Wythe Hotel

First built in 1901 as a barrel-making plant and turned into a unique boutique in 2012, the Wythe is a hipster’s paradise. The hotel has kept many of the original details, such as concrete floors and rails in the lobby ceiling that were once used to transport material around the cooperage. Every space features unique design elements, from the elevators to the rooms and the library off the lobby.Rooms are spacious and have a decidedly industrial feel to them, with concrete floors, furnishings made from reclaimed wood, 13-foot timber ceilings, and exposed brick walls. But they’re heavy on upscale details, including radiant floor heating; custom-made beds and wallpaper; local, hand-made, natural Goldie’s toiletries; seasonal minibars; flat-screen TVs; and in-room surround sound controllable by iPhone.The lower floors have uninteresting views of buildings next door, but the higher floors better outlooks. The best views can be had from the Manhattan View Rooms, which have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and the Manhattan skyline (and justifiably come with a high price tag). For groups, the hotel has several rooms with bunk beds and sitting areas that can fit four or six guests.Reynards is a beautiful restaurant with huge windows and an open kitchen. It’s open for all three meals, plus drinks at night and brunch on weekends. However, the hotel highlight is arguably The Ides, the hopping sixth-floor bar. It quickly became a destination in the neighborhood, thanks mostly to it’s jaw-dropping views of the skyline. The whole west wall is one huge floor-to-ceiling window, and there is an outdoor space great for the warmer nights. It can be loud, and guests complain that they have to share the elevator and the lobby with non-guests, but it’s definitely worth a visit.

The Wythe has one of the most coveted addresses in Williamsburg -- it’s a couple of blocks from Bedford Avenue, the heart of the neighborhood, and a few minutes' walk from the subway. (For those who have been to Austin, Williamsburg is the New York equivalent of the South Congress area.) The neighborhood is full or restaurants and bars, and beautiful boutiques selling vintage clothes and specialty items line the streets. The area is a hot spot for live music, and local and visiting bands perform daily in the many venues found here. The neighborhood is a destination unto itself, but it is also convenient for those looking to explore the city's top tourist attractions: It is only one stop away from Manhattan on the L train.- 15-minute drive from LaGuardia Airport

• 24-minute drive from JFK Airport
• 40-minute drive from Newark Airport
• 2- to 5-minute walk to restaurants, bars and boutiques
• 7-minute walk to the subway
• 13-minute subway ride to Union Square
• 20-minute subway ride to SoHo
• 22-minute subway ride to the Flatiron Building
• 24-minute subway ride to the MoMA
• 25-minute subway ride to Bryant Park
• 25-minute subway ride to Grand Central
• 27-minute subway ride to Times Square
• 27-minute subway ride to the Empire State Building
• 30-minute subway ride to Central Park
• 30-minute subway ride to Rockefeller Center
• 33-minute subway ride to World Trade Center
• 35-minute subway ride to the Metropolitan Museum of Art