24 Cool and Unusual Hotels in New York 2023

Housed in a very striking 20-story glass tower near trendy SoHo in Lower East Manhattan (just one block from the subway and within walking distance of Tribeca, Nolita, Little Italy, and the East Village), this sleek, chic and ultra-cool hotel was once voted NYC’s sexiest hotel – which given the competition is quite an accolade!

A fun and fabulous Soho hotel perfect for couples, the spacious minimalist rooms at the 4-star highly rated Hotel on Rivington offers Tempur-Pedic beds adorned with Frette linens, free WiFi, flat-screen TVs with on-demand movies and feature gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows which afford extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline.

For upgraded rooms also expect to use balconies and sumptuous Japanese-style soaking tubs. The design throughout is ultra-modern and unique.

Don’t leave without checking out the hip Mediterranean restaurant with outdoor dining (and then try some delicious European-style dishes), the funky – and very healthy – juice bar, the very trendy tequila and mescal bar which also doubles as a late-night lounge with potent cocktails created by some of the city’s leading mixologists and fabulous DJs, and the beautiful, and very Instagrammable, sky-lit atrium which is just a dream, I loved this place! 

This striking abode is one of the best hotels in the city, offering a truly unforgettable stay! 

So you’ve scoffed cucumber rolls at YO! Sushi, now you can stay at the YO! Hotel. Yes seriously. Fun, funky, and highly innovative, just like the Japanese culture that inspired it, the 4-star, highly-rated YOTEL Times Square is a great, unique NYC accommodation choice for fans of technology and design…and the young at heart.

Located in lively Times Square, the hip central hotel aims to offer a first-class hotel stay in the center of all the action without the designer price tag – think space-age minimalism combined with futuristic technology and a quirky hotel decor unlike you’ve ever seen before!

One of the most popular Midtown West hotels which is also affordable, funky cabins feature motorized beds (which transform into handy sofas), an innovative ‘techno wall’ with a flat-screen TV, a work desk with iPod connectivity, sublime city views, free WiFi, and local phone calls. As a tech fan, I couldn’t get enough of all this! 

Opt for an upgraded room and you’ll find private terraces, soaking tubs, and sofas. Some of the upgraded rooms come with incredible floor-to-ceiling windows and some seriously spectacular city views that could almost be from a movie! 

Other fun features include automated check-in kiosks, self-service amenity machines on each floor, and a fun rooftop terrace that functions as a restaurant and nightclub. Both gadget and style aficionados will equally love this unique hotel!

One of the best hotels to stay in the highly sought-after Chelsea District NYC, this hip botanical-themed hotel in Midtown Manhattan enjoys a fabulous central location in the beautiful and sought-after Flower District (the hub of the commercial floral business in Manhattan).

It’s just a short walk away from 28th St Station, Broadway, and Madison Square Gardens, so the 4-star highly rated Moxy NYC Chelsea is well-positioned for traveling all over the city as well as being close to trendy bars and more than 200 art galleries set in former factories in this hip and lively District. The artisan food hub, Chelsea Market is also close by.

The gorgeous one-of-a-kind hotel beautifully fits into the style of the neighborhood and features fabulous floral decor with a traditional twist and has quickly become one of the most popular accommodation options in the city.

I truly loved the superb design here. Modern elements and immaculate design details offset the classical botanical themes to give you a luxurious feel with subtle lighting. This is combined with upscale service which doesn’t feel too intimidating. 

The trendy bedrooms have a cool ‘New York Loft’ industrial style and the floor-to-ceiling windows offer truly incredible views of the city’s famously gasp-inducing skyline (which includes the neighboring Empire State Building)!

Sleek, glossy, stylish, and attracting trendy types by the bucket load, the uber-glamorous 4-star and exceptionally rated Standard High Line offers both sexy minimalist interiors and spectacular cityscape and river views.

One of the stand-out Greenwich Village hotels, the striking 18-story tower rises above the High Line urban park (a former elevated train track) within a stone’s throw of the Meatpacking District nightspots, the West Village, Chelsea Market, and the subway.

Greenwich Village is a superb place to base yourself in the city, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by hip bars, funky cafes and creative restaurants as well as awesome cultural venues such as Jazz Clubs and Broadway Theaters. 

