Great location, close to shopping, subways, and parks
Notable on-site restaurant and bar with happy hour specials
Colorful contemporary-style lobby with free coffee
Free Fiji bottled water in the rooms
Family Triple Rooms sleep five
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Large (40-inch) flat-screen TVs
Some of the rooms have skylights, but no windows
The rooms show some signs of wear, including carpet stains
The rumbling of the subway can be felt and heard
Small armoires in the rooms but no closets and bathrooms lack storage space
No fitness center or business center
The Hotel Verite's website proclaims it's "absolutely the best boutique hotel" in Manhattan, but that's a bit of a stretch. The 19-room, mid-range property has a swanky contemporary lobby and shares space with a popular Korean restaurant, but its guest rooms lack the stylish modern decor found at nearby, similarly priced boutique hotels. Storage is an issue, and some rooms have skylights but no windows. Verite's location is ideal for tourists who like to explore, shop, and dine at some of Manhattan's best spots. The hotel is within walking distance to key hubs -- Gramercy, Union Square, and Madison Square Park -- and close to subway lines that serve the east and west sides of the city. It may be worth comparing rates at Carvi Hotel for access to its rooftop terrace, but it doesn't have a restaurant.
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Scene
Small boutique hotel with a stylish lobby, basic rooms, and central location in the trendy Flatiron District
Tourists with their minds set on shopping, dining, and exploring are regulars at the Hotel Verite. The four-story building with a nondescript entrance is easy to miss, but step inside and a colorful lobby reveals the property's fun side. A shimmery crystal chandelier illuminates five Andy Warhol style Pop Art pictures of the queen of Denmark while a collection of micro-suede sofas and chairs topped with purple and yellow accent pillows invites visitors to have a seat. Most guests are tourists who want to explore New York while saving some cash. Kids are welcome, but there isn't much for them to do here.
Location
In Manhattan's Flatiron District, close to Union Square, Gramercy Park, and a variety of notable restaurants and flagship stores
Hotel Verite's location in the middle of inconspicuous East 19th Street puts guests within close proximity to four of Manhattan's key neighborhoods -- the Flatiron district, Gramercy, Union Square, and Chelsea. The bustle of Broadway is steps to the east, and Fifth Avenue borders the western part of the block. A parade of buzzing bars and chic star-chef restaurants, such as Craft, ABC Cocina, and Gramercy Tavern are a quick walk away.
Rooms
Basic and clean with Asian-inspired contemporary decor, bottles of Fiji water, and fluffy comforters
The Hotel Verite offers 19 rooms in three categories spread across four floors. The largest, Family Triple, is a long rectangle with two queens and a queen-size sofa bed, ideal for a family or group of friends visiting the city. Other rooms are less spacious, with either one king bed or two queens.
Most of the rooms are decorated in a somewhat austere style with blond and dark wood furnishings, including armoires in lieu of closets and neutral-pattern carpets (with the occasional spot or stain). Drab, off-while walls are spruced up with black and white floral artwork or accent walls papered in repetitive black-and-white floral patterns. Beds are outfitted with crisp white linens embroidered with the hotel's name.
Modern touches include wall-mounted 40-inch flat-screen TVs and eco-friendly smartcard key entry systems. Bathrooms are finished in neutral tiles with leaf-pattern accent tiles and shower curtains with the same pattern. The bathrooms are sufficiently large but lack storage space, and most don't have tubs. Claustrophobic-prone guests should avoid the skylight rooms, as they do not have windows -- just small skylights in the ceiling. Light sleepers should take note that the subway runs beneath the building, causing noise and vibration.
Features
Lobby coffee station, Korean gastro-pub and lounge, and round-the-clock front desk and concierge
Hotel Verite's small size allows guests to connect with the front desk staff on a personal level. The well-attended lobby is staffed round-the-clock and well stocked with local information and brochures to assist guests in planning their days and nights in the city. The adjacent Barn Joo is a lively spot, offering lunch, happy hour specials, dinner, and late-night socializing in its sleek lounge. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.
