Hotel Hayden

Hotel Hayden feels like the boutique property that it is, albeit one with upscale common areas and a few nice extras. The property's decor pays homage to the Flower District location, with brightly colored headboards and furniture in the guest rooms and a stylish plant wall above the front desk in the contemporary marble lobby (renovated after our visit).

The hotel is located on West 28th Street in the heart of the Flower District, or what's left of it. Flower shops have lined the street here between Sixth and Seventh avenues for 100 years, but are now being pushed out. Although technically in Chelsea, the hotel is at the northeastern end of the neighborhood, just south of midtown and just west of the newly monikered NoMad neighborhood. The streets in front are congested with delivery trucks. Though it won't particularly appeal to club hoppers and gourmands, the location is ideal for shoppers looking for deals at nearby Macy's and business travelers with meetings in midtown or trade events at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. It's also a smart, centrally located base camp for tourists.- One-minute walk to Red Line subway trains (1, 2) on Seventh Avenue 

• Three-minute walk to Yellow Line subway trains (N, R) on Broadway
• Seven-minute walk to Penn Station and Madison Square Garden
• Seven-minute walk to Empire State Building and Herald Square
• Nine-minute walk to Macy's
• 10-minute walk to Madison Square Park
• 14-minute walk to the High Line

At 200 to 250 square feet, the standard rooms are slightly larger than average, by Manhattan standards. The rooms in the front of the hotel tend to be smaller, and are susceptible to noise from early-morning deliveries, but they have fantastic views of classic working lofts and a few landmark skyscrapers like the Metropolitan Life Tower on Madison Square Park. Rooms feature hardwood floors, writing desks, and patterned armchairs, plus extras like minibars, Argan bath products, and slippers. Electronics include 34-inch Sony flat-screens HDTVs, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. Beds feature ceiling-high padded patchwork headboards -- they're the rooms' visual centerpieces, but guests have noted that some are quite worn, with cracked and faded leather. The rooms have double-glazed windows that help diminish outside noise, but also actually open.

While this hotel has no pool or spa, it offers a decent roster of features. There is an on-site Mediterranean restaurant and lounge, Mykonos Blue Restaurant, in an industrial-chic space with exposed concrete walls, simple wood tables, and an art installation made from intricately entwined rope. The restaurant serves Greek dishes paired with Greek wine, and is open for all three meals a day. The small 19th-floor rooftop bar offers views of the downtown skyline, including One World Trade Center, and was fully renovated in 2017.Hotel Hayden's fitness and business facilities are tiny -- two computers and four exercise machines, respectively -- but both are open 24 hours. The hotel can arrange laundry or dry-cleaning service. Pets are allowed, but cost an extra fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.