Lyric

The Q&A Residential Hotel occupies four floors of the iconic 66-story 70 Pine Street, which was once the third-tallest building in the world. The building’s Art Deco public areas are grand and ornate, and the original marble entrance hall is tricked out with elegant lighting. The hotel itself is in stark contrast to its historic shell. The reception area is a cool affair, and there’s a simple approach to modern decor throughout, with details including gray walls, pale wood floors, and slouchy sofas. The hotel is part of the Furnished Quarters brand, specializing in smart Manhattan apartments housed in luxury doorman buildings. A stay here is more like renting a friend’s apartment than a hotel stay. The live-like-a-local approach extends to grocery deliveries, self-service laundry, discounts at local restaurants, and welcoming pets (though there are some restrictions and you will be charged an additional cleaning fee). The hotel draws couples, as well as families and business travelers, many staying for two to three weeks.

The Q&A Residential Hotel is in the center of Lower Manhattan’s Financial District. It’s just a few blocks from Wall Street sights like the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, and Trinity Church. The Financial District's narrow streets and alleys hearken back to another era, but their labyrinthine layout can be difficult to navigate. The building fronts a narrow block and shares its location with lots of office buildings and several shops. By day, the area is exceptionally busy with office workers and hordes of sightseers. But late at night, the Financial District shuts down almost completely and it can be eerily quiet -- though perfectly safe. Travelers looking for nightlife will need to search elsewhere. For nearby eateries, head for cobblestoned Stone Street or a quick cab ride to the center of Chinatown. It’s around a 15-minute walk to the World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial. The hotel is convenient for anyone doing business downtown, and leisure travelers have easy access to Battery Park and its lovely promenade, as well as the ferries to Ellis Island, Staten Island, and the Statue of Liberty. Those wanting to explore the main tourist sites like Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, and the Broadway theater district will need to travel uptown -- luckily almost every major subway line converges on or near Wall Street. JFK Airport is around a 40-minute drive or just over an hour by AirTrain, while it can take at least an hour to reach Laguardia Airport by taxi.

The apartment-style rooms at the Q&A Residential are large; almost three times the size of the average Manhattan hotel room, in fact. Entry-level Studio Apartments are 500 square feet (46 square meters), while at the top end, the One-Bedroom Apartments with Office are a huge 1,400 square feet (130 square meters). Each unit is outfitted with a modern-minimalist style that includes pale wood floors, gray hues, and clean lines. Character comes courtesy of the subtle features and artwork that reference each room’s namesake (they're all named after famous inventors) -- like funky blackboard-style wallpaper with math equations, or blueprints of flying machines. These apartments are less hotel room, more city pad, and include seating areas, workspaces, and kitchens outfitted with full-size fridges, microwaves, ovens, stovetops, coffeemakers, and dishwashers. Amenities like air-conditioning, smart TVs, and free Wi-Fi come standard. Modern monochrome bathrooms are fully tiled and have a shower/tub combo. Hairdryers and toiletries are provided. Rooms mainly differ in their size; some even come with an office. There are also two-bedroom units for families. Minor downsides include a lack of natural light (due to the length of the rooms and the surrounding skyscrapers) and some previous guests also comment on infrequent housekeeping.

The hotel has use of a couple of cool on-site features -- but it doesn’t own them. The Black Fox is a cute Australian coffee shop with warehouse-like decor that serves up great brunches and daytime drinks. Hotel guests have free use of the members-only fitness center -- a 21,000-square-foot space with exposed brick walls housing the latest cardio equipment, weights, and treatment rooms. Landry service and self-service laundry (both at a fee) is available. There’s a simple 24-hour business center and lounge with a few PCs, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.