Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York

This eclectically stylish hotel is hopping with energy, thanks to its young clientele, including locals who frequent Mr. Purple, the rooftop bar that's one of the Lower East Side's trendiest. It’s crowded all week and packed on weekends, when even getting in the elevator requires patience. The huge lobby on the 14th floor is bright and open, with banks of floor-to-ceiling windows offering fantastic skyline views. Modern artwork and contemporary furniture in vibrant colors is scattered throughout the industrial-chic space, with reclaimed wood, red brick walls, and polished concrete floors. There's a steady flow of people here practically around-the-clock, sitting on high-back stools at long tables with their laptops, or sipping coffee or a glass of wine.  

The Hotel Indigo is located on bustling Ludlow Street. It’s a safe area that stays busy all night, with lots of restaurants and bars mere steps away. A subway station is one block from the hotel. While a few sights of interest are within walking distance, iconic attractions such as Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building require taking the subway or a cab.

• Three-minute walk to the Second Avenue subway station 
• Six-minute walk to The Tenement Museum
• Nine-minute walk to New Museum 
• 20 minutes to 9/11 Memorial via subway 
• 20 minutes to Empire State Building via subway 
• 22 minutes to Times Square via subway
• 23 minutes to Rockefeller Center via subway
• 26 minutes to Central Park via subway
• 25-minute drive to LaGuardia International Airport (more with traffic)
• 40-minute drive to JFK International Airport (more with traffic) 
• 42-minute drive to Newark Airport (more with traffic) 

Guest rooms at Hotel Indigo are streamline and chic -- and considerably spacious for a Manhattan hotel. The most notable detail of their decor is the large, colorful wall murals created by graffiti artist Lee Quiñones, which reflect the hotel’s art-centric approach. Smart neutral tones are accented by just the right touch of bright, on-trend hues, like muted orange bed bolsters and turquoise hardware on fun dressers that recollect ice cream carts. 

There's also also 300 thread count Frette linens on beds, hardwood floors, seating areas, and desks with ergonomic chairs. Standard amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs, minibars with items from local purveyors like Dean & Deluca, Keurig coffeemakers, robes, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are also a generous size, with upscale, patterned floor tiles, roomy walk-in showers with rainfall showerheads, and attractive, marble-top vanities that hold CO Bigelow products. Units on the higher floors typically feature sweeping views of the New York skyline. On the downside, some past guests have noted noise from the streets and from Mr. Purple. 

This hotel offers an excellent lineup of features, and topping the list is its wildly popular rooftop bar, Mr. Purple. The lounge has indoor and outdoor seating areas that offer sweeping views of the city skyline, plus there's a small, heated lap pool. Lunch and dinner are served daily, with a menu that includes creative salads, flatbreads, sliders, and other comfort food staples. There's also a lobby cafe with to-go breakfast items and coffee, as well as wine, beer, and snacks. 

Another space with great views is the 24-hour business center, which has multiple computers and printers, and the hotel has one meeting room that can accommodate up to 45 people. The 24-hour fitness center has free weights and several pieces of cardio equipment, and personal trainers are available upon request for a fee. Valet dry cleaning and laundry are among the concierge services. There's no on-site parking, but a public garage is next door. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and pets are welcome with a surcharge.