Soho Grand Hotel

Mixing high-end amenities in rooms with the elaborate boho-industrial design of the lobby and sophisticated decor in restaurants and bars, the Soho Grand creates a casual atmosphere that also draws a relentlessly chic party scene. A diverse group of Europeans, well-heeled West Coasters, and businessmen redoing their PowerPoint presentations over a second round of scotch, all happily share space in this laid-back yet elegant property.

The hotel is housed in a 17-story, red-brick tower right on the edge of SoHo and Tribeca neighborhoods. The interior design is heavily industrial-chic, with touches such as metal stairs leading to the grand lobby, antique mercury mirrors, hardwood and leather accents, and track lighting. The 369-room property is partly famous for the celebrities who come to stay or hang out in the bar. Frequent guests include everyone from Britney Spears to Dave Chappelle, and downtown hipster emeritus Lou Reed has been spotted in the lounge having an afternoon beverage with his dog. During our stay, a pack of tabloid photographers were camped out front waiting for Jessica Simpson to emerge.

In the afternoon, guests use the lobby and bar lounge for leisure -- tapping away at their phones, eating a light meal, or reading the newspaper while the sounds of mellow indie artists play softly in the background. The music goes upbeat and loud in the evenings, as the lounge fills with twenty- and thirty-something scenesters, and visitors often have to push their way to the bar.

The Soho Grand NYC sits near the southern edge of SoHo, just steps from Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood. Together the two neighborhoods embody New York's haute bohemian downtown shopping and nightlife scene. Canal Street, the border between SoHo and Tribeca, is an international bazaar of shops packed with everything from T-shirts to designer knockoffs, all of which can be found within half a block from the hotel. There are numerous bars and restaurants near Soho Grand Hotel. Greenwich Village -- home to NYU, Washington Square Park, and many restaurants and bars -- is a 15-minute walk away. Downtown attractions such as One World Trade Center, the Oculus, and Brooklyn Bridge can all be found within a 20-minute walk of the hotel.

Soho Grand is within four blocks of seven subway lines, which puts other tourist sights, including the Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, and the Museum of Modern Art, an easy metro ride away. It takes about one hour and 15 minutes to get to JFK International Airport by subway, and between 45 minutes and 90 minutes by car, depending on the time of day and the traffic conditions. LaGuardia Airport is about a 30-minute to hour-long drive, depending on traffic. Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft both operate in New York City.

The hotel’s 355 rooms and suites are done up in a tasteful but understated industrial-chic style that echoes the neighborhood’s feel. Designer touches such as leather headboards, copper tables, corset chairs, and whimsical wallpaper lend rooms a stylish, upscale vibe, while marble accents in lamps and nightstands, walnut dressers, and travel trunk-inspired cabinets add elegance. Starting at 225 square feet, rooms are fairly small -- but not by New York City standards -- and big windows offering expansive city views (in most units) add visual space. Rooms were renovated in 2010 and refreshed in 2017, but carpets are already starting to feel worn, and many guests complain that some rooms are dark.

Standard amenities include smart TVs, Tivoli radios, minibars, and free W-Fi. Extras such as Nintendo Switches, iPads, MacBooks, and DVDs are available on request. Grand Deluxe Rooms and higher-category units add Nespresso machines, and suites feature wet bars. Only Terrace rooms and Lofts have outdoor spaces.

White subway tiles in bathrooms are set off by whimsical wallpaper designed by Saul Steinberg. Rooms have shower/tub combos with fabric curtains, while suites have deep soaking tubs and separate walk-in showers. Lofts add steam showers.

The hotel's 24-hour fitness center is small but well-equipped, with treadmills, stairmasters, exercise bikes, and weights. There is also a pleasant outdoor deck, great for a post-run breather or some stretching. Concierge staff are available 24/7 and can help arrange everything from city tours to dinner reservations and private training sessions. Loaner bikes are included in the nightly resort fee that’s charged on top of all room rates. The fee also covers free movies at sister property The Roxy, neighborhood guides, and maps with dog-friendly activities. Guests get 20% off salon services at The Roxy, but the Soho Grand lacks a spa. Pantries with fee tea and coffee are available on every floor.

The Soho Grand Hotel restaurant, Grand Bar & Lounge, serving up American classics for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner in an elegant, cozy dining room with lots of wood and leather accents, dim lighting, and big windows offering street views. Food gets good reviews, but it’s the bar’s extensive whiskey collection that makes this a popular spot in the evening. Room service is available around the clock.

Popular with locals, the Soho Grand Hotel bar Club Room is a happening, sophisticated spot with a full menu, well-reviewed cocktails, and live music. The bar can get crowded, and guests have no priority booking a table. Gilligan’s is a cute outdoor space open seasonally. It offers food and drinks in a tropical-inspired patio full of plants, long benches with pillows, big umbrellas, and beachy accents.

Pets are welcome at Soho Grand Hotel, and there’s no restriction on animal size or weight. The hotel asks only that visitors inform the staff ahead of time so that the reservations department can book a room on one of the pet-friendly floors and ensure that organic food, bowls, a bed, and doggy bags are available -- at no extra charge. Room service delivers animal chow and some special treats. Dog walking, a more extensive menu, and grooming can all be arranged through the concierge for an extra fee.

The hotel also has its own dog run, complete with fire hydrants and benches.