As well as being the place to be seen, other stand-out features at this ultra-modern party hotel include a roof terrace with a hot tub, floor-to-ceiling windows in the retro-modern rooms, a German beer garden, rooftop crêperie (which turns into a club at night, but in the day make sure you definitely sample a few of the delicious crepes which were my favorite!), free bicycles on loan, and even cheeky exhibitionist bathrooms…definitely a hotel that will impress, it definitely did me!

Alternatively, opt for their equally as hip sister hotel which is one of the trendiest East Village hotels.

This is one of the most endearing and unique places to stay in New York and in a city like the Big Apple that’s saying something! Housed in a converted factory, the now very polished 4-star and exceptionally rated Box Hotel has suitably very creative industrial-chic interiors.

The unique hotel is adorned with artwork commissioned by local artists and other great design features such as hardwood floors and pendant lamps and is cute and unique – I was definitely a fan! 

Most of the rooms are actually more like apartments – just extremely visually striking ones – and the loft rooms and 1- to 2-bedroom apartments have fully equipped kitchens, cozy living rooms, and pull-out couches.

There are funky suite-like bedrooms also available and all benefit from free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffee-making facilities, balconies offering some superb city views as well as a communal gym, a dry sauna, and a steam room.

As well as being a very hipster-friendly abode, its location is pretty funky too, it’s based just across the road from Pulaski Bridge in Brooklyn, only a 9-minute walk from the Greenpoint Avenue subway station and 6 miles from the Empire State Building.

If you locate yourself here, as well as easy access to Manhattan, expect to be surrounded by incredible waterfront views, fun brewhouses and plenty of hipster-friendly bars, clubs and restaurants. 

There’s even a shuttle service to the subway (which takes you easily into Manhattan) in a 1970s checker cab – nice!

This is a gorgeous, highly rated and very popular 4-star boutique hotel which mixes “contemporary luxury with bohemian chic.”

Set in an art-industrial landmark hotel in the enterally popular SoHo district, I was a huge fan of their interiors were are very hip with hardwood floors, contemporary photography, glossy walnut accents, and Mid-century modern furnishings.

There is plenty of attention to detail in the guest rooms at Hotel Hugo too. High-end amenities such as flatscreen TVs, iPod docking stations, luxury bathrobes, and Argan bath toiletries compliment the custom mahogany details, hardwood floors and classic New York-style furnishings.

The SoHo District is an exceptionally sought-after district and highlights here include independent boutique shopping, trendy bars, upscale restaurants and scenery including atmospheric cobblestone streets and beautiful cast-iron facades. 

One of my favourite highlights included the incredible glass-enclosed rooftop bar which serves up tasty cocktails and tacos, with panoramic river and city views – this is a beautiful place to party in the city! 

Other great features include an exercise room, their onsite Italian restaurant where tables spill out onto Greenwich Street sidewalk, Café Hugo which serves seasonal farm-to-table fare, and its close proximity to many of the city’s most sought-after sights.

It’s a fun place for both singles and couples and take your camera with this one, the views are just outstanding! 

We all know that the best things come in small packages and the 4-star exceptionally rated Arlo SoHo is a perfect example of this!

It’s billed as a micro-boutique hotel and set in one of the trendiest locations in town, just two blocks from the boutique stores and trendy bars and restaurants of SoHo, central Manhattan, and within easy walking distance of other fabulous hipster-friendly neighborhoods such as Tribeca and Greenwich Village.

One of the best hotels in Soho Manhattan, inside is seriously cute! The cabin-style rooms are thoughtfully – and uniquely – laid out and combine contemporary furniture such as solid-walnut alcove beds, with handy efficient storage spaces and a range of playful touches (including some great tech – make sure you try it out before leaving)! Upgraded rooms feature large outdoor terraces.

My other hotel highlights include supping on cocktail and craft beers on the very hip rooftop bar, sinking into a sheepskin-clad sofa or ergonomic armchair in the onsite library, or feasting on fine international fayre in the 24-hour artisan pantry Bodega.

Alternatively, Arlo has another fabulous boutique hotel located in the city that also has an equally funky design the NoMad neighborhood hotel version – so you’ve got a tough choice! 

