Ace Hotel New York — the original boutique in NoMad
If you're a creative who wants a hotel with real character, the Ace Hotel is New York's original cool boutique. Its industrial-vintage lobby turns into a co-working space and a meeting point for the city's design crowd by day, with tastefully decorated rooms in the heart of NoMad.
It's in NoMad (North of Madison Square Park) in the rising Midtown South — walking distance to the Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park and Eataly. The 28 St station (N/R/W) is a 1-minute walk, and 34 St–Herald Square (Macy's) is 7 minutes. This spot sits between Downtown and Midtown, easy to get anywhere, less hectic than Times Square but still central.
"The lobby is the real highlight — big wood tables, people working on laptops, good coffee, great music, the kind of place you want to sit all day."
Rooms are tastefully industrial-vintage — exposed brick, vintage wood furniture, a turntable, a retro Smeg fridge, even a guitar in some rooms. Sizes range from Bunk Bed Rooms (for friends/budget travellers) to a big Loft Suite. Honestly, the design is the draw — if you love things with a story, you'll love it here.
The standout is the lobby — large, high-ceilinged, with long wood tables and leather sofas, filled by day with creatives working, meeting and sipping Stumptown Coffee from the in-house cafe. By night it becomes a lively bar, and the building also has the famous gastropub The Breslin.
Honestly, the note is that some room types are small and dark (especially the cheapest Standard). The exposed brick and dark tones make rooms dimmer than typical hotels. If you like bright, airy rooms, this may not suit. And the buzzing lobby means it can get crowded and loud at times — request a high floor for quiet.
On value, rates from around $295/night are reasonable for this design, location and character. The cheaper Bunk Bed Room suits budget travellers who still want the Ace vibe. It fits solo creatives, couples, and those who value vibe over luxury.
Bottom line: the Ace Hotel suits people who seek character and vibe over standard comfort. If you're a design lover who loves a creative atmosphere and a living lobby, go for it — you'll love it. If you want bright, spacious, quiet rooms, see other picks in the list.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful, characterful, creative lobby
- ✓ Tasteful industrial-vintage design rooms
- ✓ Central NoMad, walk everywhere
- ✓ The Breslin + Stumptown Coffee in-building
- ! Some room types small and dark
- ! Buzzing lobby can be loud at times
- ✓ Cool creative vibe hard to find elsewhere
- ✓ 1-min walk to 28 St station
- ✓ Bunk Bed Rooms for cheaper stays
- ✓ Near Flatiron + Eataly
- ! Exposed brick makes rooms dim if you like bright
- ! Standard service, not luxe
- 💡If you like bright, airy rooms — exposed brick is dim · Fix → request a larger type (Medium/Loft) with more windows
- 💡If you want quiet — the lobby is busy · Fix → request a high floor away from the lobby and street
- 💡If you're on a budget — Standard is small · Honestly, the Bunk Bed Room is cheaper and still full Ace vibe
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