The William

Occupying two traditional brownstones, this upscale boutique hotel opened in 2014 after extensive renovations. The buildings date back to 1924 and were once home to the eponymous Williams Club, a private alumni social club for the liberal arts school of the same name, Williams College.Common spaces are inspired by the property's historic heritage, with a touch of yesteryear in the polished interiors. The lobby, for example, has wooden floors and elegant wainscoting, a marble fireplace, tufted velvet chairs, and a wall of bookshelves lined with hardback tomes and bottles of liquors. A dark color palette adds to the gentlemen's club feel of the space. Yet another kind of atmosphere presides in the pub, which was inspired by 16th-century pubs in Stratford-upon-Avon (this is the Shakespeare Pub after all). The cozy space is awash in wood, with repurposed beams on the low ceiling, wooden wall panelling, wood floors, and gleaming wooden furnishings.Public spaces are an immense contrast to the guest rooms and hallways, which are bright and modern, vivid with energetic hues that pop against minimalist, mainly white backgrounds. The property caters to extended stays, with large suites equipped with kitchens and living areas, and some of the well-heeled clientele use it as a home base when in town for business or other matters.

The hotel has a walkable and central location three blocks from Grand Central Terminal. Bryant Park is just a five-minute walk away, as is the main branch of the New York Public Library, and there are plenty of dining options all around. Many of the city's top attractions can be reached on foot, including the Empire State Building (eight-minute walk), Times Square (10-minute walk), Rockefeller Center (14-minute walk), the Flatiron Building (18-minute walk), and Central Park (23-minute walk). Public transportation options are excellent, as the hotel is close to many subway lines, including the 4, 5, 6, 7, and the Shuttle at Grand Central. Public transportation give easy access to other parts of the city and attractions like One World Trade Center, Chinatown, and the High Line (all about 20 to 25 minutes away). Laguardia Airport is about a 25-minute drive away (depending on traffic) or 40 minutes via public transportation. JFK Airport can be reached in around 40 minutes by car or about an hour via public transit.

Rooms are tastefully and playfully decorated in bright contemporary style, with each floor awash in a different color, like bright pink, red, or vivid teal shades that contrast white walls, bedding, and furniture. The overall effect is elegant, modern, and peppy; the lively hues pop against fairly minimalist backgrounds. All rooms are well equipped with modern tech, including HD Smart TVs, sound systems, Apple TVs, iPod docks, and Nespresso machines. Wi-Fi is free, as are local and national phone calls. All of the spaces have desks, electronic safes, and under-counter mini-fridges.Rooms start out at 200 square feet (Deluxe Rooms), and even some of the lower categories have terraces and sleek kitchenettes (Deluxe Queen with Terrace) with electric stovetops and cooking/dishware. Most rooms have living areas and kitchens, while some of the larger spaces offer extras like fireplaces and dining areas, as seen in the Premium King Suite. The largest options are the two Penthouse Suites, which are 505 and 600 square feet, plus one has a 150-square-foot terrace.Modern gray bathrooms feature either shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads or walk-in rainfall showers, plus they're stocked with L'Occitane toiletries, plush robes and slippers, and hairdryers. Some of the Deluxe Room bathrooms are small, however, and don't offer much storage space. Most rooms have lovely views of the surrounding neighborhood. 

The best features at The William focus on food and drinks. The Shakespeare Pub, as if lifted straight out of Stratford-upon-Avon, is a cozy basement space clad all in wood that offers a typical British pub menu (with a NYC twist). You'll find traditional items like Scotch eggs, shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and bangers and mash alongside avocado toast, chicken and foie gras parfait, and chickpea burgers. There are plenty of ales to choose from, and the wine list is not too shabby either. A similar but slightly more extensive menu is available upstairs in the hotel's dining room, which also opens onto an outdoor space.The hotel is also home to a second outpost of the Prohibition-style speakeasy, the Raines Law Room, popular for its hushed, secretive vibe and creative, expertly-crafted cocktails. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. The atmospheric cocktail lounge is plush and polished, with fireplaces, tufted armchairs in cozy nooks, old books lining the walls, elegant patterned wallpaper, and heavy, drapey curtains for an intimate and candlelit feel. There are no fitness facilities on-site, but guests get free passes to a nearby outpost of the New York Sports Club. Reception is staffed 24/7. Wi-Fi is free throughout. There are self-service laundry facilities that are free to use.