Friendly, and unique but with an edge, staying at the highly regarded and much-loved budget boutique The Jane is an experience in itself.

Located on the edge of the fun and hipster-friendly Meatpacking District‘s nightlife hub (and only six blocks from High Line Park and a subway stop) the vintage-style boutique hotel has a quirky, time-warp feel that features rooms endearingly inspired by old-fashioned train cabins.

One of the most popular Greenwich Village hotels, in 1912 the hotel sheltered survivors of the Titanic, in the 1920s it became a haven for sailors, and then it was lovingly restored on its centennial in 2008.

Each compact cabin/room comes with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi and iPod docks and all rooms have either Hudson River views or terraces.

One of the stand-out West Village hotels, larger upgraded rooms are also available and there’s a popular onsite restaurant which is a local’s favorite for brunch, and – my personal favorite – an opulent Victorian-style lobby bar that also doubles as a hipster hotspot. 

The decor is exceptionally unique with authentic old-school bellhops, maids in black and white uniforms, carved moose heads, and stuffed monkeys adorned with fez hats! The result is easily one of the most intriguing and coolest hotels in the city, so expect an unforgettable stay! 

The 4-star exceptionally rated Ludlow Hotel is located on a lively street right in the heart of one of the trendiest neighborhoods in NYC.

The Lower East Side of Manhattan has risen over the years from a slum to an urban center of arts, boutique shopping, and dining and is only a minute’s walk from the subway and 2 miles from the Empire State Building. It’s a trendy place but with an edge.

Easily one of the hippest hotels in NYC and one of the best Lower East Side hotels, it reflects the hip urban environment that surrounds it and feels like a beat poet just left the room whenever you walk in!

Sophisticated artwork, vintage furnishings, four poster beds, dark woods and boutique details such as Moroccan Rose scented toiletries make it a cocoon-like haven to spend some time.

Other of my favorite hotel highlights include attentive service and the delicious French-inspired fare on offer at the in-house restaurant ‘Dirty French’ which is quite the popular spot in town.

Throw in lashings of faux fur, beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows, rainfall showers, mosaic bathrooms, sublime city views, fabulous mod cons, and a trendy industrial chic design, and you have a one-of-a-kind New York experience…this place is a dream! 

One of the best hotels to stay in Times Square, this is a seriously fun but new stylish hotel that features a colorful but relaxed island-inspired design but with a location in the heart of the city.

Times Square is one of the most sought-after centrally located spots in the city and with good reason – it’s crammed full of theaters, lively bars, restaurants and other great attractions, it’s not called the ‘The Crossroads of the World’ for nothing! 

Expect plenty of whimsical touches at this outstanding hotel and decor at the wonderful 4-star highly rated Margaritaville Resort includes fun surfboards, palm trees, parasols, and – my personal favorite – an outdoor heated swimming pool which offers great views over Times Square, so quite the perfect party place!

You may expect the hotel to be perhaps located on a beach and not in the middle of the city, but that just adds to the fun and their tongue-in-cheek ethos.

Other onsite amenities include no less than five restaurants and bars, a retail store, a handy fitness center (to get yourself beach, or pool, ready of course!) a laundry/valet service, and all that coupled with a ‘no worries’ vibe which makes the Margaritaville a truly unique place to stay in the city! 

A hotel perfect for Gen Zs and Millennials, this upbeat and colorful hotel epitomizes its buzzy Times Square surroundings.

Of course, its Times Square location is a huge draw in itself, here you’ll be at the center of all the action and surrounded by incredible bars, restaurants, theaters and blingy bright lights galore.

The style at the 4-star highly rated M Social Hotel Times Square is contemporary with creative, quirky details, and the lobby and other shared spaces offer some wow-inducing modern design and features floor-to-ceiling glass windows for some of the best views in Times Square. 

Guest rooms are bright, modern with fabulous city views (and a choice of direction) and modern amenities. 

Other of my favorite highlights include the cutely named Beast & Butterflies restaurant and bar which serves up world cuisine, wine and signature drinks (make sure you try the Butterfly Kisses cocktail!) all while offering fabulous city views and the impressive heated outdoor terrace where you can dine alfresco or again sip on cocktails.

Just like its name suggests, there’s definitely an emphasis on being social here so not only will you have instant access to centrally located attractions and gorgeous ultra-modern surroundings…you may just make some new friends too!

