Cool Places to Stay in NYC

Hudson Hotel (very trendy / scene)
Giraffe (very cool / classy yet luxurious)
Palace (luxurious and very traditional)
Embassy Suites (great for extended stays)
Ameritania (next to Times Square and good bargain for Eurostyle)
Royalton (cool / trendy and good bar)
SOHO Grand (very cool and elegant, great location, nice bar scene)
Roger Williams (very cool and a relative bargain)
Marriott Financial Center (good location and nice if you horde Marriott points)

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

- the complimentary breakfast, bottled water and espresso
- the terrace for my room
- the business center (I had a lot of work to get done)
- access to the in-room fitness center and access to a New York Sports Club
- the very comfortable bed
- the location (very convenient for nice restaurants and shopping)
- cool design (lots of maple, brushed steel and backlit screens)

This isn''t a huge hotel where things are done for efficiency sake. The little touches are nice, the staff is very helpful and I felt like I got a really good deal. Other friends who have stayed here echoed a similar sentiment.

- You don''t get nickel and dimed: you get complimentary water and juice, wine and cheese and breakfast.
- The complimentary pass to the health club Duomo: This is one of the nicest health clubs in the city and is only a block from the hotel.
- The rooms are impeccable: From the down pillows, to the cloudlike bed, to the stereo system and other nice touches, you will appreciate your stay.
- The location is great: You are at the midpoint between the business area and the entertainment area of New York City. It is easy to go either way and you will not feel overwhelmed by the crowds of the city. Check out the restaurant Tabla located a block away.

You pay a little more for this hotel, but I didn''t even notice. If the need arises, I will not hesitate to stay here again.

Other parts of the hotel were also memorable. After a night on the town, the Paramount Bar provides a nice place for a nightcap. The crowd is a combination of tourists and hipsters, but we liked the vibe. The restaurant in the hotel is also worth checking out (the food is nice, and I liked sitting above the lobby, watching who came in and out of the hotel). Further, I liked the newsstand and the Dean and Deluca café (a fancy place to get some good coffee, muffin, bagel, juice, etc.) in the lobby.

Finally, the service and location were great. We had a few special requests, and they were always met with a smile and a quickness that we appreciated. Regarding the location, the hotel is a couple of blocks from the center of Times Square. It was cool to walk through at night, when Times Square was bustling...and a little surreal walking through the next morning, when Times Square was empty. Plus, the access to subways was fantastic. This was a good launching point for any part of the city.

All I can say is that I was a hero in her eyes. The rooms were so romantic and relaxing, and everything about the place just oozed sensuality. As with any hotel in NY, the rooms are a little small. But the little touches (i.e. the choice of decor, the linens, the amenities) made this hotel an instant favorite. It is popular and expensive, but you get your money's worth. Plus, I liked the fact that it was accessible, but the guests get the feeling of extra special treatment (i.e. guest-only roof deck). You will feel like a movie star.

The location is also worth noting. You will be right in the middle of SoHo. Within a few blocks, you will find some of the best shopping and eating in all of New York. I particularly like SoHo because you can go from quiet, cobblestone streets to absolute hustle and bustle. Little Italy, Chinatown, Tribeca, and Greenwich Village are all easily within walking distance.

All things considered, I give 60 Thompson my highest recommendation. I always tell my friends to stay here (particularly when their companies are picking up the bill), and I will stay again, even though I actually live in New York.

The food at the hotel is amazing. In and of its own right, the Mercer Kitchen is one of the nicer restaurants in SoHo. I have eaten there several times, and the room services provided access to the same great food.

A few nice touches:
- the hotel provides nice umbrellas for all guests when it is raining
- the flowers are amazing
- the library is super-cool
- the access to cool CDs and everything you need for a romantic, sexy stay

I definitely highly recommend this hotel as an ultra-cool, decadent place to stay. The price was off-the-charts (and fortunately my company was paying), but it is worth a splurge for a special occasion.