Top 20 cool and unusual hotels in New York 2021

Overflowing with architectural treasures, atmospheric neighborhoods, trendy inventive restaurants and swish hip boutiques – the city that never sleeps is easily one of the most exciting places to visit on the planet. With a diverse population of larger-than-life characters, a raw energy like no other city in the world and a vigorous passion for art and design, many hotels in the Big Apple are nothing short of spectacular! If you’re planning a trip to the USA capital and want to find a unique and creative place to stay, here are our collective favorite cool and unusual hotels in New York (in no particular order). We promise that all the accommodation options on our list put an extra effort into making your NYC stay far more interesting, fun and hip, whatever your budget may be…

The Box Hotel – a beautiful cool hidden gem offering an authentic Brooklyn NYC experience

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 cool industrial-chic interiors.

The hotel is adorned with artwork commissioned by local artists and other great design features such as hardwood floors and pendant lamps. 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 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 steam room. As well as being a super cool New York abode, it’s 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 and if things can’t get much cooler there’s even a shuttle service to the subway (which takes you easily into Manhattan) in a 1970s checker cab – not bad at all!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Box Hotel

Hotel on Rivington – a sleek, glass high-rise hotel and one of the sexiest hotels in NYC

Housed in a 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 New York hotel was once voted NYC’s sexiest hotels – which given the competition is quite an accolade!

The spacious minimalist rooms at the 4 star highly rated Hotel on Rivington offer 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 make use of balconies and sumptuous Japanese-style soaking tubs. 

Don’t leave without checking out the hip Mediterranean restaurant with outdoor dining, the funky juice bar, the very cool tequila and mescal bar which also doubles as a late-night lounge with potent cocktails and DJs and the beautiful sky-lit atrium. A hotel that will most definitely leave a lasting impression!

• To book, check prices or availability for Hotel on Rivington

The Paper Factory – a unique, cool and creative industrial-chic hotel housed in a former paper factory

Located just two stops from Midtown Manhattan, this 4-star and exceptionally rated hip New York boutique hotel started life as a paper factory and celebrates, rather than hides, its industrial past.

 The Paper Factory – located in a funky part of Long Island City, only a 2-minute walk to the subway – was opened by the developer Gal Sela in December 2013 and the trendy New York accommodation features reclaimed wood ceilings, bare cement floors and unique furnishings like floor lamps constructed from plumbing pipes, kitsch British phone booths in the lobby and 1950s-style teal-green mini-fridges in the bedrooms.

To add to the coolness, you’ll also find a lively Mediterranean-Latin fusion restaurant and even the fashionable nightspot Mundo, which relocated from Astoria last November.

• To book, check prices or availability for The Paper Factory New York

YOTEL New York – cool and futuristic Japanese style in central Manhattan

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 which inspired it, highly rated YOTEL 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 New York 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!

Cabins feature motorized beds (which transform into sofas), a ‘techno wall’ with a flat-screen TV, a work desk with iPod connectivity, sublime city views, free WiFi and local phone calls. Opt for an upgraded room and you’ll find private terraces, soaking tubs, and sofas. Other fun features include automated check-in kiosks, self-service amenity machines on each floor, and fun a rooftop terrace that functions as a restaurant and nightclub. Both gadget and style aficionados will equally love this New York hotel!

• To book, check prices or availability for YOTEL New York

Arlo SoHo – an ultra-hip micro boutique hotel and one of the best places to stay in New York

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 stores and restaurants of SoHo, central Manhattan, and within an easy walking distance of other fabulous neighborhoods such as Tribeca and Greenwich Village.

The cabin-style rooms are thoughtfully – and uniquely – laid out and combines contemporary furniture such as solid-walnut alcove beds, with handy efficient storage spaces and a range of playful touches (including some great tech)! Upgraded rooms feature large outdoor terraces. Other hotel highlights include supping on cocktail and craft beers on the very cool 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 is another fabulous boutique hotel in New York also has an equally funky and cool NoMad neighborhood hotel version – a tough choice! 

