Six of the best new hotels

ACE HOTEL BROOKLYN

Have you heard of Boerum Hill? I hadn’t, but that’s where Ace Hotel made its Brooklyn debut in July of last year, unveiling a new 287-room property. And it’s a gem of a place: one block from the subway and a 10-minute walk from Barclays Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Rooms are exceptionally spacious with panoramic city views and retro touches including Smeg turntables and refrigerators. The lobby is the perfect place to relax with a cozy fireplace and a leafy inner courtyard, while the in-house restaurant As You Are serves excellent seasonal dishes. Rooms from US$299. See acehotel.com/brooklyn

HARD ROCK HOTEL IN NEW YORK

Music fans will appreciate the celebrity trinkets scattered throughout this impressive new property near Times Square, which include a pair of Lady Gaga boots and handwritten lyrics by John Lennon. The 446 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, life-size rock star images (Springsteen graced my door), and the ability to borrow a Fender guitar. There’s an upscale steakhouse, a lobby bar with live music, and an intimate rooftop lounge with two outdoor terraces. Play your cards right and you could score an invite to Venue, the hotel’s VIP entertainment area (Halsey played there during my stay). Rooms from US$545. See hardrockhotels.com/new-york

HENN HOTELS

Want a little corner of Tokyo in the heart of Manhattan? Japanese hotel brand Henn Na opened its first New York property in October last year in the less touristy Garment District. The 92-room hotel is one block from Penn Station and three blocks from Hudson Yards. Japanese touches abound, from minimalist rooms with steam closets and high-tech Toto Washlet toilets, to a two-meter-tall animatronic T-Rex in the lobby. The hotel restaurant, Gosuke Akimitsu, is a destination in its own right, notable for its authentic omakase menu by veteran Japanese chef Isami Nagai. Prices start at US$215. See hennahotelny.com

CIVIL HOTEL

Drawing inspiration from the design of the nearby Theater District, the Civilian Hotel’s decor includes costumes, stage props and adorable mock-up Broadway sets. Choose from a comfortable or spacious room, then customize your stay by adding extras like breakfast, gym access and late check-out. Despite their small dimensions, rooms are elegantly decorated with bright colors, vintage photographs, and four-poster beds with fancy Serta mattresses. The second floor bar is a stunning space with a secluded terrace and it will soon be joined by a ground floor restaurant and rooftop lounge. Rooms from 289 USD. See www.civilianhotel.com

MOTTO BY HILTON CHELSEA

The motto is Hilton’s “lifestyle” brand, and this sleek 42-story property between Chelsea and Flatiron was considered the flagship when it opened in December 2021. Highlights include flexible room configurations, such as bunk beds for kids and connecting rooms for groups, captivating views of Lower Manhattan through floor-to-ceiling windows (ask for south orientation on a high floor), and an inviting lobby bar and sunken lounge that spills out on a sunny terrace at street level – a rarity in Manhattan. Best of all, fares are a relative bargain, starting at US$215. See hilton.com

MARGARITAVILLE RESORT TIMES SQUARE

Named after the 1977 hit that catapulted American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett to international stardom, this 234-room resort in Times Square aims to recreate the laid-back tropical lifestyle at the heart of its music and of its burgeoning hotel empire. You’ll find a giant thong (the shoe variety) in the lobby, a towering sculpture of the Statue of Liberty holding a margarita in the main restaurant, and island-themed rooms with turquoise accents and ceiling fans . There’s also a gym, rooftop bar, and Times Square’s only heated outdoor pool. It’s not for everyone, but for dedicated Buffett fans (known as Parrotheads) it’s heaven. Rooms from $415. See margaritavilleresorts.com

Rob McFarland was a guest at the Hard Rock Hotel New York, the Civilian Hotel and the Ace Hotel Brooklyn.