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s buzzing restaurant and art gallery-strewn Chelsea district (a 6-minute walk from High Line Park and a 10-minute walk from a subway station), the ultra-chic and highly rated 4-star trendy hotel rocks a modern minimalist style.

With more than a nod to Japanese culture, all 56 rooms at the 4-star highly rated Selina Chelsea are very zen-like and feature wooden platform beds, an ultra-modern design you won’t see elsewhere in the city, trendy bean bag chairs, iPads (which are loaded with handy recommendations for the best local galleries, restaurants, and shops), fabulous city views and even great design details like handmade denim bathrobes. I seriously didn’t want to leave! 

Opt for a more expensive room in this gorgeous hip hotel and you’ll even find a sumptuous Japanese-style soaking tub. On the rooftop, the trendy outdoor pool with incredible views is a real treat in summer.

During the winter months this transitions into the concept restaurant Arriba – genius!

Easily one of the best hotels to lay your head in Chelsea, this is a sleek, chic and wonderfully unique urban oasis. Instagrammers and fans of very unique interior design will love this place.

This hugely popular Dutch hotel group brings its own brand of affordable, luxury cool to the city. Funky and edgy with a liberal use of color in the decor, you’ll find this fabulous 4-star and exceptionally rated Manhattan hotel to be anything but boring.

CitizenM‘s location is equally superb too and is based on the corner of Broadway just an 8-minute walk to Times Square and an 11-minute walk to Central Park, so you’ll be at the centre of all the action. 

All of the bright, stylish and modern guest rooms feature free movies, Wi-Fi, a rain shower, huge windows, a comfy king-sized bed, and – my favorite – a fun MoodPad gadget – a touch-screen device that allows guests to control the room’s impressive array of electronics!

I love that Citizen M’s have a funky but laid-back and friendly vibe and this hotel is no different, I think you won’t regret basing yourself here.

Just make sure you don’t leave without grabbing a cocktail or two while drooling over the gorgeous cityscape views from their wonderful rooftop bar or trying out their breathtaking 20th-floor gym – this is easily one of the coolest – and most colorful – places to stay in New York!

With a clever play on words, this is a place where you will really feel ‘made’ if you stay! Nestled amongst all the fabulous bars and eateries of the ultra-hip NoMad neighborhood, Manhattan – only a 2-minute walk to the nearest subway station and a 7-minute walk from the Empire State Building – is this ultra-hip hotel.

I loved the decor at the highly-rated 4-star Made Hotel and it’s definitely suitably fabulous for this part of town and features raw-material interiors including industrial-chic concrete ceilings and lashings of real wood embellished with oversized floor-to-ceiling windows (offering superb views of either the NoMad neighborhood or the Empire State Building), bohemian fabrics and striking bronze fixtures.

The gorgeous and ultra-chic rooms feature free Wi-Fi, smart radios, flat-screen TVs, and oak platform beds that provide hidden storage.

This is a hotel chock full of delectable highlights including a basement restaurant serving up seasonal food and an onsite coffee shop which also doubles as a hangout for NoMad’s creative set.

Arguably though, the biggest stand-out feature is the killer rooftop cocktail bar which serves up tiki-style drinks with a large helping of panoramic city views which includes the Empire State Building – pure trendsetting bliss!

The 4-star, highly rated, and very fashionable Dream Hotel Downtown is nothing short of spectacular. Located in a fabulous location between the Meatpacking District and Chelsea in Downtown Manhattan (close to a subway and a 4-minute walk from The High Line).

It’s a sort of luxury liner/maritime-themed haven in the middle of all the action with amazing amenities, spectacular views and a glass-bottomed infinity pool that floats above the hotel lobby – which gives both swimmers and arriving guests utterly unique views! 

With fantasy-themed hotel rooms, the upscale loft-style rooms are spacious and luxurious with very cute porthole windows offering amazing views out over the city (one of my favorite design details), and they also feature huge flat-screen TVs, luxurious linens, and free WiFi. Upgraded rooms offer HDTV projectors and surround-sound systems, and suites have landscaped terraces with hot tubs – pure bliss!

