The High Line Hotel

Arrival to this attractive maze of red brick buildings could feel like entering an Ivy League campus, with its collegiate gothic architecture, cloistered gardens, and mature trees. The attached General Theological Seminary -- listed on the National Register of Historic Places -- has been in use since the early 1800s; accommodations were once dormitories for studying theologians. Today the seminary is still an active part of the Episcopal Church, and the board has a say in certain decisions of the hotel related to design and furnishings. Besides this fact, and the attached proximity, High Line Hotel has its own thing going on.Signage from the street is a simple black square frame leading to a terrace. During seasonal months, this area has a dozens of tables and chairs lining both sides of a a tranquil stone fountain for working or reading. On one end is a vintage 1960s Citroen truck serving Intelligentsia coffee and snacks, and the other side is a seasonal champagne bar and restaurant, Champagne Charlie's (open for dinner and weekend brunch). The lobby is purposely without a front desk, and guests have a paperless check-in with standing staff members via iPad tablets. The lobby (like the rest of the hotel) takes advantage of the building's historic character, and guests will find exposed brick and studded metal beams. The handpicked decor pieces were found at antique markets and the like, and include a deer head, vintage paintings, a tufted banquette, velvet sofas, and Persian rugs. There's a slight hipster vibe (mostly due to coffee lovers coming for Intelligentsia), and the hotel also attracts arty types, not surprising considering the large collection of galleries in the neighborhood.The grounds in the rear have even more history. Before the seminary, this area was said to be Clement Moore’s (author of "Twas the Night Before Christmas") 17th Century apple orchard, and some say this is where the Big Apple received its name. In addition to the cloistered gardens (great for wedding ceremonies), there is another outdoor terrace for relaxing. The hotel does not feel crowded due to the small number of rooms, and attracts couples, wedding groups, and business travelers.

Though situated within the compound of historic seminary from the 1800s, the High Line Hotel is named after the High Line Park, a popular park that only first opened in 2009. This walking path (no dogs, bikes or runners allowed) was created from an old railroad track, which now extends over a mile long from West Village all the way up to Midtown along Manhattan's west side. The hotel's entrance is located on the 10th Avenue side of the seminary close to 20th Street, and one of the park's entrances is just a half block away. Chelsea is home to dozens of art galleries, which visitors are free to pop in and explore, as well as the Chelsea Market for gourmet food stalls and neat shops. There are also many trendy restaurants in surrounding blocks, and it's just a 10-minute walk away to the Meatpacking District for more choice. (The West Village is only slightly farther south.)Runners and bikers can quickly get to the Hudson River Parkway for a path that runs for miles in either direction (the hotel offers free use of bikes). Taxis are an easy grab on 10th Avenue and there is a doorman for assistance. For public transportation, the A/C/E 8th Avenue train is two blocks away. The L train to Williamsburg/Bushwick can be accessed from 8th Avenue at 14th Street.

The High Line Hotel may seem larger than it actually is due to the fact that an entire block of collegiate gothic architecture is only partially used for the hotel. There are 60 rooms that take up most of the southwestern portion of the compound. All rooms -- Standard, Deluxe, and Suites -- used to be the dorms of the seminary and they have original moldings, pine floors, and decorative fireplaces. Rooms are elegant, stylish, and even romantic. Colorful patterned wallpaper takes up most of one wall as an accent, and each room is decorated with unique vintage furnishings collected from across the country.Each door has an emblem that is mimicked by the authentic hand presses located on each antique work desk -- a nice touch for wedding invites and/or thank you notes. Notable features include flat-screen TVs, cool old-fashioned rotary style phones (calls worldwide are free of charge), and quality Jawbone mini JAMBOXES. Well-stocked minibars have a range of snacks, beer, wine, champagne, and liquor, as well as non-alcoholic drinks. All bathrooms have black and white tile as well as tub/shower combos, bathrobes, slippers, and toiletries by CO Bigelow.Standard Rooms (with queen-size or king-size beds) are the smallest tier, starting at 250 square feet, and have slightly more cramped bathrooms and tiny closets. Deluxe Kings Rooms are larger in size at 400 square feet; a few with have corner units with great natural light. The High Line Suites have a separate sitting area and extra large closets and bathrooms. All rooms have plush king beds and duvets.Views range and face the interior courtyard, south on 20th Street, or west towards 10th Avenue and the High Line Park.

This intimate boutique is a bit lacking in property features, but the hotel has workarounds in place to help compensate. The terrace restaurant and bar, Champagne Charlie's, is open seasonally for dinner and weekend brunches, serving champagne (of course) as well as items such as swordfish and oysters. Room service isn't available, but there are stocked minibars with plenty of wine, beer and liquor. There is also no fitness center, but the hotel offers free passes to a nearby Equionox.Intelligentsia, the popular Chicago-based coffee company's first NYC location, has an attractive set-up in the lobby for pour overs, espresso drinks, teas, and local pastries. Intelligentsia also serves coffee outside the front entrance in a vintage 1960s Citroen truck (also great for locals on the run).Business travelers are attracted to the hotel for the authentic and charming meeting and event rooms that are located in Hoffman Hall, directly next door. Though the decor is traditional gothic with wood panels and stained glass windows, rooms have state-of-the-art equipment for multi-media tools and support. There are a range of rooms and styles, and the biggest is the Refectory -- a jaw-dropping space to rival Hogwarts' dining room. The Refectory can fit up to 300 people and is a prime spot for chic events, weddings, and runway shows (the space is used heavily during New York Fashion Week). Wedding ceremonies can take place on-site in the cloistered garden or inside the private Episcopal chapel.Wi-Fi is not only free, it is super fast, thanks to the hotel's partnership with Google -- the NYC office is based nearby, and they do quite a bit of business at the hotel.Bikes during warmer months are available free for guests, and come with baskets.