7 Best Hotels in Brooklyn, NYC: Luxury Stays in New York's Trendiest Borough (2024)
The historically industrial New York City borough of Brooklyn has transformed itself over the last 25 years into a prime place to live, work, and play. Connected to Manhattan across the East River by the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and numerous subway lines, the most populous borough (population 2.6 million) is second only to Manhattan in popularity for visitors.
Home to the world-class Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Coney Island and the NBA’s Nets who play in Barclay’s Arena in downtown Brooklyn, the borough offers more than enough to keep visitors busy for days on end without having to set foot in Manhattan.
This rejuvenation has included the shopping, dining, and arts scene here, as well as led to Brooklyn becoming a preferred destination to make your home base during a visit to New York.
Here are a few of our favorite non-household name hotels that you may want to consider for your next NYC getaway.
If you are looking for some lively fun during your stay in Brooklyn, the Moxy Williamsburg may just fit the bill. The 216-room boutique property has an easy going and down-to-earth feel that you will sense the moment you step inside. In a good way you will instantly know that you are not in Manhattan. Welcome to trendsetting Williamsburg at its best.
Considered an affordable Brooklyn option, rooms are quite stylish and comfortable. Moxy’s unique furniture includes peg walls, an open closet format, and furniture that can be adjusted for relaxing, dining-in, or working.
Discover for yourself why so many residents gravitate here for the dining and drinking options. The mix of out-of-towners with neighborhood folks gives the Moxy a unique Brooklyn vibe.
Mesiba, Moxy’s colorful Mediterranean restaurant specializes in Levantine (Middle Eastern) cuisine. Their all-day café known for unique cocktail concoctions, Bar Bedford, is a destination unto itself. Not to be overlooked are the Jolene Sound Room with its lounge that comes alive in the evening, and LilliStar, an indoor/outdoor rooftop bar which is widely known for stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and nearby Williamsburg Bridge.
For guests who need to get some work done while out of town, the Moxy offers a large garden where you can make effective use of the relaxing co-working space while sipping your favorite beverage.
Locally known for its popular Water Tower Bar, the Arlo Williamsburg is central to this vibrant neighborhood with stylish 220-square-foot rooms featuring queen beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, oakwood floors, and beautiful furnishings by the Michaelis Boyd Studio. The bathrooms have been classically designed with marble countertops, brass fixtures from Waterworks, plus luxurious bath amenities from Pharmacopia.
Originally the Williamsburg Hotel, the Arlo’s views of Brooklyn and Manhattan create a soothing place to return to after an energetic day in the big city. During your stay you will not want to miss the hotel’s rooftop pool deck and bar, ART Williamsburg (weather permitting, of course). Sipping a cocktail by the pool is a terrific way to relax, or if you prefer an indoor spot with amazing views, The Water Tower Bar has some of Brooklyn’s best.
Arlo Williamsburg’s aptly named Lobby Bar is the spot for the beverage of your choosing all day long, as well as offering high tea and pastries in the afternoon. Sungold offers brunch, lunch or dinner from salads and burgers, to pizza, pasta, and even steaks. In addition to the 40-foot pool, there’s a fitness center, bicycle rental, and the hotel offers scheduled walking tours of the neighborhood.
Before describing this wonderful boutique hotel in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, you may be wondering who was Henry Norman? Clearly, he must have been a famous Brooklynite way back when, right?
Actually, no. The Henry Norman Hotel is named for the property’s location at the intersection of Henry St. and Norman Ave. About a 10-minute walk to the subway where you can be in Manhattan in a matter of minutes, this former 19th century textile warehouse has retained its industrial-style interior with an amazing conversion into 50 loft-style guest rooms. Cozy and artistic throughout with spacious accommodations including some with balconies and a view of the Manhattan skyline, the Henry Norman is a perfect combination of industrial and artful design.
