Moxy NYC Lower East Side, New York, US

Moxy NYC Lower East Side, New York, US

Bounded by NYC’s buzzy SoHo and Little Italy, this Bowery bolthole is attracting the cool kids with its ravishing rooftop bar, subterranean nightclub and devilishly good details



Enveloped
by SoHo and Chinatown, the Moxy NYC Lower East Side is making a
tasteful mark on the Bowery neighbourhood. Designed with pleasure
in mind, the address is the fifth New York outpost from the hip
Moxy Hotels group, which has been injecting a dose of hedonism into
the world’s accommodation landscape since its Italian debut back in
2014. At this iteration, guests can expect slick, pared-back
bedrooms, a swish rooftop bar, co-working den and dazzling
destination restaurant.

Conceived by architecture firm Stonehill Taylor, the 16-storey
property was purposefully built to honour the multicultural
character of its surrounding community. This is evident in the
building’s outer shell, where a mish-mash of materials are stitched
together using brushed concrete, metal panelling and glass sheets,
forming a structure that grows narrower as it rises. There’s
something remarkably satisfying about the way in which the facade changes depending on where you stand. One thing
that doesn’t change, however, is the dramatic doorway – being
perfectly aligned with a marked crosswalk, it lends itself to a
Carrie Bradshaw-style entrance, obvs.

Exploring the exuberant, 303-key boutique stay can only be
described as somewhat reminiscent of a scene from Alice’s
Adventures in Wonderland – a wacky and warmingly wild ride. On
stepping inside, we’re enthralled by the sleek lobby space – all
plant-clad ceilings, monochrome tiled floors and chandeliers that
wouldn’t look out of place at a royal banquet. It’s the quirky
design details, though, that give this bolthole the mischievous
Moxy stamp (shout-out to Michaelis Boyd and Rockwell Group).
Picture white-neon LED signs that read “this is where the magic
happens”, life-sized animal sculptures and vending machines that
dispense the sort of toys generally destined for the bedroom. Being
handed a champagne token, it seems we might have fallen into the
X-rated version of Wonderland – and we’re not complaining about
it.

The Moxy LES, Lobby
The Moxy LES, check-in

A snapshot of the contemporary lobby area, left, and the
self-check-in kiosks.

Rooms

Bedrooms are inspired by the spirit of an old-school circus, a
concept that plays out through lava-stone sinks, vanity areas
studded with Hollywood-esque mirrors and walk-in showers enclosed
by coloured glass screens. While living quarters are crafted to
offer guests a fun-filled sanctuary, they also deliver on the
functionality front. King-sized beds come complete with cubbies for
baggage storage (goodbye, tripping over the carry-on), retractable
accent mirrors (perfect for getting that all-important selfie done)
and pipework that doubles up as hanging space (ideal for showcasing
your favourite garms). Of the nine different room types, we stayed
in a Corner King with a partial city view, where floor-to-ceiling
windows presented undisturbed views of the twinkling Empire
State.

What’s for breakfast?

Fresh, pastry goodness is served from dawn till dusk at all-day
café The Fix. They know how to make a mean latte, too. Pick up the
goods, then settle down to feast in one of the swinging egg
chairs.

Sake No Hana
The Moxy Les, All Day Café

Interiors at Sake No Hana restaurant, and a look inside
all-day café The Fix.

How about lunch and dinner?

The sultry and sophisticated piano lounge, Silver Lining, is
exactly what you’d picture a dinner reservation in NYC’s hottest
neighbourhood to look like: black marble tables, plush velvet
armchairs, walls etched with illustrations and a low-lit bar made
inviting by its ample stock of spirits. Make it your choice to
enjoy live piano music or, alternatively, follow the imperial
staircase downstairs to Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana. There,
the likes of black truffle-laced soup, spicy tuna sushi rolls and
king crab salad await. In typical Moxy style, the interiors are
worthy of a visit in themselves. Picture lantern pendant lights,
awnings made from kimonos and bamboo screens. Not your vibe?
Cathédrale French restaurant at the Moxy East Village is on
standby.

Is there a bar?

It’s not too often we find ourselves genuinely lost for words,
but rooftop bar The Highlight Room has us speechless for a solid
five minutes. Completely unaware of the setting we’re about to
encounter, we exit the elevator and step inside a spacious drinking
den filled with antique mirrors, overgrown greenery and an
abundance of plaster, velvet and wood. Tell us about the views, we
hear you whisper. Put it this way, we were inclined to cancel our
Empire State Observation Deck reservations. Arriving in the late
afternoon, the sky washed in a powdery peach, golden-hour colour,
we truly appreciate the glass walls that cocoon the entire room.
Heading to the outdoor terrace, cocktails in hand, my bestest
girlfriend clinks my glass and there follows the first silence
we’ve had in our entire friendship. “Wow,” we finally,
simultaneously, exhale.

You’ll also find a relaxed, art deco-inspired bar on the ground
floor, finished with fluted glass and brushed brass. We’ll meet you
there for pre-drinks.

Amenities

Discreetly buried down an unassuming alley behind the hotel lies
a gritty entrance scribbled in graffiti by the late street artist
Lance De Los Reyes (aka Rambo). Found at the bottom of several
swirling staircases, the hotel’s subterranean club, Loosie’s, draws
guests and locals alike. Inside, the ceiling glints with copper,
brushed concrete walls are splashed with metallic flecks and a
bronze tiled bar is lined with independent and iconic liquors.
Above the bar, a cage-like structure could easily be
mistaken for scaffolding, but is actually laced with intelligent
lights that sync with the soundtrack. Friday night plans,
sorted.

As far as your hotel room goes, it’s worth noting that extra
trimmings don’t come as standard. There are no mini-fridges or pod
coffee machines, nor is there hand soap or cream. A small fitness
studio is open 24/7 and is equipped with all the stuff you’d need
for a pump.

How about their green credentials?

Squeaky clean. Built from the ground up using recycled
materials, the property offers climate-conscious menus and a
housekeeping service that only does laundry on request.

What about accessibility?

All floors of the hotel are suitable for those with reduced
mobility, and there’s also a collection of specially converted
bedrooms.

What’s the crowd like?

You know the sort of people you make friends with in the pub?
Over a borrowed lip gloss, spare hair tie or quick dab of perfume?
That’s exactly the sort of crowd you’ll rub shoulders with here.
Kids and dogs are welcome, though we didn’t spot any during our
stay.

Things I should know

There are three meeting rooms, two of which can be joined
together for larger functions. All rooms are kitted out with
conference tables, along with laid-back seating corners and games
tables for refuel breaks.

Within a short walk I can find…

Vibrant SoHo is just a short walk away. Make a beeline for the
cobblestone sidewalks of Spring Street, flitting between
independent boutiques and pit-stopping at the Museum of Ice
Cream
for a scoop. Hungry? Little Italy is your place. Be sure
to snag a slice from the family-run Da Nico.

The Lowdown

Doubles cost from £165 a night.
moxylowereastside.com

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