free hot chocolate is available in the lobby, where the reception desk is staffed 24/7 and has a safe deposit box for guests. Self-service guest laundry facilities are on site, and valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available. The hotel has an arrangement with a garage that’s about one block away to offer guests discounted parking rates. The hotel also offers valet parking for a slight additional fee.