Guests love the vintage furnishings, unique works by local artists, and decorative items found nearby that just seem to belong here. Without the expected flash and pizzaz of adjacent Williamsburg, the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn offers its own unique feel with an abundance of dining spots from bakeries to local diners, Spanish tapas, French, seafood, and Asian restaurants. Less gentrified than many other areas of Brooklyn, Greenpoint feels like New York with Polish, Czech, German, and Italian being widely spoken on local streets.
The neighborhood is well-known as the site of numerous film stages and production studios that have played a part over the years in scores of movies, television shows, and commercials.
Enjoy continental breakfast or your favorite beverage later in the day in the cozy lobby bar. The Henry Norman’s unique accommodations in an eclectic neighborhood will have you asking, “why haven’t we stayed in Brooklyn before?”
The Ace Hotel Brooklyn is unique in many ways, beginning with its location in downtown Brooklyn. It’s not Williamsburg, Greenpoint, or Brooklyn Heights, but there is still a feeling of community here. Upscale guest rooms feature custom textile art, floor-to-ceiling windows, and wonderful views of Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn’s East River waterfront, as well as Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
The boutique property which recently received a One-Key Designation from Michelin, has become a place where locals and guests congregate in a ground floor environment that feels like someone’s home. Brooklyn art is displayed throughout, with the Lobby, a comfortably furnished living room/bar right smack in the middle.
Within steps guests will find “As You Are”, the hotel’s bakery, restaurant, and another bar. If you are heading out the door in a hurry, the bakery’s walk-up window is the perfect place to grab your breakfast and head for the subway. In addition to serving up a nice array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, there’s a popular brunch during the weekend.
Rooms are quite large by New York standards and come in a wide variety of flavors. Queen, small, medium, medium Skyline, double, and Loft are just some of your options, with prices varying based on room size and view. Rooms are simple yet refined and streamlined for comfort. Décor is musically connected with design touches ranging from vinyls to record players and guitars.
While the bustling lobby is the focal point of the hotel’s ground floor, keep in mind that there’s “The Garden” in the center of it all to escape for some peace and quiet, sipping a coffee or tea, or reading a book. Access to multiple subway lines is mere steps from The Ace, and lovely neighborhoods for strolling, shopping, and dining including Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights are within easy reach.
A Michelin One-Key designated hotel during this first year of the awards being issued, the Wythe Hotel has a warehouse chic style that perfectly fits the mold of converted former industrial buildings in north Brooklyn. Perhaps the most upscale of numerous transformed hotels, this is the place for you if you gravitate toward trendy spots where there is always something happening.
Rooms at the Wythe are spacious, with even the Studio King offering 260-square-feet to kick off your shoes and relax. The Brooklyn King, with 340-square-feet, and the Brooklyn Terrace, sporting 355-square-feet plus a private terrace are popular accommodation choices. Guests are thrilled when they see the 13-foot ceilings, large windows, exposed original brick walls, concrete floors, wood ceilings, fully tiled bathrooms with a large walk-in shower, and many other amenities to assure your comfort.
Located in the heart of Williamsburg, what was once a barrel factory for Domino Sugar became a central part of Brooklyn’s most dynamic neighborhood upon opening in 2012. Hotel guests and locals love the rooftop bar, Bar Blondeau for a wide variety of beverages, as well as light appetizers, sandwiches, and hot French-inspired dishes. Oh, and there’s the spectacular view across to Manhattan, too.
The hotel’s dining room, Le Crocodile, is an all-day French brasserie that serves up delectable croissants in the morning, and an extensive lunch and dinner menu that is approachable, delicious, and far from routine. It has received nothing but superlative reviews from numerous media outlets, including The New York Times which includes Le Crocodile in its 2024 listing of 100 top restaurants in New York City.
Bar Blondeau and Le Crocodile reservations are a necessity, so book your accommodations and dining plans at the same time.
This five-star gem is the first choice of many visitors seeking upscale accommodations that are among the best to be found in Brooklyn. The south of the Brooklyn Bridge neighborhood known as Dumbo is one of those must-visit areas of the borough. In addition to offering wonderfully eclectic shopping and dining options, Dumbo is known for extensive green areas along the riverfront with amazing views of Lower Manhattan.