Other ‘dreamy’ hotel highlights include a rooftop lounge, a fusion restaurant serving Japanese and French cuisines, boutique shopping in the lobby, a 24-hour fitness center, and a beach (and even a beach club!) surrounding that amazing pool.

Staying at this trendy hotel was a wonderful immersive treat of an experience that truly was very dreamlike! Easily one of the stand-out and very Instagrammable hotels in the lively Meatpacking District.

The future is here and you’ll find it at the 4-star highly rated Henn na Hotel in midtown Manhattan. Part of the Hudson Yards revival (New York’s newest neighborhood), the tech-themed hotel combines modern comforts and whimsical fun with plenty of interesting and forward-thinking innovation.

I especially loved that the quirky NYC hotel decor includes an animatronic dinosaur at the check-in counter in the lobby, yes really! Get the video ready on your iPhone folks, your Instagram/Tik Tok followers are going to love this one! 

Located near Midtown Manhattan you’ll be based near everything you want to see in Manhattan – Times Square, Broadway, Fifth Avenue, Radio City, the Empire State Building and more – and there are plenty of close transportation options for further destinations.

The modern Japanese style-inspired rooms also have futuristic touches such as LG Styler closets that freshen up clothing, futon conditioners to regulate mattress temperature and tablets in all the rooms for guests to use. The Gosuke Akimitsu restaurant serves tasty breakfasts, lunches and dinners in genuine Japanese style.

This is a great reasonably priced option for those who want a good base on Manhatten Island combined with very unique features! Both kids, big kids and Japanophiles of course, will be huge fans, I promise! 

The W Hotels enjoy a reputation as being one of the most prestigious hotel brands around, famous for being a great place to party with beautiful people as well as its innovative and ultra-modern upscale interiors.

Well, this central, 4-star highly-rated Times Square located version is one of the most popular hotels in the city and once you visit, you’ll see why. 

Furnished to an exceptional standard, at this luxurious and funky Manhattan hotel (which is located just 2 minutes from a subway) you can expect slightly futuristic, sleek, and chic interiors with opulent extras such as plush robes, luxury high-thread-count linens, sublime city Times Square views and cutting-edge technology available at your fingertips. It’s a place I promise you won’t forget in a hurry.

As well as being located in the center of all the action, also expect some exceptional amenities such as a gym, a well-regarded Mexican and sushi restaurant, a swish but relaxing lounge where you can kick back and take in the dulcet tones of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Dizzy Gillespie, and a pretty swanky cocktail bar. Oh, and pets are welcome too! Fabulous!

Alternatively, book into its cool sister hotel which is one of the best Union Square hotels in Manhattan. 

Perfectly in keeping with Lower East Side’s hipster credentials is this new and gorgeous boutique-style hotel catered towards local and visiting hipsters.

The location of at the 4-star highly rated Hotel 50 Bowery is buzzing Chinatown on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where you’ll be surrounded by a huge array of tasty restaurants and cafes, as well as bubble tea shops and shops galore. 

I loved the trendy industrial chic design, think exposed Edison light bulbs, concrete pillars, and lashings of fashionable exposed brick juxtaposed with stylish touches such as high-quality furniture and plenty of colorful modern artwork.

Cute fortune-style cookies and iced Chinese tea is served in the lobby – a nod to its world-famous surrounding neighborhood! 

The guest rooms are gorgeous, comfortable, spacious, and impeccably designed with some quirky features and impressive floor-to-ceiling windows offering fabulous city views. 

There are some other great stand-out features too including a second-floor permanent exhibition from the Museum of Chinese in America called The Heart of Chinatown, a trendy rooftop bar offering more fine city views, and a handy 24/7 gym for all those fitness bunnies.

As well as being a unique and gorgeous boutique-style hotel, its close proximity to many iconic Manhattan attractions makes it even more enticing! 

Everyone seems to love this place and I did too! Located in historic Tribeca the richest area in Manhattan (and close to SoHo, the Hudson River, and a subway), the 4-star and exceptionally rated Roxy Hotel is literally like being in a dream for me…a fusion of 1960’s inspired décor and the magic of the movies with meticulous attention to detail and unrivaled service.

It also has fun-themed hotel rooms. My room, for example, was like being on the set of Mad Men, a brown and gold luxury boudoir with vintage style furnishings, kitsch 1960’s radio, and Marshall Amp.

