Boutique, sleek, with bikes or pools, all new

October 16, 2011|By Marie Elena Martinez, Globe Correspondent

Clockwise from above: The lobby of the Nolitan, the first hotel in the Nolita… (FLOTO & WARNER )

For New York’s annual influx of holiday travelers, deciding where to stay is harder than ever. More than 2,700 hotel rooms were added to the city’s inventory this year, with construction in not only Manhattan but also Brooklyn and Queens. From swank downtown offerings in SoHo, Nolita, and Chelsea, affordable options in Times Square, a hot boutique in Williamsburg, and rooms with a view in Long Island City, here are 10 of the newest spots to check-in, kick back, and enjoy the city’s many diversions.

In February, Morgans Hotel Group, the company responsible for the boutique hotel concept, put down roots on SoHo’s cobblestone streets with Mondrian SoHo (9 Crosby St., 212-389-1000, www.mondriansoho.com). Surrounded by art galleries, A-list shopping, and renowned restaurants, the 270-room hotel resides in SoHo’s tallest building, and was inspired by Jean Coucteau’s 1946 fantasy film, “La Belle et la Bete.’’ A topiary portico off Crosby Street meets a playful French blue lobby off of which celebrity Top Chef Sam Talbot’s sexy restaurant Imperial No. Nine draws a hot nightly crowd and a partnership with Equinox fitness clubs keeps the health-conscious in their best travel shape. Rates from $400.

Tomorrow the eagerly anticipated Hotel Williamsburg will open to the public. The borough’s first luxury boutique hotel (160 North 12th St., 888-867-6767, www.hwbrooklyn.com), it draws on locally-sourced extras including uniforms by Brooklyn Industries and a Brooklyn Brewery signature brew, while the 64 guest rooms and four suites have whimsical touches such as a Crosley record player and in-room coffee service delivered in a retro green Stanley thermos. A lively bar in the center of the lobby overlooks a sunken dining room, and on the roof that overlooks McCarren Park, the East River, and midtown Manhattan is a buzz-worthy terrace. Rates start at $295.

Bright and white on the outside, moody and atmospheric within, Sanctuary Hotel New York (132 West 47th St., 800-388-8988, www.sanctuaryhotelnyc.com) is a former two-star property redesigned as a five-star experience. A peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Times Square, the hotel’s sexy nooks and common spaces make this stylish property one of Midtown’s standouts. The hotel’s 111 guest rooms feature such colors as burnt orange and deep chocolate and dramatic touches such as crystal chandeliers and an open bathroom, while the sleek lobby lounge invites guests to unwind with a drink.