Home to some of NYC’s most desirable neighbourhoods, Lower Manhattan caters for visitors with a wide choice of accommodation options
(Photo: The Greenwich Hotel / Courtesy Booking.com)
Also known as Downtown Manhattan, the borough’s most southernmost zone is best known for its spectacular skyscrapers. Basing yourself here during a visit to New York puts you in close proximity to many of the city’s most iconic attractions, as well as within easy reach of popular neighbouring boroughs such as Brooklyn. If you’re planning to stay in Lower Manhattan, we’ve picked out 5 of the best hotels the area has to offer, catering to a range of tastes and budgets.
The Greenwich Hotel
The most upscale recommendation on this list is the sumptuous 5-star Greenwich Hotel. Owned by movie icon Robert De Niro and opened in 2008, the 88-room hotel was built from the ground up atop a former parking lot. It’s situated in lower Manhattan’s Tribeca neighbourhood, where cobblestone streets are lined with trendy boutiques and restaurants. As for the hotel itself, there’s an underground pool and fitness centre, a spa, and an on-site Italian restaurant and spa. All guest rooms are individually decorated with lavish items from around the world. Nearby attractions include the Tribeca Performing Arts Center and Washington Market Park. From $1,236 per night.
The Ludlow
(Photo: The Ludlow / Courtesy Booking.com)
Another high-end hotel option, but one that won’t hit you quite so hard in the pocket, is the 4-star Ludlow. Located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighbourhood, the hotel has a distinctive aesthetic – in particular in the guest rooms where hardwood floors, handmade silk rugs and artisan-crafted Moroccan lamps lend plenty of character and charm. Hotel facilities include a lobby bar and lounge, a fitness centre, and 24-hour front desk. For culture vultures, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and New Museum are both just moments away on foot. From $626 per night.
Hotel Indigo
Nestled in the heart of Wall Street, Manhattan’s famous financial district, this mid-range boutique hotel is both convenient and comfortable, offering a cosy stay in a clean and welcoming setting, together with easy access to many of the area’s most popular attractions. An on-site restaurant offers a playful take on classic NYC-style food with elements of popular Dutch cuisine, and a cocktail bar that’s ideal for pre-dinner drinks or a nightcap. Guest rooms come with a flat-screen TV and a coffee machine and from the windows you can view the iconic Trinity Church and wider downtown Manhattan area. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is two minutes’ walk away. From $335 per night.
Off SoHo Suites
(Photo: Hotel Indigo / Courtesy Booking.com)
For a budget accommodation option in lower Manhattan, the 2-star Off SoHo Suites are a popular choice – particularly if you’d like to save money by cooking rather than eating out. All of the contemporary suites contain a fully-equipped kitchen, as well as a flat-screen TV, sofa bed, dining area and wooden flooring. For communal use are a gym, a business centre, 24-hour front desk and concierge services. The buzzing districts Chinatown, Little Italy and SoHo are all close by and with a subway station just one block away, you can also venture further afield with ease. From $146 per night.
DoubleTree by Hilton
Our final recommendation is this 4-star hotel that’s part of the international DoubleTree by Hilton brand. Located in lower Manhattan, just seconds from the green expanse and relative serenity of Battery Park, the hotel is equipped with a fitness centre, a business centre and an on-site restaurant and bar. Guest rooms have a flat-screen TV, iPod docking station, and tea/coffee-making facilities. The hotel is also perfectly positioned for visiting one of New York’s most iconic landmarks, the unmistakable neoclassical sculpture Statue of Liberty, on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. From $154 per night.
By Paul Joseph