• To book, check prices or availability for Arlo SoHO or Arlo NoMad

Standard High Line – views, glamour, and partying with the beautiful people! 

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

Other stand-out features at this wonderful modern New York 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), free bicycles on loan, and even cheeky exhibitionist bathrooms! A hotel to impress! 

• To book, check prices or availability for The Standard Highline or The Standard East Village

Moxy NYC Chelsea – a popular trendy central hotel which blends botanically inspired design with Italian romance

This hip botanical-themed hotel in Midtown Manhattan enjoys a fabulous central location in New York’s Flower District. Being just a short walk away from 28th St Station, Broadway, and Madison Square Gardens, The Moxy NYC Chelsea is well-positioned for traveling all over the city.

The gorgeous hotel beautifully fits into the style of the neighborhood and features floral decor with a traditional twist and has quickly become one of the most popular accommodation options in the city. Modern elements offset the classical botanical themes to give guests a luxurious feel with subtle lighting and upscale service. The 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)!

• To book, check prices or availability for Moxy NYC Chelsea or Moxy Times Square

Margaritaville Resort Times Square

 

This is a seriously fun but stylish hotel that features a colorful but relaxed island-inspired design but with a location in the heart of the city. Decor at the wonderful  Margaritaville Resort includes surfboards, palm trees, and parasols, and a cool outdoor heated swimming pool which offers great views over Times Square, yep this hotel really is quite something!

Other onsite amenities include no less than five restaurants and bars, a retail store, a 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 New York.

• To book, check prices or availability for Margaritaville Resort Times Square

The Ludlow Hotel – quintessential New York cool on the Lower East Side

The 4-star exceptionally rated Ludlow Hotel is located right in the heart of one of the coolest neighborhoods in NYC. The Lower East Side Manhattan has risen over the years from 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.

Easily one of the hippest hotels in New York, it reflects the cool urban environment that surrounds it and feels like a beat poet just left the room whenever you walk in! Sophisticated artwork, vintage furnishings and boutique detail make it an awesome place to spend some time. Not to mention the delicious French-inspired fare on offer at the in-house restaurant ‘Dirty French.’ Faux fur, floor-to-ceiling windows, rainfall showers, city views, fabulous mod cons, industrial chic, and a classic New York experience…this place is a dream! 

• To book, check prices or availability for The Ludlow Hotel

CitizenM Hotel – fun, funky and full of color

This hugely popular Dutch hotel group brings its own brand of affordable, luxury cool to New York. Funky, 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. Its 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.

All of the bright, stylish rooms at CitizenM feature free movies, Wi-Fi, a rain shower, huge windows, a comfy king-sized bed, and a cool MoodPad gadget – a touch-screen device which allows guests to control the room’s impressive array of electronics! 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 – easily one of the coolest hotels in New York!

• To book, check prices or availability for CitizenM New York

Made Hotel – a gorgeous boho design hotel in Manhattan

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 New York hotel.

The decor at the highly-rated 4-star Made Hotel is 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 bronze fixtures.

The gorgeous rooms feature free Wi-Fi, smart radios, flat-screen TVs, and oak platform beds provide hidden storage. This is a hotel chock full of delectable highlights including a basement restaurant serving up seasonal veg 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!

• To book, check prices or availability for Made Hotel New York

Selina Chelsea – an ultra-chic zen-like hotel located in Chelsea

Located in the heart of Manhattan’s 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 New York hotel rocks a modern minimalist style. With more than a nod to Japanese culture, all 56 rooms at Selina Chelsea New York City are very zen-like and feature wooden platform beds, bean bag chairs, iPads (which are loaded with handy recommendations for the best local galleries, restaurants, and shops), fabulous city views and handmade denim bathrobes. 

Opt for a more expensive room and you’ll even find a sumptuous Japanese-style soaking tub. On the rooftop, in summer you’ll find a trendy outdoor pool that transitions into the concept restaurant Arriba during the winter months – genius!

