Where to Stay - New York City 2009 - page 42

MC, V. Subway: A, C, to Chambers Street. Amenities: Restaurant; concierge; busi-
ness center; off-site fitness center; in-room spa services. In room:A/C, TV, free Wi-Fi,
hair dryer, safe, CD player.
INEXPENSIVE
Cosmopolitan Hotel-Tribeca Behind a plain-vanilla
TriBeCa awning is one of the best hotel deals in Manhattan for
budget travelers who prefer a private bathroom. Everything is strictly
budget but nice: The modern IKEA-ish furniture includes a work
desk and an armoire (a few rooms have a dresser and hanging rack
instead); for a few extra bucks, you can have a love seat, too. Beds are
comfy, and sheets and towels are of good quality. Rooms are small
but make the most of the limited space, and the whole place is pris-
tine. The two-level minilofts have lots of character, but expect to
duck on the second level. Management does a great job of keeping
everything fresh. The TriBeCa location is safe, hip, and subway-con-
venient. Services are kept at a minimum to keep costs down.
95 W. Broadway (at Chambers St.), New York, NY 10007. & 888/895-9400 or 212/
566-1900. Fax [phone]. www.cosmohotel.com. 105 units. $200-$270 double.
AE, DC, MC, V. Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, C to Chambers St. In room:A/C, TV, dataport, ceil-
ing fan.

Value

3 SoHo
VERY EXPENSIVE
The Mercer The best of the downtown, celebrity-crawling,
trendy hotels, the Mercer is a place where even those who represent
the antithesis of hip can feel at home. Though SoHo can be a bit
over the top with its high-end boutiques, cutting-edge restaurants,
and too-serious fashionistas on the streets, it is still an exciting place.
And the corner of Mercer and Prince streets is probably the epicen-
ter of SoHo. Still, once inside, there is a pronounced calm—from the
postmodern library lounge and the Mizrahi-clad staff to the huge,
soundproof loftlike guest rooms; the hotel is a perfect complement
to the scene outside. The Mercer is one of the few New York hotels
with ceiling fans. The tile-and-marble bathrooms have a steel cart for
storage and an oversize shower stall or oversize two-person tub (state
your preference when booking).
147 Mercer St. (at Prince St.), New York, NY 10012. & 888/918-6060 or 212/966-
6060. Fax [phone]. www.mercerhotel.com. 75 units. $600-$700 double;
$800-$900 studio; from $1,250 suite. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Parking $35 nearby. Sub-
way: N, R to Prince St. Amenities: Restaurant; lounge; food and drink service in
lobby; free access to nearby Crunch fitness center; 24-hr. concierge; secretarial serv-
ices; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; video, DVD, and CD libraries.
In room:A/C, TV/DVD, Wi-Fi, dataport, minibar, safe, CD player, ceiling fan.