Hotel Mulberry

Situated on a quiet block across from Chinatown's Columbus Park, the Hotel Mulberry is just off the beaten path in Lower Manhattan. The style throughout is a contemporary blend of sharp decor that fuses New York with subtle Asian design elements. The stacked-stone hallway that leads to the lobby is set with little Chinese lanterns above planters, and the only public space is the hotel's compact lobby. The space is decked in bold black-and-white striped walls, sharp leather seating, custom furniture in dark shades, and subtle Asian prints on the walls. For the most part, the hotel has a quiet vibe, unperturbed by the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, and there isn't much of a social scene. Ultimately, this small hotel makes a laid-back place to crash for the night, and the majority of guests are tourist couples and families, though some business travelers also make their way here, in part drawn by the frequently reasonable rates.

Hotel Mulberry is situated in a quiet area of Manhattan's vibrant Chinatown, just across the street from Columbus Park. A short five-minute walk leads to the heart of Chinatown, meaning that while the hotel is blessedly beyond some of the neighborhood's pungent fish markets, it's close enough to walk to all of the restaurants, shops, and trendy nightlife nearby. Manhattan's lively Lower East Side and NoLiTa neighborhoods are also within a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel, and are both home to bars, galleries, shopping, and dining. Following Mulberry Street north, Little Italy is a 10-15 minute walk away as well, where there are lots of delicious old-school bakeries. There are also several subway stations within a five-minute walk, including Canal Street stations on the 6, J, Z, and R lines subway lines, while the Grand Street B and D Subway station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It will take 15 to 20 minutes to reach the World Trade Center and Battery Park by subway and it's only 20 minutes on a subway or 30 minutes in a cab to most Midtown destinations like Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Central Park. Expect at least a 40 minute taxi ride to JFK Airport, or 30 minutes to LaGuardia Airport -- though traffic is insane in New York and these drive times can take far longer. Newark Airport in New Jersey is a 40-minute car ride, though again, traffic will be unpredictable. Most airports can be reached by some combination of train and bus in a bit over an hour as an alternative.

Not having enough space is the most common complaint about hotel rooms in Manhattan -- especially Lower Manhattan -- but the rooms here fly in the face of this lament. All rooms are large by Manhattan standards, with space to stretch out that goes well beyond just having room to navigate around the bed. The look from room to room varies, but all are modern and incorporate on-trend design details without feeling particularly trendy. Bold accent walls in shades like purple and navy look sharp, while custom furniture in various wood tones looks handsome on carpeted floors. Some rooms, like the Deluxe Queen Room With City View that we visited, have elegant lounge chairs, while others employ Asian art prints to give the rooms a little local flavor. A major perk are the views in many rooms, which overlook Columbus Park or the Lower Manhattan skyline, including the World Trade Center. Single and Double Rooms as well as Suites all have a Deluxe option that offers a terrace or balcony, which are surprisingly large and furnished. Other rooms offer the classic New York City view: the back of the buildings. Despite being in Lower Manhattan, the hotel is surprisingly quiet and we didn't hear any street noise during our visit.All rooms have flat-screen TVs with DirecTV including HBO, as well as safes, irons, ironing boards, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, desks, and air-conditioning. There's also a coffeemaker with free coffee or tea, while Suites and Deluxe Rooms have Keurig machines. Contemporary bathrooms offer a decent amount of space and include shower/tub combos, generous marble vanities, sharp tile floors and walls, and high-end toiletries. We did spot a little bit of grime in the basin of some tubs, but otherwise they are clean. 

As a small three-pearl hotel in the heart of New York City, the list of amenities here isn't the longest. There is no on-site restaurant, but the hotel does offer a free vouchers for breakfast at an eatery around the corner called Mama’s Bakery. Breakfast is a mix of hot and cold items that go beyond a typical continental spread, and include eggs, French toast, pancakes, waffles, bagels, and oatmeal. A small, attractive conference room is set up in the basement and has one long table plus ergonomic rolling chairs. It includes a white-board and markers, as well as a refrigerator for guests to use. Since the hotel is across from the New York City Marriage Bureau, the Hotel Mulberry offers a group discount for wedding parties. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire hotel and the hotel's front desk is staffed around the clock.