• To book, check prices or availability for Selina Chelsea New York City

The Evelyn – a centrally located Art Deco gem which mixes Gilded Age-glam with a modern style

Set in the NoMad neighborhood, this gorgeous Art Deco boutique hotel has quickly become one of the most popular places to stay in Manhattan. Taking inspiration from its surroundings – the city’s Jazz Age music epicenter – the highly-rated Evelyn Hotel has a fabulous creative vibe with an Art-Nouveau style – think Gilded-Age chic mixed with modern touches.

You’ll be in an accessible distance from lots of New York landmarks such as Madison Square Park and the Empire State Building but if that’s not enough there’s also an 0nsite elegant Italian trattoria, Mediterranean restaurant, a cafe, 24-hour gym, and a lobby lounge. Not a bad choice for a reasonably priced central unique NYC accommodation at all!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Evelyn New York

The Jane – bellhops and stuffed monkeys on the edge of the hip Meatpacking District

Staying at highly regarded and much-loved The Jane is an experience in itself. Lying on the edge of the Meatpacking District’s nightlife hub (and only six blocks from High Line park and a subway stop) the vintage style budget boutique hotel has a quirky, time-warp feel which features rooms endearingly inspired by old-fashioned train cabins. 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.

Larger upgraded rooms are also available and there’s a popular onsite restaurant which is local’s favorite for brunch and an opulent Victorian-style lobby bar which 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 New York.

• To book, check prices or availability for The Jane Hotel New York

W Times Square – a sophisticated and fun celebrity haunt

The W hotels enjoy a reputation as being one of the most prestigious brands around and this central, highly-rated Times Square located version is one of the most popular hotels in the city. Furnished to an exceptional standard, at this luxury 4-star very cool 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, high-thread-count linens, sublime city Times Square views and cutting-edge technology available at your fingertips.

Also expect some cool amenities such as a gym, a well-regarded Mexican and sushi restaurant, a 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!

• To book, check prices or availability for the W Hotel Times Square

Hotel 50 Bowery, part of JdV by Hyatt

Perfectly in keeping with Lower East Side’s cool credentials is this new hotel catered towards local and visiting hipsters. The design is a trendy industrial chic, think exposed Edison light bulbs, concrete pillars and exposed brick juxtaposed with stylish touches such as high-quality furniture colorful modern artwork. Cute fortune-style cookies and iced Chinese tea is served in the lobby – a nod to its nearby neighborhood! 

The guest rooms at Hotel 50 Bowery New York are comfortable, spacious, impeccably designed with some quirky features and gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows. 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 fine city views, and a 24/7 gym. Its close proximity to many iconic Manhattan attractions makes it even more enticing! 

• To book, check prices or availability for the Hotel 50 Bowery New York

Roxy Hotel – a hip hotel art deco style hotel located in the buzzy Tribeca district

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. My room 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 cool 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 cool basement jazz bar with authentic prohibition vibes and there was a wealth of live acts and vinyl spinning DJs providing cool 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-cool vibes of the place! I honestly wanted to move in and stay in this wonderful retro bubble forever! 

• To book, check prices or availability for Roxy Hotel Tribeca

Pod 39 – join the Pod revolution!

Many hotels try and fail to fit the trendy but budget niche but this gem of a place located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan (only a 6-minute walk from Grand Central Station and a 13-minute walk from the Empire State Building), is most definitely the exception. Definitely, one of the cooler and more fun hotels New York has to offer, the highly-rated Pod 39 is clean and modern with funky murals and very colorful decor.

The communal spaces are bright and playful and the on-site restaurant Salvation Taco is the brainchild of Michelin starred chef April Bloomfield…so consequently delicious! Oh, and the rooftop bar is one of the coolest hang-out areas in the city. A fun but reasonably priced funky NYC choice for travelers who don’t fancy re-mortgaging their house for a trip to New York, or don’t fancy chancing a downtown Manhattan hostel either!

