The Canal Park Inn

With its cream-painted brick, Georgian windows, and red-awning facade, The Canal Park Inn sits in polite contrast to west Canal Street’s more industrial surrounds, sharing a handsome residential row. The building, formerly a playhouse, remains one of New York’s few surviving examples of early 19th Century Federalist architecture. The four-story walk-up unfolds like a rambling old house with a nostalgic narrative referencing the building's rich history -- from suites named after families who first resided there, to theatrical remnants of its more recent playhouse days. Framed posters of past play productions adorn the entrance foyer, and guests check in at the “Tickets” counter in the lobby-cum-cafe, where breakfast is served amongst playhouse props. There’s an old-fashioned popcorn machine, a giant reel of tear-off theater tickets, stage spotlights hanging overhead, and framed play reviews decorating the walls. The Canal Park Inn certainly has personality, however it’s far from perfect. Mismatched decor, exposed electrical cords and worn wooden floors can be part of the rustic charm to some guests, or off-putting to others.

The Canal Park Inn is located on high-traffic Canal Street bordering two cool cosmopolitan haunts: Tribeca and SoHo. It's also just one block from Hudson River Park. Its far west setting seems a little isolated, but 10 to 25 minutes on foot puts museums, Downtown landmarks, and hip neighborhoods in good proximity. It's a 20- to 25-minute walk to the New Museum, the 9/11 Memorial, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the High Line. Guests can also walk to the dining hubs of Little Italy and Chinatown (in 20 minutes or less) for an array of restaurants and bars. The nearest subway is located two blocks away (a five-minute walk) where the 1 and 2 trains travel up and downtown, providing access to many other landmarks in good time. Traveling south via subway, it’s a 20-minute trip to Wall Street, and 17 minutes to Battery Park -- the ferry pick-up and drop-off point for the Statue of Liberty. Traveling north to Times Square will take around 20 minutes via the subway, and 35 minutes to Central Park. John F. Kennedy International Airport is a 40-minute drive away, and LaGuardia Airport is around 25 minutes by car, without traffic. 

The Canal Park Inn offers four guest rooms with varying layouts and they’re all bright and cheerful, but not exactly sleek or uniform. Mismatched antique and IKEA-ish furniture populates pine floors with area rugs underfoot. Some rooms feature bare brick walls with fireplaces and exposed timber beams, and they each offer some form of cooking equipment. Aside from the odd vintage movie print, theatrical references subside in each of the four rooms, where decor takes on a more rustic farmhouse feel. Layouts range from the traditional Kennedy Room, to the lofty, apartment-like Batby Suite -- with its eat-in kitchen, second bedroom, washer/dryer, combustion fireplace and private outdoor deck. The Denot and Sinnot Suites have cozy sitting rooms and separate kitchenette areas. All rooms feature air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, irons, ironing boards, and plenty of hangers (albeit mismatched) in the closets. Kitchenettes include microwaves, refrigerators, utensils, and coffee- and-tea-making facilities. All bathrooms have clawfoot bathtubs, hairdryers, and free individual toiletries, but cracks appear around some of the fixtures, and towels are mostly mismatched. The Inn’s eco policy means towels are only changed every three or four days. Despite the triple-glazed windows, some guests find streetside rooms rather noisy, so light sleepers should opt for the more restful Batby Suite or the Kennedy Room at the rear. 

Aside from the free Wi-Fi and breakfast, features are sparse overall, even for a budget property. Breakfast is served at the downstairs Waffle Iron Cafe, offering a selection of hot and cold fixed menu options. They feature freshly made waffles, eggs, granola, fruit and yogurt. Drinks on offer include juice, hot coffee and a good selection of teas. Note that breakfast is not available on Sundays.