It's Hip to be Square...
- Jun 22, 2009
When it comes to New York, staying in the ‘right’ hotel is a must, with so many diverse districts I had to make sure I found the right one for me, stumbling on the up and coming Lower East Side was a gem of a find. The area is a creative hub and is bustling with small boutique shops, buzzing bars and old school American diners.
Nestled in amongst it all is the Hotel on Rivington, all glass angles and funky lines. Stepping inside reveals a whole different story with the lobby modelled on a Marcel Wanders egg vase – blown up to giant proportions - and a great soft contrast to the outside of the hotel.
Moving up to my room (probably one of the coolest I had stayed in) I was greeted by the most comfortable Tempur bed and floor to ceiling glass windows with stunning views of Manhattan (not the Manhattan you see in the guidebooks but the real Manhattan) which takes me on to the best part of this hotel – you feel like you are a local. The area is so ”new cool” it hasn’t quite got there, no chain restaurants or large stores, far funkier and authentic. Stepping outside the hotel, points not to miss if you like discovering the undiscovered:
• Boucher – an ex Tiffany & Co employee set up shop, offering fabulously colourful jewellery
• Florent – a great little diner which has been in the area for years
And a little further afield…
• MOMA – Museum of Modern Art - the newly appointed curator is the first Brit to oversee the collection in 22 years (Abercrombie & Fitch is also just round the corner for some light retail therapy post museum)
Or if you fancy someone else arranging some cool trips or parties the travel gurus at Hip Hotels can do it all for you, perfect if you’re like me and working right up to the last second before a holiday.
Check out www.vhiphotels.co.uk for more info