• • To book, check prices or availability for Pod 39 New York

The Paul Hotel – a funky industrial-chic hotel in a great central location

If this hotel was a Tinder date it would be considered a great catch. Funky yet affordable and located only a seven-minute stroll from the Empire State Building (and only a stone’s throw from the famous department store Macy’s), the 4-star highly rated hotel and prestigious Ascend Hotel Collection Member The Paul is one of the trendiest and most popular stays in New York. The cool and contemporary rooms feature splashes of bright color and hip little decor details to keep things interesting – think a colorful and trendy industrial-chic vibe that is very pleasing to the eye!

They also offer free WiFi, large flat-screen TVs, premium bedding and some rooms have some pretty spectacular views of the city. Family rooms offer fun bunk beds. Don’t leave without hanging out on their wonderful rooftop terrace, trying out the fabulous gym, or just chatting with their friendly and amenable staff. The Paul Hotel we love you!

• To book, check prices or availability for The Paul an Ascend Hotel Collection Member

Pod 51 – a fun and funky budget hotel in Midtown East

The highly-rated Pod 51 is marketed as budget…and comparatively speaking, if you don’t want to go all-out hostel, it is! New York is an expensive city, no doubt about it, but this place has found a nice balance by stripping away all the fancy stuff and getting back to basic creature comforts.

It’s the more local neighborhood-based sister hotel to the wonderful Pod 31 and yes, some of the rooms are on the small side, but they are comfortable with an en-suite, air-conditioning, and equipped with everything you need. Location-wise, this hip gem of a place is ideal as it’s located in the cool area of Manhattan Midtown East and still close to everything you’ll want to explore. The staff are friendly and it’s a great option for solo travelers as the layout makes it very easy to meet fellow guests and enjoy the social aspects of traveling. The Pod hotels can do no wrong!

• To book, check prices or availability for Pod 51 New York

Room Mate Grace – an elegant family-friendly boutique hotel

It was a lucky day when I stumbled across Room Mate Grace, a reasonably priced but exceptionally rated contemporary boutique hotel located right on the iconic Times Square (and very near a subway station). On arrival, the staff immediately stood out as being friendly and helpful and the hotel itself is decorated in an eclectic vintage style with striking wallpaper and animal prints…the leopard print pool bar, for example, has to be seen to be believed!

My room at this unique NYC hotel was pretty striking too – think a heady fusion of Real Housewives and the Playboy Mansion – but comfortable, clean, and quiet (which is quite something considering the location)! The staff really add to the great vibe too by always being available, always in good humor and always happy to help, oh and it’s very family-friendly too!

• To book, check prices or availability for Room Mate Grace

Sohotel – a trendy mid-range boutique in a fabulous Lower East Side Manhatten location

Sohotel is a highly regarded 3-star boutique NYC hotel located in Lower East Side Manhattan, only a stone’s throw from all the fabulous restaurants and buzzing life of Little Italy (and only a very short distance to a subway station). Dating from the 19th century and featuring a fabulous redbrick facade, it offers a wide range of uniquely decorated room types and all the usual modern facilities you’d expect from a boutique hotel, but without the huge designer price tag.

The decor is exceptional for the price and comes with a retro/modern vibe – think dark woods, stylish exposed brickwork, and lashings of animal print furnishings. All rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks and there’s also an onsite upscale pizzeria/wine bar, a craft brewpub, and a cool cocktail bar. A great choice for travelers who want a chic New York stay without breaking the bank!

• To book, check prices or availability for Sohotel Manhattan

Dream Downtown – an extraordinary and highly Instagrammable hotel in a hip central location

The 4-star, highly rated, and very cool 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.

The loft-style rooms are spacious and luxurious with very cool porthole windows offering amazing views out over the city, 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 hotel highlights include a rooftop lounge, a fusion restaurant serving Japanese and French cuisines, boutique shopping the lobby, a 24-hour fitness center, and a beach (and even a beach club!) surrounding that amazing pool. Staying at this trendy New York hotel was a wonderful immersive treat of an experience that truly was very dream-like! 

• To book, check prices or availability for Dream Hotel Downtown