The eco-conscious property is located within Brooklyn Bridge Park, so the outdoors park vibe extends inside to the large wall of greenery that is maintained by landscapers daily. You will also notice the unique tables and benches in the lobby and guest rooms that are made of reclaimed pine from the building of the bridge itself. Visitors also cannot miss the local staircase built with suspended wires much like those adorning the Brooklyn Bridge.
It is easy to see how 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge was honored with a Michelin One-Key designation along with only two other Brooklyn hotels. The modern, polished guest rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open to allow fresh air in. Many rooms offer unbeatable views of the bridge, Lower Manhattan, and New York Harbor including Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Reclaimed woods and antique industrial steel give 1 Hotel rooms a true Brooklyn feel.
Guest room amenities include an organic cotton mattress by Keetsa, sustainably sourced linens, cotton robes, a 55-inch LED television, filtered water taps, Bamford bath products, and a Nespresso coffee machine.
In addition to the hotel’s main floor coffee shop and weekend brunch spot, the Osprey, the 11th floor rooftop is home to a pool with lounge chairs that are only for guests. You will also find Harriet’s Rooftop here, serving drinks and light Asian bites. One floor down is Harriet’s Lounge, indoors but with the same awe-inspiring views of the New York City skyline, plus music and a lively Brooklyn vibe.
Also on the first floor is Neighbors, a “picnic-fare café” that offers locally roasted coffee, Bushwick Tea, Brooklyn’s Best Lemonade, Vitality cold-pressed juices, Mast Brothers chocolate, and other goods produced in Brooklyn to eat there, or take home when you depart.
The first U.S. hotel for this British chain offers incredible views of the Manhattan skyline and its Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood. Featuring 175 comfortable rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing natural light to flood in, you will no doubt thoroughly enjoy the neighborhood and the hotel’s three fabulous restaurants.
Plush king-sized beds with soft linens greet you (unless you have opted for twin accommodations) in a room with raw concrete finishes reminiscent of the building’s early days as the Rosenwach water tank factory. Guests may reserve rooms with a Manhattan or Brooklyn view to ensure a wonderful outlook from the higher floors of the hotel. Knowing that getting a good sleep when out-of-town can be problematic, the Hoxton includes blackout blinds in all rooms.
Modern bathrooms include brass fixtures, walk-in showers, and the Hoxton’s own Blank toiletries. While the rooms themselves are “New York smallish”, they are perfectly designed to include a mini-fridge, ample plug-ins, Smart TV and Bluetooth radio, a tea/coffee kettle, a room safe, and they even throw in free international phone calls as a perk!
Dining options at The Hoxton are superb, where you can enjoy room service breakfast, dine-in at the K’Far Café, or grab a Breakfast Bag on your way out the door. K’Far is an all-day Israeli eatery in the hotel lobby offering all three main meals, late-night cocktails, and a weekend brunch.
Jaffa Cocktail and Raw Bar on the mezzanine level is a casual spot for traditional Israeli coastal cuisine that is creatively prepared. No reservations are needed here so just stop in and grab a seat.
The star of the show is no-doubt Laser Wolf Brooklyn, a rooftop bar and restaurant that will have you oohing and aww-ing through the night. Reservations are a MUST, so plan for an evening here when booking your room. Describing themselves as an “open-air skewer house”, the charcoal grill is central to preparing Israeli cuisine that is memorable and delicious. The hummus and vegetable tray, luscious kebabs, and even whole branzini are simply amazing. The energetic vibe and Manhattan views from throughout the restaurant are unbeatable, too.
It may be part of New York City, but Brooklyn could easily be a city unto itself. With so many hotel options, dining spots that Manhattanites travel to Brooklyn to enjoy, and a vibe all its own, you will not go wrong choosing to stay here during your next visit to the Big Apple.
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