Crosby Street Hotel

Rooms

Built from scratch, with lofty ceilings and warehouse windows throughout, the hotel stands head and shoulders above its sardine-can competitors. Even the smallest room feels like you’ve just swanned into an Elle Deco show loft.

That said, owner and designer Kit Kemp has enough flair to conjure up cosy with an array of plush upholstery. Bespoke bedheads and wallpapers showcase oversized prints; matching mannequins add a quirky touch, and the never-ending curtains and soft Frette linens will swaddle you to sleep.

Rooms step up from Superior (32 sq.m) to Luxury (33 sq.m) to Deluxe (34 sq.m). Next come the Junior Suites; anything bigger boasts a separate living room and second wall of windows.

One-bedroom suites are 65 sq.m and can be joined with a Deluxe to become 2-Bedrooms. If you’re looking for something a little special, the Meadow Suite literally has its own rooftop meadow full of flowering plants. The vast Crosby Suites have delicious Manhattan views – and can be joined with a Junior Suite to create a two-bed, two-bath extravaganza.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

Starting the day with ‘High Breakfast’ in bed (a bite-sized version of just about everything on the breakfast menu) is a decadence not to be missed... if you can forego the tantalising maxi-selection downstairs, that is. If not, expect a vast choice served against an artsy backdrop in The Crosby Bar. Some may find the candy-striped banquettes and Bakelite wall-mounted telephone lamps a tad outlandish, but the real art is that the overall effect is completely fabulous.

Foodwise, choose from set options - eg The English (applewood smoked bacon, organic sausage, eggs any which way); The Healthy (porridge, pineapple and sunflower seeds), Champagne (smoked salmon and eggs served with a chilled glass) - or the longest a la carte menu, including brioche French toast with fresh figs, Spanish frittatas, homemade granola...

For lunch and dinner, expect Euro/American classics.
Expats and visiting Brits may be pleased to find traditional fish and chips, with Brussels sprouts as a side. The steak tartare with toasted sourdough attracted my attention but turned out a little salty. But a perfectly seared free-range chicken breast with braised savoy cabbage and bacon followed, and the bourbon pecan ice-cream was creamy enough to convince me there was a cow in the building – possibly not too far from the truth considering the 10 chickens hopping around the rooftop kitchen garden.

In summer, eat on the hotel's public or private terraces, both lovely. The adjoining guest lounge is where, after a serious day’s shopping, one should flop on a sofa, order the Crosby’s signature afternoon tea and follow Marie Antoinette’s unforgettable adage. The English Breakfast blend is created especially for the hotel by The Rare Tea Company. The perfect compliment to the delicious homemade sandwiches, cakes and scones served.

Soho is also home to some of New York’s revered food haunts: Bathazar (for brunch), Pravda and the Blue Ribbon have all stood the test of time.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Soho is one of the world's liveliest, most popular shopping districts – Broadway hosts mid/low price labels; the cross streets (between Prince and Grand Street) have the posh stuff
  
  
• Wander east and you’ll find Nolita (between E Houston and Grand Street, before you get to the Bowery) which harbours New York’s best (not cheapest) boutiques
  
  
• The ultimate free boat trip, the Staten Island Ferry (close to Battery Park) runs 24 hours, with heart-stopping views of Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan
  
  
• Ground Zero may not be top of everyone’s sightseeing list, but if you’re interested in the site’s progression, it’s just a short cab ride away, or pleasant walk down the west-side cyclepath beside the Hudson river
  
  
• South Street Seaport’s cobbled streets are alive with tourists, there for the shopping, restaurants, street artists and East River views
  
  
• Helicopter tours of the best sites, including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State, are surprisingly affordable and run weekdays from the downtown Manhattan heliport at Pier 6
  
  
• For a taste of something different, a walk south-east of the hotel takes you to Little Italy and the increasingly sprawling Chinatown
  
  
• Further south of Canal Street, famous Manhattan landmarks like City Hall, the Woolworth Building, Chambers and the Municipal Building are all within walking distance

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets

Kids

Children of all ages are welcome and the concierge can arrange a babysitting service. Family-friendly rooms come in the shape of interconnecting suites, and rollaway beds and cots are available on request.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The hotel is on Crosby Street, between Prince and Spring Streets in Soho, downtown Manhattan, New York City.

By Air
Newark and JFK are the closest airports, but LaGuardia (mainly domestic flights) is a good option too. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
It's about an hour’s taxi journey from all 3 airports. JFK Airport (yellow) taxis have a set fare to Manhattan.

By Train
The hotel is a a 15-minute taxi journey from Grand Central and Penn train stations.

By Car
Unless you want to navigate some of the world’s most frantic driving and be searching for a parking space for months, the best way to get around NYC is by subway, taxi and on foot.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to New York and getting around