New kid on the block: Cassa Hotel & Residences in midtown Manhattan

Without as much fanfare as several other NYC hotels that opened in 2010, Cassa Hotel & Residences discreetly opened in busy midtown Manhattan last summer, changing the neighborhood’s hotel landscape -- as have other recent hotel openings including The Setai Fifth Avenue, The Chatwal, and Andaz Fifth Avenue).


Although the hotel has not yet opened its restaurant, courtyard, or 10th floor lounge, we went to the hotel to take a sneak peek at the hotel’s guest rooms and lobby.


The hotel has 165 functional and quiet rooms, all with a decent amount of sunlight (you don't have to worry about looking out at a brick wall). The rooms range in size from 252 to 475 square feet, though they all look the same except for the size. The all-white bathrooms were a nice addition: They're not large and don’t have tubs, but they have modern fixtures and a sleek, simple design. Another special touch we really liked? An Apple iPad sat on the lobby's front desk so that guests could glance at the weather, and on this particularly snowy day, check their flight information, too.


We’ll bring you more photos and a full review when the restaurant and the lounge open, which should be within the next three to five months.