Hotel Americano

A fairly new kid on the block as far as New York City hotels are concerned, Hotel Americano has claimed its near-Hudson River location since 2011. It’s easy to walk right past the hotel’s single glass door and try to enter through the adjacent (and better marked) restaurant, The Americano. From outside West 27th Street, just a few doors down from the home of "Sleep No More," Hotel Americano wears a sheer mesh dress from the top of its 14th-floor lounge down to street level.

Inside, the small lobby is separated from the adjoining restaurant with partial concrete walls and hanging silver globe lights. Smooth concrete floors start here and can be found throughout most of the hotel’s spaces, including the rooms. The lounge area has two mid-century style black leather couches, elastic strapped chairs, an offering of sparkling or still water, and two editions of the NY Times. The front desk is sleek but small and has vintage-looking cubbies for room keys. Hallways are dark with gray walls and carpet, and don’t really feel hotel-like – nor do the basement level event and bar spaces; one is minimalist with futuristic plastic white furniture, a mirrored wall, low lights, and concrete floors while the other is extremely dim with an upscale mid-century lodge vibe.

Overall the vibe is cool and exclusive and oozes a bit of upscale, hip classiness -- this is possibly even more evident during the summer rooftop pool parties. The hotel hoped its Chelsea location and high style would appeal to the neighborhood's art, fashion, and design crowd, and the Starrett-Lehigh building housing the offices of Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, and design studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro, among others is a block away. 

Just a few block from the Hudson River, Hotel Americano lies on a slightly industrial side of West 27th Street in New York’s hip Chelsea neighborhood. It’s easy walking distance to the famed High Line (an elevated park built over an old railroad) and hip local restaurants. The popular immersive play, "Sleep No More" at the McKittrick Hotel, is just a few doors down. Because it’s so far west, Newark’s EWR airport is closest via the AirTran that drops guests at Penn Station, a five- to 10-minute walk away (Penn Station also has Long Island Railroad lines). The closest subway trains are the C, E lines at 23rd Street.

Hotel Americano’s 56 rooms and suites are packed with luxury amenities, including in-room iPads to control music playlists and order room service, flat-screen remotes stowed in mattress-side floorboard pockets, and soft denim bathrobes. A blend of Euro-Japanese decor and design breeds hip style and high functionality in the relatively small spaces. Rooms borrow their hidden storage, wooden platform beds, gadgetry, and bento-style room service items from Japan, while the polished concrete floors, retro-modern furniture, and sleek peek-a-boo bathrooms have a European flair. The white bedding and white walls contribute to the sleek, minimalist look, though those seeking more square footage may want to consider the similarly industrial-chic James New York (note that it tends to be pricier). 

All rooms have top-shelf snacks and booze (at high prices) in the minibars, premium Aesop toiletries, umbrellas, pool bags, slippers, robes, and hairdryers – although no ironing facilities. Typical of New York and Japan, rooms are snug, but upgrading to a Studio Suite will get you a comfortable amount of space with a hanging (if non-functional) fireplace, sitting area, and soaking tub. Most of the views are just OK (downtown views are less so). The automatic blackout blinds and free collection of magazines, including current issues of Time Out New York, are appreciated touches.

While most of the Hotel Americano’s best features are reserved for the in-room experience, the hotel does do a nice job on its public spaces. The crown jewel, especially during summer, if the hotel’s 14th-floor rooftop area. During the warmer months, there are two outdoor decks overlooking the city and the Hudson River as well as a few brightly colored, cushioned benches and tables and chairs in the sunny atrium, which has a small bar and grill on either end. In the summer, this indoor lounge spaces serves Mediterranean bites; in the winter, its glass partitions come down and it transforms into SNOB, the cheekily named lounge serving French Alps comfort food. Up a few stairs, guests will find a small, seasonal pool with nice views, and a surrounding deck area with tables and chairs for lounging. Weekend pool parties with DJs are common and open to the public -- but there is no swimming allowed while they are happening.

Serving up a French-inspired menu in a rustic-chic environment, the adjacent restaurant, The Americano, has everything from casual croissants and lattes to gourmet fusion dishes. There’s also Bar Americano downstairs (for private events only) which has a Euro-techno vibe with concrete floors, minimalist furniture and modern lighting. There’s another basement floor event room with bar capabilities, but it feels warmer with a mid-century lodge style, brown and wood furniture, and a built-in wall fireplace.

Guests can purchase passes to a nearby fitness gym, access free Wi-Fi, and check out views from the lobby’s glass elevator.