The trendy cocktail lounge, funky restaurant, and chic lobby bar feature vintage leather booths and quirky accessories sat in a warm space with exposed original brick walls and marble floors.

The Django is a trendy basement jazz bar with authentic prohibition vibes and there was a wealth of live acts and vinyl-spinning DJs providing tunes and entertainment for the whole time I was there.

By far my favorite thing though is the Roxy Cinema…an intimate nod to old-style Hollywood glamour where you can watch a curated selection of old classics and new independent flicks whilst sipping craft cocktails and reveling in the ultra-creative vibes of the place! I honestly wanted to move in and stay in this wonderful retro bubble forever – easily one of the best Tribeca hotels! 

The stunning and much sought-after location right on Central Park is a great setting for this eco, nature and sustainability-focused hotel.

This rustic-chic 5-star exceptionally rated 1 Hotel Central Park really is something quite special and is a great choice for hip, eco-conscious travelers. In fact – like me – you probably won’t want to leave this gorgeous, zen-like cocoon. 

The three-storey vertical garden, lobby farmstand, reclaimed wood furniture, calming earthy neutral tones, hemp and organic cotton linens and moss on bathroom walls all bring the feeling of the natural world into the heart of the city and reflect its lush surroundings, the green lung of the city. 

The stunning – and handily pet-friendly – rooms have beautiful comfortable cushioned window seats with views of the Park, live-edge furniture, yoga mats and even a shower timer (I told you it was eco-friendly!), alongside more conventional amenities like free wireless and Bluetooth speakers.

The Jams popular farm-to-table restaurant by Chef Jonathan Waxman, who is recognized as the “Best Chef in New York City” by the James Beard Foundation, serves up a seasonal menu with plenty of vegan and healthy options, as well as fabulous cocktails, and a very popular weekend brunch.

This unique and chic 5-star exceptionally rated boutique hotel with a slightly retro vibe (but in an upscale way) is located in one of the most sought-after spots in the city.

Sitting amongst all the trendy bars and restaurants in Manhattan’s buzzing SoHo District Sixty Soho offers a stylish zen-like retreat away from all the lively goings on in the streets.

Base yourself in the SoHo District and you’ll find yourself surrounded by art galleries, upscale boutiques and charming cobblestone streets.

The chic hotel is a great choice for those who are fans of unique design but also love their comforts too. The decor is sleek and contemporary and some rooms offer large and wonderful – and very romantic – four-poster beds.

All the rooms pride themselves on offering a 300-thread count, custom-designed linens and sumptuous bedding. Expect luxury robes and C.O. Bigelow Apothecary bath toiletries.

Wandering around it was easy to see the rest of the hotel is pretty special too and stand-out amenities include a trendy lounge, an onsite gym, exceptional 24-hour customer service, and a seasonal rooftop bar beloved by both visitors and locals and offers gorgeous city views.

The hotel’s signature restaurant Bistrot Leo is French-influenced. A charming and popular spot with hotel visitors and locals alike where you can dine on your fine European-style cuisine on the patio. I loved it! 

This is a fun and funky option for the boho chic crowd, who want to stay somewhere a little different but with upscale amenities too.

The 4-star highly-rated Sixty LES is a striking place with plenty of bright, colorful and quirky details to keep things interesting. There’s a pop culture theme throughout the hotel with Jim Walrod design features and the iconic photographs of urban landscapes by Lee Friedlander.

The unique-looking and fairly spacious guest rooms have a fun retro design with sleek dark furniture and luxury bedding. It’s a style I don’t think you’ll forget in a hurry! 

Some have impressive floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces with incredible sweeping views of the city. You can also expect handy – and very tasty – gourmet snacks, luxury toiletries, flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations.

Other hotel highlights include a fabulous rooftop swimming pool, a trendy nightclub called Make Believe, a fine sushi restaurant, and that perennial New York favorite, a beer garden! Which was a personal favorite spot of mine.

The LES in Sixty LES stands for Lower East Side, the eclectic Manhattan neighborhood filled with music venues, independent shops and trendy bars.

Alternatively, you can explore nearby Little Italy, Greenwich Village or hop on a train at the 2nd Avenue station to explore the rest of the city.